20201589 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20220131

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

January 31, 2022

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Eric Alsmeyer, NCDOT Project Manager
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office, USACE

FROM: Dave McHenry, Western NCDOT Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC

SUBJECT: IP Application for NCDOT Division 12 Cleveland Bridge No. 25 Bridge Replacement
TIP B-5845, SAW-2021-01919, DWQ 20201589 ver.1

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 12 applied for an Individual Permit
to replace Cleveland County Bridge no. 25 on SR 2033 over Buffalo Creek. I visited the project site on
January 28, 2022. Comments from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) on the
action are offered in accordance with applicable provisions of the state and federal Environmental Policy
Acts (G.S. 113A-1through 113-10; 1 NCAC 25 and 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), respectively), the Clean Water
Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.), and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).

The unnamed tributaries that will be impacted appear too small to support fish. Although there is a dam
and lake not far upstream, there is nevertheless evidence of wildlife passage including deer under the
existing bridge. Therefore, the WRC supports and appreciates the incorporation of the proposed rip-rap
free benching under this bridge to facilitate wildlife passage. Any passage under this high bridge, rather
than around it, is desirable particularly given the relatively high traffic volume on this road.

The WRC requests that the following comments and recommendations be incorporated into the permit
action and construction to promote fish and wildlife habitat conservation:

1. The unarmored portions of the creek banks where the old bridge is removed should be stabilized,
as needed, with a temporary cover and seeding. Matting without nylon mesh is recommended,
B-5845, Bridge No. 25 Replacement Page 2 January 31, 2022
Cleveland County
particularly in riparian areas, to avoid wildlife entanglement. Coir matting is recommended on
unstable stream banks that are steep or susceptible to high water. Reforestation is also
recommended to promote bank stability where planting will not conflict with utilities.

2. Mechanized equipment and concrete pouring need to be closely monitored to avoid, or quickly
respond to, fluid or material spills in or near streams.

3. The streambeds under temporary causeways should be restored following bent/pier demolition
and/or construction.

4. Where used, rip rap should be embedded into the soil of channel relocations wherever possible to
expedite/promote surface flow and organism passage.

Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on this project. Please contact me
at [e-mail] or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.

cc: Donna Hood, NCDEQ, DWR
Jeffrey L. Wyatt, NCDOT Division 12