20201240 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20201203

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
December 3, 2020
Ms. Brandee Boggs
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Big Lost Cove Creek Bank Stabilization
Big Lost Cove Creek, Yancey County
Dear Ms. Boggs,
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to impact 70 ft of Big Lost Cove Creek in Yancey County. Our comments on this
application are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977
(33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661-667d).
There are wild Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in the project vicinity; however, due to the
potential for structural damage, a trout spawning moratorium is waived for this project. Big Lost
Cove Creek drains to the South Toe River just downstream of the project, and the South Toe
River is part of the South Toe River Aquatic Habitat, a NC Natural Heritage Program natural
area rated Exceptional due to the richness of rare species it supports. Eastern Hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US Federal Species of Concern, NC Special Concern) is found in
the South Toe River near the project, and this species may occur at the project site, as well. Due
to the sensitivity of these species to fine sediments, it is essential that excellent erosion and
sediment control be maintained during the project.
The project involves the installation of a short boulder vane and a 60-ft geolift to stabilize the
stream bank. Native cobble will be used to form a coffer dam so that work can be done outside
of flows. Disturbed areas will be stabilized at the end of each workday.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
The project description notes that disturbed areas will be stabilized each day; this is
extremely important at this site.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Big Lost Cove Cr Bank Stabilization Page 2 December 3, 2020
Big Lost Cove Cr, Yancey Co
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
3. We strongly recommend that a woody buffer as wide as possible be established on the stream
bank.
4. Contact Andrea Leslie (andrea.leslie(dncwildlife.org) in advance of the pre -
construction site visit so that she may attend the meeting and advise the contractor
about ways to minimize possible impacts to the Eastern Hellbender.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
cc: Andrew Bick, Headwaters Engineering
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Lori Williams, NCWRC