20070458 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070328

~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
To: Cyndi Karoly
NC DENR/DWQ
Brad E. Shaver
USACE ~
From: Steven H. Everhart, PhD, CWB ~+"'O""
Southeastern Permit Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Date: March 28, 2007
RE: Sandler at Topsail, LLC -Goose Bay Plantation, 401/404 Application, Onslow County,
DWQ#07-0458 AID#200301193
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
application for impacts to wildlife and fishery resources. Our comments are provided in accordance with
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.),
and Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (as amended).
The project is located west of NC 210, south of Folkstone Rd., and east of Harbor Point Rd., in Onslow
County. The property consists of approximately 726 acres including approximately 255 acres of
wetlands. Receiving bodies of water include Turkey Creek and an un-named tributary to Goose Bay on
the AIWW. Waters in the area are classified as SA-Outstanding Resource Waters by the NC Division of
Water Quality (DWQ). Land use in the vicinity includes undeveloped, agricultural, and residential. The
subject property is currently undeveloped pine plantation.
The applicants propose to impact approximately 0.52 acres of forested/pocosin wetlands through
filling/culverting to provide infrastructure fora 976-unit residential subdivision. The applicants state that
stream impacts are not applicable. The applicants propose to mitigate for wetland impacts through NC
EEP buy-in for riparian wetlands.
We have the following concerns/recommendations:
• We recommend that 50 and 100 ft native forested buffers be maintained or created adjacent to
intermittent and perennial streams, respectively.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Sandler -Goose Bay Plantation
March 28, 2007
• We recommend that all utility crossings be directionally bored rather than trenched and
backfilled.
• Wetland impact area # 1 is necessary for the widening of an old logging road that already severs
connectivity between two large wetland areas and requires an additiona10.15 acre of wetland fill.
We recommend that this crossing be eliminated from the project and on-site restoration of the
wetland (removal of the logging road) be used to satisfy mitigation needs.
The NCWRC does not support the filling of wetlands for development and any required permit
authorization will receive a recommendation for denial unless the project has significant public
benefits and all wetlands or aquatic habitat impacts are fully mitigated. We recommend that all
remaining and restored wetlands on-site be preserved through conservation easement using
language consistent with U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) guidelines for the
preservation of wetlands. This language prohibits cutting, pruning, mowing, or burning of
vegetation; construction of any kind; use of herbicides; any land disturbing activities; dumping or
storing of soil, trash, or other waste; and the pasturing, grazing or watering of animals, or any
other agricultural or horticultural purpose within wetlands.
We do not object to the project provided our recommendations are included as permit conditions. Thank
you for the opportunity to review and comment on this application. If you have any questions or require
additional information regarding these comments, please call me at [phone].
CC: Joanne Steenhuis, NCDWQ
Jon Giles, NCDCM