20191748 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20200519

Homewood, Sue
From: Leslie, Andrea J
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:42 AM
To: Fuemmeler, Amanda J CIV (US); Adam Williams
Cc: Homewood, Sue
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] Twin Rivers Revisions
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
If side channel work is done in the dry, I have no issues with them working during the Aug 15-Nov 30
moratorium. Strict erosion and sediment control is essential during that time, however.
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-803-6054 (office)
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.orL,
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From: Fuemmeler, Amanda J CIV (US) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 2:29 PM
To: Adam Williams <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Cc: Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] Twin Rivers Revisions
External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
[e-mail]
Andrea/Sue,
I have looked at the revised plans and they reflect what was discussed in the field last week and am fine with the
phasing boundaries. My concern was with the 'side channels' and looking at options for trying to keep some vernal pool
habitat in those if possible versus completely filling without jeopardizing the goal of keeping the river from further
widening/blowing out/through here when high flows access the floodplain. We also discussed the hell bender
moratorium and that work in the river/main channel would be completed prior to Aug 15t" but that the side channel
work would likely continue past Aug. 15th. Let me know if that sounds good or might be an issue.

Sue with regards to impact calculations, I'm planning on calling those side channels open water impacts (versus PCN calls
out 291 linear feet of stream channel) so if Adam/Josselyn can just get an acreage estimate for those then I'm good with
that if you are.
So basically at this point once I get the open water impact calculations and Andrea's letter, I'm ready to issue unless
anything I've missed.
Amanda
828-271-7980 ext. 4225
From: Adam Williams <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 2:01 PM
To: 'Leslie, Andrea J' <[e-mail]>
Cc: Fuemmeler, Amanda J CIV (US) <[e-mail]>; 'Homewood, Sue' <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] Twin Rivers Revisions
Hello Andrea, Amanda, and Sue,
Attached find the updated plans per Andrea's suggestions (no longer contradictory legend —the cross hatching now
states "Riparian Planting") and per our meeting with Amanda yesterday.
Thanks,
Adam Williams, PWS
Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc.
10565 Highway 421 South
Trade, Tennessee 37691
ph: 423.727.4476
cell: 828.773.3820
Blockedwww.bfec.org
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't --you're right." - Henry Ford
From: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 11:36 AM
To: Adam Williams <[e-mail]>
Cc: Amanda Fuemmeler (amanda.*[e-mail]1) <amanda.*[e-mail]>; Homewood, Sue
<[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [External] Twin Rivers Revisions

Hi Adam,
I've taken a look at the revised plans. I have a question about the key. You've got'bank grading/ground
disturbance' in orange now. And there is a hatching in the detailed sheets (3-18 to 8-18) that denotes
'benching, grading, and planting', which is basically the entire length of the project on both sides. Can you
clarify what the hatching represents? When I was in the field with Josselyn, she noted that it really meant any
or all of 'benching, grading, and planting' (like it could only mean planting). If it really only means planting,
can you change this in the plan set?
Thanks,
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-803-6054 (office)
828-400-4223 (cell)
Blockedwww.ncwildlife. org
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From: Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 11:07 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: [External] Twin Rivers Revisions
I wasn't there yesterday so if you have questions before you can submit your comments then call either Amanda or
Adam.
Sue Homewood
Division of Water Resources, Winston Salem Regional Office
Department of Environmental Quality
336 776 9693 office
336 813 1863 mobile
Sue. [e-mail]
450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300
Winston Salem NC 27105

