20220820 Ver 1_Staff Report Annino, Amy M_20220711

® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
July 6, 2022
Mr. David Brown
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: DENC Everett Road
UT to Little River, Transyvania County
Dear Mr. Brown:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to temporarily impact an unnamed tributary (UT) to the Little River in Transyvlania
County. 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).
This project should not affect trout and the activities do not need to be avoided during the trout
spawning moratorium. However, the project is adjacent and just upstream of the Little River,
which is part of the Little River Aquatic Habitat, a Natural Heritage Program natural area rated
as Exceptional due to the richness and ecological importance of the species it supports. Species
in the vicinity of the project include Appalachian Elktoe [Alasmidonta raveneliana, US
Endangered (E), NC E], Longsolid [Fusconaia subrotunda, US Federal Species of Concern
(FSC), NC E], Creeper (Strophitus undulatus, NC Threatened), Common Mudpuppy [Necturus
maculosus, NC Special Concern (SC)], and French Broad River Crayfish (Cambarus reburrus,
NC Significantly Rare). As these species is sensitive to excess sedimentation, it is especially
important to use excellent erosion and sediment control on site to minimize impacts to this
species.
The project would replace a length of gas line that is exposed. The new line would be buried in
the stream via trench cut, and the work would be done by pumping flows around the work area.
The work area appears to be approximately 150 ft wide, narrowing to approximately 100 ft at the
stream. As the riparian buffer on the stream will be disturbed, we recommend restoring the
disturbed buffer with a mix of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

DENC Everett Road Page 2 July 6, 2022
UT Little R, Transylvania Co
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
1. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
Due to the presence of Appalachian Elktoe, disturbed areas should be seeded, mulched
and/or matted as soon as possible, preferably at the end of each work day; at a minimum,
disturbed areas should be stabilized within five working days or seven calendar days,
whichever is shorter.
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this netting
frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade resulting in a hazard that may last for
years.
3. Restore the buffer that will be disturbed on the UT to the Little River with native trees,
shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation. Please see the attached NC State University's riparian
restoration guide, which includes a plant list for mountain sites.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact meat
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments or need further assistance.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
Attachment: NC State University's riparian restoration guide
ec: Katy Christie, Kleinfelder
Amy Annino, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service