20202033 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20210222

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
February 22, 2021

Mr. David Brown
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006

SUBJECT: Clear Creek and Coronet Branch Enhancement
Clear Cr and Coronet Br, Macon County

Dear Mr. Brown:

Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to enhance 1,900 ft of Clear Creek and Coronet Branch in Macon County. Our
comments on this application are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean
Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401,
as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).

There are wild Rainbow Trout in the project vicinity, and in-stream activity should be avoided
during the trout moratorium period of January 1 to April 15 to minimize impacts to trout
reproduction. In addition, the Chauga Crayfish [Cambarus chaugensis, NC Special Concern
(SC)] and Yellowfin Shiner (Notropis lutipinnis, NC SC) are found in Clear Creek in the vicinity
of the project. Due to the sensitivity of these species to fine sediments, it is essential that
excellent erosion and sediment control be maintained during the project.

The project involves the stabilization of eroding banks with brush mattress and geolift
installation and the enhancement of in-stream habitat via the removal of in-stream riprap and
construction of constructed riffles. A native woody buffer of 10-20 ft in width will be
established. Work will be performed from the bank as much as possible, and flows will be
pumped around the work areas.

We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
Disturbed areas should be stabilized each day.
2. Work should be done at low flows.
Clear Cr & Coronet Br Enhancement Page 2 February 22, 2021
Clear Cr & Coronet Br, Macon County
3. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
4. The planted buffer width is estimated to be 10-20 ft. We recommend that a woody buffer of
at least 30 feet be planted in order to ensure project success. A wide forested buffer can
ensure greater bank stability, filter overland pollutants, and provide habitat for birds and
other wildlife.
5. River birch is included in the planting list. This is primarily a larger river species, and we
recommend using an alternative, such as Sweet Birch, on the site.

Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.

Sincerely,

Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program

ec: Andrew Bick, Headwaters Engineering
Kaylie Yankura, NC Division of Water Resources