20091181 Ver 1_Information Letter_20091222

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0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
TO: Monte Matthews, NCDOT Coordinator
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office, USACE
FROM: Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Permit Coordinator COQ'"
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC

DATE: December 10, 2009
SUBJECT: Review of NCDOT's application for Section 404 and 401 permits to replace
Bridge Nos. 62, 68, and 70 on NC 194 over Bairds Creek, Watauga County,
North Carolina. TIP No. B-4315.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has submitted an application to obtain a_
Section 404 Permit from the U:S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and a 401 Water Quality
Certification from the Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). Staff biologists with the North
Carolina Wildlife. Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the information provided. . • .
These comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and the Fish and. Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as %
amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
The NCDOT proposes to replace three bridges over Bairds Creek along NC 194 with three
bottomless culverts. There will be 42 feet of permanent stream impacts from culvert fill, 186
feet of bank stabilization within the culverts, and 0.09 acres of temporary impacts. Brown trout
occur downstream in the lower reaches of Bairds Creek and in the Watauga River. The green.
Floater (Lasmigona subviridus), Federal Species of Concern and state Endangered, also occurs
downstream in the Watauga River. While we are not requiring a work moratorium for this
project, adherence to the most protective sediment and erosion control measures will be
important. We recommend the use of NCDOT's measures that include coir fiber logs, straw
wattles, and PAM (optional), if practicable, to meet the Design Standards in Sensitive
Watersheds. `
NCWRC can concur with the issuance of Section 404 and 401 permits provided that the
following conditions are implemented:
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
B-4315, 3 bridges on NC 194
Bairds Cr., Waiauga Co. -2- December 10, 2009
1. Sediment and erosion control measures shall adhere to the D?Standards in Sensitive
Watersheds and be strictly maintained until project completion.
2. Herbaceous vegetation shall be planted on all bare soil as soon as possible following the
completion of permanent or temporary ground disturbing activities to provide appropriate
loner term erosion control.
3. Tall fescue and straw mulch shall not be used in riparian areas. We encourage NCDOT
to utilize onsite vegetation and materials for bank stabilization when practicable. Erosion
control matting shall be used on steep slopes and for establishing permanent vegetation in
riparian areas and be well anchored with staples or wooden survey stakes and, whenever
possible, include live stakes of native trees.
4. Stormwater should be directed to buffer areas or retention basins and should not be
routed directly into the waterway.
5. Discharge of materials into the waterway from demolition of the old bridge should be .
avoided as much as practicable. Any mat'erials that inadvertently reach the water should ,
be removed.
6. The natural dimension, pattern; and profile of the waterway above and below the crossing
should not be modified by widening the channel or changing the depth of the waterway.
7. . Removal of vegetation in riparian,areas should be minimized.. Native trees and shrubs.
should be planted along the.banks, as appropriate to the setting, to reestablish the riparian
zone and to provide long-term erosion control.
8. Grading and backfilling should be minimized, and tree and shrub growth should be
retained if possible to ensure long term availability of shoreline cover for fish and
wildlife. Backfill materials should be obtained from upland sites.
9. Riprap placed for bank stabilization (outside of the culverts) should be limited to the
banks below the high water mark, and vegetation should be used for stabilization above
the high water elevation.
10. If concrete will be used during construction, work must be accomplished so that wet
(uncured) concrete does not contact surface waters. This will lessen the chance of
altering the water chemistry and causing a fish kill.
11. Discharging hydroseeding mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment
in or adjacent to surface waters is strictly prohibited.
12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the channel whenever
possible in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing
other pollutants into the waterway. All mechanized equipment operated near surface

B-4315, 3 bridges on NC 194
Bairds Cr., Watauga Co. `- 3 - _ December 10, 2009
waters should be inspected and maintained regularly to prevent contamination of surface
waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids or other toxic materials.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at [phone].
cc: 'Troy Wilson, USFWS
Amy Euliss, NCDWQ
Carla Dagnino, NCDOT
Elizabeth Lusk, NCDOT
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