20220434 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20220330

® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
March 31, 2021
Ms. Crystal Amschler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Scarlett Project
South Fork New River, Ashe County
Dear Ms. Amschler:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 205 ft of the South Fork New River in Ashe County. Our comments on
this application are offered for your consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of
1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended;
16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
Project activities should not impact wild trout and do not need to be avoided during the trout
moratorium. However, the South Fork New River is recognized by the NC Natural Heritage
Program as the South Fork New River Aquatic Habitat, rated Exceptional for the richness of rare
species it contains. Rare and listed species found in the river in the vicinity of the project include
Sharpnose Darter [Percina oxyrhynchus, US Federal Species of Concern (FSC), NC
Endangered], Mimic Shiner (Notropis volucellus, NC Threatened), Eastern Hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US FSC, NC Special Concern), Spike (Eurynia dilatata, US
FSC, NC SC), Seep Mudalia (Leptoxis dilatata, NC SC), Common Mudpuppy (Necturus
maculosus, NC SC), Kanawha Darter [Etheostoma kanawhae, NC Significantly Rare (SR)]
Appalachia Darter (Percina gymocephala, NC SR), and Kanawha Rosyface Shiner (Notropis sp.,
NC SR). Due to the sensitivity of these species to fine sediments, it is essential that excellent
erosion and sediment control be maintained during the project. Given the location of the project,
it is very possible that hellbenders are on -site.
The application proposes to stabilize an eroding reach of bank on the South Fork New River
through sloping the bank, planting native woody and herbaceous vegetation, and installing one
in -stream rock vane. Most work will be done from the bank, but some instream access may be
necessary for proper installation of the rock vane.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Scarlett Project Page 2 March 31, 2022
S. Fork New R, Ashe County
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
I. In -channel work should be accomplished as quickly as possible and vigilance used in
sediment and erosion control during site preparation, construction, and clean up. Disturbed
areas should be seeded, mulched and/or matted as soon as possible, preferably at the end of
each work day.
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
3. For the rock vane installation, we recommend diverting flows around the work area in order
to reduce the risk of fine sediment liberation and loss.
4. NCWRC staff may come out to survey the site before the project construction for rare
animals. We ask that the project manager coordinate with Andrea Leslie
(andrea.lesliegncwildlife.org) and Lori Williams (lori.williamsgncwildlife.org) at least 3
weeks before project construction to ensure access to the site.
5. Shelter rocks potentially used by hellbenders should be left undisturbed during construction
activities. Shelter rocks are typically large flat rocks at least a foot in diameter. If animals
are disturbed during construction, they should be captured in a bucket and moved away from
the area of disturbance. Please notify Lori Williams if hellbenders are found.
6. To increase habitat diversity, we recommend incorporating stable woody debris into the
project design.
7. We recommend that a woody buffer as wide as possible (we recommend at least 30 feet) be
planted on the stream as infrastructure allows in order to ensure project success. A wide
forested buffer can ensure greater bank stability, filter overland pollutants, and provide
habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact meat
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
�` dA4- �
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Glen Sullivan, Foggy Mountain Nursery
Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Lori Williams & Luke Etchison, NCWRC