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Home My WebLink About20220418 Ver 1_SAW-2021-01035 Spring Grove Species Evaluation T&E_20220315 Jeremy Horton September 14, 2021 M/I Homes of Charlotte, LLC 5350 77 Cener Drive, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28217 RE: Threatened and Endangered Species Evaluation Spring Grove Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC PIN: 01101102, 01101110, 01119129, 01119132, 01101114 Mr. Horton, Wetlands & Waters, Inc. (W&W) has completed a cursory evaluation of the above referenced property presence of suitable habitat for those species. Should future project-related impacts be necessary, this report may be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (or other Lead Federal Agency) to determine if additional coordination will be necessary to satisfy requirements of the Endangered Species Act. The review area is located on the north corner of the intersection of Ulsten Lane and Aberfeld Road. Figure 1 depicts the review area for the purpose of this report. Methodology Evaluation of the review area included a report of known species and critical habitat occurrences within or in close proximity to the project area from the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NHP) database (Attachment A); field reviews of known extant populations of species that may potentially be present; and on-site field evaluations of potentially suitable habitat for Federally listed species known to occur in Mecklenburg County (Table 1). The site evaluation focused on Michaux Coneflower, and Schweinitzower within potentially suitable habitat areas in the review area. Table 1 Endangered (E) and Threatened (T) Species in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Species Federal Status Common Name Scientific Name Atlantic Pigtoe Fusconaia masoni Proposed Threatened Sumac Rhus michauxii Endangered Carolina Heelsplitter Lasmigona decorata Endangered Smooth Coneflower Echinacea laevigata Endangered Helianthus schweinitzii Endangered Prior to conducting field evaluations, W&W staff review USFWS published data to validate diagnostic characteristics for species that may be present. When practical, known populations of Federal threatened Wetlands & Waters, Inc. WETLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS 1 and endangered species are referenced in a non-intrusive manner for confirmation of seasonal growth patterns, diagnostic features, and behavioral characteristics. Field surveys were performed September 03, 2021. Photographs documenting reference populations (if applicable) and existing site conditions are included in Attachment B. Plant communities and their typical compositions were document on Habitat Assessment Forms (HAF) (Attachment C), with representative HAF locations illustrated on Figure 2. Findings W&W did not identify previously undiscovered populations of Federally protected species in the review area. Following are species-specific survey results. Atlantic Pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni) The Atlantic Pigtoe requires clean, moderate flowing water with high dissolved oxygen content in creek and riverine environments. Historically, the best populations existed in creeks and rivers with excellent water quality, where baseflow allowed for silt-free substrates (Alderman and Alderman 2014, as cited in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Raleigh Field Office, Region 4; Atlantic Pigtoe SSA Technical Advisory Team, 2019). Because this species prefers more pristine conditions, it typically occurs in headwaters and rural watersheds. It is associated with gravel and coarse sand substrates at the downstream edge of riffles, and less commonly occurs in cobble, silt, or sand detritus mixtures (Bogan and Alderman 2008, as cited in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Raleigh Field Office, Region 4; Atlantic Pigtoe SSA Technical Advisory Team, 2019). The review area is located outside of proposed designated critical habitat for this species. Additionally, project waters do not drain to proposed designated critical habitat for this species. Based on these circumstances, the species would not be expected to occur within the review area. Rhus michauxii) on sandy or sandy loam soils with low cation exchange capacities and appears to depend on some form of disturbance to maintain the open quality of its habitat. This disturbance may be in the form of fire, wind throws, or openings created by roads, railroads and utility rights of way (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, 2021). Potentially suitable habitat for Michauxs Sumac exists along dual road/powerline rights-of-way (ROWs) on the northern and western border of the review area, and field edges in the eastern portion of the review area. ROWs are actively maintained along residential frontage, and ROWs outside of residential frontage appears to be actively maintained. Powerline pole bases appear to be managed to suppress woody vegetation growth. The field in the eastern portion of the site is actively maintained. Internal portions of the site do not provide potentially suitable habitat and consist of pine plantation and mixed mesic forest. ROWs, clearings, and edge habitat were evaluated for Michauxs Sumac. W&W did not observe evidence of the species within the review area. Wetlands & Waters, Inc. WETLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS 2 Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata) The Carolina Heelsplitter is a freshwater mussel species with final designated critical habitat. The primary constituent elements of critical habitat for this species include: permanent, flowing, cool, clean water; geomorphically stable stream and river channels and banks; pool, riffle, and run sequences within the channel; stable substrates with no more than low amounts of fine sediment; moderate stream gradient; periodic natural flooding; and fish hosts, with adequate living, foraging, and spawning areas for them (B. Hampstead, personal communication, September 14, 2020). Based on historic and recent records for the species, the surviving occurrences exist as small