20200919 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20200820

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
MEMORANDUM

TO: Ms. Stephanie Goss
Raleigh Regional Office
NC Division of Water Resources

FROM: Gabriela Garrison
Eastern Piedmont Coordinator
Habitat Conservation

DATE: August 20, 2020

SUBJECT: Comments for Wiggins Mill Park, Wilson County, DEQ Project No. 2020-0919.

Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
document. 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), North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (G.S.
113A-1 through 113A-10; 1 NCAC 25) and North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 113-131 et seq.).

The City of Wilson proposes to install a fishing pier, boat ramp and pedestrian paths/bridges at Wiggins
Mill Park. The site is located at 3944 Wiggins Mill Road in Wilson.

Wiggins Mill Reservoir and Contentnea Creek flow along the northern and eastern section of the park.
There are records for the following aquatic species downstream of the subject property in Contentnea
Creek: the federal species of concern and state-special concern, Roanoke slabshell (Elliptio roanokensis);
the state-threatened, eastern lampmussel (Lampsilis radiata) and creeper (Strophitus undulatus); and the
state-significantly rare, northern lance (Elliptio fisheriana).

The NCWRC generally supports projects that promote outdoor recreation. However, we have concerns
with this project as there are records for rare mussels directly downstream. As such, the applicant should
observe strict erosion and sediment control measures to ensure there are no adverse impacts from
construction. The following recommendations will minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife
resources:

1. Where possible, maintain a minimum 100-foot undisturbed, native, forested buffer along
perennial streams, and a minimum 50-foot buffer along intermittent streams and wetlands.
Maintaining undisturbed, forested buffers along these areas will minimize impacts to aquatic
and terrestrial wildlife resources. Wide riparian buffers are helpful in maintaining stream
bank stability. In addition, these buffers provide a travel corridor for wildlife species. Lay
down and staging areas should be located outside wetland areas and at least 100 feet from
stream banks.
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August 20, 2020
Wiggins Mill Park
DEQ Project No. 2020-0919

2. Wet concrete should not come into contact with water. Concrete is toxic to aquatic life and
should not be placed in surface waters until it’s cured.

3. If applicable, heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream
channel to minimize sedimentation and reduce the introduction of other pollutants into the
stream.

4. Sediment and erosion control measures should be installed prior to any land-disturbing
activity. 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 and similar products that have been reinforced with
plastic or metal mesh should be avoided as they impede 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 review and comment on this project. If I can be of further assistance,
please contact me at [phone] or [e-mail].