20070076 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070312

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
TO: Steve Chapin, USACOE + - ~ ;: ~ ~;
Asheville Regulatory Field Office `"' ? ~ ~
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FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator /~ ,5~,, Y
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Habitat Conservation Program ~~~ ~ , y: '
DATE: March 8, 2007
SUBJECT: Rocky River Landing-Phase I, DWQ No. 20070076, Unnamed Tributaries Rocky River, Cabarrus
County
Rocky River Landing proponents propose impacts to develop a commercial and multi-family community.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) are familiar with habitat values in
the area. The NCWRC is authorized to comment and make recommendations which relate to the impacts of this
project on fish and wildlife pursuant to Clean Water Act of 1977, North Cazolina Em~ironmental Policy Act, US
National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act (16 U. S. C. 1531-1543; 87 Stat 884), the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and/or Federal License of Water
Resource Project Act (Federal Power Act-16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) as applicable.
The proposed project will impact 0.49 acres of wetlands for road crossings and approximately 150 lineaz feet of a
tributary to the Rocky River. Original impacts are stated to have been six (6) acres of wetlands and 600 lineaz feet
of stream. Phase II of the project will include provisions to preserve the "remaining approximately 62 acres of
streams, wetlands, riparian berms and other adjacent upland natural habitat areas within a conservation easement or
similar protective mechanism." It is anticipated that impacts will still be sufficient to warrant an Individual 404
Permit and 401 Certification. Rocky River supports warm water aquatic habitats and is known to contain habitats
suitable for freshwater mussels, including the Carolina heelsplitter, Lasmigona decorata (NCE, FE) although
diminished water quality is believed to limit aquatic species. The Rocky River is a 303 (d) listed stream. The lack
of listed species in the area may be related to poor water quality caused by stormwater issues, hydrograph
modifications, and elevated pollutant loading related to intense development. Without stormwater management and
substantial provision of undisturbed forested buffers, these conditions will worsen.
Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of the area, stormwater management should be provided
for existing imperviousness as well as for new construction in the azea. The following conditions are recommended
for the current application and for consideration for future CWA 404 Permits and 401 Certifications:
1. To the extent practicable, stormwater management facilities should be located outside jurisdictional waters
and wetlands as protection of existing uses of these areas is a stated goal of the Clean Water Act. These
measures should provide management of stormwater to mimic runoff issues equal to those anticipated if the
area were mostly piedmont prairie (a possible pre-development condition for the area). These efforts
should help restore a more natural hydrograph regime.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Rceky River Landing Phase I -Page 2 -
Match 8, 2007
2. Any relocation of streams and wetlands should use natural channel design and natural wetland restoration
techniques when possible. Perennial or important intermittent streams should be relocated using state of
the art natural channel design methodologies when hydrologically practical. We recommend minimum of
50' intermittent stream and minimum 100' perennial stream buffers. These buffers should be preserved by
conservation easements as undisturbed forested areas.
3. Stormwater facilities should be provided to protect existing and relocated stream and wetland aquatic
habitat areas. Low Impact Development (LID) methodologies should be dispersed throughout landscaping
areas. LID measure information can be found at ww_w_.lowimf~actdcvclo~n~cnt.=or~~ or similar environmental
planning websites. The entire development should be plamied upfront to improve environmental planning
opportunities instead of piecemeal site development.
4. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for sensitive watersheds as
streams within this watershed are known to be impaired.
5. Autochthonous plants should be preserved or provided for green and open spaces. Where practicable,
piedmont prairie plants (see attached) are recommended. Similarly, native plants are recommended for
stormwater management ponds and wetlands. If any stormwater ponds will be provided, they should
incorporate forested edges and littoral shelves for safety and to restore diminished terrestrial and edge
habitats (see attached example).
