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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20120285_Report_20051024STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MICHAEL F EASLEY GOVERNOR MEMORANDUM TO FROM SUBJECT LYNDO TIPPETT SECRETARY October 24 2005 Derrick Weaver P E Group Head Consulting Engineering Group Jared Gray Environmental Biologist Office of the Natural Environment Protected species survey report for the Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata) for the proposed Gaston County East West Connector in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties Federal Aid Project No STP 1213 (6) WBS Element 34922 1 1 TIP Project No U 3321 The following memorandum addresses the Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata) federally protected species listed by the U S Fish and Wildlife Service for Cabarrus County The habitat requirements for the Carolina Heelsplitter are shaded areas either in ponded portions of streams or in runs along steep banks with moderate current (Bogan 2002) The more recent habitat where the Carolina Heelsplitter has been found is sections of streams with bedrock with perpendicular crevices with sand and gravel in between the crevices and with large buffers associated with the stream This project was pre screened by Alderman Environmental Services Wildlife Resources Commission and U S Fish and Wildlife Service and this area was considered to have a low probability of containing mussels Surveys, Habitat and Methods A mussel screening was conducted on September 15 16 2005 by NCDOT biologists Jason Mays Kathy Herring Mike Sanderson and Jared Gray NCDOT biologist Neil Medlin Matt Haney and Jared Gray finished the screening on September 21 2005 NCDOT biologist looked at twenty eight streams that could be potentially crossed by the proposed Gaston East West Connector The results of the habitat assessments are in Table 1 of this report NCDOT went to these thirty sites and based on what was observed conducted a typical mussel screening (100 meters upstream and 400 meters downstream) or a habitat assessment Some streams did not have water in them so a data sheet was completed with any pertinent information The following paragraphs will cover the eight named streams that potentially could be crossed by the proposed project and the results of those surveys All eight of these streams were surveyed using the typical mussel screening protocols The Oates Creek crossing at Oates Road (SR 1312) contains runs riffles and pool areas with normal substrate compactness The substrate at the crossing consists of silt sand cobble and MAILING ADDRESS TELEPHONE 919 733 3141 LOCATION NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FAX 919 733 9794 TRANSPORTATION BUILDING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET 1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER WEBSITE WWW NCDOT ORG RALEIGH NC RALEIGH NC 27699 1548 gravel with medium current Sand was the most dominant substrate in Oates Creek The portion of the creek that was surveyed had a moderate stream buffer The stream banks had some erosion and undercutting of its banks The land use was sub urban Oates Creek is shallow with 100 , percent of the stream less than 2 feet deep Oates Creek was 2 0 meter wide and the bank heights were 1 5 meters No freshwater mussels were found in 1 0 man hours of survey time The second stream that was surveyed was Bessemer Branch The Bessemer Branch crossing below I 85 contains runs riffles pools and slack areas with normal substrate compactness The substrate above and below the pipe consists of sand cobble and gravel with slow to medium current Sand and gravel bars were present in Bessemer Branch Sand and gravel were the dominant substrate in Bessemer Branch The portion of Bessemer Branch that was surveyed had a moderate stream buffer The stream banks had some erosion and undercutting present The land use was natural Bessemer Branch is shallow with 99 percent of the stream less than 2 feet deep Bessemer Branch was 2 meters wide and bank heights were 1 5 meters No freshwater mussels were found in 0 5 man hours of survey time The next stream that was surveyed was Myrtle Creek The Myrtle Creek crossing at NC 29/NC74 contains runs riffles and pool areas with normal /unconsolidated substrate compactness The substrate above and below the culvert crossing consists of silt sand and gravel with slow current Silt and Sand were the dominant substrate in Myrtle Creek The portion of Myrtle Branch that was surveyed had a narrow buffer by the road and moderate buffer downstream There were junkyards adjacent to the road and the stream at this site and the stream banks closest to the junkyard were highly erosive and unstable The land use was urban Myrtle Creek is very shallow with 100 percent of the stream less than 2 feet deep Myrtle Creek was 1 75 meters wide and bank heights were 2 5 meters No freshwater mussels were found in 0 5 man hours of survey time Crowders Creek was the next stream that was surveyed The Crowders Creek crossing at Archie Whitesides Road (SR 1122) contains riffles