20200520 Ver 1_Biological Assesment_20200512

Strickland, Bev
From: Simon Gregg <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 10:58 AM
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Homewood, Sue; [e-mail]; Katie Lokey; Wells, Emily N
Subject: [External] Re: Request for Additional Information - Madison Fish Habitat Restoration
Project, Madison, Rockingham County; SAW-2019-00361
Attachments: Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project Biological Assesment.pdf
External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
[e-mail]
Good Morning Mr. Bailey,
We may have had some confusion when submitting the PCN and are not sure whether or not we included the
Biological Assessment as part of the original PCN application. I am attaching the BA now, please let me know
if there is additional information needed.
Thank you for your assistance,
SG
On Fri, May 8, 2020 at 3:30 PM Simon Gregg <sgregg kbeng.org> wrote:
Hello Mr. Bailey,
Please find the attached edited Notes sheet for the Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project Phase 1.
Per your request,
1. We have added a line to the narrative specifying that disturbed wetland areas will be restored upon
project completion, and
2. Included a note set " Wetland Restoration Plan" specifying the methods of soil decompaction, vegetation
reestablishment, and soil stabilization.
Please let me know if additional edits or information are needed.
Thank you,
Simon Gregg, EIT, LEED Green Associate
Ecological Engineer
[phone] (c)
sgregg@KBE g.org
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Simon Gregg, EIT, LEED Green Associate
Ecological Engineer
[phone] (c)
sgregg KBEng.org

Streamlined Consultation Guidance for Restoration/Recovery Projects (RRP):
Format for the Biological Evaluation/Assessment
The attached biological evaluation/assessment (BE/BA) was developed pursuant to the Fish and
Wildlife Service's Streamlined Consultation Guidance for Restoration/Recovery Projects. The
BE/BA meets all of the criteria for an expedited consultation process set forth in that policy
document.
Kris Bass Engineering hereby requests expedited formal consultation for the Madison Fish
Habitat Restoration Project.
Signature of Requesting Action Agency Official Date

Biological Evaluation/Assessment
Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project
Prepared and Submitted by:
Kris Bass Engineering

I. Description of the Proposed Restoration/Recovery Action
A. Description of the Restoration/Recovery Obiective(s)
1. Briefly describe the restoration and specific recovery action (citing source document when
applicable) and its intended beneficial impact to the species.
The Lindsey Bridge Dam is a low -head structure on the Dan River located approximately 3
miles upstream of its confluence with the Mayo River in Rockingham County, NC. The dam was
constructed in 1972 and is in disrepair and at risk of failure, according to dive surveys completed
in late 2017 (see Appendix A for photos). The 11-ft tall dam is a barrier to fish passage as well as
a safety hazard to recreational users of the Dan. The water intake for the Town of Madison is
located directly upstream of the dam, prohibiting complete removal. Instead, a series of weir
passages, in addition to partial removal of the dam, have been proposed to enable the
movement of fish species upstream and to improve the safety of the area. The project has
received funding and assistance from multiple agencies, including grants from the North
Carolina Division of Water Resources and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and
assistance from the Town of Madison, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission, as well as other partners.
The Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) is a federally endangered fish found only in the Roanoke,
Chowan and Dan watersheds in Virginia and North Carolina (USFWS 1992). In -stream barriers to
flow, including the Lindsey Bridge Dam, are a significant blockage to aquatic species migration
and have contributed to the fragmentation of the logperch population. The creation of a fish
passage over and upstream of the dam would re -connect over 300,000 linear feet of river and
allow fish species, including the Roanoke logperch, access to many miles of additional habitat
and fragmented population connectivity.
The recovery goals for the Roanoke logperch, listed in the 1992 USFWS recovery plan, are as
follows.
1. Preserve present populations and presently used habitats
2. Search for additional populations and/or habitat suitable for enhancement or
reintroduction efforts
3. Determine the feasibility of reestablishing the logperch in historical habitat and
reintroduce where feasible
4. Conduct studies necessary for the species' management and recovery
S. Implement management where needed through habitat improvement programs
6. Monitor population levels and habitat conditions.
7. Periodically assess the overall success of the recovery program and recommend actions.
In addition to these goals, the NCWRC and USFWS developed a Cooperative Restoration Plan in
2014 to address the restoration needs of the Roanoke logperch (NCWRC and USFWS 2014).
These goals include:
1. Expansion to high quality habitats presently unoccupied (or occupied at levels

