20200424 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20200414

ltl North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
April 14, 2020
Ms. Amanda Fuemmeler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Corner Rock Creek Stream Enhancement Project
Corner Rock Creek, Buncombe County
Dear Ms. Fuemmeler,
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to enhance 850 ft of Corner Rock Creek in Buncombe 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 Rainbow Trout are found in the vicinity of the project, and project activities should be
avoided between January 1 and April 15 to minimize impacts to trout reproduction.
The project involves the enhancement of an eroding reach of Corner Rock Creek through the
installment of log vanes and toewood revetments, establishment of bankfull benches, and
planting of native riparian vegetation.
Work will be done in the wet, and flows will be diverted around work areas. The construction
crew will include a skilled operator who is trained in stream restoration and installation of in -
stream structures. According to Brady Dodd of the US Forest Service, disturbed areas will be
stabilized at the end of each work day.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
The project description notes that disturbed areas will be stabilized each day; this is
important at this site.
2. Work should be done at low flows.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Corner Rock Creek Enhancement Page 2 April 14, 2020
Corner Rock Cr, Buncombe County
3. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
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: Brady Dodd, US Forest Service
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources