20201820 Ver 1_FINAL U-5738 Julian Rd Widening NRTR_202109_20210920

NATURAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT

Widening of Julian Road (SR 2528) from US 601 (Jake Alexander Blvd.) to
I-85 Southbound Off-ramp (Klumak Dr.) and Addition of Sidewalk
on west side of Julian Road from I-85 Southbound On-ramp
to SR 2667 (Summit Park Drive)
Rowan County, North Carolina

TIP U-5738
WBS Element No. 50163.1.1

DIVISION 9
THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

September 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................... 2
2.0 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 2
3.0 TERRESTRIAL COMMUNITIES .......................................................................... 2
4.0 PROTECTED SPECIES ........................................................................................... 3
4.1 Endangered Species Act Protected Species ...................................................................... 3
4.2 Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act ................................................................... 4
4.3 Essential Fish Habitat ......................................................................................................... 4
5.0 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 5
6.0 REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................... 5
6.1 Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. ................................................................................. 5
6.2 Construction Moratoria ..................................................................................................... 6
6.3 N.C. River Basin Buffer Rules ........................................................................................... 6
6.4 Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 Navigable Waters .................................................... 6
6.5 Coastal Area Management Act Areas of Environmental Concern ................................ 6
6.6 Coastal Barrier Resources System .................................................................................... 6
6.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 7

Appendix A Agency Verification Letters
Appendix B Qualifications of Contributors
Appendix C NCWAM ande NCSAM Forms

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Coverage of terrestrial communities in the study area.................................. 2
Table 2. Federally protected species listed for Rowan County .................................... 3
Table 3. Streams in the study area ................................................................................. 5
Table 4. Status of streams in the study area .................................................................. 5
Table 5. Characteristics of wetlands in the study area ................................................. 6

Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
2 September 2021
1.0 INTRODUCTION

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to widen Julian
Road (SR 2528) from US 601 (Jake Alexander Blvd.) to the I-85 southbound off-ramp
(Klumak Dr.) and add sidewalk on the west side of Julian Road from the I-85 southbound
on-ramp to Summit Park Drive (SR 2667) (TIP U-5738) in Rowan County (Figure 1).
The following Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR) has been prepared to assist in
the preparation of a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Minimum Criteria
Determination Checklist (MCDC) and 404/401 pre-construction notification for the
proposed project.

2.0 METHODOLOGY

All work was conducted in accordance with the NCDOT Environmental Coordination
and Permitting’s Preparing Natural Resources Technical Reports Procedure and the latest
NRTR Template (July 2021). Field work was conducted on August 29, 2016, August 12,
2019 and September 7, 2021. Jurisdictional areas were verified on March 8, 2017, by
James Lastinger of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). NC Division of Water
Resources’ stream verification was received March 30, 2017. Documentation of this
jurisdictional determination is provided in Appendix A. The principal personnel
contributing to the field work and document is provided in Appendix B. The study area
was expanded after 2017. No jurisdictional areas were found in the expanded areas.

3.0 TERRESTRIAL COMMUNITIES

Four terrestrial communities were identified in the study area. Figure 3 shows the
location and extent of these terrestrial communities. Terrestrial community data are
presented in the context of total coverage of each type within the study area (Table 1).

Table 1. Coverage of terrestrial communities in the study area
Community Dominant Species (Scientific Name) Coverage
(ac.)
Maintained/ Disturbed
Crab grass (Digitaria sp.)
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum)
poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
18.2
Mesic Mixed Hardwood
Forest (Piedmont Subtype)
red maple (Acer rubrum)
sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
4.3
Early-Successional Mixed
Piedmont Forest
loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana)
sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
0.5
Piedmont Bottomland Forest
Green ash (F. pennsylvanica)
red maple (A. rubrum)
sweetgum (L. styraciflua)
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
1.4
Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
3 September 2021
Total 24.4
4.0 PROTECTED SPECIES

4.1 Endangered Species Act Protected Species

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) list the following federally
protected species, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for Rowan County (Table 2).
For each species, a discussion of the presence or absence of habitat is included below
along with the Biological Conclusion rendered based on survey results in the study area.

