20211407 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20211020

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
October 20, 2021
Mr. David Brown
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Hoopers Creek Stabilization
Hoopers Creek, Henderson County
Dear Mr. Brown:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 200 ft of Hoopers Creek in Henderson 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 impacted by project activities, and in -stream work does
not need to be avoided during the trout moratorium.
The project involves the stabilization of an eroding reach of stream with geolifts, a stone toe, a
log vane, constructed riffles, a bankfull bench, and shrub planting on 200 ft of stream. Most of
the work will occur from the top of bank, but some equipment access to the stream will be
necessary. A coffer dam will be used to divert flows away from work areas, and we recommend
that this be used at a minimum during construction of geolifts, constructed riffles, and log vane
anchoring. Work will be done during periods of low flow.
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 as soon as possible, preferably at the end of each day.
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. We recommend minimizing the amount of native shrub and tree disturbance/removal within
the riparian area and planting a woody buffer as wide as possible of (at least 30 feet in width)
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Hoopers Creek Stabilization Page 2 October 20, 2021
Hoopers Creek, Henderson Co
to ensure project success. A wide forested buffer can ensure greater bank stability, filter
overland pollutants, and provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.
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: Andrew Bick, Headwaters Engineering
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources