20200516 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20200604

1�1 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
June 4, 2020
Ms. Amanda Fuemmeler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Silver Line Park
French Broad River and wetlands, Buncombe County
Dear Ms. Fuemmeler:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to construct a public park and boat access on the French Broad River, permanently
impacting 241 ft of the river and 0.17 acre of wetland in Buncombe County. 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).
This project should not affect trout and the activities do not need to be avoided during the trout
spawning moratorium. However, the French Broad River supports Appalachian Elktoe
(Alasmidonta raveneliana, US and NC Endangered). Due to the sensitivity of this species to fine
sediments, it is essential that excellent erosion and sediment control be maintained during the
project.
The project involves the construction of a greenway, walking path, drive and parking lot,
playground, and boat ramp. It involves stormwater management features, such as a stormwater
wetland and enhanced swale and native species planting across the site. The boat ramp will
accommodate all types of boats. A boulder toe will be placed on 188 ft of the French Broad
River, and a boat ramp will be constructed so that its terminus will meet the bed of the river,
impacting 53 ft of the river.
We ask that the applicant reach out to and Luke Etchison (luke.etchison&ncwildlik,.M) at least
3 weeks before construction begins, so that the area of impact may be surveyed for mussels.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Silver Line Park Page 2 June 4, 2020
French Broad R, Buncombe County
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.
Disturbed areas should be seeded, mulched and/or matted as soon as possible.
2. Contact Luke Etchison (luke.etchisonkncwildlife.org) at least 3 weeks before construction
begins.
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: Owen Carson, Equinox Engineering
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Luke Etchison, Jeff Ferguson, and Scott Loftis, NCWRC