20141169 All Versions_Other Agency Correspondence_20101021

United States Forest National Forests in North Carolina 160 ZILLICOA ST STE A
Department of Service Supervisor's Office ASIEVILLE NC 28801-1082
Agriculture 828-2574200
File Code: 2730-2 A - I V
Date: October 21, 2010
Dr. Gregory Thorpe
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development & Environmental Analysis Branch
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1548
Dear Dr. Thorpe:
On April 15, 2009, Croatan District Ranger, Lee Thornhill sent you a letter regarding wildlife connectivity
on the proposed expansion of US 17 between Pollocksville and Maysville, North Carolina. As the Forest
Service has not received a response to that letter, l want to clearly state the Forest Service position on
the wildlife connectivity issue. I will not be able to issue NCDOT an easement for the ROW of this
highway expansion if some type of wildlife passage for bears and other wildlife is not constructed as a
part of this project. . .
The Croatan Forest Plan directs the US Forest Service to "provide landscape linkages to other,bear r_lv
habitat and potential foragirig'areas on public and private land through the special arrangement of
management areas with low motorized use, and a system of hardwood cypress wetland corridors" and
that we "[M]itigate activities or developments that would substantially alter natural movement - r, -
patterns of black bear". , ;. '.
It is the. position of.the US Forest Service that a permanent wildlife crossing is necessary withinthis: :.•r.;'•
expansion of US 17 on the Croatan National Forest to maintain the wildlife connectivity between the' " `-
Croatan National Forest and conservation lands to the west including the Hoffman Forest: This isa key
wildlife corridor and is vital to the long range planning with the Onslow Bight Conservation Forum., -A
geographic area. It is the professional opinion of my wildlife biologists that a wildlife underpass is the
structure that would best achieve this goal; however, we are open to further discussion on the use of
other structures that would meet the wildlife requirements of the Croatan Forest Plan.
I invite NCDOT to meet with Lee Thornhill, Croatan District Ranger; Rachelle Powell, Croatan Wildlife
Biologist; and Karen Compton, NCDOT liaison to further discuss this issue. Contact Lee at 252-638-5628
or Karen at 828-257-4230 to request a meeting.
Sincerely,
MARISUE HILLIA D -
Forest Supervisor
cc: Lee Thornhill, Croatan District Ranger
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USDA United States Forest 141 E. Fisher Avenue
Department of Service Croatan National Forest New Bern, N.C. 28560
Agriculture 252-638-5628
File Code: 7700, 2600
Date: April 15, 2009
Dr. Gregory"Thorpe
j NC Department of Transportation
Project Development & Environmental Analysis Branch
1548 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1548
Dear Dr. Thorpe
This letter is in regards to the proposed expansion of US 17 between Pollocksville and Maysville, North
Carolina. The coastal areas of North Carolina are among the fastest growing in the state and the need to expand
transportation routes to accommodate this growth is understandable. It is for this very reason, the inevitable
urbanization of rural areas, that careful thought and consideration needs to be employed during the planning
process.
Terrestrial wildlife species often suffer the greatest negative effects from permanent developments such as busy
roadways, mainly because they act as a barrier to successful crossings. This is easily demonstrated by looking at
the steady increase in the number of bear and deer roadkills in North Carolina. We are very fortunate to have
public lands in Coastal North Carolina that are available as a refuge for wildlife species impacted by such
developments. However, due to urbanization these public lands are or are in danger of becoming. fragmented • .
areas of habitat without suitable corridors between them for terrestrial animal passage. Passage is important for
dispersal, foraging, and maintaining genetic variance.
The proposal to widen US 17 to four lanes along the western boundary of the Croatan National Forest will
.
create a barrier to wildlife movements and plant and animal dispersal to the west based upon many years of.
research on disturbance and fragmentation effects on wildlife and natural communities. Mitigation for, the,
movement of wildlife is legally required when a barrier such as a four-lane highway is introduced into or
adjacent to the Croatan NationalTorest. This mitigation requirement is based on the standards and guidelines
outlined in the Croatan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter, the Forest Plan).
The Forest Plan directs that we "provide landscape linkages to other bear habitat and potential foraging areas on
public and private land through the special arrangement of management areas with low motorized use, and a
system of hardwood cypress wetland corridors" and that we "[M]itigate activities or developments that would
substantially alter natural movement patterns of black bear". It is the position of the USDA Forest Service that
widening US 17 to four lanes would substantially alter the movement of terrestrial wildlife and would require a
permanent wildlife crossing to maintain the wildlife connectivity between the Croatan National Forest and
conservation lands to the west including the Hoffman Forest. It is the professional opinion of our wildlife
biologists that a wildlife underpass is the structure that would best achieve this goal; however, we are open to
further discussion on the use of other structures that would meet the wildlife requirements of the Forest Plan.
Sincerely,
I Al Lee W. Thornhill
LEE W. THORNHILL
District Ranger
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