20011551 Ver 3_Other Agency Comments_20111202 (2)

� North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission �
Gordon Myers Executive Director
December 2 2011
Mr Monte Matthews
U S Army Corps of Engmeers Regulatory Branch
3331 Her�tage Trade Dr�ve Su�te 105
Wake Forest NC 27587
SUBJECT Addrt�onal WRC Comments on NC Granrte Corporat�on After the Fact Permrt
Ararat R�ver Surry County Act�on ID 2011 01765
Dear Mr Matthews
The North Carolma Wildl►fe Resources Comm�ssion (WRC) subm�tted comments to you regarding this
permit action on September 27 2011 We w�sh to provide addit�onal and clar�fy�ng comments at th�s
t�me These add�tional comments are offered for your cons�deration under provisions of the Clean Water
Act of 1977 (33 U S C 466 et seq ) and the Fish and W�Idlife Coordination Act (48 Stat 401 as
amended 16 U S C 661 667d)
The work does not need to be avo�ded dur�ng the trout spawn�ng morator�um because we do not antic�pate
any appreciable natural reproduct�on in this reach of the river However the river downstream is stocked
with trout under our delayed harvest program and shouid be heavtly fished �n the sprmg early summer
and fall Turb�d�ty and sed�mentat�on from the construct�on of the proJect would hamper trout fish�ng
dur�ng those seasons Therefore we request that the work occur etther dur�ng m�d wmter or less
des�rably after the m�d June to September timeframe
We support the �mprovements to physical stream hab�tat that are antic�pated with this proJect Habitat
quality �s currently poor at the srte partly due to recent stream work and manipulation Regardmg the
construct�on des�gn we recommend that the proJect mclude a mod�fication of the right bank so that the
dewatered bypass channel rece�ves some flushing flows and woody debr�s Unlike the ma�n channel
th�s side channel provides good habitat for reptiles and amphib�ans and would be �mproved further with
periodic high flow flushmg This modification may also help stabil�ty along the main channel by
prov�dmg some flood energy relief
As mentioned m our September 27 2011 comments we are potentially concerned about the amount of
Maihng Address Div�sion of Inland F�sher�es 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699 1721
Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]

NC Granite Corporation Page 2 December 2 2011
Surry County
water withdrawn from the r�ver by the intake We understand that 1 75 mgd ts typically w�thdrawn but
we d�d not note how this relates to the expected low flow conditions of the river and whether
instantaneous withdrawal rates are much higher We recommend that this information be determined and
would appreciate reviewmg that information should rt become available Regardless we st�ll recommend
that the intake be situated w�th its bottom/�nvert elevated above the nearest downstream control po�nt
(cross vane/weir) so that �t is only capable of capturing 20% or less of the estimated 7Q 10 The USGS
should be able to assist with an estimated 7Q10 flow at the srte
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment further on this regulatory action Please contact
me at [phone] extension 24 if you have any quest�ons about these comments
S�ncerely
��
Dave McHenry
Mountain Regton Coordinator Habitat Conservation Program
Cc Ms Sue Homewood
Mr Kenny Moles NC Granite Corporation