20210191 Ver 2_17BP.10.PE.147_DWR 20210191v2_Bridge 35_Stanley__NCWRC Comments_20230103

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

January 3, 2023

Eric Alsmeyer
Regulatory Division Office
US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105, Wake Forest, NC 27587

Amy Chapman
NCDEQ Division of Water Resources, Transportation Permitting
512 N. Salisbury St., Archdale Building, 12th floor
Raleigh, NC 27604

SUBJECT: Comments on Application for Replacement of Bridge No. 35 on SR 1134 over Long
Creek, Stanly County
WBS 17BP.10.PE.147, DWR 20210191 ver.2

Dear Mr. Alsmeyer and Ms. Chapman,

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a General 404 Permit and 401
Certification for the subject project. The project is being re-permitted due to the upcoming expiration of
its existing Nationwide 3. I have not found prior comments on this project, if any, from the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). However, I am familiar with the wildlife resources
in the area and visited the project site on December 29, 2022. Comments on the application from the
NCWRC are offered to help conserve the wildlife resources affected by the project and to promote
wildlife-based recreation in accordance with applicable provisions of the state and federal Environmental
Policy Acts (G.S. 113A-1through 113-10; 1 NCAC 25 and 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), respectively), the Clean
Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.), and the Fish and Wildlife Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661-667d).

The existing bridge on SR 1134 over Long Creek will be replaced with a new bridge in the same location.
An off-site detour is proposed. Most of the proposed stream impact is needed for temporary dewatering
and bank stabilization.
17BP.10.PE.147 Page 2 January 3, 2023
Stanly County

Carolina creekshell (Villosa vaughaniana, NC Endangered) have been documented in Long Creek and
may be found at the bridge site. Long Creek has good quality mussel habitat and a forested buffer near
the bridge. Design standards for sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 04B .0124) are recommended for
construction of the new bridge.

NCWRC biologists would appreciate the opportunity to survey for and relocate mussels before stream
disturbance occurs. The NCWRC respectfully asks that NCDOT contact me in advance of construction,
preferably two months, so that I can coordinate any animal relocations that are deemed necessary with
NCWRC biologists. A “green sheet” commitment and corresponding note to contractor in the contract is
recommended for this communication, if amendable to NCDOT.

Although wildlife will often pass over roadways and bridge approaches, some species tend to closely
follow stream corridors and will pass under bridges unless impeded by rip rap that spans fully from
stream edge to cap. There is forested riparian habitat upstream and downstream of the subject bridge, so
small mammals and other wildlife likely pass under this structure, particularly on the east side which has
a lower, more gradually sloped and stable bank (see photo next page). Full rip rap plating is proposed on
both sides of the stream, though the cross section depicts gaps between the abutment and streambank
protection. If full plating is used, then construction of narrow benches is requested using smaller
aggregate or on-site alluvial material to fill voids in the class II, particularly on the east side of the stream.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this project. Please contact me at [e-mail]
or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.

Cordially,

Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator

ec: Joel Howard, NCDOT Division 10 DEO
Brena Jones, NCWRC Central Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator

17BP.10.PE.147 Page 3 January 3, 2023
Stanly County

East side of Long Creek under Stanley 35, December 29, 2022.