HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-17_BR-0076_Agency_Mtg_Summary
BR-0076: NCDOT / Agency Discussion – Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
PARTICIPANTS:
David McHenry NCDOT – Division 14 – Environmental
Josh Deyton NCDOT – Division 14 – Project Development Team Lead
Stacy Oberhausen NCDOT/TGS – Division 14 – Project Manager
Cameron Cochran NCDOT– Division 14 – Assistant Division Construction Engineer
Tammy McCoy TVA – Reservoir Land Use and Permitting – Program Manager
Anne Patrick TVA – Regional Watershed Office
Ryan Cook TVA – Regional Watershed Office
Sophia Paulos Graham County Planning & Economic Development - Director
Crystal Amschler USACE – Asheville Regulatory Field Office – Project Manager
Ashley Thomas Brookfield Renewables – Compliance Manager
George Stephens Brookfield Renewables – Land Use Specialist
Kevin Mitchell NC DEQ, Division of Water Resources – Environmental Specialist
Holland Youngman USFWS – Wildlife Biologist
Nick Shaver NCWRC – Land and Water Access – Mountain Region Supervisor
John Macemore NCWRC – Land and Water Access- South Mtn. Region Tech Supervisor
Randy Henegar TGS - GESC Hydraulic Review
Cathy Houser RK&K – Roadway / Project Manager – Design Phase
Jon Whittington RK&K – Hydraulics and Erosion Control
John Williams RK&K – Planning / Project Manager – Planning Phase
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: STIP Project BR-0076 proposes to replace Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River at
the Graham/Swain County Line, NC.
MEETING PURPOSE
A virtual meeting was held on November 11, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. The purpose of this meeting was to present the
plan for construction and the resulting impacts of the project, to request help from TVA and Brookfield Renewables
to analyze the hydraulic needs, to identify issues that must be addressed and to obtain general input on the required
steps going forward. Prior to this meeting, TVA has identified themselves as the lead federal agency.
The meeting proceeded with a brief overview as well as construction phasing diagrams. The following is a summary of
that the meeting topics and input received. Action items are in orange.
November 30, 2021
BR-0076: NCDOT / Agency Discussion – Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
NCDOT HISTORIC BRIDGE REUSE PROGRAM
Bridge No. 9 has been identified as eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places and as such as offered as part of
NCDOT’s Bridge Reuse Program. None of the agencies
associated with this project have expressed interest in taking
ownership of the bridge.
NEED FOR REPLACEMENT
The bridge is rated as structurally
deficient. The design includes “pin
hangers” (see image to right) such
that if one pin fails, the whole span
fails (fracture critical). A temporary
fail safe has been put into place to
allow the bridge to operate safely
until it is replaced.
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS
Attached is a pdf version of the presentation. The project team preferred to use barges and work bridges
but because both require driving piles into the river bottom, the rock at the riverbed renders this unfeasible
because they would not be stable enough to lift the required beams. There was discussion of possibly using
a quasi-work bridge at the outer edges of the riverbanks to increase the hydraulic opening but a work pad
would be required at the center where the river is the deepest. The team will explore this idea of the work
pad as we begin to work with TVA and Brookfield Renewables on developing a plan of action for hydrology
that works for everyone.
The permanent/temporary impacts as shown in the presentation are summarized in the following table. All
required easements are on TVA property. Any modifications discussed during the meeting will result in
updates to the following table once the ideas have been explored.
Impacts As Shown in Presentation
Item Permanent Temporary
Construction Easements 4.8 acres
Permanent Easement 1.7 acres
Tree Clearing Area 3.68 acres
Stream Impacts
Welch Cove Creek * 0 lf 191 lf
Little Tennessee River 70 sf new columns 151 lf
River Constriction Constriction will vary
depending on the phase but
the maximum is 84%.
* This impact is dependent on retaining walls being viable. If they are not, culvert extension may be
required.
BR-0076: NCDOT / Agency Discussion – Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
CULVERT ON CAMPGROUND RD
to keep fill from the new bridge approach alignment off of Welch Cove Creek, either the culvert would have
to be extended or a retaining wall would placed on top of the existing culvert. TVA indicated that an
easement was granted to the WWTP but that ownership was still TVA. TVA recommended that NCDOT
obtain an easement to maintain the wall and culvert. TVA indicated that maintenance of the culvert should
now go to NCDOT. NCDOT was not in agreement.
NCDOT and TVA agreed to discuss future culvert maintenance in the coming months.
RECREATIONAL CONCERNS
NCWRC expressed concerns over the use of pipes in the causeways being an issue for canoeist. There was a
general consensus that pipes in the causeway were of little benefit to the flow and pose a potential hazard
to boats. NCWRC expressed concerns over the narrow gap between causeways creating an unhealthy
attraction for thrill seekers. Graham County recommended that the boat launch immediately upstream of
the WWTP be closed during construction and for notices to be posted at the site re-routing users to the
NCWRC Managed Boat Ramp just downstream of the bridge site. Multiple agencies agreed that a Boater
Safety Plan will be a requirement and that as part of it, they recommend putting up a temporary system of
flagged cables and buoys to prevent boaters from going upstream toward the bridge during construction.
The location would be as shown below:
Brookfield owns the land on both sides of the river and this would require another small easement on land
to anchor the cable. NCWRC indicated that they may need to put in a North Carolina Administrative Code
(NCAC) special rule may need to be passed for this to take place. A boater safety plan will be provided to
WRC Boat
Ramp
Close this ramp
during
construction
Install Temporary
Flagged Cable &
Buoys
BR-0076: NCDOT / Agency Discussion – Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
the agencies for review. The project team will coordinate with NCWRC’s Nick Shaver to obtain the details
of what is required in the NCAC rule making. NCWRC will send a public notice alerting the public to
impacts on recreational access during construction around the same time as the rule making. See “Updates
Since Meeting” section at end of minutes for additional information.
