20221345 Ver 1_Endangered Spp Rept +FIGS Hubert_20220928

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ONWASA Wastewater and Water Lines, NC-24 from Hubert to Piney Green
Onslow Water & Sewer Authority, Onslow County NC
Endangered Species Biological Assessment -- 10 June 2022
Prepared for: The Wooten Company, Raleigh NC
Mogensen Mitigation, Inc. (MMI) biologists conducted a biological assessment of potential impacts to
federally endangered and threatened species along 6.7 miles of NC Highway 24 where the Onslow Water
and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) is planning to install a new wastewater force main and potable water main.
The combined project corridor extends from the existing wastewater lift station on Piney Green Rd to the
eastern end of Hubert Blvd in eastern Onslow County (Figure 1). The wastewater project will allow the
existing Swansboro WWTP and Hubert WWTP to be retired, and will include a new lift station on the
existing Hubert WWTP property. The existing Piney Green lift station will deliver the flow to Camp
Lejeune's existing French Creek WWTP for discharge into the New River south of Jacksonville. The
wastewater facilities will be built first (possibly beginning in fall 2022) and the potable water facilities will
be built a year later using the same construction corridors.
The western half of the project from Piney Green Rd eastward to the west end of Hubert Blvd will be
installed just inside the southern edge of the NC-24 right -of way, mostly on Camp Lejeune property. The
area between the east -bound highway pavement and the edge of the right-of-way is mostly 70 to 90 feet
wide and undeveloped; roughly half is cleared and mowed land, and half forested with a mix of pines and
hardwoods. Camp Lejeune maintains a mowed path 20 to 30 feet wide just south of the highway right-of-
way. The project corridor crosses NC-24 at the west end of Hubert Blvd, then follows just inside the
northern edge of the west -bound highway right -of way for the remaining 3.0 miles to the east end of
Hubert Blvd. This segment runs alongside a mix of developed and undeveloped land, including the Hubert
wastewater treatment plant. Much of this portion is mowed roadside, but some areas are forested
especially near the stream crossings (Bell Swamp, Queen Creek, Pasture Branch, and tributaries).
All of the stream crossings and the majority of wetland crossings will be installed by horizontal directional
drilling (HDD) to avoid and minimize impacts to stream channels, wetlands, and riparian forest canopy.
There are five areas where wetlands have been channelized and incorporated into roadside drainage
ditches, and temporary construction impacts are unavoidable in these areas. Consequently, ONWASA is
applying for Section 404-401 and CAMA permits for these wetland impacts.
MMI biologist Gerald Pottern examined the entire project corridor for endangered and threatened species
habitats in March 2021 and conducted a follow-up survey in June 2021. The FWS Information, Planning,
and Consultation (IPaC) evaluation tool currently lists 13 endangered or threatened species reported from
Onslow County that might occur in or near the project area. NC Natural Heritage Program (NHP) also lists
two species of endangered sturgeons in Onslow County:
Environmental Field Studies ■ Wetland & Stream Delineation ■ 404-401 Permits ■ Mitigation Plans & Banking