fragments, restricted primarily to short reaches of tributary streams (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Asheville Ecological Services Field Office, 2012). The current range for the species in North Carolina includes South Fork Fishing, Bull Run, Beaverdam, Sixmile, Cane, Waxhaw, and Gills creeks in the Catawba River Basin, and Flat Creek and Lynches River in the Pee Dee River Basin (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2019). The review area is located outside of designated critical habitat for this species. Additionally, project waters do not drain to designated critical habitat for this species. Based on these circumstances, the species would not be expected to occur within the review area. Smooth Coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) Smooth Coneflower is typically found in open woods, cedar barrens, roadsides, clear cuts, dry limestone bluffs and power line rights-of-way. The species is usually found on magnesium and calcium rich soils associated with amphibolite, dolomite or limestone (in VA), gabbro (in NC and VA), diabase (in NC and SC) and marble (in SC) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, 2011). The best Echinacea laevigata populations receive abundant sunlight and little competition from other plant species (Gaddy 1991, as referenced in U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, 2011). Potentially suitable habitat for Smooth Coneflower exists along dual road/powerline rights-of-way (ROWs) on the northern and western border of the review area, and field edges in the eastern portion of the review area. ROWs are actively maintained along residential frontage, and ROWs outside of residential frontage appears to be actively maintained. Powerline pole bases appear to be managed to suppress woody vegetation growth. The field in the eastern portion of the site is actively maintained. Internal portions of the site do not provide potentially suitable habitat and consist of pine plantation and mixed mesic forest. ROWs, clearings, and edge habitat were evaluated for Smooth Coneflower. W&W did not observe evidence of the species within the review area. Helianthus schweinitzii) Habitat for includes clearings and edges of upland woods, thickets, and pastures. The species is found along roadsides, powerline clearings, old pastures, and woodland openings. as for full sunlight, but may also grow in open stands of trees with minimal shade. Soils may be either shallow, sandy with high gravel content, or a clayey hardpan. The sunflower may prefer soils derived from basic material (Krings, Goyette, Suiter, & Samuels, 2021). Wetlands & Waters, Inc. WETLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS 3 dual s Sunflower exists along able habitat for Schweinitz valuation. Potentially suit prior to the site e eview area, and field nd western border of the r (ROWs) on the northern a /powerline rights-of-way road ng residential frontage, re actively maintained alo the review area. ROWs a es in the eastern portion of edg ses appear tained. Powerline pole ba ppears to be actively main de of residential frontage a and ROWs outsi ion of the site is actively e field in the eastern port ody vegetation growth. Th e managed to suppress wo to b and consist of pine otentially suitable habitat of the site do not provide p ntained. Internal portions mai ixed mesic forest. plantation and m o Helianthus species chweinitzs Sunflower. N bitat were evaluated for S Ws, clearings, and edge ha RO eview of the species within the r did not observe evidence e subject property. W&W were observed on th area. sions Conclu ble habitat for federally nities and potentially suita aluations of plant commu W&W conducted ev t review area. W&W -acre Spring Grove projec s at the approximately 63 ned and endangered specie threate ur in Mecklenburg ered species known to occ ally threatened or endang observe evidence of feder did not nion e review area, it is our opi s were observed within th federally protected specie County. Because no that ite development. as a result of proposed s ecies eatened and endangered sp or absence of Federal thr assessment of the presence This concludes our ation regarding the ld you require more inform tat for those species. Shou presence of suitable habi and the s. o not hesitate to contact u of our evaluation, please d results , Sincerely Meagan Jolly 9 704.681.347 Review Area Enclosures: Figure 1. Locations Habitat Assessment Form Figure 2. ort ural Heritage Program Rep ent A. North Carolina Nat Attachm hotographs Attachment B. Field P t Assessment Forms Attachment C. Habita Waters, Inc. Wetlands & ONMENTAL CONSULTANTS WETLAND AND ENVIR 4 References Krings, A., Goyette, S., Suiter, D., & Samuels, M. (2021, July). Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii). Retrieved from Rare plants of North Carolina: https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/plantbiology/ncsc/rare/images/Helianthus_schweinitzii_NHP.pdf U.S. Fish & Wildlife Raleigh Field Office, Region 4; Atlantic Pigtoe SSA Technical Advisory Team. (2019). Species Status Assessment Report for the Atlantic Pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2019, March 25). Carolina heelsplitter Lasmigona decorata, . Southeast Region, USA. Retrieved from https://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mussels/carolina- heelsplitter/#current-range-section U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office. (2011). Smooth Coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Raleigh, NC: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Asheville Ecological Services Field Office. (2012). Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Asheville, NC: Asheville Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office. (2021). Michaux's Sumac (Rhus michauxii) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Raleigh: Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Wetlands & Waters, Inc. WETLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS 5 Attachment A North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Report Attachment B Field Photographs Attachment C Habitat Assessment Forms