Table 2. Federally protected species listed for Rowan County
Scientific Name Common Name Federal
Status
Habitat
Present
Biological
Conclusion
Helianthus schweinitzii Schweinitz’s sunflower E Y No Effect
Myotis septentrionalis Northern long-eared bat T Y MA-NLAA
E - Endangered
T - Threatened
MA-NLAA – May Affect – Not Likely to Adversely Affect

Schweinitz's sunflower
USFWS Optimal Survey Window: late August-October

Biological Conclusion: No Effect
Suitable habitat for Schweinitz’s sunflower is present in the study area along
roadside shoulders, disturbed areas, and utility easements. Surveys were
conducted by SEPI biologists throughout areas of suitable habitat on September
15, 2016, August 12, 2019 and September 7, 2021. No individuals of
Schweinitz’s sunflower were observed during any of the surveys. A review of
NCNHP records was performed for the project by NHP staff on September 9,
2021. No known occurrences are present within 1.0 mile of the study area.

Northern long-eared bat
USFWS Recommended Survey Window: June 1 – August 15

Biological Conclusion: May Affect – Not Likely to Adversely Affect
In North Carolina, the Northern long-eared bat (NLEB) occurs in the mountains,
with scattered records in the Piedmont and coastal plain. In western North
Carolina, NLEB spend winter hibernating in caves and mines. Surveys of the
existing bridge over Town Creek and the culvert conveying the UT to Town
Creek (SB) under Julian Road were performed by NCDOT Division 9
Environmental Officer, Amy Euliss on September 10, 2021. Surveys followed the
SOP outlined in the NCDOT Preliminary Bat Habitat Assessment (Structures
Caves & Mines) June 2021. No bats or evidence of bats was identified in the
structures.

Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
4 September 2021
According to the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NHP) Biotics
Database, most recently updated July 2021, the nearest NLEB hibernacula record
is 65 miles west (Burke County) and no known NLEB roost trees occur within
150 feet of the project area.

NCDOT has also reviewed the USFWS Asheville Field office website
(http://www.fws.gov/asheville/htmls/project_review/NLEB_in_WNC.html) for
consistency with NHP records. This project is located entirely outside of the red
highlighted areas (12-digit HUC) that the USFWS Asheville Field Office has
determined to be representative of an area that may require consultation.

We believe that Situation 1 of the SLOPES (Standard Local Operating Procedures
for Endangered Species Act Compliance for the Northern Long-Eared Bat in
North Carolina) agreement applies to this project.

4.2 Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act

Habitat for the bald eagle primarily consists of mature forest in proximity to large bodies
of open water for foraging. Large dominant trees are utilized for nesting sites, typically
within 1.0 mile of open water.

A desktop-GIS assessment of the project study area, as well as the area within a
1.13-mile radius (1.0 mile plus 660 feet) of the project limits, was performed on October
17, 2016 using 2015 color aerials and September 3, 2021 using 2021 color aerials. No
water bodies large enough or sufficiently open to be considered potential feeding sources
were identified. Since there was no foraging habitat within the review area, a survey of
the project study area and the area within 660 feet of the project limits was not
conducted. Additionally, a review of NCNHP records was performed for the project by
NHP staff on September 9, 2021. No known occurrences are present within 1.0 mile of
the study area. Due to the lack of habitat, known occurrences, and minimal impact
anticipated for this project, it has been determined that this project will not affect this
species.

4.3 Essential Fish Habitat

No Essential Fish Habitat is present in or within 1.0 mile of the study area.

Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
5 September 2021
5.0 WATER RESOURCES

Water resources in the study area are part of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin [U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) Hydrologic Unit 03040103]. Three streams were identified
in the study area (Table 2). The location of each water resource is shown in Figure 2.
The physical characteristics of these streams are provided in Table 3.

