HomeMy WebLinkAbout20201578 Ver 1_Macon County - B180 - NWP 3 Cover Letter (Final)_20210129
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER ERIC BOYETTE
GOVERNOR SECRETARY
Division 14 Office
Telephone: (828) 631-1145 253 Webster Road, Sylva, North Carolina 28779 Fax: (828) 586-4043
January 29, 2021
Ms. Crystal Amschler - Project Manager
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-2714
Subject: Nationwide 3 Permit Application
Replace Bridge No. 180 on SR 1369 (Tellico Road) over Sugar Cove Creek
Macon County, North Carolina
WBS Element No. 17BP.14.R.208
Dear Ms. Amschler:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing to replace the subject
bridge. The purpose of the project is to replace the functionally obsolete 20’ W x 25’ 6” L
timber deck on I-beam bridge with a 27’ W x 51’ L x 21” H cored slab bridge unit. Rip-rap will
be placed on stream banks directly under the new bridge structure for stabilization. Traffic will
be detoured onsite utilizing staged bridge demolition and construction. The project will also
include some minor approach work on the existing roadway. The proposed project would qualify
for non-notification, however, there will be tree removal. The expected project let date is
5.11.2021.
I am enclosing a PCN application, Rapanos Jurisdictional form, SHPO forms, plan sheets
showing the proposed work, a marked vicinity map, a USGS quad map and photographs.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 9 species for Macon County that have federal status and that
are known from either current or historical records. Nine species, spotfin chub (Erimonax
monachus), Appalachian Elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana), Little-wing pearlymussel (Pegias
fabula), small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), Virginia spiraea (Spiraea virginiana),
rock gnome lichen (Gymnoderma lineare), gray bat (Myotis grisescens). Indiana bat (Myotis
sodalist) and the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis, NLEB) are listed as either
threatened or endangered.
The Little Tennessee River is about 3.39 miles downstream of the bridge, is a significant Natural
Heritage Area that supports several federally listed aquatic species. Spotfin chub have been
found in the Little Tennessee River. There has also been an element of occurrence in Tellico
Creek, within 1.00 miles downstream of the project area. Sugar Cove Creek at the bridge is too
small, steep, and/or cold for Appalachian Elktoe or Little-wing pearlymussel. The project is
Bridge No. 180 – Macon County Page 2 January 29, 2021
limited in scope to replacing the existing bridge with a cored slab bridge unit in a temporarily
dewatered/diverted stream channel. Therefore, adverse effects of the work on aquatic habitat
should be minor and temporary. Riparian habitat at the project site is disturbed by mowed areas,
residential driveways, and agricultural fields nearby. There are no wetlands nor mountain bogs
present on site.
Small whorled pagonia typically occurs in open, dry, deciduous woods with acid soil, though
habitats can include slopes along streams and mesic forest in association with white pine and
rhododendron. Small whorled pagonia surveys were completed in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and
were negative.
The rock gnome lichen is typically found at high elevations on vertical rock surfaces that are
often bathed in fog. However, it can occur at lower elevations on cliffs that occasionally receive
seepage and on damp rock faces in river gorges where there is high humidity. The elevation at
the project site is about 2,290.40 feet and the site is situated in an open valley. Also, there are no
damp rock faces near the site.
Virginia spiraea typically occurs along high gradient rivers that are larger than Sugar Cove
Creek. It is usually found on rocky, flood-scoured riverbanks and rock bars. These habitats are
absent at the bridge site and there are no records for this plant in the Tellico Creek/Sugar Cove
Creek watershed. Virginia spiraea surveys were completed in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and were
negative.
Gray Bats usually roost in caves or in/on structures year-round while Indiana Bats and NLEB
only winter in caves or mines with stable, but not freezing, cold temperatures. During warm
seasons Indiana Bats and NLEB usually roost on/in structures, under the shaggy bark of live
trees such as white oaks, sycamores, and hickories, or in cavities or under the loose peeling bark
of dead trees. This project should not require blasting, but it will require removal of
approximately 15 trees (poplar, oak, maple, hemlock, birch & cedar) and demolition of an old
timber deck bridge. To protect Indiana bats, the obstructing trees will be removed from October
15 to April 15 (winter clearing). The bridge was surveyed for bats and evidence of bat roosting
in 2017, 2018 and 8.20.2020 and none were evident; absence of bats and bat usage will be
confirmed prior to demolition. Therefore, the project should have no effect on Gray Bats. The
bridge is not situated in a “red HUC” where known NLEB maternity roosts and/or hibernacula
are a concern and is over a mile from records for NLEB.
