20120292 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20120404

Strickland, Bev
From: Homewood, Sue
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 3:06 PM
To: Dennison, Laurie; Strickland, Bev
Subject: FW: Arcadia, LLC, Surry Co - wrc comments on 404/401
Attachments: Arcadia LLC Saddle Mountain Stream Restoration_Surry_WRC comments.doc
For file 12 -0292
Sue Homewood
NC DENR Winston -Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality
585 Waughtown Street
Winston - Salem, NC 27107
Voice: (336) 771 -4964
FAX: [phone]
E -mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be
disclosed to third parties.
From: McHenry, David G.
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 2:58 PM
To: Monte. K. Matthews (a)saw02.usace.army.mil; Homewood, Sue
Cc: Hauser, Gray
Subject: Arcadia, LLC, Surry Co - wrc comments on 404/401
Please accept these comments.
Thanks
Dave McHenry
NCWRC Habitat Conservation Biologist
828/452 -0422 x24
Email corresEcrr,.lence to and from this senc:l c is srthject to the N.C. Prihlic Recorc:is Law and may he cEisclose {:I to thirc:l parties.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
April 4, 2012
Mr. Monte Matthews
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulator- Branch
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, NC 27587
SUBJECT: Nationwide Permit Application for Arcadia LLC
Stream Restoration, Saddle Mountain Creek, Surr- County
Dear Mr. Matthews:
Mr. Rocky Powell with Clear Creeks Consulting LLC requested comments on an application to stabilize
and reconstruct about 2,000 feet of Saddle Mountain Creek in Surr- County. WRC staff visited the
project site. Comments from the WRC on this project 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).
Saddle Mountain Creek supports wild brown trout and possibly a few wild brook trout as well. This project
N-611 involve considerable stream disturbance, sediment suspension, and doN -,nstream siltation. Therefore, we
request that any stream work authorized here be avoided during the October 15 to April 15 general trout
spavning moratorium.
Much of the project area is stable; the stability analyses that were conducted confirm this. As described in the
application, there are a few spots of bank erosion, but vertical and lateral instability is minor overall. Aquatic
habitat is generally good. Moreover, riparian areas are well vegetated with large trees and rhododendron
along much of the middle portion of the project area.
We support stream improvement projects when channel and riparian area disturbance is minimized to only
that necessary to achieve erosion reduction and habitat improvement objectives. Disturbance of stable areas
has been minimized under the plan; the proposal only includes minor bench construction in the lower end of
reach 2 and no work in reach 3. However, more opportunities to reduce impacts may become apparent during
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Arcadia LLC Page 2 April 4, 2012
Suri
construction. We encourage the applicant to further adapt the design during construction to reduce
unnecessaiv disturbance of this ORW classified and wild trout supporting stream.
We recommend planting container groN -,n trees (e.g. sycamores, river birch) on the top of the outside meander
banks that are nevv or reconstructed. These trees are Nvorth the expense because they expedite root spread and
long -term stability more than live stakes and bare root seedlings. In addition, we request that the folloNving
conditions be included in the permit to help conserve trout habitat in the stream:
1. Any stream Nvork authorized here should be avoided during the October 15 to April 15 general trout
spawning moratorium
Only large angular rock, root wads, logs, and other natural stream design materials and techniques
can be used for bank stabilization. Materials must not be placed in the stream channels in a manner
that overly constricts flow or that impedes aquatic life during low water.
Gravel and cobble, if present, should be harvested from abandoned channels and used to "seed" nevv
channels.
4. Excavation in floNving water should be avoided wherever possible.
5. All bare soil shall be seeded and stabilized as soon as possible after ground disturbance.
Graded /disturbed stream banks must be covered with secured matting, preferably heavy- fiber matting,
after seed is applied.
6. All heavy equipment operated near streams must be inspected and maintained regularly.
7. Disturbed stream banks and the widest possible zone outward from the channel should be planted
with native trees and shrubs (e.g., silky dogwood, rhododendron, dog hobble, red maple, silky vvillovv,
tag alder, black vvillovv, sycamore). This will help provide long -term bank stability and stream
shading. Note, silky dogwood, silky vvillovv, and black vvillovv can be planted as live stakes collected
during the dormant season. Cuttings should be randomly planted on four (4) foot centers from the
waters edge to the top of the bank. Trees should be planted on ten (10) to twelve (12) foot centers.
Mature trees in containers should be planted along the outside bends of channels for rapid
establishment of roots in the banks.
8. Fencing should be used as necessary to exclude livestock from restored stream banks.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at (828) 452-
0422 extension 24 if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
7
Dave MCHemv
Mountain Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Cc: Mr. Rocky Powell, Clear Creeks Consulting LLC
Ms. Sue Homewood, NCDENR DWQ
Mr. Gray Hauser, NCDENR, DLR