sufficiently low to preclude detection) within the historic range of the species
2. Augmentation in drainages where existing numbers of Roanoke logperch present are
insufficient to assure continued viability of the population.
The Plan also addresses the benefit of removing barriers that impede logperch movement,
though notes that such projects are beyond the scope of the Plan. The Upper Dan River, above
Lindsey Bridge Dam, is specifically noted as a candidate site for expansion.
The Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project addresses the recovery goals listed above. Barriers
to fish passage like the Lindsey Bridge Dam are a major contributor to the decline of the
Roanoke logperch (USFWS 1992). The proposed passage will improve habitat conditions and
restore access to an additional 48 miles of stream habitat upstream of the dam. This will
potentially expand the range of the Roanoke logperch by 38 miles from its current USFWS-
designated range (USFWS ECOS).
2. Include a description of anticipated habitat improvements, and/or expected increases in
species fitness, survivorship, etc. that are consistent with the recovery needs of the species.
The Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project will remove a significant barrier to the Roanoke
logperch and restore connectivity to fragmented upstream populations of the species. Genetic
sampling has determined that the Roanoke logperch is a highly mobile species, and that the
species has only recently been segmented by the large-scale construction of barriers in the last
century. The results of this research have suggested that that the recovery of the species may
require genetic or demographic reconnection of currently isolated populations (Roberts et al.
2013). Restoring connectivity between logperch populations will improve genetic diversity and
potentially expand the range of the fish, increasing the odds of species survivorship in the event
of a stochastic event.
Currently, logperch are not found in the impoundment area of the Lindsey Bridge Dam. The
westernmost extent of the logperch's range in the North Carolina reach of the Dan River is the
confluence with Town Fork Creek, roughly 10 miles upstream of the dam (USFWS ECOS). The
fish passage will reconnect populations of logperch currently separated by the dam, and
potentially allow the fish to expand its range upstream. Additionally, bank stabilization
measures within the project area will help reduce incoming sediment, lowering the risk of
siltation in logperch habitat downstream of the dam.
Explain why there is a high certainty that implementation of the proposed action is likely to
achieve its intended restoration/recovery objective under the second Criterion for Inclusion.
This explanation should rely on either a proven track record or a high level of certainty that
the habitat improvements are likely to cause the desired species response.
In -stream rock structures are commonly used to allow anadromous fish species to bypass dams
or other in -stream barriers to flow. Less data exists on the ability of smaller, non -jumping fish
such as logperch to pass these structures. However, a rock ramp structure in Australia was very
2

