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Home My WebLink About20210302 Ver 1_Cherokee County - B170 - NC Hertiage Program_20210610NCNHDE-14850 June 10, 2021 Patrick Breedlove NCDOT-Division 14 253 Webster Road Sylva, NC 28779 RE: Cherokee County - Bridge 170; 17BP.14.R.167 Dear Patrick Breedlove: The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) appreciates the opportunity to provide information about natural heritage resources for the project referenced above. Based on the project area mapped with your request, a query of the NCNHP database indicates that there are no records for rare species, important natural communities, natural areas, and/or conservation/managed areas within the proposed project boundary. Please note that although there may be no documentation of natural heritage elements within the project boundary, it does not imply or confirm their absence; the area may not have been surveyed. The results of this query should not be substituted for field surveys where suitable habitat exists. In the event that rare species are found within the project area, please contact the NCNHP so that we may update our records. The attached ‘Potential Occurrences’ table summarizes rare species and natural communities that have been documented within a one-mile radius of the property boundary. The proximity of these records suggests that these natural heritage elements may potentially be present in the project area if suitable habitat exists. Tables of natural areas and conservation/managed areas within a one-mile radius of the project area, if any, are also included in this report. If a Federally-listed species is found within the project area or is indicated within a one-mile radius of the project area, the NCNHP recommends contacting the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for guidance. Contact information for USFWS offices in North Carolina is found here: https://www.fws.gov/offices/Directory/ListOffices.cfm?statecode=37. Please note that natural heritage element data are maintained for the purposes of conservation planning, project review, and scientific research, and are not intended for use as the primary criteria for regulatory decisions. Information provided by the NCNHP database may not be published without prior written notification to the NCNHP, and the NCNHP must be credited as an information source in these publications. Maps of NCNHP data may not be redistributed without permission. The NC Natural Heritage Program may follow this letter with additional correspondence if a Dedicated Nature Preserve, Registered Heritage Area, Land and Water Fund easement, or Federally- listed species are documented near the project area. If you have questions regarding the information provided in this letter or need additional assistance, please contact Rodney A. Butler at rodney.butler@ncdcr.gov or 919-707-8603. Sincerely, NC Natural Heritage Program Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Within a One-mile Radius of the Project Area Cherokee County - Bridge 170 Project No. 17BP.14.R.167 June 10, 2021 NCNHDE-14850 Element Occurrences Documented Within a One-mile Radius of the Project Area Taxonomic Group EO ID Scientific Name Common Name Last Observation Date Element Occurrence Rank Accuracy Federal Status State Status Global Rank State Rank Amphibian 15281 Pseudacris brachyphona Mountain Chorus Frog 2020-03-04 A 3-Medium ---Special Concern G5 S2 Crustacean 33800 Cambarus brimleyorum Valley River Crayfish 2019-06-26 E 3-Medium ---Significantly Rare G3G4 S2 Freshwater Bivalve 23497 Lampsilis fasciola Wavyrayed Lampmussel 2018-10-23 E 3-Medium ---Special Concern G5 S2 Freshwater Bivalve 4532 Lasmigona holstonia Tennessee Heelsplitter 1882-Pre H 4-Low ---Endangered G3 SH Freshwater Bivalve 8346 Pegias fabula Littlewing Pearlymussel 1882-Pre H 4-Low Endangered Endangered G1 S1 Freshwater Bivalve 5796 Villosa iris Rainbow 2019-08-08 E 3-Medium ---Threatened G5 S2 Freshwater Fish 35719 Cottus carolinae Banded Sculpin 2002-07-24 E 3-Medium ---Special Concern G5 S1 Freshwater Fish 14939 Erimystax insignis Blotched Chub 2009-07-29 E 3-Medium ---Significantly Rare G4 S2 Freshwater Fish 35602 Moxostoma breviceps Smallmouth Redhorse 2013-04-17 E 3-Medium ---Significantly Rare G5 S2 Freshwater Fish 18954 Moxostoma sp. 2 Sicklefin Redhorse 2018-08-25 B 3-Medium ---Threatened G1G2 S2 Freshwater Fish 31171 Notropis micropteryx Highland Shiner 2014-07-09 E 3-Medium ---Significantly Rare G5 S2 Freshwater or Terrestrial Gastropod 28450 Elimia christyi Christy's Elimia 2019-05-01 E 3-Medium ---Endangered G2 S1 Natural Areas Documented Within a One-mile Radius of the Project Area Site Name Representational Rating Collective Rating HIW/Valley River Aquatic Habitat R1 (Exceptional)C3 (High) Page 2 of 4 Managed Areas Documented Within a One-mile Radius of the Project Area Managed Area Name Owner Owner Type Nantahala National Forest - Tusquitee Ranger District US Forest Service Federal NC Land and Water Fund Conservation Agreement NC DNCR, NC Land and Water Fund State Mainspring Conservation Trust Easement Mainspring Conservation Trust Private Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at https://ncnhde.natureserve.org/help. Data query generated on June 10, 2021; source: NCNHP, Q1 April 2021. Please resubmit your information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database. Page 3 of 4 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Page 4 of 4