20201004 Ver 1_1-2020-11-10-Slusher - ACOE-DWR Response To Comment_20201110

FUSCO
LAND PLANNING & DESIGN, PLLC
November 10, 2020
Kaylie Yankura
Environmental Specialist - Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ - Division of Water Resources
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28711
Re: Request for Additional Information; Slusher - Sapphire Farm, DWR# 20201004
Ms. Yankura,
We appreciate the opportunity to address your request for additional information associated
with the Slusher - Sapphire Farm project. I have included your questions along with our
response below and attached.
The Division has a number of concerns regarding the proposed vane structure and pool:
1. From field observations, there is no evidence to suggest that the river associated with
the proposed vane structure is impaired, including the examples referenced
above. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support that the vane structure would
serve a beneficial purpose, particularly in an area of a stream reach which is not in
need of restoration.
2. After review of the plans and installation proposal provided in your response, the
Division is not confident that the installation of the structure on bedrock could
sustain high flow events. Destabilization of the structure would likely result in
downstream impacts.
3. If constructed, the Division is concerned that the excavation of the proposed cove
and installation of the vane structure will create a disequilibrium in the river system,
which would likely result in the inability of the river system to transport native bed
material, resulting in deposition of sediment within the proposed cove area, which
would need to be maintained indefinitely resulting in potential secondary impacts.
We have taken a look at the areas in question with Greg Jennings and modified
our plan to better address concerns with the condition of the streambanks. See
attached data from Jennings Environmental which addresses the items
mentioned above.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE - CONSERVATION PLANNING - LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT
P.O. Box 8013 - Asheville, NC 28804 - PH. 828-243-6604
www.fuscola.corn
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Thank you,
/s/ Matthewf. Fusco
MatthewJ. Fusco
Enclosures
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE - CONSERVATION PLANNING - LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT
P.O. Box 8013 - Asheville, NC 28804 - PH. 828-243-6604
www.fuscola.com
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