20100508 Ver 1_Information Letter_20101008

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P North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Monte Matthews, USACOE
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: June 28, 2010
;
SUBJECT: SR1123, Pipe #2161 Replacement, Unnamed Tributary Snow Creek, Sutxy County
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace the referenced pipe. Biologists with the
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are familiar with habitat values in the area. These comments are
provided in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Star 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661-667d) and the North Carolina Environmental.Poliey Act (G.S. 113A--1 through I 13A-10; NCAC 25).
The NCDOT project, will affect 75 linear. feet of stream.. NCDOT_will try to fix, the currently perched pipe by
burying the replacement pipe. If this is not practicable, a rock energy dissipater will be provided that may help fish
passage. Snow Creek provides nursery habitats for warm water sports fishes. -
Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of area habitats,, we will not object, to the project.
However, despite poor stream quality below the crossing, we prefer and recommend that the replacement culvert be
. kept as short as possible with less slope than proposed if practicable. Replacement piping should correct perched .
conditions (if practicable) with the. proposed replacement pipe or. alternatively with the installation ola larger,..,
- diameter piping or dual pipes if upsizing or dual pipes can. improve, aquatic life passage. Fragmentedaquatic
habitats should be avoided and connectivity restored whenever possible. Please keep in mind that rearm water fish
are not able totransit steep slopes in culverts without the installation of resting (eddy) areas which may be provided
with alternating baffles.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning stages. If you have
any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453..
E-copy: Amy Euliss, DWQ-WSRO
Heath Slaughter, NCDOT
Becky Fox, USEPA
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
Marella Buncick, USF W S
Sonia G. Carrillo, DWQ-Raleigh
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]