successful in allowing the passage of small fish along the Bremer River. A 5-day monitoring study
following construction captured over 3,500 fish passing upstream of the structure, with a
median size of just over 1 inch (Catchment Solutions 2017). Another project on the Gunnison
River in Colorado involved a boat and fish passage with multiple channels. The design combined
a confined boulder fishway, a boat passage, and a multi -slot baffled fishway for smaller fish
while preserving an upstream irrigation canal diversion (McLaughlin Whitewater 2017). Aspects
such as boulder configuration and slope from these successful projects were used to help
determine the ideal design to allow smaller fish to pass upstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam.
To ensure that the fish structures are suited to the swimming capabilities of the Roanoke
logperch, field data was collected to determine suitable drops in elevation that would allow
logperch to successfully travel through the fish passage. Previous surveys by NC WRC and US
FWS have determined that logperch are present both upstream and downstream of a nearby
rock outcropping on the Mayo River, indicating that they are able to successfully swim upstream
of these obstacles. The fish passages were designed to replicate the elevation drops and widths
of these structures to allow successful upstream passage of the Roanoke logperch.
The proposed fishway includes three separate passages: two rock structures designed for fish
and an open area intended for boats (Appendix B). The two fish structures each incorporate a
different design to maximize fish passage during a variety of flow rates and conditions as well as
to allow a range of fish species and ages to pass. USFWS and WRC biologists have expressed
support for this design.
One of the most important indicators of fish passage success is velocity. As such, extensive
hydrologic modeling was incorporated into the design process to determine the ideal boulder
configuration to create velocities within the Roanoke logperch's burst swimming speed of 3-5
ft/second. Each design iteration was modelled using the Army Corps of Engineer's HEC-RAS two-
dimensional river modelling program and assessed for water depth and maximum velocity.
4. Describe over what time frame the conservation benefits of the proposed action are
expected to accrue.
Following construction, the rock weir structures will be immediately accessible to the Roanoke
logperch and other fish species in the Dan River. Logperch will be able to travel through the
weirs at baseflow conditions throughout the year. Upstream migration is expected to take place
gradually in the years following construction.
B. Define the Action Area
Construction activities will occur in approximately 900 ft of the Dan River immediately downstream
of Lindsey Bridge Dam during the assembly of the weir structures, partial removal of the dam, and
stabilization of adjacent stream banks. Machinery will also be present immediately upstream of the
dam during construction. A portion of the dam will be lowered to allow the weir installation, slightly
lowering the water level in the upstream impoundment. This may indirectly impact the

impoundment by potentially returning a small amount of impounded area in the upstream reach to
its shallower, free -flowing state. An approximate project timeline is as follows:
• Staging of equipment and materials — Spring/Summer 2020
• Construction — Mid-summer/Fall 2020
o Construction activities include:
■ Assembly of rock weir structures
■ Partial removal/lowering of Lindsey Bridge Dam
■ Stabilization of adjacent streambanks
Construction will occur after the logperch's sensitive spawning period from March to June to reduce
the risk of disturbance. A mid- to late -summer timeframe will allow construction equipment to
access the entire width of the river channel, as well as reduce the downstream extent of any
increase in turbidity due to low summer flow rates.
C. Description of How the Proiect Will Be Implemented
Table 1 describes the federal agencies involved in permitting and approving the Madison Fish
Habitat Restoration Project.
Table 1. Federal agencies participating in Lindsev Bridge Fish Passa£e
Associated Permits/
Federal Agency
Required Action
Status
submittals
US Fish and Wildlife
ESA Section 7
Submittal of Biological
Submitted
Service
Consultation
Assessment
Nationwide Permit 27
Receipt of appropriate
US Army Corps of
—Aquatic Habitat
permits prior to
Submitted
Engineers
Enhancement
construction
North Carolina
Submittal of No -Rise
Department of Public
No -Rise Certification
report and supporting
Submitted
Safety
data
Table 2 lists project activities that are likely to have a temporary or long-term effect on the Roanoke
logperch.
Table 2. Proiect actions and potential impacts to Roanoke logperch.
Potential
Description of Potential Impact to
effect on
Project Activity
Activity Description
Species
Roanoke
Logperch
Staging of equipment
Erosion control devices will be
and material near the
installed prior to construction to
Erosion and
dam and installation
reduce the risk of sedimentation
May affect, not
sediment
of erosion and
within the channel. Equipment and
likely to
control/equipment
sediment control
materials will be placed near the
adversely
staging
measures. Erosion
construction site. All erosion
affect
control materials will
control measures and staging areas
be maintained during
are located in upland areas.
4

