20210453 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20220701

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]

July 1, 2022

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

Dave Wanucha
NCDEQ, DWR
450 Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston Salem, NC 27105

Dear Mr. Williams and Mr. Wanucha,

SUBJECT: Comments on GP/WQC Application for Proposed Improvements at US 311/NC 65
Railroad Crossing, Stokes County
R-5768, WBS 44670.1.1, DWR 20210453 ver.1

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a 404 permit and 401 WQC for a
proposed intersection reconfiguration at the US 311/NC 65 railroad crossing in Walnut Cove, Stokes
County. Comments on the application from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
(NCWRC) 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), respectively), 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).

NCWRC staffs did not visit the project area but are familiar with the wildlife resources in the area. Town
Fork Creek, which the project area drains to, supports a diverse fish community including bigeye
jumprock (Scartomyzon ariommum, NC Threatened), riverweed darter (Etheostoma podostemone, NC
Significantly Rare), and other fishes that may serve as hosts for mussels in the Dan River further
downstream. There is forested bottomland habitat along Town Fork Creek but the project area proper is
disturbed or developed.
R-5768 Page 2 July 1, 2022
Stokes County

The NCWRC does not anticipate appreciable adverse effects of the project on wildlife resources provided
effective sediment and erosion controls are used during construction. While Town Fork Creek is only
classified C, particular emphasis on erosion control is nonetheless warranted with this project. Sediment
basins may not be necessary, and the site is beyond a mile from known habitat for federally listed aquatic
species. However, the NCWRC requests that any applicable design standards for sensitive watersheds
(15A N.C. Admin. Code 04B .0124) be incorporated or that seeding requirements for HQW zones and
environmentally sensitive area (ESA) delineations (e.g., along Site 2) be included in the erosion control
plans and reviewed with the contractor.

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

Cordially,

Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator

ec: Amy Euliss, NCDOT Division 9 PDEA Engineer