20090685 Ver 2_Public Notice_20100324

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-1343
CESAW-TS-PE-10-09-0005 MAR 1 9 2010
PUBLIC NOTICE
AND
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
Environmental Assessment (EA), Rock Arch Rapids Fish Passage
Cape Fear River Above Wilmington, NC
Lock and Dam No. 1, Bladen County, NC
March 2010
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District (Corps) proposes to construct a
rock arch rapids for fish passage immediately downstream of the dam at Lock and Dam
No. 1. Fish passage was a requirement of the August 3, 2000 National Marine
Fisheries Service Biological Opinion under the Endangered Species Act, as amended.
The project is described in detail in the Environmental Assessment (EA) Rock Arch
Rapids Fish Passage, Cape Fear River Above Wilmington NC Lock and Dam No 1
Bladen County, NC, dated March 2010. A copy of the EA can be obtained from Mr.
Frank Yelverton as indicated below or at:
In summary, Lock and Dam No. 1 is located in Bladen County about 39 miles upstream
of Wilmington, NC (figures 1 and 2). There is about 2 feet of lunar tide at the dam, but
based on monitoring during low flow conditions, saltwater does not come within 20 miles
of the dam. This project will utilize granite fill stone (class B riprap) covered by a layer
of larger wearing stone that will be placed near the top of the dam and continue
downstream at a 1:20 (5 percent) slope (figures 3-5). Approximately 100,000 cubic
yards of rock will be used in construction covering about 3.0 acres of river bottom.
(About 25,000 cubic yards to stabilize the scour hole covering about 1.0 acre of river
bottom, and an additional 75,000 cubic yards to complete the rock rapids with about 2.0
acres of additional river bottom covered).
Boulders (3-4 feet in diameter) will be placed on the surface of the constructed rapids in
parallel veins about 20 feet apart resulting in approximately one vein per foot of
elevation change along the rapids. These surface boulders are sized such that they will
not be moved by water velocity or debris such as downed trees. The boulders will be
placed so that they slow the water velocity and provide "flow shadows" which will allow
fish to rest. Generally, the boulders in the veins will be contiguous, but occasionally
there will be gaps in the veins to allow fish to pass in low flow conditions. However, for
the majority of the spring migration period, the boulders will be submerged and the
constructed rapids will just appear to be areas of rough water. The center of the rapids
will be about 1-2 feet lower than the sides so that during low flow conditions, water is
concentrated in the middle and fish can still pass. Another advantage of the lower
center is that the flow will be concentrated toward the middle of the stream which will
help preclude erosion of the adjacent shorelines.
The constructed rock rapids will provide access to upstream spawning habitat for the
federally recognized, endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum). Other
anadromous species that will benefit from rapids construction include striped bass
(Morone saxatilis), American shad (Alosa sapidissima), Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser
oxyrhynchus), and river herrings including alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and
blueback (Alosa aestivalis).
A Section 401 (P.L. 95-217) Water Quality Certificate is required for the placement of
rock in the river and will be requested from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.
A Section 404(b) (1) (P.L. 95-217) Evaluation for the Discharge of Dredged Material has
been prepared and included in Appendix C of the EA.
The components of the proposed action have been evaluated and determined to be
consistent with the North Carolina Coastal Management program and local land use
plans. Concurrence with this determination is being requested in a separate letter to the
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management.
The action has been evaluated for and will comply with the requirements of all
applicable Executives Orders (Table 2 of the EA). These include, but are not limited to,
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice and Minority
and Low Income Populations, Executive Order 11988, Flood Plain Management, and
Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands.
All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, including the
cumulative effects thereof. Included are conservation, fish and wildlife, endangered and
threatened species, economics, commercial and recreational fishing, aesthetics,
general values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, water supply,
etc. Also, the proposed work has been evaluated pursuant to the provisions of the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and no known archaeological
or historical resources will be affected by the proposed action.
A list of Federal, State, and local agencies with whom this activity is being coordinated
is included in Section 8.4 of the EA.
This public notice is being distributed to all known interested persons concurrent with
circulation of the DEIS. For accuracy and completeness of record, all data in support of
or in opposition to the work should be submitted in writing setting forth sufficient detail to
support convictions. Any person who has an interest which may be affected by the
proposed action may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in
writing to the District Engineer by 8 March 2010, and must clearly set forth the interest,
which may be affected, and the manner in which the interest may be affected by this
activity. All correspondence should refer to the title, number, and date of this notice and
be directed to Colonel Jefferson M. Ryscavage at the above address. For further
information, please contact Mr. Frank Yelverton at [phone] or by email at
frank.yelverton usace.arrny.r-nd
This public notice satisfies the notification requirements of Executive Order 11988 and
Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act.
?erson cavage
Colonel, U.S. Army
District Commander
Enclosures
Figure 1. Location Map for Lock and Dam No. 1.
Figure 2. Existing Lock and Dam No.1.
Figure 3. Rock Arch Rapids at Lock and Dam No.1
Figure 4. Rock Arch Rapids Generic Design Plan View
Figure 5. Rock Arch Rapids Generic Design Cross Section
4,1
1 HOKE {Fay,
", ROBESON

