20221084 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20220729

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
July 29, 2022
Mr. David Brown
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Kingfisher Lane
Mills River, Henderson County
Dear Mr. Brown:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to account for after -the -fact impacts to 165 ft of the Mills River in Henderson
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).
This project should not have affected wild trout reproduction. However, the Mills River part of
the Mills River Aquatic Habitat, a NC Natural Heritage Program natural area rated Very High
due to the richness of rare species it supports. Species in the vicinity of the project include
Appalachian Elktoe [Alasmidonta raveleniana, US Endangered (E), NC E], Slippershell
[Alasmidonta viridis, US Federal Species of Concern (FSC), NC E], Creeper (Strophitus
undulatus, NC Threatened), Eastern Hellbender [Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US FSC, NC
Special Concern (SC)], and Blotched Chub (Erimystax insignis, NC SR).
The project involved placing a concrete block wall with riprap at the foot of the wall. Grass was
planted on top of the bank. We strongly recommend that a woody buffer comprised of native
trees and shrubs of at least 30 feet be planted on the bank 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.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Kingfisher Lane Page 2 July 29, 2022
Mills R, Henderson Co
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Eric Romaniszyn, ClearWater Environmental
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources