20051804 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20060201

® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
To: Cyndi Karoly
NC DENR/DWQ
And
Lillette Granade
USAED-RG, Wilmington
P.O. Box 1890
Wilmington, NC 28402-1890
From: .Steven H. Everhart, PhD
Southern Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program

Date: February 1, 2006
RE: Koenig - Faircloth Tract, Cumberland Co. 401/404 Public Notice, USACE Action
ID# 200401052
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the
subject application for impacts to wildlife and fishery resources. Our comments are provided in
accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661 et. seq.), and Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (as amended).
The project is located adjacent to the Cape Fear River, on the west side of River Rd. (SR 1714) and
north of the CSX railroad, in Cumberland County. The property consists of approximately 328 acres
of undeveloped land which has been in silviculture for many years. Much of the wetlands on the
property are adjacent to the Cape Fear River and are identified as Coastal Plain Levee Forest
(Brownwater Subtype) by the NC Natural Heritage Program (NHP). An un-named tributary to the
Cape Fear River crosses the entrance to the property. This stream is designated as perennial on the
NHP GIS map. Waters in the stream are classified as C by the NC Division of Water Quality
(NCDWQ). The Cape Fear River at this location is classified as WS IV - CA, waters used as sources
of potable water where a WS-I, II or III classification is not feasible. These waters are also protected
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Koenig - Faircloth Tract
February 1, 2006
for Class C uses. WS-IV waters are generally in moderately to highly developed watersheds or
Protected Areas, and involve no categorical restrictions on discharges.
The applicants propose to impact approximately 0.43 acre of riparian wetland and 173 linear feet of
stream by filling to construct roads and provide infrastructure for a subdivision. The current
application is for development of 444 single-family homesites. The applicant proposes to mitigate
for wetland impacts by preserving all remaining unaffected wetlands on-site.
We have the following concerns/recommendations:
Impact areas A and B are stream crossings. There also appears to be an unidentified stream
(ditch) crossing that has not been used in calculating impacts. We recommend road crossings
of streams with bridges. If culverts are utilized, they should be imbedded sufficiently to
allow for the passage and settlement of aquatic organisms. Utility crossings at streams
should be directionally bored or suspended above the stream.
• We recommend 100 ft and 50 ft native forested buffers are maintained or created on each
side of on-site perennial and intermittent streams, respectively.
• We recommend that all remaining wetlands on-site be preserved through permanent
conservation easement to prevent further impacts. This easement should prohibit any
cutting, mowing, or disturbance of vegetation; soil disturbance; or construction of any kind
(including walkways, piers, platforms, etc.) within the wetlands.
We have no objection to the project provided our recommendations are included as permit
conditions. Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this application. If you have
any questions or require additional information regarding these comments, please call me at (910)
796-7436.