HARNETi \ JOHNSTO.
sboro
v f ?gyp "" \ Kinston
WAYNE
J ? 1
JMSF.R ND
IViii lrl SAMPSON? I
1 l C n I 11 C-``?
/ W1D1am O. Huske fl DuruN
Lock and Dam
t J \J
BLAD_EN Lock and Dam No. 2
'hitl a 1J
COI.UM131S

10 0 IO 20 30
SCALE IN MILES
PENDER
Lock and Dam No.-I]
NEW
HANOVER
CAPE FEAR RIVER
LOCKS AND DAMS
BLADEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
LOCATION MAP
Figure 1. Location map for Lock and Dam No. 1
4
ti??\ a
9
I t
w
1 j
I
I
I ? m
1
1 s.
1
1
?e
1' ' \\
1

0
o,
o
Figure 2. Existing Lock and Dam No.1
5

e
Nc
NC
O[0
Nh
ONQ
W,]
2U
0W
2
co
Z,,
CJ
J
WlL
'3 b
All
C
W
Q
m
W
Z
>Z
YQ
Cp
Tr. ' T4i
I III IIII R .t ?.' J
I l Illl 1 ? { ?
I III III I ? t Q
I II ICI ? `` ?' iJ
7?{pppppj?{{ ? I I I' .III I r, __ - `
I I II I I
O .Ili IIII 2 Y\
I IIII I? III III II ^Il k'k . d
? I I II III I IIII III 2 & R
I IIII VIII III IIII ?ll1i } ? _ ?-
I IIII II II IIII ill y
I? I 1 IIII III III IIII I I II /
IIII III 1 IIII /r
?I 1 t ?I`?I ? I I1.I Ii,111111i „Illi ?. Jp/ ?
\ „ ? Bg/ nll II,?I 1111; 1?1\ F?R%
9 1 11 ,
1 11 1, 1111111111`I11?1 '1;ot`\\ ` GPPE/ _.
11r 111111 ??`??I,??1
1111 111 VO` 1 1 1 1 t
\ 111 \ \ ? , ` `?
pp` 1 1111 `?? \ `\\
t C l '01`11 1, 11\ `
?Qxn QA 1 1 ? tl
I 1 D `?1\ \`\? `?tt ?
pQy? I l 1 ® Iln t\\ ; t ? t? 1
1
\I p I U Y1 111\ 1
g, ,11 11 ,
tt ,
tl? t? _ 1
I
1
1
' E
I
1
III ??? ?. r
\a?a6c i i
CS j
n?leCe W I ? ?C
I CC
W 1 I
W ,
0 1 I
C e
1
I I
?i
,i
j'
k c:
O
Z
E
co
0
C
Y
U
O
J
C6
CL
Cu
L
U
L
ca
Y
U
ry
M
Q)
LL
Ic
l
a
• r0
E
r?

?V
F?
Ct
cn
^Ct
.? Tom{
r
Q«?

?I
?i
Ix
a
b
1?
Figure 4. Rock Arch Rapids Generic Design Plan View (this figure is meant to show
general construction and design to aid in project understanding and does not reflect exact
specifications or a proposed finished product)

O
c?
a
?Q
3
Q
a
ct
to
ct
rA
ct
tU
N

W
w
a
<C
A
N
a
W
ts,
u
V
a
:A-
Figure 5. Rock Arch Rapids Generic Design Cross Section (this figure is meant to show
general construction and design to aid in project understanding and does not reflect exact
specifications or a proposed finished product)
8