Table 3. Streams in the study area
Stream Name Map ID
NCDWR
Index
Number
Best Usage
Classification
Bank
Height
(ft)
Bankfull
width
(ft)
Depth
(in)
Town Creek Town Creek 12-115-3 C 3 18 6
UT1 to Town
Creek SA 12-115-3 C 1 3 6
UT2 to Town
Creek SB 12-115-3 C 2 9 6

There are no designated Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), High Quality Waters
(HQW), or water supply watersheds (WS-I or WS-II) within 1.0 mile downstream of the
study area. There are no designated anadromous fish waters or Primary Nursery Areas
(PNA) present in the study area. Town Creek appears on the North Carolina 2020 Final
303(d) list of impaired waters for benthos, fish communities and turbidity.

No surface waters were identified in the study area.

6.0 REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

6.1 Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S.

Three jurisdictional streams were identified in the study area (Table 5). The location of
these streams is shown on Figure 3. USACE and NC Division of Water Resources
(NCDWR) stream delineation forms are included in Appendix C for those streams where
there was jurisdictional ambiguity or degradation. The physical characteristics and water
quality designations of each jurisdictional stream are detailed in Section 3.2. All
jurisdictional streams in the study area have been designated as warm water streams for
the purposes of stream mitigation.

Table 4. Status of streams in the study area
Map ID Length (ft.) Classification Compensatory
Mitigation Required
River Basin
Buffer
Town Creek 311 Perennial Yes Not Subject
SA 549 Perennial* Yes Not Subject
SB 115 Perennial Yes Not Subject
Total 975
* Stream SA has been determined perennial due to the presence of salamanders, crayfish, and various fish
species observed in all reaches of the stream channel within the project study area.
Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
6 September 2021

Four jurisdictional wetlands were identified within the study area (Figure 3). Wetland
classification and quality rating data are presented in Table 6. All wetlands in the study
area are within the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin (USGS Hydrologic Unit 03040103).
USACE wetland delineation forms and NCDWR wetland rating forms for each site were
included in the PJD request. NCWAM forms are included in Appendix C. Descriptions
of the terrestrial communities at each wetland site are presented in Section 4.1. Wetland
sites WA, WB, and WD are included within the Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest
(Piedmont subtype) community, and wetland site WC is described under the Piedmont
Bottomland Forest community.

Table 5. Characteristics of wetlands in the study area
Map ID NCWAM
Classification Forested NCWAM
Rating
Hydrologic
Classification
404/401
or 401
Area
(ac.)
WA Floodplain Pool Y High Riparian 404/401 0.01
WB Headwater
Forest Y Low Riparian 404/401 0.03
WC Headwater
Forest Y High Riparian 404/401 0.09
WD Headwater
Forest Y High Riparian 404/401 0.02
Total 0.15

6.2 Construction Moratoria

Construction moratoria are not anticipated for this project. There are no designated
anadromous fish spawning areas within Rowan County.

6.3 N.C. River Basin Buffer Rules

There are no buffer rules in effect within Rowan County for the Yadkin-Pee Dee River
basin.

6.4 Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 Navigable Waters

Town Creek has not been designated by the USACE as a Navigable Water under Section
10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.

6.5 Coastal Area Management Act Areas of Environmental Concern

Rowan County is not designated as a coastal county; therefore, Coastal Area
Management Act (CAMA) regulations do not apply.

6.6 Coastal Barrier Resources System

There are no Coastal Barrier Resources Systems in the study area.
Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
7 September 2021

6.0 REFERENCES

Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual.
Technical Report Y-87-1, U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station.
Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Environmental Laboratory. 2012. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers
Wetland Delineation Manual: Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region (Version
2.0). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program.
ERDC/EL TR-12-9. April 2012.

