SW3191204_Endangered Species Report_20200515

Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group
Leonard S. Rindner, PLLC.
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species
Evaluation
For: Old Charlotte Hwy -Brickyard Road
Union County, North Carolina
Charlotte Office:
10612-D Providence Rd.
PMB 550
Charlotte, NC 28277
[phone]
I en. ri nd ner@wet Ian ds -epg. co m
By: Lisa R. Gaffney
November 7, 2018
www.wetiands-epg.com
Ashesrile Office:
1070 Tunnel Rd., Bldg. I
Suite 10, PMB 283
Asheville, NC 28805

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
GENERAL LANDSCAPE DESCRIPTION:
The Old Charlotte Highway -Brick Yard Road site is 10.4 acres located just
northeast of Old Charlotte Hwy, and just northwest of Brickyard Road in Union
County, North Carolina. It can be found on the Matthews USGS Topographic
Quadrangle Map-, latitude is 35.0398 N, longitude is-80.6302 W. The site
consists of a homesite and old farm buildings, a large, open crop field and
wooded strip buffers along the property boundary. There is an overhead power
line right of way along Old Charlotte Hwy. The topography is essentially flat with
the elevation at 660 ft. (Figure 1).
Figure 1:
5-
f�
f _ t
P R]PERTV ROAN❑ARV 'r, '
3T 116V LIMITS _ '
LOCATION
.h _r
SCALE Lat: S.0�8 °N
1:24,000 Long:-80.6302 °W
USGSQUAD ACRES HLIC:03040105
1 Matthm� NC 10.4J LOWER ROCKY RIVER
Iiur.V �r� I �• _
FIGURE Na
CHARLOTTE HJVY-9RICKYARDRD
Drawn 19+:
Reviewed By:
g
Union Co., NC
NRN
LSR
i_iEr5LVECTT0L6ACEVE.VRCATCN
USGS MAP
DATE:
OF THE LJ S , -
6123/16
STINTCWATERS
IXISTING CO NORI6 PS STlJD1'
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group Leonard S. Rindner, PLLC.

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
METHODOLOGY:
The US Fish and Wildlife Service website
http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/union.htmI was referenced to
determine the occurrence of Threatened, Endangered and Protected species for
Union County North Carolina, the results of which are listed below (Table 1).
Maps and aerial photographs were assembled, and the site was investigated on
November 3, 2018.
Table 1: Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species listed for
Union County
County: Union, NC
*Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service
**Data search on October 29, 2018
Group Name Status Lead Office
Clams Carolina heelsplitter Endangered
Asheville
(Lasmi.gona
Ecological
decorata)
Services Field
Office
Flowering Schweinitz's Endangered
Asheville
Plants sunflower
Ecological
(Helianthus
Services Field
schweinitzii)
Office
Flowering Michaux's sumac Endangered Raleigh
Plants (Rhus michauxii) Ecological
Services Field
Office
Birds Bald Eagle Protected under the Great Lakes-
(Haliaeetus Bald and Golden Big Rivers
leucoce,nhalus) Eagle Protection Act Region (Region
3)
WEPG 3
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
Two plant species with federal protection are listed as potentially occurring in
Union County:
Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii), listed as Federally
Endangered, is typically found in open habitats which historically have
been maintained by wildfires and grazing bison and elk herds. Now most
occurrences are limited to roadsides, woodland and field edges, and utility
rights -of -way (ROW).
• Michaux's Sumac (Rhus michauxii), listed as Federally Endangered,
requires habitat of sandy forests and woodland edges. This species
requires periodic fire as a part of its ecology.
Two animal species with federal protection are listed as potentially occurring in
Union County:
• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), protected by the Bald and
Golden Eagle Protection Act, typically inhabits forested areas near large
bodies of open water such as lakes, marshes, seacoasts and rivers,
where there are suitable fish populations and tall trees for nesting and
roosting.
Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata), listed as Federally
Endangered, is restricted to cool, clean, well -oxygenated water. Stable,
silt- free stream beds are required for this species. Typically stable areas
occur where the stream banks are well -vegetated with trees and shrubs.
RESULTS:
The site consists of a homesite and old farm buildings, a large, open crop field
and wooded strip buffers along the property boundary. There is an overhead
power line right of way along Old Charlotte Hwy.
The crop field had been disked and was in sparse weeds at the time of
investigation. Edge and transitional habitat around the outbuildings, tree lines
and roadside feature Fescue (Festuca spp.), Orchard -grass (Dactylus spp.),
Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), Foxtail (Setaria spp.), Bushy Bluestem
(Andropogon glomeratus), Purple Top (Tridens flavus), Gamma Grass
(Tripsacum dactyloides), Ragwort (Packera sp.) Foxtail (Setaria sp.), Giant Cane
(Arundo donax), Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Goldenrod (Solidago sp.),
Beggars Ticks (Desmodium sp.), and Thoroughwort (Eupatorium sp.). Chinese
Privet (Ligustrum sinense) is the dominant shrub. Vines present are Japanese
Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans), and
Catbrier (Smilax sp.).
WEPG 4
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group Leonard S. Rindner, PLLC.

