20120285_Other Documents_20070301

Z- G2�5
/-kP(
� EarthTech 701 Corporate Center Drive P 919 854 6200
Suite 475 F 919 854 6259
A Tycolnwational Ltd Company Raleigh NC 27607 earthtech corn
MEMORANDUM
DATE March 1 2007
TO Louis Raymond PBS & J
FROM Kevin Lapp Biologist Earth Tech
SUBJECT Bald Eagle Survey Report
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority is currently investigating alternatives associated with
development of a toll road facility on new location in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties NC
The proposed Gaston County East West Connector (U 3321) around the city of Gastonia
includes 16 alternatives (endpoint to endpoint) which extend from south of the Charlotte Douglas
International Airport in western Mecklenburg County south of Gastonia to a link with Interstate
85 (1 85) dust west of Gastonia in Gaston County for a total of approximately 72 corridor miles
Corridor width for each alternative averages 1400 feet (Figure 1)
The following memorandum addresses surveys for the Bald Eagle (Hahaeetus leucocephalus) a
federally protected species listed by the U S Fish and Wildlife Service for Gaston and
Mecklenburg Counties performed as part of the environmental requirements associated with the
Gaston East West Connector project The bald eagle is primarily associated with coasts rivers
and lakes and usually nests near large bodies of water where it feeds Large nests up to 6 feet
(2 m) across and weighing hundreds of pounds are constructed from large sticks weeds
cornstalks grasses and sod Preferred nesting sites are usually within one half mile of water
have an open view of the surrounding area and are in the largest living tree usually a pine or
cypress In the southeast the nesting and breeding season runs from September to December
Bald eagles are known from Lake Wylie and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)
and NC Natural Heritage Program ( NCNHP) each had data on separate bald eagle nest
locations An aerial survey of the Lake Wylie area within the project area and extending outward
one mile was performed by helicopter on December 19 2006 Areas along the shoreline and
adjacent to the shoreline were surveyed for the presence of large nests and areas with historical
nest data were surveyed thoroughly in an attempt to relocate the nest Three unoccupied large
nests (Figure 2) were observed during this survey outside of the project study area one of which
was near the NCNHP tracked nest location These nests were ground truthed by Earth Tech
biologists using a spotting scope and binoculars on February 8 2007 to determine the species
using the nests during the nesting season for the bald eagle Two of the nests were found to be
occupied by great blue herons The third nest located in an electrical transmission tower did
not appear to be sufficiently large for bald eagles and is thought to be an osprey nest
One confirmed eagle nest was observed in a location that has been tracked by the NC Wildlife
Resources Commission (NCWRC) The NCWRC provided location data for this occurrence
(Gaston #1) and has tracked fledgling survival during previous years The nest was observed in
a relatively new subdivision southeast of Belmont and is surrounded by homes at the end of
Deas Drive (approximately 1 6 miles north of the study corridor) Deas Drive is located off of

Amanda Lane in Gaston County Two adult eagles were observed in the general area and one
of these eagles was observed on the nest on February 8 2007 This was the only documented
eagle nest observed during the survey The nest location is depicted in Figure 3 An additional
nest location that was provided by the NC Natural Heritage Program is actually an incorrectly
plotted reference to Gaston #1 that we observed and is described above This location does not
have a current or historic eagle nest location associated with it
Due to the small possibility of impacting foraging habitat with the potential construction of a
bridge over Lake Wylie a biological conclusion of May Affect Not Likely to Adversely Affect was
reached
Bald eagle (Halmeetus leucocephalus) May Affect Not Likely to Adversely Affect
The following biological conclusion was reached after surveys and research associated with this
project Surveys for federally protected species are valid for two years from the survey date If
the project is not constructed within those two years then the area may need to be resurveyed
prior to the let date