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality.
2008. NC Surface Water Classifications website. Accessed September 7, 2021.
https://ncdenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6e125ad7628f
494694e259c80dd64265

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality.
2020. 2020 NC 303(d) List – Category 5 Final. Accessed September 7, 2021.
https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303d/2020/NC_202
0_Category5_303dlist.pdf

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program.
2021. NCNHDE-15664. Raleigh, North Carolina. September 9, 2021.

N.C. Wetland Functional Assessment Team. 2016. N.C. Wetland Assessment Method
(NC WAM) User Manual. Version 5, February 2016.

NatureServe. 2021. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web
application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: September 8, 2021).

Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the Natural Communities of
North Carolina: Third Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program,
Division of Parks and Recreation, NCDEHNR. Raleigh, North Carolina. 325 pp.

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2004.
Soil Survey of Rowan County, North Carolina.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 2021. IPaC Information for Planning and
Consultation webpage. Accessed September 9, 2021. https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 2020. Optimal Survey Window and Number of
Years a Survey is Valid for North Carolina’s Federally Threatened, Endangered and
At-Risk Plant Species. March 10, 2020.

Natural Resources Technical Report TIP U-5738, Rowan County, N.C.
8 September 2021
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Schweinitz’s Sunflower Recovery Plan.
Atlanta, GA. 28 pp.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. ECOS Environmental Conservation Online
System. Schweinitz’s Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii).
https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3849. (Accessed: September 8, 2021).

United States Geological Survey. 2016. Salisbury, North Carolina, Topographic
Quadrangle (7.5-minute series). Reston: 1 sheet.

Figures

¯0 1,000500Feet
U-5738Julian Road (SR 2528) widening fromU.S. 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard) to I-85
Rowan County, North CarolinaSeptember 2021
Figure 1Project VicinityProject Vicinity
^
Study Area
Expanded Study Area
GFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFFigure 2A
Figure 2B
Town Creek
§¨¦85
Ju lia n Rd Julian RdW Ritchie Rd
S Jake Alexander BlvdKlumac Rd
Truck Ave
C o r p o r a t e C i r
Jacob Bost Rd
State
R
o
a
d 1
5
2
9
UnknownThis Exhibit is for planning purposes only and shown herein does not meet NC 47-30 Requirements andtherefore is not for design, construction, or recording or transfer of title. The Exhibit was compiled fromavailable information obtained from the sources listed below.
Sources:NCDOT, NC OneMap, ESRI
September 2021 I1 inch = 500 feetGRAPHIC SCALE Figure 2 - Jurisdictional Features
U-5738Julian Road (SR 2528) widening fromU.S. 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard) to I-85
Legend
Study Area
Expanded Study Area
Wetlands
Streams
GF Upland Data Point
GF Wetland Data Point
500 0 500250Feet
GFGFWC
SB
SB
Julian R dWC
This Exhibit is for planning purposes only and shown herein does not meet NC 47-30 Requirements andtherefore is not for design, construction, or recording or transfer of title. The Exhibit was compiled fromavailable information obtained from the sources listed below.
Sources:NCDOT, NC OneMap, ESRI
September 2021 I1 inch = 100 feetGRAPHIC SCALE Figure 2a - Jurisdictional Features
U-5738Julian Road (SR 2528) widening fromU.S. 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard) to I-85
Legend
Study Area
Wetlands
Streams
GF Upland Data Point
GF Wetland Data Point
100 0 10050Feet
GFGFGFGFGFGFTown Creek
WB
WA
J u l i a n R d SA
WD
This Exhibit is for planning purposes only and shown herein does not meet NC 47-30 Requirements andtherefore is not for design, construction, or recording or transfer of title. The Exhibit was compiled fromavailable information obtained from the sources listed below.
Sources:NCDOT, NC OneMap, ESRI
September 2021 I1 inch = 100 feetGRAPHIC SCALE Figure 2b - Jurisdictional Features
U-5738Julian Road (SR 2528) widening fromU.S. 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard) to I-85
Legend
Study Area
Wetlands
Streams
GF Upland Data Point
GF Wetland Data Point
100 0 10050Feet
This Exhibit is for planning purposes only and shown herein does not meet NC 47-30 Requirements andtherefore is not for design, construction, or recording or transfer of title. The Exhibit was compiled fromavailable information obtained from the sources listed below.
Sources:NCDOT, NC OneMap, ESRI,
September 2021 I1 inch = 500 feetGRAPHIC SCALE
Figure 3: USGS Topographic
U-5738Julian Road (SR 2528) widening fromU.S. 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard) to I-85
Legend
Study Area
Expanded Study Area
Wetlands
Streams
Salisbury, NC Quadrangle
500 0 500250Feet
§¨¦85
Ju lia n Rd
Wetland C
SB
SA Town Creek
Wetland A
Wetland B
Wetland D Julian RdW Ritchie Rd
S Jake Alexander BlvdKlumac Rd
Truck Ave
C o r p o r a t e C i r
Jacob Bost Rd
S
tate
R
o
a
d 1
5
2
9
This Exhibit is for planning purposes only and shown herein does not meet NC 47-30 Requirements andtherefore is not for design, construction, or recording or transfer of title. The Exhibit was compiled fromavailable information obtained from the sources listed below.
Sources:NCDOT, NC OneMap, ESRI
September 2021 I1 inch = 500 feet
GRAPHIC SCALE Figure 4 - Natural Communities Map
U-5738Julian Road (SR 2528) widening fromU.S. 601 (Jake Alexander Boulevard) to I-85
Study Area
Expanded Study Area
Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest (Piedmont Subtype)
Early-Successional Mixed Piedmont Forest
Piedmont Bottomland Forest
Maintained/Disturbed
Delineated Wetlands
Delineated Streams
Roads
500 0 500250Feet

