20071124 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070705

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~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
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TO: Amanda Jones, USACOE ~ t=; ., ~ "~ imf s
Asheville Regulatory Field Office `'''~' ,IUU 1
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FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator ;. ;,.
Habitat Conservation Program ~~'~• ~~~~s .•:r-.'~~+~~~~•~
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DATE: June 28, 2007
SUBJECT: Robert and Trilby Wall, National Committee for the New River (NCNB), South
Fork New River, Ashe County
The NCNB proposes restore riparian vegetation along the river and stabilize eroding river banks
with natural channel design techniques. Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission are familiar with habitat values in 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 113A-10; NCAC 25).
The project will grade back existing eroding banks to provide a 2.5:1 slope and provide ground
cover for disturbed soils, including native shrubs and trees. Three (3) rock vanes will be placed
along the river edge to aggrade banks and reduce erosive forces.
Smallmouth bass are known for this area of Ashe County. Kanawha minnow, Phenacobius
teretulus (NCSC, FSC); logperch, Percina caprodes (NCT); seep mudalia, Leptoxis dilatata
(NCT); sharpnose darter, Percina oxyrhynchus (NCSC); purple wartyback, Cycdonaias
tuberculata (NCSC); spike, Elliptio dilatata (NCSC); tonguetied minnow, Exoglossum laurae
(NCSR); Kanawha darter, Etheostoma kanawhae (NCSR); and crayfish on the NC Watch List
(New River crayfish, Cambarus chasmodactylus, and Orconectes cristavarius, no common
name) occur throughout the New River and tributaries.
Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project as proposed providing the
following conditions are implemented:
1. Instream activities are prohibited during the fish spawning season of May I through
July 15 to prevent off-site sedimentation from impacting fish eggs and fry
downstream of the site.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Kaleigh, Nc; Llbyy-i /L i
Telephone: {919) 707-0220 Fax: [phone]

Robert & Trilby Wall, SF New River -Page 2 -
June 28, 2007
2. If public funds are used, 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. 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 be restored and maintained as undisturbed to the maximum extent practicable.
3. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124).
4. To the extent practicable, heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather
than in the stream channel m order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the
likelihood of introducing other pollutants into the stream. Equipment used in the
channel should be new, low hour and well maintained to reduce accidental petroleum
contamination. Spill containment equipment should be readily available.
5. 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