20070936 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070607

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~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Steve Chapin, US Army Corps of Engineers
Asheville Regional Office
Cyndi Karoly, NC Division of Water Quality
401 Oversight & Express Permits Unit
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: June 4, 2007
SUBJECT: Interstate 77 - Lakeview road Transportation and Commercial Center,
Mecklenburg County
The applicant is requesting a letter of concurrence from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC) to obtain a 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
NCWRC has reviewed information provided by the applicant, and field biologists on our staff
are familiar with habitat values of the project area. These comments are provided in accordance
with 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).
The project is to develop a transportation and commercial center within the Long Creek (303 d
listed) watershed. Impacts are proposed to wetlands for portions of the development, including
culvert impacts to 300 linear feet of area streams for road crossings and sewer construction. An
extended stormwater wetland is proposed. Our review of the project area found an occurrence of
the Carolina creekshell, Villosa vaughaniana (NCE, FSC) in Mallard Creek headwaters (Yadkin
drainage} east of this project area. However, no listed species were indicated for the proposed
Long Creek project area (Catawba drainage).
Based on the information provided by the applicant and our knowledge of the project area, we
recommend the following considerations far the project:
1. Stringent erosion control measures should be installed where soil is disturbed and
maintained until project completion. Sediment and erosion control measures should
adhere to the design standards for sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0024).
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fag: [phone]

I-77/Lakeview Road Trans. Ctr. -Page 2 -
June 4, 2007
2. 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.
3. Where practicable, bridges are recommended for all permanent roadway crossings of
streams, floodplains and associated wetlands to eliminate the need to fill and culvert
biologically functional streams and floodplains. Floodplain capacities and floodplain
functions must be maintained with bridges and culverts. If culverts must be used,
culverts should be as short as possible and 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 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.
4. Maximum available buffers should be provided for all remaining jurisdictional waters.
These areas should be maintained (or restored) as undisturbed forested areas protected by
permanent conservation easements.
5. Stormwater wetlands and/or ponds should include provision of forested buffers to restore
diminished habitat values to the area (see attached example). Native plants are preferred
and recommended.
Thank you far the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at 336/769-9453.
Attachment: Piedmont Stormwater Pond and Mine Planting Recommendations
E-copy: Alan Johnson, DWQ-MRO