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From: Adam Williams <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 10:58 AM
To: Fuemmeler, Amanda J CIV (US) <[e-mail]>; Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>
Cc: 'John Welfare' <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Twin Rivers Revisions
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Hello Amanda & Sue,
Attached please find the Twin Rivers design revisions per yesterday's meeting including:
• Project Phasing is depicted in the plan set (sheet 2/18),
• Rock sills have been re -arranged to create more of a floodplain sill. Note in sheet 2/18 — BFEC staff will stake out
the location of the rock sills as to minimize tree loss.
• Vernal pool is shown to be excavated in the larger secondary channel (sheet 5/18),
• Smaller secondary channel: 1) location is now more accurately depicted; 2) Fill hatching was lost in the smaller,
backwater secondary channel (per Amanda's field comments),
• Small rock sill placed in entrance of secondary channel (also redrawn more accurately which ties to Watauga
River) as to stop head cutting.
We expect no changes to the PCN in terms of impact lengths, etc.
If you would, let me know you received this and if you have any questions. Thanks,
Adam Williams, PWS
Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc.
10565 Highway 421 South
Trade, Tennessee 37691
ph: 423.727.4476
cell: 828.773.3820
Blockedwww.bfec.org [bfec.orgl
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't --you're right." - Henry Ford

ltl North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
May 15, 2020
Ms. Amanda Fuemmeler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Twin Rivers POA Watauga River Streambank Stabilization
Watauga River, Watauga County
Dear Ms. Fuemmeler:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 3,101 ft of the Watauga River, permanently fill 291 ft of stream and 0.013
acre of wetland, and temporarily impact 0.177 acre of wetland in Watauga County. NCWRC
staff attended a site visit meeting with applicant and design firm on April 28, 2020. Our
comments on this application are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean
Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401,
as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
Project activities should not be detrimental to wild trout reproduction and do not need to be
avoided during the trout moratorium. However, the Watauga River is recognized by the NC
Natural Heritage Program as the Watauga River Aquatic Habitat, rated High for the richness of
rare species it contains. This part of the Watauga River supports the Eastern Hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US Federal Species of Concern, NC Special Concern). There is
a reproducing population of these animals in the vicinity of the project, and we request that
project construction activities be avoided from August 15 to November 30 to avoid impacts to
Eastern Hellbender breeding, nesting, and hatchling development.
The application proposes to stabilize a reach of the Watauga River with bank sloping, planting,
and a series of in -stream structures, including j-hooks, cross vanes, rock vanes, single wing
deflectors, and root wads. The project is phased, with Phase 1 involving work on approximately
1,000 ft in order to divert flows from a side channel, and Phase 2 consisting of a longer reach of
the river. Phase 1 would involve filling in the side channel and installing a series of rock sills to
maintain grade. A temporary pool would be excavated within the old side channel. Work will be
done from the bank as much as possible, but in -stream access will be necessary. According to
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Twin Rivers POA Stabilization Page 2 May 19, 2020
Watauga River, Watauga County
Josselyn Lucas of Brushy Fork Environmental, heavy equipment will not be walked through the
channel between structures. Flows should be diverted around work areas.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
The project description notes that disturbed areas will be stabilized each day; this is
important at this site.
2. Work should be done at low flows, and flows diverted around in -stream work areas to
minimize fine sediment loss to the stream.
3. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
4. A moratorium of August 15 to November 30 should be applied to the in -stream work on this
project in order to protect hellbender reproduction.
5. The site should be surveyed for the Eastern Hellbender just before the project begins; animals
should be relocated well outside of the project area. The project manager should reach out to
Lori Williams (lori.williams&ncwildlife.org ) and Andrea Leslie
(andrea.leslie(abncwildlife.ori) at least three weeks before construction begins.
6. Shelter rocks potentially used by hellbenders should be left undisturbed during construction
activities. Shelter rocks are typically large flat rocks at least a foot in diameter.
7. Project staff should be on site during in -stream activities to watch for hellbenders. If animals
are disturbed during construction, they should be captured in a bucket and moved away from
the area of disturbance into Boone Fork, just above the confluence with the Watauga River.
Please notify Lori Williams if hellbenders are found.
8. The design firm should be on site frequently to oversee project work, especially work
involving structure installation.
9. We strongly recommend using a contractor with stream restoration experience.
10. We recommend that a woody buffer as wide as possible (we recommend at least 30 feet) be
planted on the stream as infrastructure allows in order to ensure project success. A wide
forested buffer can ensure greater bank stability, filter overland pollutants, and provide
habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Josselyn Lucas and Adam Williams, Brushy Fork Environmental
Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Kin Hodges and Lori Williams, NCWRC