Irregardless of which measures are permitted, it is essential that the post development hydrograph mimic the
predevelopment hydrograph and that stormwater control measures reduce development destabilization of
downstream habitats. It is also essential that pollutant loading into area streams be reduced through physical means
as well as by plant sequestration. Constructed stormwater ponds and wetlands should be designed to provide water
quality polishing as well as to restore diminished habitats.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions regarding these
comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453.
Attachments: Recommendations of Piedmont Prairie Restoration and Creation
Piedmont Stormwater Pond Planting Recommendations
E-copy: Cyndi Karoly, DWQ-Raleigh
Allan Johnson, DWQ-MRO

Rocky River Landing Phase I -Page 3 - March 8, 2007
Recommendations of Piedmont Prairie Restoration and Creation
Laura M. Fogo, Private Lands Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service
RESTORATION
If you discover a potential prairie remnant, it is recommended that you reestablish fire
into the ecosystem and thin the site depending on your goals for prairie, savannah, or woodland.
Thinning a site will allow sunlight to reach the forest floor to encourage herbaceous plants to
grow. Your native understory vegetation may already be there and it may not be necessary to
plant. See Piedmont Prairies and a Partnership, to reference associated community types to look
for.
CREATION/REESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIVE PRAIlZIE
Seed Source: Try to obtain local genotypes of native plant material to reestablish a
prairie. I only recommend buying seed from outside NC if it's a creation project or the local
genotypes are not available or present. There is limited availability of NC grass seed from
nursery growers. There are commercial nurseries that provide local plants and seed. If you have
the time and want only local seed sources, it will take more effort. For large scale restoration,
some projects may want to go ahead and purchase seeds. It is agreed by the partnership to
collect local seed from remnant sites and roadside populations for trying to restore remnant
prairies. Planting associated prairie species provides habitat for migratory songbirds and other
early successional wildlife dependant species.
Native Warm Season Grasses (NWSG): Attached are commercial native seed sources
and planting guides to establish NWSG prepared by Bob Glennon, USFWS. He mentions
applying fertilizer the year after it is established. These grasses are fertilized to grow hay
(forage) for cows as far as a productivity production, however, it will encourage undesirable
weedy competition. It has been recommended only to lime according to your soil's needs.
These grasses are native and grow on poor sites anyway and are not used to having good
nutrients. I would re-evaluate after a year and establishment.
Remember that it may take at least two years to see good results on the NWSG. Bob has
done a great job on explaining methods: using a seed drill, calibrations, seeding depths, etc.
Follow his instructions. When planting, drilling is best, but if you cannot, broad cast and run a
cultapacker over it. You can plant the different ones at the same time (except gama) and place
them in the appropriate seed boxes in the no-till drill. You put the fluffy-chaffy ones, big blue,
little blue, and Indian grass in the chaffy seed box and plant 1/4" seed depth. The small box is
used for smooth grass seeds like switch grass and gama. He said to make a separate pass for the
gama grass at 1" seed depth.
Planting times: For NWSG, it is recommended, to plant in the fall after Thanksgiving,
after the first killing frost (Oct. 31 Piedmont-Nov. Coast) until the last killing frost in the spring
(March 15 on the coast, April 1 for most of the state, April 15 in the west). As soon as you have
the site prepared, you might want to plant winter annuals such as winter wheat, barley, and
ryegrass grain. Be cautious planting ryegrass, because it may re-seed and cause competition the

Rocky River Landing Phase I -Page 4 - March 8, 2007
next spring. NWSG's require to be pre-chilled in moist conditions at least two weeks at 40
degrees F (stratification). So November planting is fine.
There are some exceptions for planting in the spring before May. The exception is if you have
not eradicated all the non-natives or fescue. If you plant in the spring, you run the risk of loosing
the new seedlings to drought_ If you plant in the winter, it will give the grasses time to establish
a root system to be better prepared for potential dry times in spring or summer. It maybe
possible to apply herbicide on fescue in the spring, then plant immediately.