RIVER CONSTRICTION DURING CONSTRUCTION
One of the outcomes of the proposed construction methodology results. The amount of constriction would
vary depending on the phase of construction but the maximum would be 84% for a period of one month.
Hydraulic analysis of the 84% constriction indicates that even normal flow would overtop the proposed
causeway. TVA and Brookfield Renewables agreed to coordinate with NCDOT to see if a lower flow rate
could be established where would work could occur without overtopping causeways and with a
contingency for a storm event. A ten-year storm even is typical for consideration but will be worked out
between the agencies as part of the coordination. Both Brookfield and TVA will be providing contact
information to NCDOT and RK&K to begin coordination regarding river operations. TVA provided a contact
for the TVA River Forecast (865-632-6065). See “Updates Since Meeting” section at end of minutes for
additional information.
It was noted during construction that the water from Welch Cove Creek during a storm is negligible
compared to the lake/river. It would also peak at a different time than the river and therefore isn’t a major
factor in the hydrology affecting the causeways.
If the coordination on low-flow periods with Brookfield and TVA still results in overflow of the causeway,
another idea was presented at the meeting that could be explored at a later time. With this idea, a work
pad would still be required in the middle of the river for lifting but perhaps an unanchored temporary work
bridge could be used to get to the work pad. While an unanchored work bridge isn’t stable enough to lift
from, it might be possible for a crane to crawl across it to get to the stable work pad. This idea has not
been vetted with contractors but if it proved feasible it might reduce the constriction on the river enough
to prevent overflow of the work pad.
Anne Patrick requested hydrology information on what we were proposing to begin a conversation with
TVA River Operations. We will provide this information.
NCDWR and USACE share the same concerns as TVA and Brookfield concerning river flow. They agreed that
if TVA and Brookfield’s needs were met, their most likely would be met as well. We will keep NCDWR and
the USACE in the loop as work toward a solution unfolds.
In the following section on Endangered Species Concerns, there is a Section 7 requirement that the bridge
only be demolished in the winter. NCDOT/TVA will coordinate further with USFWS.
STORMWATER ON THE BRIDGE
NCDWR expressed concern over deck drains. The new bridge will be designed with enough space on the
deck to handle drainage without the use of deck drains.
BR-0076: NCDOT / Agency Discussion – Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
REVEGETATION PLAN
NCDWR expressed interest in a revegetation plan for Welch Cove Creek. NCDOT will work with TVA to
develop a revegetation plan and will share these with NCDWR.
ENDANGERED SPECIES CONCERNS
On March 11, 2021, NCDOT met with USFWS onsite to discuss Indiana bat, northern long eared bat (NLEB)
and gray bat concerns. The result of the meeting was two conditions:
• Tree Clearing will only occur during winter
• Bridge Demolition will only occur during winter
With these two conditions in place, USFWS indicated that based on currently shown impacts they would
agree to May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect when officially submitted.
For TVA, the Land Use Application will initiate their Environmental Review at which they will pursue issues
such as Endangered Species.
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHAOELOGICAL CONCERNS
Based on early screening utilizing SHPO’s website, NCDOT architectural historians have identified two
resources eligible for the National Register of Historic Places:
• Graham County Bridge No. 9
• TVA Fontana Dam Property
The bridge will be removed as part of construction may result in an adverse effect on the bridge and TVA
will have to work with SHPO to determine the “effect” to the Fontana property. An adverse effect would
result a Section 106 MOA. For TVA, the Land Use Application will initiate their Environmental Review at
which they will pursue National Historic Preservation Act. We will provide all screenings and surveys
completed to date by NCDOT archaeologists and architectural historians for TVA to consider.
PERMITS AND APPLICATIONS
TVA 26(a) Permit Application and Land Use Application– Preliminary plans can be used to submit the 26(a)
permit, but final plans are required before they can process it. TVA prefers to receive both 26(a) and Land
Use Application at the same time. NCDOT must provide an appraisal as part of the land use application.
The Land Use Application initiates the environmental review including the Section 106 and Section 7
activities. The process to obtain permits and convey easements takes 12 – 18 months. Anne Patrick
indicated that Ryan Cooke would be in the lead on developing the Land Use Permit.
FERC Review– Brookfield Renewables indicated the information we’d be providing to TVA would likely be
sufficient for their review as well. Ashley Thomas indicated he would provide an example application
package. He further indicated that the FERC review should only require about 60 - 90 days. Ashley
indicated he reach out to Water Resources Group and Operations Group and provide us with contacts.
BR-0076: NCDOT / Agency Discussion – Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
US FOREST SERVICE INPUT
Prior to the meeting, USFS affirmed that so long as our actions are within the ROW already granted, that no
further action would be required.
UPDATES SINCE MEETING
RK&K’s Jon Whittington made contact after the meeting with TVA’s Justin Long who will be providing
historical discharge rates and hopefully information on how they relate to different storm events.
NCWRC’s Nick Shaver later provided additional information on NC Administrative Code rule making
referenced above. NCDOT would need to identify the duration of closure to boats. If it is one year or
under, a temporary rule could be applied. If it is over one year, a permanent rule would be implemented
and repealed once the construction was complete. This process should be initiated 4-6 months prior to Let
to have the rule in place.