20191358 Ver 1_Culvert repair in Muskrat Branch in Clay County_20190822

Carpenter, Kristi
From: Breedlove, Patrick J
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2019 8:32 AM
To: Mitchell, Robert K
Subject: FW: Culvert repair in Muskrat Branch in Clay County
From: Chambers, Marla J <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:07 AM
To: McHenry, David G <[e-mail]>; Amschler, Crystal C SAW ([e-mail])
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Breedlove, Patrick <pjbreed [e-mail]>; Barnett, Kevin <[e-mail]>; Mathis, Amy- FS
<[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Culvert repair in Muskrat Branch in Clay County
Yes, we can agree to the Rainbow Trout moratorium for this project, Jan. 1 to Apr. 15.
Marla
Marla Chambers // NCDOT Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
c/o NCDOT
206 Charter Street
Albemarle, North Carolina 28001
Direct Office Line: 704-244-8907
mobile: [phone]
Marla. chambers (cDncwildlife. org
ncwildlife.org
From: McHenry, David G <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 11:25 AM
To: Chambers, Marla J<[e-mail]>; Amschler, Crystal C SAW
([e-mail]) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Breedlove, Patrick) <plbreed [e-mail]>; Barnett, Kevin <[e-mail]>; Mathis, Amy- FS
<[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Culvert repair in Muskrat Branch in Clay County
Marla,
I was wondering too, if we were able to get this work done into this fall, would you be okay with us just following the
rainbow trout moratorium? That would facilitate completion of the work if we do have to cut more trees, which would
have to occur from October 15 to April 15 for Indiana bats.

Thanks
Dave
From: Chambers, Marla J <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 10:54 AM
To: McHenry, David G <[e-mail]>; Amschler, Crystal C SAW ([e-mail])
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Breedlove, Patrick <pjbreed [e-mail]>; Barnett, Kevin <[e-mail]>; Mathis, Amy- FS
<[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Culvert repair in Muskrat Branch in Clay County
We agree with the Forest Service that the repair of this culvert should maintain a barrier to Rainbow Trout. Even though
some Rainbows have made their way upstream, there is potential for restoring the upstream reaches to Brook Trout
only. Brook only streams are rare in the Hiwassee Watershed, making this an important opportunity. We would also like
to see tree removal minimized and support efforts to find an alternative to the initial plan that removes numerous trees
for access.
Marla
Marla Chambers // NCDOT Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
c/o NCDOT
206 Charter Street
Albemarle, North Carolina 28001
Direct Office Line: 704-244-8907
mobile: [phone]
Marla. chambersancwildlife. ora
ncwildlife.org
13 I ? =2
From: McHenry, David G <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2019 5:03 PM
To: Amschler, Crystal C SAW ([e-mail]) <[e-mail]>; Chambers,
Marla J <[e-mail]>
Cc: Breedlove, Patrick <[e-mail]>; Barnett, Kevin <[e-mail]>; Mathis, Amy- FS
<[e-mail]>
Subject: Culvert repair in Muskrat Branch in Clay County
ON
We would please appreciate some advice with a culvert section repair on a trout stream that we have been having
difficulty arranging. The location is on Muskrat Branch in Clay County (see map). The last 45 feet or so of about 600' of
round culvert upstream under US 64 has collapsed. The USFS has noted that there are now rainbow trout upstream of
the highway in this creek where there were once only brook trout. It is possible that there are flow refugia in this long
culvert that have allowed rainbow trout to ascend, though the culvert has about a 6% slope. USFS has recommended

(see attached correspondence) that we leave the new culvert in an impassible situation, such as by keeping the new
culvert section in a perched condition, if possible. This may be unavoidable anyway. But, we understand that this would
require a variance from Nationwide conditions. We are also evaluating whether we can replace the failed length of
corrugated pipe with smooth wall pipe or can place a large flat rock to dissipate outflow to further impair fish passage
here. Attached are pictures of the culvert in 2016 and again in 2019 showing how the rock road fill above has washed-
out and reduced the magnitude of perch in the scour pool below the outlet.
Please advise your thoughts permit -wise, concerns, ideas... anything.
Note that there is an attached erosion control plan (see attached) showing a new access road to the culvert inlet. This
would allow for construction of temporary dewatering pipe (600 feet plus) inside the existing culvert to work in the dry
at the outlet. However, this would require considerable tree clearing for equipment access, and so I have asked that the
contractor evaluate whether they can avoid that and just do sandbag dam in the old pipe near the outlet. They are still
considering that, though I suspect it would be possible if the work was done under quickly and under low flows as we
have now.
One other alternative might be to excavate around the old pipe, fill around it with large boulders and then just cut-out
most if not all of the old pipe. The engineers are not too keen on that idea since they want the culvert length back so
they can rebuild a more stable fill slope. However, I am not sure it is off the table.
Thanks
Dave
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