20201449 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20210925

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
September 28, 2021
Ms. Brandee Boggs
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Ararat River Restoration Phase VII
Ararat River, Surry County
Dear Ms. Boggs,
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to restore 2,889 ft of the Ararat River in Surry County. Our comments on this
application are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977
(33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661-667d).
Wild trout reproduction should not be negatively impacted by the project, and a trout moratorium
is not required.
The project intends to address an eroding reach of the Ararat River through instream structures (4
rock vanes, 1 log vane) and toewood with geolifts. Banks will be sloped and a native woody
buffer approximately 50 ft or greater in width will be established. Work will be done in the wet,
and we recommend that flows be diverted around in -stream work areas, especially at bank tie-in
locations.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
Disturbed areas should be stabilized at the end of each workday.
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
3. Flows should be diverted around in -stream work areas, especially at areas vulnerable to
sediment loss such as bank tie-in locations.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Ararat River Restoration, Phase VII Page 2 September 28, 2021
Ararat R, Surry Co
4. A large part of the restoration reach appears to have a mature woody buffer. Efforts should
be taken to avoid removal and damage of trees as much as possible.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Jake Byers, Ecosystem Planning and Restoration
Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Resources