20221220 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20221003

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
October 3, 2022
Ms. Brandee Boggs
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Possumtrot Creek Daylighting and Restoration
Possumtrot Creek and UT, Yancey County
Dear Ms. Davis:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to restore 685 ft of Possumtrot Creek and an unnamed tributary (UT) in Yancey
County. In addition, a 20-ft culvert would be installed on UT Possumtrot Creek. 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).
Wild Rainbow Trout are found in Possumtrot Creek, and in -stream activities should be avoided
between January 1 and April 15 to minimize impacts to trout reproduction.
The application proposes to restore entirely culverted reaches of Possumtrot Creek and a UT.
The stream reaches would be restored to stable dimension, profile, and pattern, using constructed
riffles, j-hooks, log steps, and riparian vegetation. Work will be done in the dry. The planted
buffer will be 25 ft wide from the top of the bank. We appreciate the diverse planting list that is
proposed.
A 36-inch high density polyethylene (HDPE) culvert would be installed on UT Possumtrot Creek
for a future agricultural crossing. We recommend against using HDPE material, as this slick
material is less likely to hold stream substrate and provide for movement of aquatic organisms
like fish and salamanders.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Possumtrot Cr Daylighting & Restoration Page 2 October 3, 2022
Possumtrot Cr & UT, Yancey Co
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
1. We appreciate the plan specification that erosion control matting used will be free of nylon or
plastic mesh, as this type of mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to
degrade, resulting in a hazard that may last for years.
2. In -stream activities (including turning the stream into the newly constructed reaches) should
be accomplished outside of the period of January 1 to April 15 to minimize impacts to trout
reproduction.
3. We recommend against using HDPE or reinforced concrete material for culverts, as this
smooth material is less likely to hold stream substrate and provide for movement of aquatic
organisms like fish and salamanders.
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: Zan Price, Jennings Environmental
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources