20120140 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20120309

Strickland, Bev
From: McHenry, David G.
Sent: Friday, March OQ.2O12 2:01 PM
To: McCormick, TashaL SAW; V0ggs.Linda; Strickland, Bev
Subject: Byrd, Mitchell 'wrc comments DWQ 20120140
Attachments: Byrd_OVVQ 20120140—wetland fills and UT Nolichucky River—WRC comments—Mitchell.cloc
Please accept these comments.
Thanks
Dave McHenry
NCVVRC Habitat Conservation Biologist
828/452-0422 x24
Email corresponclence to ancl from this sencler is stibject to the N.C. Ptiblic Recorcis Law ancl may be, clisclosec] to thircl parties.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
March 9, 2012
Ms. Tasha McCormick
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulator- Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801 -5006
Mr. Ian McMillan
NCDENR, Division of Water Quality, 401 Unit
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 -1628
SUBJECT: Jack and Mark BN,-rd 404/401 Application
Mitchell Countv
DWQ No. 20120140
Dear Ms. McCormick and Mr. McMillan:
Mr. Jack and Marl-, Byrd requested a permit to permanently fill about 0.09 acre of wetland and 80 feet of a
tributaiy to the Nolichucky River in Mitchell County. I visited the project site on March 7, 2012. Comments
from the Commission on this permit action are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean
Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 661- 667d).
This project will not harm trout and construction does not need to be avoided during the moratorium.
Although trout are not a concern, the project would fill a portion of a mountain bog. Only 10% of the
historical extent of mountain bogs is believed to remain in North Carolina (NCWRC 2005). Mountain bogs
provide habitat for a variety of rare plants and animals; the bog on the Byrd property is good wildlife habitat.
The impacts are needed for access to Highway 194, but the property already has access onto Highway 226.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Byrd Page 2 March 9, 2012
Mitchell
We also wish to inform you that the streams and /or wetlands on the property immediately to the northwest of
the Byrd property have recently been excavated (see attached photo.). It appears this property includes a
wetland that may have historically been contiguous with that on the Byrd property.
Thank you for the opportunity to revie'kv and comment on this project. Please contact me at (828) 452-
2546 extension 24 if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
2
Dave MCHemv
Mountain Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
cc: Mr. Jack and Mark Bvrd
Ms. Linda Wiggs, NCDENR, Division of Water Quality
Ref:
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 2005. North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan.
Raleigh, NC.
Property to NW of Byrd, March 7, 2012.