20221387 Ver 1_E+T Species Biol Rept GPottern_20221005

SAW-2022-02001 -- White Oak Creek Subdivision
1251 N Raleigh St. & 1192 Rawls Church Road, Angier NC, Harnett County
PCN Section F.S. Endangered Species and Critical Habitats Evaluation
The FWS Information, Planning, and Consultation (IPaC) evaluation tool identifies four federal -listed
endangered or threatened species of concern that might be affected by the project. No critical habitat
for any of these species is identified in the IPaC tool. Potential impacts to each of these species due to
project development are explained below:
Common Name Scientific Name FWS Status
Red -cockaded Woodpecker Picoides (Dryobates) borealis Endangered
Cape Fear Shiner Notropis mekistocholas Endangered
Atlantic Pigtoe mussel Fusconaia masoni Threatened
Rough -leaf loosestrife Lysimachia asperulifolia Endangered
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 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 or Dryobates borealis) -- Federal Endangered.
The Red -cockaded woodpecker occurs in extensive tracts of mature pine -dominated forest, typically 80
to 100 acres or more. Unlike other woodpeckers, they excavate cavities for nesting and roosting
exclusively in living pines, typically 80 years or older and surrounded by an open understory with
minimal hardwood encroachment or climbing vines. NHP has records of this bird in eastern and
southern Harnett County, the nearest about 9 miles southeast of the project area.
Forests in and adjacent to the project site do not appear to provide suitable habitat for the Red -
cockaded woodpecker. There are scattered large old pines, but the hardwood understory is too dense
and the surrounding forests are hardwood -dominated. There is no sufficiently large stand of pine -
dominated forest within 0.5 mile of the project site that appears suitable to support a colony of these
birds.
Biological Opinion: Based on the lack of nearby records and lack of apparently suitable habitat, the
project is not likely to affect the Red -cockaded woodpecker.
Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas) -- Federal Endangered
The Cape Fear shiner is endemic to portions of the Deep River, Rocky River, Haw River, and the
Piedmont portion of the Cape Fear River downstream to Erwin. It requires rocky riffle -pool habitat in
free -flowing rivers and the lower reaches of large tributaries, usually with emergent aquatic plant beds.
It does not typically occur in low -gradient sand -dominated sections of rivers, impounded reaches, nor in
small tributaries.

Cape Fear shiners were collected between 1962 and 2021 in lower Neills Creek from its confluence with
Kenneth Creek, approximately 2 miles downstream of the project, to its mouth at the Cape Fear River.
The tributaries in the project area and the upper reach of Neills Creek upstream of Kenneth Creek
appear too small to provide suitable habitat for this shiner.
Forest clearing and project construction may cause temporary erosion and sedimentation in the small
streams within and downstream of the project, but sediment impacts farther downstream in Neills
Creek are expected to be negligible due to the planned erosion and sedimentation control measures.
The project also includes permanent stormwater management structures meeting state and local
standards, which should help mitigate potential long-term impacts of urban runoff from the site.
Indirect impacts due to wastewater discharge in the Cape Fear River are mitigated by Harnett County's
compliance with its assigned NPDES permit limits and conditions.
Biological Opinion: Based on the planned erosion control and stormwater control measures, and the
long distance to suitable habitat downstream, we conclude that the project may affect, but is not likely
to adversely affect, the Cape Fear shiner and its habitat.
Atlantic Pigtoe mussel (Fusconaia masoni) -- Federal Threatened
The Atlantic pigtoe mussel lives in coarse sand and gravel in free -flowing rivers and medium to large
perennial streams and rivers. It does not typically occur in low -gradient sand -dominated sections of
rivers, impounded reaches, nor in small tributaries. The Atlantic pigtoe was collected in the Cape Fear
River below the confluence with Neills Creek between 1969 and 1990. The lower reach of Neills Creek
below its confluence with Kenneth Creek may also contain suitable habitat, approximately 2 miles
downstream of the project. The tributaries in the project area and the upper reach of Neills Creek
appear too small to provide suitable habitat for this mussel.
Forest clearing and project construction may cause temporary erosion and sedimentation in the small
streams within and downstream of the project, but sediment impacts farther downstream in Neills
Creek are expected to be negligible due to the planned erosion and sedimentation control measures.
The project also includes permanent stormwater management structures meeting state and local
standards, which should help mitigate potential long-term impacts of urban runoff from the site.
Indirect impacts due to wastewater discharge in the Cape Fear River are mitigated by Harnett County's
compliance with its assigned NPDES permit limits and conditions.
Biological Opinion: Based on the planned erosion control and stormwater control measures, and the
long distance to suitable habitat downstream, we conclude that the project may affect, but is not likely
to adversely affect, the Atlantic pigtoe mussel and its habitat.
Rough -leaf Loosetrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia) -- Federal Endangered
Roughleaf loosestrife occurs 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. This habitat occurs in the Coastal Plain
and Sandhills regions, not in the Piedmont region which includes Angier and northern Harnett County.

The only records of Roughleaf loosestrife in Harnett County are in southwest portion of the county near
Fort Bragg, more than 20 miles from the project site. There is no suitable habitat for this plant in or
adjacent to the project site.
Biological Opinion: Based on the lack of suitable habitat for Roughleaf loosestrife and lack of nearby
records, we conclude that the project is not likely to affect this plant.