Fortis associated with Piedmont Prairies: Attached is a list of fortis for propagation
compiled by members of the partnership derived from the "Vascular Flora of Piedmont Prairies:
Evidence from Several Prairie Remnants" by Davis, et al. 2002. This document establishes a
good baseline of Piedmont prairie vegetation for reestablishment and identification. Please
notify me or Moni Bates, NC Plant Conservation Program, if you are interested in seed
collection and propagation.
Recommended Prairie Mixture: Below is a mixture recommended based on the list
mentioned above for planting five warm season grasses: big blue stem, little blue stem, Indian
grass, gama grass and switch grass (see rates below). When you mix it and add native
wildflowers, it will make your project more diverse and more like a natural prairie community.
For starting over, I recommend planting at b-8 pounds per acre of the following mixture of
NWSG:
1 pound of a switch grass (Panicum virgatum) (Plateau will injure), or
P. anceps =Beaked Panicum, P. clandestrnum = Deertongue,
2 pounds of big blue stem
2 pounds of little blue stem
2 pounds of Indian Grass
1 pound of Gama grass (Plateau will injure)
(Note: For forage production, higher rates are recommended).
A mixture that is compatible with Plateau or herbicides with the same chemical:
3 pounds of big blue stem
2 pounds of little blue stem
3 pounds of Indian Grass
For wildflowers: plant 1 pound per acre and mix it with the grass. I picked the following:
Butterfly milkweed, Purple coneflower, Coreopsis lanceolata, Coreopsis tinctoria (annual),
Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera) and black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
When developing and customizing a seed mixture, I recommend checking the local
county plant species list (if there is one) and Vascular Plants of the Carolinas for species
diversity, as well as consulting with botanists. The NC Botanical Garden is a good reference and
has a native seed source list of local commercial growers.

Rocky River Landing Phase I -Page 5 - March 8, 2007
Figure 1. Listed rare vascular plant species associated with Piedmont prairies and associated
communities (not all inclusive)
Common Name Scientific Name Status
Schweinitz's sunflower Helianthus schweinitzii Federall Endan ered
smooth coneflower Echinacea laevi ata Federall Endan ered
Geor ~a aster S h otrichum eor 'anum Federal S ies of Concern
Carolina. birdfoot-trefoil Lotus helleri Federal S cies of Concern
Tall larks ur Del hinium exaltatum Federal S ies of Concern
Butner Barbara's buttons Marshallia 1 Federal S ies of Concern
Heller's rabbit tobacco Gna halium helleri Si ~ sand rare-Pro sed
Carolina thistle Cirsium carolinianus Si cant] rare-Pro sed
Sessile Tick-trefoil Desmodium sessilifolium Si ~ficanil rare-Pro sed
Carolina thisfle Cirsium carolinianum Si ilicantl rare-Pro sed
Thick- white wild indi o Ba dsia albs Si 'ficantl rare-Pro sed
Thin- white wild indi o Ba tisia albescens Si 'sand rare-Pro
Smooth sunflower Helianthus laevi atus Si cant] rare-Pro sed
Earle's blazir- star Liatris uamilosa Si 'ficantl rare-Pro sed
Southeastern bold oldenrod Solidago ri 'da ss abrata Si ificantl rare-Pro sed ~
Prairie dock Sil hium terebinthinaceum Si 'ficani] rare-Proposed
Glade wild uinine Parthenium auriculatum Si 'ficantl rare-Threatened
Figure 2. NC Partners In Flight Priority Bird Species associated with prairie/grassland, shrub-
scrub, and savanna habitats (not all inclusive)
Prairie/Grassland Shrub-scrub Pine savanna
Henslow's ow Prairie warbler Red~ockaded wood esker
Bachman's ow American woodcock Bachman's ow
Northern bobwhite Northern bobwhite Brown-headed nuthatch
Lo erhead shrike Fields arrow Henslow's s arrow
Short-eared owl (winter, b) Eastern towhee Northern bobwhite
Barn owl Orchard oriole Summer tans er
Northern harrier (winter) Yellow-breasted chat American kestrel
Grassho r ow Gra catbird Red-headed wood cker
Eastern kin bird Common ellowthroat Northern flicker
Eastern meadowlark Brown thrasher Chuck will's widow
Sed a wren winter) White-e ed vireo Whi r-will
Dickcissel Willow fl catcher
Bobolink (mi t, b) Ve r ow (winter)
Horned lark (winter, ) Lo erhead shrike
Barn owl
NC sources are: Garrett Wildflower seed farm 919-818-4309 (Don Lee) ~.v~~w crnsisccn.com Adams Briscoe &
Sharpe Bro. for Americas Indian grass from Georgia. Contact NC Botanical Garden and ask for their nursery list.
