20210446 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20220223

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]

February 23, 2022

Eric Alsmeyer
Regulatory Division Office
US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105, Wake Forest, NC 27587

SUBJECT: GP 50 Application for Replacement of Cabarrus County Bridge No.s 57 and 59
TIP B-5808, DWQ 20210446 ver.1, WBS 45762.1.1

Dear Mr. Alsmeyer,

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a General Permit to replace
Cabarrus County Bridge No.s 57 and 59 on US 29/601 (Concord Parkway) over Irish Buffalo Creek in
Concord. I visited the project site on February 17, 2022. Comments from the North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission (NCWRC) 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)), 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).

Aquatic and wildlife habitats in the project area are highly affected by urbanization.
Nevertheless, there is some evidence of limited wildlife passage under the existing bridges,
particularly on the stream channel bars. Therefore, we appreciate that the design includes a rip
rap free zone under the new bridge which will further accommodate some wildlife passage.

The Categorical Exclusion included in the application references a temporary detour bridge,
however the plans apparently have changed to staging using only the existing structures. If the
plans revert to the original concept, then the NCWRC recommend that authorizations and
contract include provisions for reforestation of the streambanks and floodplain after removal of
the temporary structure. The NCWRC has no other specific recommendations for this project.

B-5808 Page 2 February 23, 2022
Cabarrus County

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

Cordially,

Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator

ec: Donna Hood, NCDEQ, DWR
Joel Howard, NCDOT Division 10 Environmental Officer
Garland Haywood, PE NCDOT Division 10 Program Manager
Michael Turchy, NCDOT ECAP Western Team Lead