20070869 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070605

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
TO: Amanda Jones, USACOE ~ ~ ~ ~ Q ~~/
Asheville Regulatory Field Office D
JUN ~' 2007
FROM: Ron Linville Re Tonal Coordinator / DENR -
' g k"4ETLA"!~~ WATER 4UALI RANCH
Habitat Conservation Program PJ~J,.1Cx?i!lhATERB
DATE: May 28, 2007
SUBJECT: Francis U. Paige, Jr. Driveway, Stony Fork Creek and tributary thereof, Watauga
County
The applicant proposes to install a culvert to provide site access. Biologists with the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are familiar with habitat values m the area. These
comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act {48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and the North Carolina Environmental
Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through ll3A-10; NCAC 25).
The project will be the installation of an 18" x 35' culvert on an unnamed tributary for a private
driveway. Abridge with supporting headwalls is proposed for the crossing of Stony fork Creek.
A total of 2345 feet of driveway is proposed. Brown trout are known for streams in this area of
Ashe County.
Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project as proposed providing the
following non-prioritized conditions are implemented:
1. In stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are
prohibited during the brown and brook trout spawning season of October 15 through
April I S to protect the egg and fry stages of trout from off-site sedimentation during
construction.
2. Bridges are recommended for all permanent roadway crossings of streams,
floodplains and associated wetlands to eliminate the need to fill and culvert active
streams and floodplains, especially perennial waters supporting trout. Floodylain
caQacities and floodplain functions must be maintained with brides and culverts. If
culverts must be used, culverts must be designed and constructed to ensure passage of
aquatic organisms. Culverts 48" diameter or larger must be buried at least a foot
(12") below the streambed. Culverts less than 48" diameter must be buried to a depth
equal to or greater than twenty (20) percent of their diameter. Depth of burial must
be based on the stream's natural thalweg depth. Culverts should be aligned and
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N(; z /byy-rrzi
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Francis Paige, Stony Fork -Page 2 -
May 28, 2007
situated so that no channel realignment or widening is required unless such
modification will improve natural conditions. Widening of the stream channel at the
inlet or outlet of the culvert structure causes a decrease in water depth and velocity
causing sedimentation impacts and reduction of aquatic passage. Flat concrete
aprons between wing-walls must not be used. Riprap must not be placed in the
streambed unless absolutely necessary and if used in channel, it must provide natural
channel dimensions. If multiple barrels are needed, base flow barrels must be
installed as indicated above while additional barrels should be placed with floors
located at the active floodplain or bank full elevation. These elevated barrels must be
connected to the active floodplain or bank full benches to ensure natural stream
dimensions for the base flow channel with sufficient water depth during low flows
and drought conditions to accommodate normally anticipated aquatic movement. If
culverts are long and/or sufficient slopes exist, alternating baffles should be provided
in the base flow barrel in a manner to conform to channel bends upstream and
downstream, to mimic natural meanders, to prevent upstream scour and downstream
deposition, to move and contain typical bed load materials, and to provide resting
areas for aquatic species. When multiple barrels are used, at least one barrel should
be designed and constructed with a floor material easily used for terrestrial wildlife
passage.
Remaining jurisdictional waters and wetlands should be buffered, either through
protection or provision of undisturbed forested buffer zones. Buffers should be
permanently preserved as common contiguous forest areas instead of being
subdivided. For streams that do not support federally listed threatened or endangered
aquatic species, we recommend 50' intermittent and 100' perennial stream buffers.
Maximum available buffers should be provided; however, the twenty-five (25) foot
trout buffer should remain. undisturbed to the maximum extent practicable.
4. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124).
5. If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.
6. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream channel
in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other
pollutants into the stream.
7. Temporary or permanent native herbaceous vegetation should be established on all
bare soil within five (5) days of ground disturbing activities in the twenty-five (25)
foot trout buffer to provide long-term erosion control. We encourage use of fiber
matting. Onsite vegetation and materials may be used for stream bank stabilization
when practicable.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning
stages. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336/769-9453.
E-copy: Daryl lamb, DWQ-WSRO