construction.
Boulders and rock will be placed in
the river channel to raise the water
elevation in steps. Seven structures
are proposed downstream of the
dam to allow the logperch passage
over the dam and restore access to
Installation of rock
nearly 50 miles of river.
Assembly of in-
fishway and boat
Construction activities may cause a
Will likely
stream rock
passage to facilitate
temporary increase in turbidity.
cause adverse
structures
upstream passage of
Any existing logperch habitat in the
effects
fish.
900 ft downstream of the dam may
be permanently affected by the
installation of the rock structures.
Temporary siltation of downstream
logperch habitat is possible during
construction, but it is likely that
any accumulated sediment will be
cleared following the next rainfall.
A 60-ft section in the
center of the dam will
Lowering a section of the dam,
be lowered by
combined with the downstream
Partial removal of
approximately 2 ft.
weir structures, will allow logperch
Lindsey Bridge
Boulders will be
to access additional habitat
May benefit
Dam
cemented in the
upstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam.
lowered area to
Construction activities may cause a
create a weir passage
temporary increase in turbidity.
structure.
Banks will be graded
Currently eroding streambanks
Bank stabilization
on both sides of the
adjacent to the rock structures will
and vegetation
river and stabilized
be regraded and planted with
May benefit
with vegetation
native species to reduce the risk of
erosion and siltation.
D. Conservation Measures
Erosion and sediment control measures will be followed within the project area to minimize any
temporary adverse effects to the Roanoke logperch or logperch habitat. Silt fences will be installed
along staging and dewatering areas to avoid excess siltation. A construction entrance will be used by
all machinery. During construction, temporary coffer dams and pumps will be utilized whenever
possible to route water around the current work area and minimize increases in turbidity. All
erosion control measures will be inspected regularly to ensure effectiveness.
The construction window has been designed to minimize adverse effects to the Roanoke logperch.
Construction is expected to begin in mid -summer, following the logperch's spawning season from
March to June. In -stream activities will occur during low summer flows of 200-300 cfs to reduce the
downstream effects of increases in turbidity caused by construction equipment in the channel.
5

E. Monitoring and Reporting Plan
Fish and mussel populations will be monitored pre and post restoration by NC WRC. Monitoring wil
include relative abundance of all fish species and mussel abundance, including rare aquatic species,
for a minimum of three years post construction. WRC will also lead in -stream surveys for rare
aquatics prior to and following implementation of the project.
II. Status of the Species and Critical Habitat in the Action Area- Environmental Baseline
SPECIES LISTING STATUS
Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex) Endangered
A. Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex)
The Roanoke logperch is endemic only to the upper Roanoke and Chowan watersheds in Virginia
and the upper Dan watershed in North Carolina. Over the last century, its habitat has been
fragmented by the construction of several dams within these watersheds (Roberts et al. 2013).
Barriers to free flow such as dams prohibit the exchange of genetic material between
populations and can be detrimental to the survival of a population in the case of a bottleneck or
stochastic event. The proposed fish passage will allow logperch to access habitat upstream of the
dam and impoundment, reconnect populations, and potentially enable the logperch to expand
its range upstream.
One of the main threats to the Roanoke logperch is streambed sedimentation (USFWS 1992).
Logperch feed by flipping gravel or other small substrate with their snouts and consuming the
insects found underneath. Excessive sediment in a stream bed will bury the logperch's food
source in addition to endangering eggs and larvae. Sediment is currently trapped behind Lindsey
Bridge Dam and within its impoundment. However, as the dam will not be fully removed, much
of this sediment will remain in place and will not affect any existing logperch habitat downstream
of the dam. Currently eroding streambanks downstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam are actively
contributing sediment to the river and may be affecting existing logperch habitat. These areas
will then be stabilized with erosion control matting and replanted with native species. These
measures may provide long-term benefits to the logperch by removing a source of
sedimentation.
B. Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex) Critical Habitat
No federally designated critical habitat exists within the Action Area.
III. Effects of the Action and Cumulative Effects
A. Roanoke Logperch
Potential adverse effects to the Roanoke logperch are expected to be temporary and small in scale.
Temporary construction activities near Lindsey Bridge Dam may cause any logperch in the area to
relocate further downstream. An increase in turbidity is possible due to construction activities and
placement of boulders in the channel. Erosion control measures outlined in section 11) will minimize
siltation of the project area during construction.
0