Local plant information may be obtained by contacting Mr. Don Serriff at 704-336-8798 or 704-432-1391 with the
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department.

Rocky River Landing Phase I -Page 6 - March 8, 2007
Piedmont Stormwater Pond Planting Recommendations
Instead of using the typical fescue grasses, the upper interior and exterior of the structure should be planted with the
following mix to reduce thermal impacts and to restore some diminished wildlife habitats:
Spring/Summer Mixture, May 1-Sept. 15 Fa1UWinter Mixture, Sept. 15 -April 30
Browntop millet 20 Ibs/a Winter Wheat 1201bs/a
Kobe lespedeza 201bs/a Kobe lespedeza 201bs/a
Shrub lespedeza l lb/a Shrub lespedeza 1 lbla
Switchgrass* S lb/a Switehgrass* S lb/ac
Add to fall or spring plantings: `Tioga' Deertongue (Panicum clandestinum) at a rate of 71bs. Pure Live Seeds
(PLS) per acre.
* When possible on slopes less than 3:1 use Switchgrass instead of lespedezas and on slopes greater than 3:1 use
Orchard Grass or Creeping Red Fescue. Other native species may be appropriate depending on soil, slope, and
region. Korean lespedeza may be appropriate in colder geophysical areas. We do not recommend Sericea
lespedeza. Native plants and warm season grasses are preferred over exotic plants.
Add one of the following to the above mixture:
Creeping Red Fescue S lbs/acre
Ladino Clover** 5 lbs/acre
Atlantic Coastal Panic Grass S lbs/acre (PLS)
Alfalfa** S Ibs/acre (requires fertilizer containing Boron)
** Lime & fertilize disturbed areas according to MRCS soil test results and follow planting guidelines as appropriate
and necessary. Depending on elevation and region, other native species may be appropriate. Note that mowing
should be limited to late winter or early spring. Mowing should only occur as needed to prevent unwanted tree
growth on a 2-3 year schedule.
The provision of shade around impounded waters can significantly reduce thermal impacts. Trees and shrubs (1
year bare root seedlings) should be plazrted randomly at a minimal rate of 100 trees per acre on the top and upper
portions of the structure and at a minimal rate of 150 per acre around the normal water elevation and littoral shelf
area. The following list of tree species may assist in providing habitat benefits:
Loblolly Pine* Red Cedar Black Gum American Holly Dogwood
Hickory Sumac White Oak Willow Oak Red Maple** Oak
Viburnum Green Ash Ironwood Black Cherry Persimmon
Water Oak Spice Bush Willow (sp) Serviceberry
Swamp Chestnut Silky Dogwood
Other species may be utilized depending on site requirements and native plant availability. Pines* should not
exceed 15% of the reforestation. No more than 20% of the tree species will be of a single species. An 80% success
rate is acceptable over five years. Large or fast growing trees like Sycamore and Maple** may not be appropriate
near detention facility dams.
Additional planting suggestions and plant supply sources may be obtained from Stewardship biologist, Elizabeth
Hughes at [phone].