20201141 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20201005

Mr. Eckardt,

Please see the attached comments.

Thank you,

Olivia

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
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Q North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
06 October 2020
Mr. Ian Eckardt
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 South Mint Street
Suite 104
Charlotte, North Carolina 28203
SUBJECT: Pre -Construction Notification for the Irvins Creek Greenway in Matthews, Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina. DEQ No. 20201141.
Dear Mr. Eckardt,
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
document. Comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as
amended) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended;
16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
On behalf of Mecklenburg County Asset and Facility Management, Wildlands Engineering, Inc. has
submitted a Pre -Construction Notification (PCN) application for the Irvins Creek Greenway project in
Matthews, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (NC). The greenway will extend approximately one
mile along Irvins Creek in the Catawba River basin from west of Sam Newell Road to Idlewild Road.
The project will permanently impact 114 linear feet of perennial stream and temporarily impact 55 linear
feet of intermittent streams.
We have known records of the state significantly rare eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis) in Irvins Creek.
We have a record of a colonial waterbird nesting site, which is considered important animal assemblages in
North Carolina, in the general area. We recommend ensuring no waterbird colonies occur adjacent to within
the project area.
We are pleased to see the creek will be crossed with a bridge or raised boardwalk. We offer the following
recommendations to minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources.
Due to the known presence of the eastern creekshell within Irvins Creek, we recommend the
footprint of the riprap is surveyed for state -listed mussels. If mussels occur, we recommend
relocating the mussels to suitable habitat ustream of the construction area. Any protected species
surveys should be conducted by biologists with both state and federal endangered species permits.
Please contact W. Thomas Russ, the Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Research Coordinator,
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Page 2
06 October 2020
Irvins Creek Greenway
DEQ No. 20201141
at 828-777-0495 or [e-mail] for further information on surveys and
relocation.
2. We recommend a minimum 100-foot setback for perennial streams and a 50-foot setback for
intermittent streams and wetlands.
The trail should be located outside the stream buffer (see Recommendation #2) and it should be
surfaced with pervious materials. Avoid or minimize fragmentation of wildlife habitat. Further
information can be found at https://www.railstotrails.org/build-trails/trail-building-toolbox/trail-
building-and-design/developing-trails-in-sensitive-areas/.
4. Avoid the removal of large trees. Where feasible, use woody debris and logs from corridor
clearing to establish brush piles and downed logs adjacent to the cleared right-of-way to improve
habitat for wildlife.
5. Due to the decline in populations of most bat species, avoid tree clearing activities during the
maternity roosting season for bats (May 15 — August 15). Minimize corridor maintenance and
prohibit mowing between April 1 and October 1 to minimize impacts to nesting wildlife.
6. Re -seed disturbed areas with native seed mixtures that are beneficial to wildlife. Consider
planting native, wildflower seed mixes that will create pollinator habitat within the project
boundary. Avoid using Bermudagrass, redtop, tall fescue, and lespedeza, which are invasive
and/or non-native and provide little benefit to wildlife. Manage non-native, invasive species
during and after construction.
7. During construction, equipment should not be staged in stream channels or riparian buffers.
8. Ensure stringent sediment and erosion control measures and 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 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 input for this project. If I can provide further assistance or
provide free technical guidance, please call [phone] or email [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Bryan Roden -Reynolds, USACE
Alan Johnson, NCDWR
Byron Hamstead, USFWS
W. Thomas Russ, NCWRC