Minimal take, if any, is expected as a result of the project. Construction will happen outside of the
spawning period for the Roanoke logperch to avoid impacting eggs and larvae. It is possible, but
unlikely, that incidental take could occur as boulders are being placed. Temporary coffer dams and
pumps will help minimize this risk. Any take will be limited and very unlikely to have population -
level effects.
The installation of seven fish passage weirs on the Dan River will raise the water level in
approximately 900 feet of river downstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam. As a result, any existing
logperch habitat in this area will be permanently affected, and possibly lost. However, the fish
passage will permanently allow logperch, as well as other species, to access an additional 48 miles
of river upstream of the dam. The benefit of this newly accessible habitat should far outweigh the
small area lost in the project footprint. Bank stabilization measures within the project area will also
help lessen siltation in the Dan River and reduce the possibility of burying logperch habitat. This will
have a beneficial effect on downstream habitat areas as well as within the project boundary.
The beneficial cumulative effects of the Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project, such as restoring
access to 48 miles of river and habitat areas and reducing the risk of siltation of existing habitats,
will likely increase population numbers and improve the fitness and survivability of the Roanoke
logperch. These effects should outweigh the temporary adverse effects and small amount of
habitat loss caused by the installed structures.
B. Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex) Critical Habitat
No federally designated critical habitat exists within the Action Area.
IV. Conclusion - Determination of Effect
The Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project is likely to have an overall and long-term beneficial
effect on the Roanoke logperch. Temporary construction activities as previously described may
adversely affect local logperch populations, and the construction of rock weirs in 900 feet
downstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam may eliminate logperch habitat in the immediate project area.
Short-term adverse effects are possible within the project footprint and for a short distance
downstream during construction but will be prevented where possible by best management
practices. Despite these small-scale effects on the logperch population, the fish passage project will
allow logperch and other species to travel over the Lindsey Bridge Dam and allow access to 48 miles
of river and reconnect currently fragmented populations, providing permanent, long-term benefits
to the Roanoke logperch.
V. List of References and Personal Communications
Burkhead, N.M. 1983. Ecological studies of two potentially threatened fishes (the orangefin
madtom, Noturus gilberti, and the Roanoke logperch, Percina rex) endemic to the Roanoke River
drainage. Report to Wilmington District Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, NC. 155 pp.
Catchment Solutions. 2017. Bremer River (Berrys Weir) rock ramp fishway. Accessed November
2019. https://catchmentsolutions.com.au/projects/bremer-river-berrys-weir-rock-ramp-fishway/
McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group. 2017. Gunnison River Hartland Dam: Delta, CO. Accessed
7

November 2019. https://mclaughlinwhitewater.com/projects/gunnison-river/
NCWRC and USFWS. 2014. Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) Cooperative Restoration Plan.
Roberts, J. H., Angermeier, P. L. and Hallerman, E. M. 2013. Distance, dams and drift: What
structures populations of an endangered, benthic stream fish? Freshwater Biology, 58: 2050-2064.
doi:10.1111/fwb.12190
Roberts, J. H. and Strickland, G. S. 2017. Population genetics of Roanoke logperch in North Carolina.
Submitted to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, NC.
Rosenberger, A. E. and Angermeier, P. L. 2002. Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex) Population Structure
and Habitat Use. Final Report. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Blacksburg VA.
USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1992. Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) recovery plan. USFWS,
Region Five
US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. Roanoke Logperch 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation.
USFWS, Gloucester, Virginia.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation Online System. Roanoke Logperch Species
Profile. Accessed January 2020. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=E01G
VI. List of Appendices
Appendix A: Site Photographs
Appendix B: Site Maps
W

Appendix A
Site Photographs
Photo 1. Lindsey Bridge Dam facing upstream
Photo 2. Lindsey Bridge Dam facing downstream.
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Photo 5. Downstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam.
Photo 6. Impoundment upstream of Lindsey Bridge Dam.
11

------------
SCHEMATIC
Appendix B
Project Maps
Figure 1. Schematic of Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project

Location Map
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www.kbeng.org KRIS BASS
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Kris Bass Engineering Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project Phase 2
www.kbeng.org KRIS BASS
919.960.1552 Rockingham County, NC E N G I N E E R I N G

Project Area
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Kris Bass Engineering Madison Fish Habitat Restoration Project Phase 2
www.kbeng.org KRIS BASS
919.960.1552 Rockingham County, NC E N G I N E E R I N G