Appendix A
Agency Verification Letter

Appendix B
Contributors Qualification

Principal
Investigator: Kim Hamlin
Education: M.S. Natural Resources, 2011
Experience: Project Scientist, SEPI Engineering, 2012-2016
Responsibilities: Wetland and stream delineations, natural communities assessment,
T&E species assessment, GIS, and document preparation

Investigator: Eric Black
Education: B.S. Biology, 1991
Experience: Environmental Scientist, SEPI Engineering, 2016-2019
Environmental Scientist, HSMM, 2002-2005
Environmental Specialist, NCDOT, 1999-2002
Environmental Technician, NCDWQ, 1997-1999
Responsibilities: Wetland and stream delineations, natural communities assessment,
T&E species assessment

Investigator: Robert Lepsic, PWS
Education: B.S. Biology, 1991
Experience: Environmental Project Manager, SEPI Inc., 2018 - Present
Sr. Biologist, Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, 2016 – 2018
Sr. Scientist, ARCADIS G&M of NC, Inc., 2000 – 2016
Engineer Scientist, Alameda County Public Works Agency, 1995 – 2000
Responsibilities: T&E assessments, document preparation

Investigator: Anna Reusche, PWS
Education: B.S. Natural Resources Management, 2002
Experience: Environmental Project Manager, SEPI Inc., 2019 - Present
Senior Environmental Project Manager, Timmons Group, 2017-2019
Senior Environmental Project Manager, Angler Environmental/RES,
2013-2017
Environmental Technician, Kimley-Horn, 2007-2013
Environmental Scientist, ARCADIS G&M of NC, Inc., 2004-2007
Responsibilities: Document preparation and review

Investigator: Elisabeth Webster
Education: B.S. Environmental Technology and Management, 2015
Experience: Environmental Planner, SEPI, 2015-2018
Responsibilities: Document preparation, GIS

Investigator: Susan Westberry, AICP, PWS, CPESC
Education: M.S. Botany, 2003
Experience: Senior Environmental Planner, SEPI Engineering & Construction,
2015-Present
Environmental Scientist, URS, 2005-2019
Environmental Scientist, Stantec, 2003-2005
Responsibilities: QA/QC