20191332 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20191025

1�1 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
October 25, 2019
Mr. David Brown
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Mouth of Mud Creek Habitat Restoration
Wetlands, Henderson County
Dear Mr. Brown:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to restore floodplain habitats, permanently impacting 2.78 acres and temporarily
impacting 0.25 acre of wetland in Henderson County. Our comments on this application are
offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466
et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-
667d).
Wild trout reproduction should not be impacted by project activities, and a trout moratorium is
not needed for the project. Appalachian Elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana, US and NC
Endangered), Creeper (Strophitus undulatus, NC Threatened) and Blotched Chub (Erimystax
insignis, NC Significantly Rare) are found in the French Broad River near the project.
NCWRC has been a part of the technical advisory group for this project, and we support its
implementation, as it should benefit multiple aquatic and terrestrial species. The application
proposes to restore floodplain habitats on a 108-acre tract at the confluence of Mud Creek and
the French Broad River. Three sloughs that will have hydrologic connection during high flow
events to Mud Creek or the French Broad River are proposed in order to provide breeding and
nursery habitat for native Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy). A 2.09-acre wetland will be
restored that will receive stormwater from an upland development. Higher quality forested and
herbaceous wetlands on the tract will remain undisturbed. Riparian and upland habitats will also
be restored with native seed and transplants, and non-native invasive plants are being eradicated
on site.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Mouth of Mud Creek Restoration Page 2 October 25, 2019
Wetlands, Henderson County
The vast majority of the wetland impacts (2.67 acres) will be for construction of the largest
muskie slough and the restored wetland. Smaller wetland impacts are associated with the
construction of a trail, which will be used as a construction corridor and remain on site, as well
as temporary roads that will be removed. We recommend removing five culverts (two pre-
existing and three to be installed during construction) on site that are associated with temporary
roads and the trail once construction is complete. The three culverts associated with the trail can
be converted to broad -based swales.
In addition, we recommend increasing the depth of all three muskie sloughs in order to allow
backwatering during moderate to bankfull flow events. These sloughs should be at depths that
will allow 3-5 ft of backwater depth in order to allow muskellunge movement during the March
and April spawning period. Muskie slough #3 should be excavated all the way to the French
Broad River. We also recommend that occasional depressional areas be created within the 15.6-
acre ecologically sensitive upland area in order to increase floodplain capacity and create
temporary pools.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Alea Tuttle, C1earWater Environmental
Greg Jennings, Jennings Environmental
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Scott Loftis, NCWRC