20211572 Ver 1_DF17614.2044005_NRTR_20211115

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE
GOVERNOR SECRETARY
Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Division 14
253 Webster Road
Sylva, North Carolina 28779
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: www.ncdot.gov
Location:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Division 14
253 Webster Road
Sylva, North Carolina 28779

October 29, 2021

Memorandum To: DF17614.2044005 File

From: Kevin Barnett, NCDOT Division 14 Environmental Specialist II

Subject: Natural Resource Review

Environmental staff visited the project site on August 19, 2021 and most recently on
October 13, 2021. The only jurisdictional feature noted in the project area is Pisgah
Creek (Class WS-III; Tr) that bridge 430005 spanned before it collapsed during TS Fred
flooding on August 17, 2021.

Permits
NCDOT coordinated with the US Army Corps of Engineers and staffs with the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding Tropical Storm Fred related Section
7 and 404 permitting procedures in part on August 22 and 25, 2021 and in a field
meeting on September 7, 2021. Hydraulic design has been completed and it was been
determined that the project complies with NWP 3 criteria with inclusion of the waiver of
the trout moratorium received from NCWRC for these storm repairs and, as described
below, in compliance with Section 7 “no effect determinations” for listed species
potentially in the project area.

Section 7
In accordance with recent direction from the USFWS, the project was screened using
IPAC to determine the potentially affected listed species. According to the screening
conducted on October 1, 2021 the only federally listed species with the potential to be in
or near the project area include Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana), rock
gnome lichen (Gymnoderma lineare), small whored pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), gray
bat (Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalist), and northern long-eared bat
(Myotis septentrionalis, NLEB).

Appalachian elktoe are found in some well-oxygenated, cool-water rivers with moderate
to fast flowing water and stable, mixed substrates of silt, sand, gravel, and/or cobble.
This species is present Haywood County in the Pigeon River watershed. However, the
subject stream was filled with bedload during T.S. Fred, removing the mussel habitat
DF17614.2044005 Page 2 October 29, 2021
NRR

before it flows into the East Fork Pigeon River watershed. This watershed is too
impacted with sediment and unlikely to support mussels. Natural Heritage element
occurrence data for this species (NHP viewer checked on October 1, 2021) do not
include records in this watershed. The project should have no effect on this mussel.

Rock gnome lichen can be found on rock faces at relatively low elevations in deep river
gorges. A gorge or any rock faces with consistently humid conditions required by this
plant are not present at the bridge. Therefore, the project will have no effect on this
species.

Small whorled pagonia usually occurs in open, dry, deciduous woods with acidic soil,
though it can sometimes be found on slopes along streams and mesic forest in
association with white pine and rhododendron. The terrestrial habitats at the project site
include a maintained road right-of-way, mowed yards, and planted white pine timber
stand and wooded hillside. Although forested habitats will be impacted by construction
there should be no effects of the project on pagonia because ground conditions in the
forested areas that will be impacted by construction appear too shaded for this plant due
to thick ground and mid-story vegetation.

Gray bats usually roost in caves or in/on structures year-round while Indiana bats and
NLEB only winter in caves or mines with stable, but not freezing, cold temperatures.
During warm seasons Indiana bats and NLEB usually roost on/in structures, under the
shaggy bark of live trees such as white oaks, sycamores, and hickories, or in cavities or
under the loose peeling bark of dead trees.

There are no caves near the bridge. The bridge was destroyed by the flood.

This project will not require blasting or night work, but it will require the removal of
approximately 10 trees (>3 inch diameter) and short-term (couple days) percussive
activity (e,g. guardrail post driving). The trees to be removed appear unsuitable for bat
roosting because they have lack peeling, loose, or rough bark. They include small black
walnut, poplar, locust, and wild cherry trees but they are live and lack the micro-
conditions for bat roosting. Moreover, they are near the road and do not currently block
sources of light from reaching the creek area at night. Therefore, there should be no
effect of their removal on bats.

Attach:s
430005 Maps/Study Area
IPAC Report
Photo of new 430005 bridge location