20071474 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070926

®North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
September 26, 2007
Ms. Lori Beckwith
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
Mr. Ian McMillan
NCDENR, Division of Water Quality, 401 Unit
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
SUBJECT: Duke Energy Corporation, Mr. Joe Carriker
^ Franklin Canoe Portage General Permit, DWQ No. 07-1472
^ Lake Emory Access Area Individual Permit, DWQ No. 07-1474
^ Mission Canoe Portage Individual Permit, DWQ No. 07-1473
Macon and Clay Counties
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Mr. McMillan:
Duke Energy Corporation requested 404 Permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ALOE) for
construction of three boat access facilities. Two facilities involve construction of a floating pier and boat ramp
on Lake Emory in Macon County. The third is a boat ramp in the Hiwassee River below Mission Dam in Clay
County. Comments from the Commission are provided under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33
U.S.C. 466 et seq.) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-
667d).
The projects will not harm trout spawning. However, the Hiwassee River downstream of the Mission Canoe
Portage site supports sensitive mussels. Therefore, it is important that construction of this project include
effective sediment erosion controls. This also is important with the other projects, but their locations upstream
of Franklin Dam should avoid any appreciable sedimentation in the river below where Appalachian elktoe
mussels and other sensitive aquatic life occur.
The Commission recommends that:
1. Sediment and erosion control measures be used as needed before construction and maintained until
disturbed soils are permanently stabilized.
2. Wet concrete not contact the water because this could cause a fish kill.
3. Stormwater, particularly that from the relatively large Lake Emory parking area, be routed to surface water
via detention basins or diffusely through vegetated conveyances/buffers to the extent possible. The plans
for the projects show flow vectors focused to the boat ramps. Stormwater treatment is not only
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Duke Energy Corporation Page 2 September 26, 2007
Macon and Clay
environmentally appropriate, but also useful as a demonstration of best management practices at these
public-use facilities.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Pending availability of field staff, the
Commission may inspect the work site during or after construction. If there are any questions regarding these
comments, please contact me at [phone] extension 24.
Sincerely,
~~ .
Dave McHenry
Mountain Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
cc: Duke Energy Corporation, Mr. Joe Carriker
Mr. K. Barnett, NC Division of Water Quality