20161200 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20200715

Strickland, Bev
From: Munzer, Olivia
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 7:01 AM
To: Davis, Erin B; Kim Browning; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US)
Subject: Millstone Creek Mitigation Project PCN
Attachments: NCWRC Comments -Millstone Creek Mitigation Site - Randolph.pdf
Good morning,
I've attached the comments from the environmental review for the Millstone Creek Mitigation Project. FYI.
Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Rogers Depot
1718 NC Hwy 56 W
Creedmoor, NC 27522
Office: 919-707-0364
Cell: 336-269-0074
[e-mail]>;
www.ncwildlife.or>;
INN
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

� North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission �
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
28 May 2020
Ms. Melonie Allen
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Subject: Request for Project Review and Comments
Millstone Creek Mitigation Site
Randolph County, North Carolina.
Dear Ms. Allen,
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) received your request to
review and comment on any possible concerns regarding the Millstone Creek Mitigation Site. Biologists
with NCWRC have reviewed the provided documents. Comments are provided in accordance with
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667e) and
North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 113-131 et seq.).
The Millstone Creek Mitigation Site is located east of NC Highway 22 South and south of Willie Burgess
Road near Ramseur, Randolph County, North Carolina. The approximately 18-acre site occurs within an
existing cattle pasture. The mitigation project will occur along unnamed tributaries to Millstone Creek
and Millstone Creek in the Cape Fear River basin. The proposed project will enhance and restore 3,576
linear feet of streams and enhance 1.32 acres of riparian wetland.
We have records for the state threatened triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata) and notched rainbow
(Villosa constricta), and state significantly rare eastern creekshell mussel (V. delumbis) downstream of
the site in the Deep River and its tributaries. Flat bullhead (Ameiurusplatycephalus) and snail bullhead
(A. brunneus) are N.C. Species of Greatest Conservation Need that are known to occur in Millstone
Creek. The state special concern Greensboro burrowing crayfish (Cambarus catagius) has been
documented in portions of Randolph County; however, the full extent of its distribution in this watershed
is unknown due to lack of targeted surveys. The Greensboro burrowing crayfish has been found in all
types of soils from sandy loams to hard clay and burrows are not usually directly associated with any
drainage or stream flow (McGrath 1994). The lack of records from the site does not imply or confirm the
absence of federal or state rare, threatened, or endangered species. The Cape Fear River/Deep River
below Ramseur Aquatic Habitat Natural Heritage Natural Area occurs downstream of the site.
Stream restoration projects often improve water quality and aquatic habitat. Establishing native, forested
buffers in riparian areas will help protect water quality, improve aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation 1721 Mail Service Center •Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] •Fax: [phone]

Page 2
28 May 2020
Millstone Creek Mitigation Site
Randolph County
provide a travel corridor for wildlife species. Based upon the information provided to NCWRC, it is
unlikely that stream and wetland mitigation will adversely affect any federal or state -listed species.
However, we offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife
resources:
1. We recommend a preliminary site inspection for potential Greensboro burrowing crayfish
burrows. We have included an information sheet on preliminary site inspections for the
Greensboro burrowing crayfish. Please notify Brena Jones, Central Aquatic Wildlife Diversity
Coordinator ([e-mail], 919-707-0369), if any potential mussels or Greensboro
burrowing crayfish or burrows are located.
2. Since known records of SGCN fish species occur in Millstone Creek, we request the
enhancement and restoration activities occur outside for spawning and larval times during spring
and early summer. We request standard protective measures to avoid fish kills, such as working
during dry periods when the smaller tributaries dry up and fish have moved out of the site.
3. Due to the decline in bat populations, we recommend leaving snags and mature trees, or if
necessary, remove tees outside the maternity roosting season for bats (May 15 —August 15).
4. We recommend that riparian buffers are as wide as possible, given site constraints and landowner
needs. NCWRC generally recommends a woody buffer of 100 feet on perennial streams to
maximize the benefits of buffers, including bank stability, stream shading, treatment of overland
runoff, and wildlife habitat.
5. Due to the presence of state -listed species downstream of the site, we request stringent sediment
and erosion control measures.
6. The use of biodegradable and wildlife -friendly sediment and erosion control devices is strongly
recommended. Silt fencing, fiber rolls and/or other products should have loose -weave netting
that is made of natural fiber materials with movable joints between the vertical and horizontal
twines. Silt fencing that has been reinforced with plastic or metal mesh should be avoided as it
impedes the movement of terrestrial wildlife species. Excessive silt and sediment loads can have
detrimental effects on aquatic resources including destruction of spawning habitat, suffocation of
eggs, and clogging of gills.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments. If I can be of additional assistance, please call (919)
707-0364 or email [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Literature Cited
McGrath, C. 1994. Status survey for the Greensboro burrowing crayfish. Proceedings of the
annual conference, Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners, 48: 343-349.
ec: Brena Jones, NCWRC