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Common Name
Red -cockaded woodpecker
Piping plover
Red knot
Black rail
West Indian manatee
Green sea turtle
Kemp's Ridley sea turtle
Leatherback sea turtle
Loggerhead sea turtle
Cooley's meadowrue
Pondberry
Roughleaf loosestrife
Seabeach amaranth
Shortnose Sturgeon
Atlantic Sturgeon
Scientific Name
Picoides borealis
Charadrius melodus
Calidris canutus rufa
Laterallus jamaicensis
Trichechus manatus
Chelonia mydas
Lepidochelys kempii
Dermochelys coriacea
Caretta caretta
Thalictrum cooleyi
Lindera melissifolia
Lysimachia asperulifolia
Amaranthus pumilus
Acipenser brevirostrum
Acipenser oxyrinchus
Species Accounts and Likelihood of Impacts
FWS Status Source
Endangered FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Endangered FWS-IPaC
Endangered FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Endangered FWS-IPaC
Endangered FWS-IPaC
Endangered FWS-IPaC
Threatened FWS-IPaC
Endangered NC-NHP
Endangered NC-NHP
Species descriptions and habitat requirements were compiled from US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), NC
Natural Heritage Program (NHP), NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), and other published and online
sources. Previously reported locations within a three-mile radius were obtained from the NHP Data
Explorer and NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Characteristics for identifying potentially suitable habitats
for each species are described in the species accounts below.
Red -cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) -- Endangered
The Red -cockaded woodpecker (RCW) occurs in large areas of mature pine -dominated forest, typically 80
to 100 acres or more. Unlike other woodpeckers, they excavate cavities for nesting and roosting exclusively
in live pines, typically 80 years or older and surrounded by an open understory with minimal hardwood
encroachment or climbing vines. They live in small groups comprising a breeding pair and one to three
"helpers" that are often the pair's offspring from previous years. Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base has
been managing land for RCW since the 1980s and now has over 100 RCW breeding groups, and is an
important stronghold for conserving this rare species. Each group has a foraging area extending about 0.5
mile from the cluster of cavity trees where the group sleeps and roosts.
There are six RCW groups with potential foraging areas that extend into the NC-24 right-of-way along the
project corridor, based on data provided by Camp Lejeune staff biologists. For conservation planning, they
have quantified the acreage of suitable foraging habitat and basal area of forage -size pines for each group.
In areas where the half -mile potential foraging radius overlaps for adjacent groups, resources are split
between the two groups geometrically (Figure 1).
In June 2021 MMI measured foraging habitat for each RCW group along the NC-24 where pines may be
removed during project construction. There are no RCW cavity trees within the highway right-of-way, and
MMI did not observe any RCW foraging in these areas during either the March or June field trips. The
nearest known cavity tree is more than 700 feet south of the highway right-of-way.
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According to the current FWS guidance, suitable RCW foraging habitat consists of open forests dominated
by pines 10 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) or larger, at densities of 40 to 70 square feet of basal
area per acre. Smaller pines less than 10 inches DBH should comprise no more than 20 square feet of basal
area per acre, and total tree density including hardwoods should be no more than 80 square feet of basal
area per acre. Hardwood trees in the understory should be sparse and mostly less than seven feet tall.
Based on the FWS guidance and MMI's study, the project may have a minor effect on available foraging
habitat for three of the six RCW groups in the area, listed in the table below:
RCW Group #
Pine Forage Habitat Affected
Forage acres
Pine Basal Area, sq.ft
Basal area per acre
RCW # 57
0.29
26.7
92
RCW # 12P
0.58
49.3
83
RCW # 111P
0.40
25.9
65
The potential forage areas for RCW groups #57 and #12P have basal area densities exceeding the FWS
guidelines, and would need to be thinned to provide suitable forage habitat. Camp Lejeune does not thin
or otherwise manage the narrow strip of trees on the highway right-of-way, which is separated from the
Base's RCW managed lands by a 20 to 30 foot wide mowed trail immediately south of the highway right-of-
way. In the Base's NEPA environmental review document, RCW biologist Gary Haught states:
"The narrow strip of trees/shrubs to be cleared for this project falls to the north of any timber stands that
are managed by the forestry section. There are pine trees in these areas but most are too young or heavily
encroached with hardwood for red -cockaded woodpeckers to utilize. We do not count these areas as
forage habitat for the RCW clusters that occur to the south. Therefore, we do not feel that this project
needs to be consulted on with USFWS".
Biological Opinion: Based on the relatively low quality, lack of management, and very small acreages of
potential pine forage area that may be affected, the project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect
the Red -cockaded woodpecker.
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) -- Threatened
Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) -- Threatened
Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) -- Threatened
These three species (two shore birds and one plant) occur on ocean beaches and island end flats -- habitats
that do not occur in the project vicinity. The nearest suitable habitat for any of these species is more than
six miles from the project area.
Biological Opinion: Based on the lack of suitable habitat, the project is not likely to affect the Piping Plover,
Red Knot, or Seabeach Amaranth.
West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) -- Threatened
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) -- Threatened
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Kemp's Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) -- Endangered
Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) -- Endangered
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) -- Threatened
Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) -- Endangered
Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) -- Endangered
These seven aquatic animals occur in the ocean, sounds, and lower reaches of coastal rivers. The four sea
turtle species nest exclusively on ocean beaches. The manatee and two sturgeon species may also travel
