20140762 Ver 5_R-2915 B stormwater question_20200904

Wanucha, Dave
From:Beckwith, Loretta A CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent:Friday, September 4, 2020 11:23 AM
To:Hining, Kevin J
Cc:Patterson, Robert D; Wanucha, Dave; Matthews, Monte K CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Subject:\[External\] RE: R-2915 B stormwater question
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Hi Kevin,

I just reviewed the green sheet commitments and the permit special conditions and have a couple of questions.

1. Is this area suitable habitat for Virginia spiraea?

2. If so, did you check this area recently and what did you discover?

If it turns out that there is no Virginia spiraea located in or around this location (i.e., any area that would be affected by
the construction/installation process), if DWR approves the proposed changes, and if the project would still be in
compliance with the issued 401 WQC, the USACE will be fine with the proposed changes.

Thank you,

Lori

Lori Beckwith
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
828-271-7980, ext. 4223

From: Wanucha, Dave <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2020 10:48 AM
To: Hining, Kevin J <[e-mail]>; Beckwith, Loretta A CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Patterson, Robert D <[e-mail]>
Subject: \[Non-DoD Source\] RE: R-2915 B stormwater question

Hi Kevin,

Your proposal sounds reasonable to me and unless the Corps has some issues. The New River is HQW, so the
length of treatment may be an issue. In the meantime, I’ll forward your email to our unit’s stormwater
engineer for closer scrutiny. This definitely falls within Robert’s wheelhouse. He may have some additional
comments or suggestions. Stay tuned.

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Thanks for the update and have a good holiday weekend.
Dave W.

Robert,
Please take a look at Kevin’s email and attachment when you get the chance. Let me know if you need
additional info or want to review on site. I attached a clip of the original plansheet for comparisons.

Division of Water Resources
401 & Buffer Transportation Permitting
NC Department of Envirionmental Quality

336-776-9703 office
336-403-5655 mobile
[e-mail]

NC DEQ Winston Salem Regional Office
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston Salem, NC 27106

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requests by phone or email. We appreciate your patience as we continue to serve the public during this challenging
time.

From: Hining, Kevin J <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, September 4, 2020 10:00 AM
To: Beckwith, Loretta A CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Wanucha, Dave
<[e-mail]>
Subject: R-2915 B stormwater question

Hey Lori and Dave,

We have discovered an issue that is affecting the north abutment of our bridge over the South Fork New River, on HWY
221 in Ashe County, R-2915 (near the end of the B section at Station 244 Rt. The approach on the northeast corner of
the bridge is starting to sink a little. We believe the issue is due in part to overflow during high rain events at one of the
drop inlets/stormwater boxes. On the plan, there are two boxes on the northeast side of the road that are connected to
each other and a longer pipe system. The primary issue is believed to be associated with the box closest to the
bridge. All water that enters this box is supposed to travel north in a pipe, away from the river, join water that flows in
from the adjacent box, travel further down the pipe system, and then is discharged down a slope drain onto a rip rap
pad into a lateral base ditch. The water then travels back south to the SF New River. Since the terrain moves uphill fairly
steeply as you move away from the river, the drainage system is low gradient (only 1%). To get it any steeper would
have required excessive excavation. As a result of the low slope, the stormwater in the pipe system appears to be
backing up during high rain events. The overflow during those events leaks out of the box closest to the bridge and is
going around the bridge approach. This is believed to be a reason for the bridge approach sinking.

As an alternative, I’m seeking your approval for an alteration to this system. The existing pipe system will stay in place
and water entering the box furthest from the bridge will function as proposed during normal rain events. However, we
would install a pipe into the first box that will allow the majority of water that enters it to travel directly from the box to
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the ditch below, and then into the SF New River. I’ve attached the plans, which show this alteration in red. I’ve also
pointed out the existing system, which will remain in place.

My assumption is that during high rain events some of the water that enters the second box will flow backwards
towards the first box and leave the system. Given the low gradient of the system, I think this is likely during those higher
events. However, even though some of the water will now be discharged a little closer to the river, it should still have
125-150’ of travel once it hits the lateral base ditch prior to entering the river, which should help pre-treat stormwater
runoff prior to it entering the river. I’m hoping this alteration is seen as a minor change, and that we can get your
approval to move forward. However, if you need additional information, or a formal permit modification, just let me
know.

Thanks again and hope you both have a great, long weekend!

Kevin

Kevin Hining
Division 11 Environmental Officer
North Carolina Department of Transportation

828-386-7202 cell
[e-mail]

801 Statesville Rd.
PO Box 250
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

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