20211499 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20210920

Strickland, Bev
From: Leslie, Andrea J
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 4:22 PM
To: Jeff Belflower; Homewood, Sue
Subject: RE: FW: [External] preliminary plans for Wilkes County NRCS EQIP stream restoration
project
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
Jeff -
It's a valid point. However, when there is a lot of channel pattern adjustment and no species of concern within
the channel to be impacted, we often want to see the project pumped around entirely, since it can be so
messy. I'd like to hear what Sue has to say here, as she is the one to make the call.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
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From: Jeff Belflower <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 2:22 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: FW: [External] preliminary plans for Wilkes County NRCS EQIP stream restoration project
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Hi Andrea,
Thank you very much for taking a look at these plans. I will send you a PCN this week. The only reason I
reminded you of the emails a couple weeks ago was in case you are half as forgetful as me! :) Of course I
understand that seeing the plans and receiving more information could lead to a different decision making
process on your end.
i

To answer your questions about a pump -around: Yes, I can specify that the contractor works "in the
dry". Would it be acceptable if we used the existing channel as a diversion channel where possible along with
rock diversions to divert active flow away from the work area? My thought process on a pump -around is to
avoid it if possible because intuitively it seems destructive to stream life to route 100% of stream flow through a
pump and then shoot it out at high velocity into a riprap pad. I do understand that sometimes there is no choice
but to pump -around because of various constraints.
I will send the plan sheet Sue requested showing vegetation planting areas/widths this week along with the
PCN. The landowner wants to stick with NRCS minimum requirements (typically top of bank) for buffer
widths and livestock exclusion fencing, but I will push to try to get as much of a permanent riparian buffer as
possible.
Thank you again.
Respectfully,
Jeff
Original Message
From: "Leslie, Andrea J" <[e-mail]>
To: "Jeff Belflower" <[e-mail]>; "Homewood, Sue" <[e-mail]>
Sent: 9/20/2021 12:14:31 PM
Subject: RE: FW: [External] preliminary plans for Wilkes County NRCS EQIP stream restoration project
Yes, I'm aware of that Jeff. Sometimes there is grey area for the trout moratorium, based on how far
downstream we do have trout survey data and the amount of disturbance involved with the project. I did not
have any design info when I made that earlier call. For this project, it looks like there will be significant
channel realignment and structure placement, which is really messy. With this sort of work on such a small
stream (0.7 sqmi drainage area), a pretty standard erosion and sediment control BMP is a pump around. Will
you be pumping around?
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
ADO
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2

From: Jeff Belflower <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 9:41 AM
To: Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]>
Cc: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: FW: [External] preliminary plans for Wilkes County NRCS EQIP stream restoration project
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
Report Spam.
Sue,
Thank you so much for taking a look at these plans. I will draft and send a plan sheet showing vegetation
planting areas/widths this week.
Andrea,
Just FYI, Zan Price checked with you to see if a trout moratorium would be required for this project. You
replied on September 10 and said no.
Thank you again,
Jeff
Original Message
From: "Homewood, Sue" <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Cc: "Leslie, Andrea J" <[e-mail]>
Sent: 9/19/2021 3:50:47 PM
Subject: FW: [External] preliminary plans for Wilkes County NRCS EQIP stream restoration project
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for sending these along ahead of time. I don't see any red flags that would cause permit review to be delayed,
but it would be helpful if you could provide a plan sheet that shows the vegetation planting areas/widths.
I'm unable to issue a 401 until I receive comments from NCWRC so I'm forwarding these along to my contact there.
Andrea, Jeff didn't know about the prefiling meeting request process and is very tight for timing as they want to
construct this project this year. I suggested he send in plans prior to submitting the PCN for review for me to do a
quick review for any issues I might see so that review and issuance goes smoothly.
Sue Homewood
Division of Water Resources, Winston Salem Regional Office
Department of Environmental Quality
336 776 9693 office
336 813 1863 mobile
[e-mail]
450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300
Winston Salem NC 27105
3

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From: Jeff Be|f lower <ieff@>be|flnvxerfann.conn>
Sent: Monday, September 13,ZUZ1Z:1SPM
To: Homewood, Sue <[e-mail]
Subject: [External] preliminary plans for Wilkes County NRCS E0P stream restoration project
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Report Spam.
Per our phone conversation today, please see the attached plans. Please let me know ifyou have any questions
or if I can do anything else to help.
Thank you very much!
Jeff BelPE
828-980-5715
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