20191723 Ver 1_Bridge #75, Letter_20191216

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER JAMES H. TROGDON, III
GOVERNOR SECRETARY

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION 11
801 STATESVILLE ROAD
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC 28659
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: www.ncdot.gov

December 16, 2019

Lori Beckwith
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
828-271-7980, ext. 4223

Subject: Nationwide Permit # 14
Replace Bridge #75 on SR 1313 with 3-sided Bottomless Crownspan
Wilkes County, North Carolina
Project Number: B-4977 (DWR Permit Fee: $570)

Dear Mrs. Beckwith:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is scheduled to replace Bridge #75 with a 3-sided bottomless
culvert at the same location. The existing bridge is a 58-year old one-lane single span bridge with a timber floor
on I-beams and reinforced concrete abutments. The bridge has a sufficiency rating of 21 out of a possible 100, and
is considered functionally obsolete according to Federal Highway Administration standards. Traffic will be
detoured off-site during construction (see attached construction sequence).

Stream Impacts:
Station Number Existing
Structure
Size
Proposed
Structure Size
Temporary
Dewatering
(feet)
Rip Rap
Impacts (feet)
Total Impacts at
this Station (feet)
Bridge #75 over Fish
Dam Ck (site #2 on
permit drawing)
32’ long
timber
bridge
50’ long x 28’
wide x 9’ tall 3-
sided culvert
24 (beyond RR
limits)
61 1171
Culvert on UT to Fish
Dam Ck (site #1 on
permit drawing)
60’ - 24”
HDPE and
30” RCP
54” RCP and
channel
modification –
77’2
10 (upstream of
channel
modification)
0 87
Perm. Fill/Riprap Impacts = 170
feet
Total Project Impacts = 204 feet
1 The impact total includes all bank stabilization and bank hardening associated with the new structure, dewatering
needed to install the structure, and riprap that will be placed beyond the footprint of the new structure.
2 The impact total refers to the footage of the UT that will be impacted by the new design.

The replacement of the existing bridge with the proposed bottomless culvert will require temporary dewatering
during footer construction and riprap installation. An impervious dike will be constructed along each side of the
new structure and rip rap, isolating the flowing stream from the construction area. Any dirty water that enters the
diked area will be pumped out and filtered through a special stilling basin. Once the new structure is in place, the
impervious dikes will be removed, and the preconstruction stream width and flow pattern will be restored.
Likewise, the 54” RCP and channel modification on the UT of Fish Dam Creek will be constructed in the dry.
Impervious dikes will be constructed at the inlet and outlet of the proposed 54” pipe. A pump and special stilling
basin will be installed to provide a pump around operation. Once the 54” pipe and channel improvements are
complete, the UT will be diverted through these new structures, allowing the filling of the old stream bed, and
removal of the 24” HDPE and 30” RCP pipes.

Currently, the UT discharges onto a rock pad and is perched. The new outlet will also discharge onto rip rap and
will be perched. This will allow the pipe to drain even when the receiving stream, Fish Dam Creek, is
experiencing high flows. The channel modification is rock lined due to the gradient of the new alignment and to
help prevent a possible head cut.

Construction of this project will require impact s to waters of the United States in the Yadkin River Basin. Both
Fish Dam Creek and the UT of Fish Dam Creek are classified as Water Supply IV. The project is not located in a
trout watershed.

This project was reviewed for the presence of threatened and endangered species in the field and I have also
included a query of the NCNHP database. Based on the project area mapped with my request, the database search
indicates that there are no records for threatened or endangered species, important natural communities, natural
areas, or conservation/managed areas within the proposed project boundary. The nearest known NLEB elemental
occurrence is 19.5 miles northwest of the project, and the nearest NLEB red HUC is 29.5 miles southwest of the
bridge. No blasting or wind turbine construction will occur, but 0.13 acres trees will be removed. A survey for
bats and bat sign was conducted in the summer of 2019, and none were observed. Since the project is not within
150 feet of a known maternity roost tree or within 0.25 mile of a known hibernaculum, the project is believed to
be consistent with the final Section 4(d) rule. We do not anticipate any impact to any other federally listed
species.

Cultural resource compliance work has been completed. No archaeological resources or historic properties will be
affected by this project (see attachments). Furthermore, in accordance with NCDOT Tribal Coordination
Procedures, the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee, and Catawba
Indian Nation have been notified about the project (see attachments). As of December 15th, only the Cherokee
Nation had responded.

By copy of this electronic letter, it is requested that (1) Mrs. Marla Chambers with the North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission comment directly to you concerning the 404 Nationwide Permit application with a copy
sent to me; and (2) the Division of Water Resources, 401/Wetlands Unit, issue the appropriate permit for
construction of this project, and comments related to the 401 certification be electronically forwarded to me with a
copy sent to the US Army Corps of Engineers.

If further information is required, please let me know. Your early review and consideration will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hining
Division Environmental Officer

Enclosures

cc: Marla Chambers, NCWRC
Amy Chapman, Division of Water Resources
Dave Wanucha, Division of Water Resources
Joe Laws, PE, Division Bridge Program Manager
Mark Johnson, Division Bridge Program Technician
Jarrett Blanton, Roadside Environmental Field Operations Technician