miles upstream into freshwater reaches of rivers and large streams. The nearest suitable habitat for any of
these species is in Queens Creek 800 feet downstream of the project area. By eliminating the Swansboro
and Hubert wastewater treatment plants and consolidating treatment at Camp Lejeune's more advanced
French Creek facility, the project may improve coastal water quality in the White Oak River in eastern
Onslow County and improve habitat for these species.
Biological Opinion: Based on the lack of suitable habitat in the project area, the project is not likely to
affect the West Indian manatee, Green sea turtle, Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle,
Loggerhead sea turtle, Atlantic sturgeon, or Shortnose sturgeon.
Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) -- Threatened
The Black rail forages and nests in brackish marshes and rarely in coastal freshwater marshes. It does not
normally occur in forests or dense shrub -dominated habitats. The nearest suitable marsh habitat for the
Black Rail is in Queens Creek at least 800 feet south of the project area.
Biological Opinion: Based on the lack of suitable habitat, the project is not likely to affect the Black Rail.
Cooley's meadowrue (Thalictrum cooleyi) -- Endangered
Roughleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia) -- Endangered
Roughleaf loosestrife and Cooley's meadowrue occur in wet pine savannas and open edges of pocosins and
wet pine flatwoods where periodic fires every few years prevent shrubs and trees from overshadowing
them. In areas without periodic fires, remaining populations often persist along roadsides and utility rights -
of -way where occasional mowing limits the growth of trees and shrubs. Furthermore, Cooley's meadowrue
sites usually have higher soil pH (circum-neutral soils) than is typical on most of the Coastal Plain.
There are several recent records of Roughleaf loosestrife within three miles of the project corridor,
including sites on Camp Lejeune south of NC-24 and one site north of the project corridor. The nearest
known site is about one mile from the project. The only known Onslow County records of Cooley's
meadowrue are on the far western side of the county more than 15 miles from the project area.
There are several wetland patches along the project alignment that look marginally suitable for these two
plants based on the presence of other typical savanna/pocosin edge plant species, although heavily
disturbed by highway construction and subsequent maintenance. MMI searched for Roughleaf loosestrife
and Cooley's meadowrue during the June site visit, within the recommended seasonal window for surveys,
and did not find either plant.
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Biological Opinion: Based on the poor quality and limited extent of marginally suitable habitat for
Roughleaf loosestrife and Cooley's meadowrue, and the June 2021 survey which did not find any
specimens, the project is not likely to affect these two species.
Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) -- Endangered
Pondberry is similar to the widespread Common spicebush but has far more limited habitat requirements,
being limited to shallow seasonal pools and wet depressions in four NC counties. Suitable habitat may be in
clay -based Carolina bays or similar wet depressions, generally associated with pine flatwoods and pocosin
shrub communities. Like Roughleaf loosestrife and Cooley's meadowrue, this shrub relies on periodic fire
to limit the growth of trees and taller shrubs and maintain sufficient sun exposure for survival.
The nearest known population is on Camp Lejeune about three miles south of the project corridor. There
are a few wet depressions along the eastern half of project alignment that look marginally suitable, but are
probably too densely shaded to support Pondberry. MMI searched these areas for Pondberry during the
June site visit and did not find this plant.
Biological Opinion: Based on the poor quality and limited extent of marginally suitable habitat for
Pondberry in the project area, and the June 2021 survey which did not find any specimens, the project is
not likely to affect this species.
Qualifications of Preparer
Gerald Pottern has BS and MS degrees in biology, and 30+ years of experience in stream and wetland
science, endangered species surveys and consultation, 404-401 permitting, NEPA and SEPA environmental
impact documents, natural resource inventory and conservation plans, water quality studies, riparian zone
assessment, restoration site planning and monitoring, and environmental education. He is well -versed in
federal and state environmental regulations and natural resource field assessment and documentation
methods, and secondary and cumulative impact mitigation planning. He has assisted public and private
clients in designing projects to meet environmental agency objectives and permit requirements, and has
prepared grant applications for riparian conservation and water quality improvement projects. He has
served on the Scientific Council to the NC Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee, and has conducted
numerous surveys of aquatic and terrestrial plants and wildlife for scientific and educational purposes.
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ONWASA Wastewater and Water Lines, NC-24 from Hubert to Piney Green
Onslow Water & Sewer Authority, Onslow County NC
Endangered Species Biological Assessment -- 10 June 2022
Mogensen Mitigation Inc. -- June 2022
ATTACHMENTS:
Figure 1. Red -cockaded Woodpecker groups and potential foraging areas.
Figure 2. USGS Project Vicinity Map, from NC One Map GIS
Figure 3. USGS 12-digit HUC Watershed Boundary and NC-DEQStream Classifications
Figure 4A. USDA Soil Survey of Onslow County -- Western Half.
Figure 4B. USDA Soil Survey of Onslow County -- Eastern Half.
US Fish & Wildlife Service -- IPaC Official Species List.

Figure 1A. Red -cockaded Woodpecker groups #44, # 57, and #12P on Camp Lejeune. Green = cavity tree clusters.
Figure 1B. Red -cockaded Woodpecker groups #12P, # 111P, and #104P on Camp Lejeune. Green = cavity tree clusters.

Figure 2. USGS Project Vicinity Map, from NC One Map GIS -- ONWASA Water and Sewer Lines Project, NC-24 from Piney Green to Hubert, Onslow County NC.

Figure 3. USGS 12-digit HUC Watershed Boundary and NC-DEQ Stream Classifications -- ONWASA Water and Sewer Lines Project, NC-24 from Piney Green to Hubert, Onslow County NC.

Figure 4A. USDA Soil Survey of Onslow County -- ONWASA Water and Sewer Lines Project, NC-24 from Piney Green to Hubert -- Western Half.

Figure 4B. USDA Soil Survey of Onslow County -- ONWASA Water and Sewer Lines Project, NC-24 from Piney Green to Hubert -- Eastern Half.