The project is limited to the replacement of an existing bridge with a cored slab bridge unit.
Erosion and sedimentation control measures will be implemented to protect aquatic habitats.
Therefore, for the reasons described above and with the inclusion of the winter tree clearing
requirement for bats, we recommend a “no effect” determination for threatened and endangered
species with exception of the Spotfin Chub and Indiana Bat. The conclusion for Indiana bats is
typically “may affect, not likely to adversely affect” with the winter tree clearing restriction
and we are requesting a “may affect, not likely to adversely affect” for the Spotfin Chub due to
the minor amount of aquatic impacts and the distance from the project area to the element
occurrence.
Bridge No. 180 – Macon County Page 3 January 29, 2021
This project was reviewed by NCDOT’s Human Environment Unit in 2015 and 2018 for
potential effects to historical architecture and archaeology. The proposed bridge project is
located within the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District, however, a “no adverse effect’ with
conditions was determined based on proposed bridge design which utilizes Two Bar Metal
Railing, 50’ of Guardrail and the replacement of a cedar tree that will be removed for
construction. It was determined that there were no National Register listed or eligible
archaeological sites present within the project area. (see attached forms).
NCDOT best management practices will be used to minimize and control erosion and
sedimentation on this project. The construction foreman will review all erosion control measures
daily to ensure erosion and sedimentation are being controlled effectively. If the devices are not
functioning as intended, they will be replaced immediately with better devices.
Impacts to Waters of the United States
Sugar Cove Creek (DWQ Class: C, Tr.) is shown on the USGS topographic map as a perennial
stream. The channel is well defined with a substrate of gravel, sand, and cobble and is
approximately 15-20 feet in width. The stream has sufficient flow to support fish and other
aquatic life. From project site, Sugar Cove Creek flows approximately 0.13 miles to Tellico
Creek which flows 3.26 miles to the Little Tennessee River, which meets the definition of a
Traditional Navigable Water. For these reasons, we believe Sugar Cove Creek is a Relatively
Permanent Water and is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In order to
construct the project, it will be necessary to impact, Sugar Cove Creek, which are waters of the
United States in the Little Tennessee River Basin (HUC 060102020404). Specifically, NCDOT
is requesting to replace Bridge No. 180 with a cored slab bridge. Project impacts are depicted
within the project permit plans on page 4 of 5. Listed below is a summary of the proposed
impacts.
Site No.
Station
Existing Condition Proposed Condition Net
Impacts
Site Impact
1 Sugar Cove Creek Rip-Rap Bank Stabilization
(Permanent Impact) 60’
Site Impact
1a Sugar Cove Creek
Diversion/Dewatering to
install rip-rap
(Temporary Impact)
75’
Total Permanent Stream Impact for Rip-Rap 60’
Total Temporary Impact for Impervious Dikes and Diversions 75’
Bridge No. 180 – Macon County Page 4 January 29, 2021
Permits Requested
NCDOT is hereby requesting authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to proceed
with the construction project outlined above. By copy of this letter, I am asking Mrs. Marla
Chambers, Western NCDOT Review Coordinator of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC), to comment directly to you and I, concerning the 404 Nationwide
Permit request. This application has been sent to the North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources (DWR) for a written certification.
Please contact me at (828) 631-1145 if you have any questions about this application or need
additional information. Your prompt review and consideration of this request will be greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
ctàÜ|v~ ]A UÜxxwÄÉäx
Patrick J. Breedlove
Division 14 - Environmental Specialist II
Enclosures
cc: Mr. Holland Youngman, Biologist, US Fish &Wildlife Service, Asheville
Mrs. Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Review Coordinator, NCWRC, Albemarle
Mr. Kevin Mitchell, Division of Water Resources – DEQ, Asheville
Mr. David McHenry, NCDOT Division 14, Environmental Officer