20200452 Ver 1_USFWS_Responseletter_20200401

Innovotion Done Right ... We Make o Difference
INTERNATIONAL
March 27, 2020
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Asheville Ecological Services Field Office
Atlas: Byron Hamstead, Endangered Species Biologist
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801
RE: Response to Project Recommendations
Raby — Bates Branch Stream Restoration Project
Macon County, North Carolina
Little Tennessee River Basin (Catalog Unit — 06010202)
Dear Mr. Hamstead:
In response to your review of the Bates Branch stream restoration project dated March 9, 2020, measures
will be taken to avoid potential habitat impacts to bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), mountain sweet
pitcher plant (Sarracenia rubra spp. Jonesii), swamp pink (Helonias bullata) and spotfin chub (Erimonax
monachus). Additionally, the incorporation of large flat rock material to provide for eastern hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) habitat will be included in planned practices. Measures to avoid adverse
habitat impacts are as follows:
Work will not take place within the onsite wetland, which may contain suitable habitat for bog turtle,
mountain sweet pitcher plant and swamp pink. To ensure that the area is avoided during construction,
temporary silt fencing will be placed around the wetland border within the project area. These measures, as
well as directive on wetland avoidance during construction activities, will be included in the final design
plans and will be adhered to by the contractor.
In order to avoid and minimize impacts to spotfin chub habitat in receiving waters, the following measures
will be taken:
Erosion and sediment control measures will be installed prior to ground -disturbing activities.
Work will follow a general construction sequence designed to maintain stability of each phase.
Grading and backfilling will be minimized.
Staging areas will be secured with temporary silt fencing.
Areas of disturbance will be stabilized at the end of each workday.
Coir fiber matting will be used as a stabilization material and will be secured with stakes.
The entire riparian buffer of all project streams will be revegetated with native species; as both a grass mix
and tree/shrub establishment to ensure deep-rooted woody vegetation along the streambanks.
Equipment will only be operated within the stream channel as absolutely necessary, and will otherwise work
from the dry as much as is practicable.
Design plans follow natural channel design practices and are based upon bank full stage and regional curve
data.
Michael Baker Engineering, Inc.
797 Haywood Road, Suite 201, Asheville NC 288o6
Office: 828.350.14o8 l Fax:[phone]

Innovation Done Right... We Make a Difference
The outcome of this stream restoration project will serve to reduce sedimentation in receiving waters. The
current conditions of the project stream banks are highly eroded and, in rainfall and high flow events, are
contributing substantial sediment to the watershed. Bank stabilization and revegetation practices will serve
to eliminate these issues for the long-term betterment of the project site and its downstream waters and habitat
quality.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if any further correspondence on the matter is needed. Thank you for
your timely response, input, and cooperation. I can be reached at [phone] or via my email address at
holland.youngmankmbakerintl.com.
Sincerely,
Holland Youngman
Cc: File