20220205 Ver 1_Botanical Survey Letter_20220308

September 28, 2021
Ms. Janet Mizzi
Field Office Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801

Re: Endangered Botanical Survey
Liberty Grove Site
910 Grove Street
China Grove, Rowan County, North Carolina
ECS Project Number: 49-14613

Dear Ms. Mizzi:

ECS Southeast, LLP is pleased to provide our results of the sunflower (Echinacea
laevigata) survey conducted for the above-referenced site.

Background Information

The site is located at 910 Grove Street in China Grove, Rowan County, North Carolina. The site
consists of multiple parcels totaling approximately 76 acres. According to the Rowan County
GIS Database website, the Parcel Identification Numbers (PINs) are 12401090000001,
1240190000002, 124061, 124102, and 124046. The site consists of undeveloped moderately
wooded land and agricultural fields with several structures. Surrounding areas consists of
commercial properties, single-family residences, wooded land, and agricultural fields.

The PSA consists of moderate to heavily wooded land with several small agricultural fields.
Maintained and disturbed roadside is located along the border of the eastern side. Surrounding
areas consists of single-family residences, commercial/manufacturing buildings, and wooded
land. ECS conducted a site reconnaissance for suitable habitat for threatened and endangered
species on September 14, 2021.

ECS consulted the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Information for Planning
and Conservation (IPaC) tool to determine what species are known to occur within the project
as having potential to occur on the project
area. ECS identified habitat for the species on site and performed a targeted survey to
determine their presence. Surveys were conducted within the appropriate survey window for the
three species.
Description

Schweinitzs Sunflower:
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website, Schweinitzerennial that
regularly grows approximately 6½ feet tall (though it can be shorter if young or injured) and can
occasionally reach heights of 16 feet. It has thickened roots that are specially designed to store
starch. The stem is purple, and the upper third bears secondary branches at 45-degree angles.
The leaves are arranged in pairs on the lower part of the stem but usually occur singly on the
upper part. Leaves grow out from the stem at a right angle, and the tips of the leaves tend to

Liberty Grove Site
910 Grove Street
China Grove, Rowan County, North Carolina
ECS Project Number: 49-14613
droop. The leaves are thick and stiff, with a rough upper surface. They have broad spiny hairs
that are directed toward the tip, and soft white hairs cover the underside. The plant produces
small yellow flowers. Schweinitzgust until frost.

It occurs in full to partial sun and is found in areas with poor soils, such as thin clays that vary
from wet to dry. This preference for poor soil helps minimize competition from other species.

Survey Results

ECS conducted the botanical survey on September 14, 2021. On August 23, 2021, ECS visited
sunflower located within Charlotte, North Carolina. For
the purposes of the site survey, observations were made from a pedestrian reconnaissance
transecting through all the potential habitat located on the site. On-site habitat included roadside
and woodland. Roadside and woodland edges were dominated by blackberry (Rubus),
goldenrod (Solidago), wingstem (Verbesina alternafolia), English ivy (Hedera helix), sweetgum
(Liquidambar styraciflua), pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra), Japanese privet (Ligustrum
japonicum), Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus),
Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), Timothy (Phleum
pratense), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), black walnut (Juglans nigra), red maple (Acer
rubrum), willow oak (Quercus phellos), dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum), horse nettle (Solanum
carolininse), dandelion (Taraxacum), Southern red oak (Quercus falcata), greenbriar (Smilax),
curly dock (Rumex crispus), common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), loblolly pine (Pinus
taeda), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), flowering dogwood (Cornus forida),
lespedeza, and Queen Anne lace (Daucus carota). sunflower was not observed
during our site reconnaissance.

Based on our literature review, habitat description,
Sunflower is o his
species or other threatened and endangered Species concerning the proposed project. ECS
requests that your office provides written concurrence that development at the project area
would have no effect on these species. Please contact Ron Johnson at [phone], or via
email at [e-mail] if you have questions or require additional information.

Closure
We appreciate your assistance. Please forward your concurrence to Mr. Ron Johnson via email
at [e-mail]. Please let us know if you have any questions concerning the site
or this request.

ECS Southeast, LLP

Ron Johnson W. Brandon Fulton, LSS, PSC, PWS
Senior Project Manager Environmental Principal
[e-mail] [e-mail]