slack and pool areas with unconsolidated substrate compactness The substrate above and below the bridge crossing consists of silt sand pebble and gravel with slow /moderate current Silt and sand were the dominant substrate in Crowders Creek The portion of Crowders creek that was surveyed had a narrow buffer According to a landowner that has lived adjacent to Crowders Creek it ran blue when the dye plant was open He also said when his cattle would get in the water to cool off their hair would fall out and they would not drink the water The land use in the area was rural The stream banks were unstable Crowders Creek is shallow with 95 percent of the stream less than 2 feet deep Crowders Creek was 5 meters wide and bank heights were 2 0 meters No freshwater mussels were found in 3 5 man hours of survey time Asiatic clams were found to be abundant at the second crossing of Crowders Creek on Crowders Creek Road (SR 1 103) McGill Branch is the fifth stream that was surveyed The McGill Branch crossing at Carson Road (SR 1134) contains runs and riffles with normal substrate compactness The substrate above and below the culvert consists of silt sand cobble pebble and gravel with slow current Sand and Gravel were the dominant substrate in McGill Branch The portion of McGill Branch that was surveyed had a maintained yard for a portion of the stream and a moderate buffer outside of the lawn The stream banks had some erosion and undercutting present The land use was rural McGill Branch was very shallow with aquatic vegetation across the streambed on the upstream side of the crossing and overall was 100 percent less than 2 feet deep McGill Branch was 0 5 meters wide and bank heights were 1 0 meter No freshwater mussels were found in 0 5 man hours of survey time Mill Creek is the sixth name stream that was surveyed The Mill Creek crossing contains runs riffles slack and pool areas with normal substrate compactness The substrate above and below the crossing consists of sand cobble pebble and gravel with moderate current The stream banks were stable The land use was rural /active pasture Mill Creek was very shallow with 100 percent less than 2 feet deep Mill Creek was 2 meters wide and bank heights were 1 0 meter Surveys were conducted by using batiscopes from approximately 400 meters downstream to 100 meters upstream of the project crossing No freshwater mussels were found in 0 5 man hours of survey time The next named stream that was surveyed was Catawba Creek The Catawba Creek crossing at Union New Hope Road (SR 2435) contains runs riffles and pool areas with normal and unconsolidated areas of compactness The substrate above and below the bridge consists of silt sand and gravel with moderate current Sand was the dominant substrate in Catawba Creek The stream banks were unstable The land use was natural /active pasture Catawba Creek was shallow with 95 percent of the stream being less than 2 feet deep Catawba Creek was 4 meters wide and bank heights were 2 meters No freshwater mussels were found in 2 25 man hours of survey time Asiatic clam was found to be abundant in Catawba Creek The last named stream that was surveyed was Beaverdam Creek The Beaverdam Creek crossing contains runs riffles and pool areas with normal substrate compactness The substrate above and below the crossing consists of silt sand clay cobble and gravel with moderate current Sand and silt were the dominant substrate in Beaverdam Creek The stream banks had some erosion and undercutting The land use was rural /active pasture Beaverdam Creek was shallow with 95 percent of the stream less than 2 feet deep Beaverdam Creek was 2 meters wide and bank heights were 1 5 meters No freshwater mussels were found in 1 0 man hours of survey time Asiatic clam was found to be abundant in Beaverdam Creek Table l Stream Name Site Flow Substrate Buffers Stream Bank Relative Total No width/ Stability depth Time height UT Abernathy 1 Run riffle s sac p g Wide 3 /75 Some Very 05 Creek pool erosion shallow Oates Creek 2 Run riffle S sa co g Moderate 20/1 5 Some Shallow 1 0 pool erosion Bessemer 3 Run riffle Sa co g Moderate 20/1 5 Some Shallow 05 Branch slack pool erosion UT Bessemer 4 Run riffle S sag Moderate 05110 Some Very 05 Branch erosion shallow UT Crowders 5 Run riffle S sa g Narrow/ 1 75/25 Unstable Very 05 Creek pool moderate shallow Myrtle Creek 6 Run riffle S sag Moderate 1 0/1 75 Unstable Very 05 slack pool shallow Crowders Creek 7 Run riffle S sap g Narrow 5 0/2 0 Unstable Shallow 3 5 slack pool UT Crowders 8 Run riffle S sa co p None /mo 05110 Some Very 05 Creek 9 derate erosion shallow UT Crowders 9 Run riffle S sa g Wide 1 0/20 Some Shallow 1 0 Creek pool erosion UT Crowders 10 Run riffle S sa co g Moderate 0 5/2 0 Some Very 05 Creek pool erosion shallow McGill Creek 1 l Run riffle S sa co b None/ 20/1 75 Unstable Shallow 075 slack o P 9 moderate Crowders Creek 12 Run riffle S sa Moderate 7 0/2 5 Unstable Very 20 / wide shallow UT Crowders 13 Run riffle S sa Moderate 2 5/2 0 Some Very 075 Creek I erosion shallow UT Crowders 14 Run riffle S sa Narrow/ 2 5/2 5 Unstable Shallow 05 Creek slack I