20070060 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070123

~~~ aao ~ a c ~ a
~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Amanda Jones, Permit Coordinator
Asheville Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers p ~~~~~~ D
JAN 2 3 2007
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Pro ram W[~D~EYN~R - WATMER~~Ql1AF:ITY
g nG~vr~uv ~Q.1~V~W~RI~p RR+~(NCiH
DATE: January 10, 2007
SUBJECT: The Homestead at Matney, Laurel Creek (C, Trout), Watauga County
The applicant is requesting a letter of concurrence from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC) to obtain a 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
NCWRC has reviewed information provided by the applicant, and field biologists on our staff
are familiar with habitat values of the project area. These comments are provided in accordance
with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
The project proposal is to extend an existing culvert (106" x 74" CMP) by twenty (20} feet to
avoid installing an entirely new culvert elsewhere to access property. Laurel Creek supports
wild Brown, Rainbow and Brook trout so passage of aquatic species is important as is
minimizing the loss of naturally functioning trout waters. We are concerned about stormwater
effects to trout streams and the twenty-five (25) foot trout buffer.
$ased on the information provided by the applicant and our knowledge of the range of trout in
the project area, we will not object to the culvert expansion providing the following conditions
are implemented:
1. Instream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are prohibited
during the trout spawning seasons of October 1 S through April 15 to protect the egg and
fry stages of trout.
2. Bridges provide better protection of stream and floodplain functions as well as allow
continued use by aquatic species. If a bridge option is not practicable, culverts 48 inches
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC; Z 16yy-1111
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

The Homestead at Matney -Page 2 -
January 10, 2007
diameter or larger should be buried a foot into the streambed. Culverts less than 48
inches diameter should be buried to a depth equal to or greater than 20% their size to
allow for aquatic life passage. These measurements must be based on natural thalweg
depths. If the existing culvert does not provide passage, it should be retrofitted before
adding the extension unless certified fish biologists determine that trout passage is not
impeded.
3. The addition of alternating baffles should mimic natural channel dimension, pattern and
profile in a manner to provide stiller waters and aquatic habitats within the culvert. For
example, if the stream width (water edge to water edge) is four (4) feet, the baffles should
maintain this width and natural depth of waters in the culvert.
4. Sediment and erosion control measures shall adhere to the design standazds for sensitive
watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124).
5. Disturbed streambanks should be restored to pre existing conditions. Streambanks can be
revegetated with silky dogwood, rhododendron, dog hobble, red maple, silky willow, tag
alder, black willow, sycamore, or other native woody species to provide long term bank
stability and stream shading. Note that silky dogwood, silky willow and black willow
can be planted as live stakes collected during the dormant growing season. Cuttings
should be randomly planted and done on four (4) foot centers from the waters edge to the
top of the bank. Trees should be planted on ten (10) to twelve (12) foot centers. Stream
banks in these azeas should also be seeded with an approved wetland seed mix or
temporary crop of wheat or rye. Natural fiber matting that decays fairly quickly is
preferred over plastic erosion control matting that can ensnare wildlife.
6. Cumulative and secondary impacts from this development should be assessed by the NC
Division of Water Quality and US Army Corps of Engineers if impervious area in the
development can or will exceed ten (1) percent.
7. If concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does not
contact stream water.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regazding these comments, please contact me at 336/769-9453.
E-copy: Daryl Lamb, DWQ-WSRO
Matt Gantt, DLR-WSRO
Randy Woodrow, Watauga County