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
Small to medium size trees along the property lines are Post Oak (Quercus
stellata), Willow Oak (Q. phellos), Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata), Red Cedar
(Juniperus virginiana), Black Gum (Nyssa sy/vatica), Black Cherry (Prunus
serotina), and Winged Elm (U/mus a/ata). Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
seedlings are aggressively invading the strip buffers and edges.
The roadsides and power line right of way are maintained by frequent mowing
and are dominated by mixed turf grasses.
Threatened & Endangered/Protected Species Results
• All potential habitats for Schweinitiz's Sunflower and Michaux's Sumac
along the woodlines, roadside, power line and field edges were closely
examined. No individuals of Schweinitz's Sunflower or Michaux's Sumac
were observed.
• There is no Bald Eagle habitat on site, and no eagles or eagle's nests
were observed.
• There is no suitable habitat on site for Carolina Heelsplitter. No mussels
were observed during the survey nor would any be expected on -site.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Based on the site investigation and the review of available data, WEPG did not
identify any protected species occurring on the subject property. No further
investigation of the presence of protected species on this site is recommended at
this time.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa R. Gaffney
Biologist
November 7, 2018
5
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
Curriculum Vitae for:
Lisa R. Gaffney
Biologist/ Botanist
B.S. Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Ms. Gaffney is a classically trained botanist and natural resource biologist, and
has conducted field work and investigative studies covering thousands of
cumulative acres in both North and South Carolina since 1996, including:
• Cabarrus County NC Natural Heritage Inventory 1997-1998. Organized,
directed, and worked in field survey of natural areas in Cabarrus County
for the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.
• Lincoln County NC Natural Heritage Inventory 2000-2001. Organized,
directed, and worked in field survey of natural areas in Lincoln County for
the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.
• Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys and Natural Communities
Evaluation for over 45,000 acres in North and South Carolina, 1996 -
present.
• Located and identified at least six previously unreported populations of
Federally Endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii).
• Located and identified four previously unreported populations of
Threatened Dwarf Heartleaf (Hexastylis nanif/ora).
• Located a previously unknown population of Federally Endangered
Schweinitz's Sunflower at Redlair Farm in Gaston County, NC. This
discovery led (in part) to the purchase of the site by the State of North
Carolina Plant Conservation Program, now called Redlair Preserve. This
population has become a Recovery Site for the species.
Participated in numerous Piedmont Prairie restoration projects in
Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus and Gaston Counties, North Carolina.
6
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
Figure 2: VICINTIY MAP
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group
Leonard S. Rindner, PLLC.

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
Figure 3: USGS MAP
� - • SOUTH PERK yf a.,
�_�J5 CROOKED CR EEK _ -
I
5 G
'•r-.
-Aft� }
ff +
3r..v
!e
40
IL
_ 5
P RO P ERT Y ROU N DAIRY
STUDY LIMITS
'.y LOCATION
SCALE Lat: 33.0398 °N
1:24,000 Lang:-80.6302 9W
��' LISGSQUAD ACRES HUC:03040105
Matthw� NC 10.40 LCWERROvKY RNER
FIGURE Na OLD CHAIRLOTTE HJIlY-6RICKYAIRd RD drawn By: Reviewed By:
3 Union CD., NC NRN LSR
USGS MAP WATE PS
a4TE:
- TINGCO DITHESS,- gf 3fig
EXISTING CC+NdfTIdNSSTUQY
S L&ECTTO LCACP VE.URCA TEN
WEPG 8
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group Leonard S. Rindner, PLLC.

Old Charlotte Hwy Brick Yard Road
Threatened / Endangered / Protected Species Evaluation
Figure 4: AERIAL MAP
PROI ECT SOU NDA RY
STUDY LIMITS
z r ;0w 'oia
1
XGURE NO.
4
.`�i3=53tiii
4'
Imo'
OLD CHARLOTTE HWY-BRICK YARD RD T)"wn ByReviewcd
Union Co., NC NRN LSR
DATE;:
AERIAL MAP
-WATERS DF THE U.S.- 8123/18
EXISTING CONDITIONS STUDY
SUBJECT TO USACEINCOE4 VEROC4TJ0N
Wetlands and Environmental Planning Group Leonard S. Rindner, PLLC.