moderate UT Crowders 15 Run riffle S sa co g Moderate 1 511 0 Unstable Very 05 Creek slack shallow UT Crowders 16 Run riffle M Narrow 1 0/20 Unstable Stagnant Creek slack pools UT Crowders 17 Run riffle S sa Narrow 1 5/40 Unstable Very 05 Creek slack shallow UT Crowders 18 Slack S sa p g Moderate 3 0/1 5 stable stagnant 05 Creek pools UT Crowders 19 Run riffle S sag Moderate 1 0/1 5 Some No erosion water Mill Creek 20 Run riffle Sa co p Narrow 20/1 0 Very Very 20 pool slack stable shallow UT Catawba 21 Run riffle S sa co b Narrow 2 5/2 0 Some Shallow 1 5 Creek pool bo g up /wide erosion down UT Catawba 22 Run riffle S sa co Moderate 1 0/1 0 Some No Creek erosion water UT Catawba 23 Run riffle S sa co g Wide 20/1 0 Some Very 1 5 Creek erosion shallow UT Catawba 24 Run riffle S sa c co Narrow/ 20/1 5 Some Very 1 0 Creek pool 9 moderate erosion shallow UT Catawba 25 Run riffle S sa g Moderate 4 0/2 0 Unstable Shallow 225 Creek pool UT South Fork 26 Run riffle S sa g Moderate 075/1 0 Some No Catawba River erosion water UT South Fork 27 Run riffle S sa co g Wide 0 75/0 5 Very Very 05 Catawba River stable shallow UT Catawba 28 Slack Sa s g Moderate 1 0/05 Very No River stable water UT Catawba 29 Run riffle S sa Wide 0 75/0 5 Some Very 05 River erosion shallow Beaverdam 30 Run riffle S sa cog Moderate 1 0105 Some Very 75 Creek I I I erosion shallow Qualifications of Investigators Investigator Jared Gray Education B S Environmental Science Morehead State University i Experience Environmental Biologist Enviro Pro October 1994 — May 1997 Environmental Technician Appian Consulting Engineers P A October 1997 — May 1998 Environmental Specialist /Supervisor NCDOT October 1998 present Expertise Endangered species (terrestrial /aquatic) surveys benthic macro invertebrate collection wetland delineation soils water quality analysis and 404/401 permitting Investigator Neil Medlin Environmental Supervisor Education M A Biology Appalachian State University B S Biology Appalachian State University Experience Environmental Supervisor NCDOT January 2002 present Environmental Biologist NC Division of Water Quality June 1990 January 2002 Environmental Biologist FL Department of Environmental Protection (formerly Department of Environmental Regulation) August 1986 — June 1990 Expertise Freshwater fish and benthic macro invertebrate collection and identification aquatic habitat evaluations and function biocriteria and biotic indices evaluations Endangered species (terrestrial /aquatic) surveys Investigator Jason Mays Environmental Specialist NCDOT March 2004 present Education B S Biological Sciences minor Chemistry UNC Chapel Hill 2002 Experience NCWRC Field Biologist May 2002 October 2003 Expertise Section 7 field investigations protected species (terrestrial /aquatic) surveys Investigator Michael Sanderson Environmental Specialist NCDOT April 2004 present Education BS Fisheries and Wildlife Science North Carolina State University Experience Wildlife Research Biologist Down to Earth Environmental February — June 2003 Wildlife Research Technician NC Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research unit October 1991 March 1999 Biological Science Technician (Wildlife) US Fish and Wildlife Service April 1995 April 1997 Expertise Bird surveys behavioral analysis habitat use /evaluation Section 7 field investigations protected species (terrestrial /aquatic) surveys Wetland delineation /determination Investigator Kathy Herring Environmental Supervisor Education B S Biology University of South Carolina Experience Environmental Specialist /Supervisor NCDOT August 2004 present Environmental Biologist NC Division of Water Quality Biological Assessment Unit December 1992 — July 2004 Environmental Biologist Supervisor Normandeau Associates Aiken SC April 1988 to November 1992 and February 1982 to August 1985 Aquatic Biologist Chadwick and Associates Inc Denver CO November 1986 to March 1988 Project Manager The Potential Effects of Flow Fluctuations on Establishing a Balanced Biological Community in Discharge Streams at the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, SC Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, September 1985 to September 1986 Expertise Freshwater fish and benthic macroinvertebrate collection and identification aquatic habitat evaluations and function biocriteria and biotic indices evaluations Endangered species (terrestrial /aquatic) surveys data analysis /report writing Scuba diving certified Investigator Matt Haney Environmental Specialist Education B S Natural Resources North Carolina State University Experience Environmental Specialist NCDOT October 1999 present N C Forest Service May 1998 August 1998 U S Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research May 1997 August 1997 2 1 0 2 Miles SOURCE: USGS Quadrangles Charlotte West Gaston and Belomont "Maptech® USGS '. Topographic SeriesTM, ©Maptech®. Inc. 978 - 933 -3000, www.maptech.com /topo" ZE Copyright 2001 Maptech klenburg Figure 2 Observed Nest Locations Gaston East -West Connector U -3321 Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, NC March 1, 2007