20221117 Ver 1_RCW survey Chicken Plant Rd 8-9-22_20220817

DR. J.H. CARTER III & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Environmental Consultants
515-F Midland Road • Southern Pines, N.C. 28387
[phone] • Fax [phone]
5 August 2022
Mr. Kyle Granholm
Granholm Group LLC
26 Pinecrest Plaza #180
Southern Pines, NC 28387
Dear Mr. Granholm:
On 4 August 2022, a biologist from Dr. J. H. Carter III & Associates, Inc. (JCA)
conducted a red -cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealisPicoides borealis) (RCW) survey
of an undeveloped 10.65 acre lot (ID #20010407) on Chicken Plant Road in Pinehurst, Moore
County, North Carolina (NC). This parcel supported both upland and wetland vegetative
communities. The wetlands had been delineated by JCA in 2021.
The upland portion of the parcel had a moderately dense overstory of loblolly (Pinus
taeda) and longleaf (P. palustris) pines, blackjack (Quercus marilandica), black (Q. velutina)
and southern red (Q. falcata) oaks and mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), a moderately
dense midstory of sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), flowering
dogwood (Bethamedia florida), mockernut hickory, post (Q. stellata) and turkey (Q. laevis)
oaks, American holly (Ilex opaca), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandora) and loblolly pine,
a moderately dense shrub layer of sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria), staggerbush (Lyonia
mariana), inkberry (Ilex glabra), Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) and sassafras (Sassafras
albidum) and a moderately dense ground cover of Carolina wiregrass (Aristida stricta),
muscadine grape (Muscadina rotundifolia), dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa), bracken
fern (Pteridium pseudocaudatum), yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), trailing arbutus
(Epigaea repens) and low blueberry (Vaccinium tenellum).
The wetland portion of the parcel had a moderately dense overstory of tulip poplar
(Lirodendron tulipifera), pond pine (P. serotina) and swamp black gum (N. biflora), a
moderately dense midstory of red maple (Acer rubrum), swamp black gum and sourwood, a
Endangered Species Surveys • Environmental Assessments • Land Management • Wetlands Mapping and Permitting

moderately dense shrub layer of fetterbush (L. lucida), titi (Cyrilla racemifloa), dangleberry
(Gaylussacia frondosa), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) and switch cane (Arundinaria
tecta) and a moderately dense ground cover of cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomea) and
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).
No RCW cavity trees were found on the lot. The northern portion of the lot is within the
one-half mile radius RCW foraging habitat partition of active MOOR Cluster E05. The nearest
known RCW cavity tree (tree #16348) contains an active advanced start and is located
approximately 2,325 feet northeast of the parcel in MOOR Cluster E05.
The RCW Recovery Plan (US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2003) defines a cluster
as the aggregation of cavity trees used and defended by a group of RCWs plus a 200-ft. buffer of
contiguous forest. The Recovery Plan also outlines the minimum acreage, pine age and pine
stocking levels of foraging habitat required to conserve a family group of RCWs. Foraging
habitat is defined as stands of pine or pine -hardwood more than 30 years old, located within one-
half mile of, and contiguous to, an active or managed RCW cluster. Landowners within RCW
habitat have a responsibility to minimize the removal of RCW foraging habitat (pine trees >10
inches in diameter at breast height (dbh) and must notify the USFWS office prior to such
removals.
Property development within a cluster and associated foraging habitat, if not carefully
conducted, is potentially harmful to RCWs and may violate the Endangered Species Act if not
specifically authorized by the USFWS. Removing pine trees within the cluster contributes to
habitat fragmentation, making RCWs more vulnerable to predation and more susceptible to
having other species take over their cavities.
Based on the results of this survey, there are no RCW-related restrictions on developing
this residential lot. Please note that the USFWS office is recommending minimizing the removal
of pine trees > 8 inches in dbh to the extent practicable.
The USFWS may require additional information prior to issuing a response/concurrence
to this letter.
The RCW survey results are valid for a period of one year from the date of this letter. A
copy of this letter along with a letter from the USFWS will be required when you request a
building permit from your local Planning and Zoning office. If a RCW constructs a cavity in a
pine tree on the aforementioned lot within the one-year time frame, this letter does not allow
Endangered Species Surveys • Environmental Assessments • Land Management • Wetlands Mapping and Permitting

disturbance (within 50 ft.) or removal of the cavity tree. You must get additional approval from
the USFWS for removal or disturbance of a RCW cavity tree.
Please feel free to call if you have any questions or comments.
inter
ilham Mu1
Wetland & Wildlife Biologist
Endangered Species Surveys • Environmental Assessments • Land Management • Wetlands Mapping and Permitting