20190288 Ver 1_Correspondence_20230118

Homewood, Sue
From:Brady, Harold M.
Sent:Wednesday, January 18, 2023 9:37 AM
To:Benjie Thomas
Cc:Leslie, Andrea J; Stancil, Vann F; Tarver, Fred; Peele, Linwood; Fuemmeler, Amanda J
CIV (US); Daniel Davis ([e-mail]); Homewood, Sue
Subject:Re: \[External\] RE: Proposed minimum release schedule for the proposed Lake
Coffey/Santis in Beech Mountain
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
Benjie,

That's good to hear. Yes, 404/401 permitting would be the next step. This minimum release schedule will be
included in any 401 Certificate. Sue Homewood (NCDEQ) will be the Section 401 permitting contact. I believe
Amanda Fuemmeler (USACE) will continue to be the Section 404 permitting contact. I have copied both on this
email.

Regarding the NPDES minimum flows, we gave partial credit for the intervening drainage area between the
dam and the discharge outfall, but not full credit due to the lack of any significant streams flowing into Pond
Creek between the proposed dam and the WWTP outfall.

Again, thank you for your patience as we worked through development of the minimum release schedule. I
look forward to getting back up to Beech Mountain soon.

Thank you,

Harold M. Brady
Water Supply Development Coordinator
Division of Water Resources – Water Planning Section
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

919 707-9005 office
[e-mail]

Archdale Building
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Benjie Thomas <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 8:06 AM
To: Brady, Harold M. <[e-mail]>
1

Cc: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Stancil, Vann F <[e-mail]>; Tarver, Fred
<[e-mail]>; Peele, Linwood <[e-mail]>; Daniel Davis
([e-mail]) <[e-mail]>
Subject: \[External\] RE: Proposed minimum release schedule for the proposed Lake Coffey/Santis in Beech Mountain

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
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Harold,

I had a meeting last week with Town staff on this proposed minimum release schedule and its conditions. Although the
36% of MAF winter minimum release is higher than preferred, the Town would like to move forward with the project. I
assume that the Town can proceed with 401/404 and other permitting based on the proposed minimum release
schedule and conditions. Please let me know if there are other steps you think should be taken before that.

I was curious, did the Pond Creek wastewater treatment facility NPDES minimum flows already take into account the
additional tributary area downstream of Coffey/Santis? Could the 0.8 cfs winter and 0.6 cfs summer be reduced some at
the base of the dam, since flow will increase between the dam and the WWTP 0.5 miles downstream?

Thank you all for your efforts on this project thus far.

Benjie Thomas
[phone]

From: Benjie Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 1:11 PM
To: Brady, Harold M. <[e-mail]>; Daniel Davis <[e-mail]>
Cc: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Stancil, Vann F <[e-mail]>; Tarver, Fred
<[e-mail]>; Peele, Linwood <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Proposed minimum release schedule for the proposed Lake Coffey/Santis in Beech Mountain

Harold,

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Thank you for sending us the proposed schedule and conditions. I have spoken with Daniel about it. The Town staff and I
will be reviewing the implications of these conditions and studying the feasibility of the project if they are implemented.
In the meantime, regarding Condition #6, could you share with us the conductivity data?

Thanks,

Benjie Thomas
[phone]

From: Brady, Harold M. <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2022 3:48 PM
To: Benjie Thomas <[e-mail]>; Daniel Davis <[e-mail]>
Cc: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Stancil, Vann F <[e-mail]>; Tarver, Fred
<[e-mail]>; Peele, Linwood <[e-mail]>
Subject: Proposed minimum release schedule for the proposed Lake Coffey/Santis in Beech Mountain

Benjie,

Below is the proposed minimum release schedule and proposed conditions for the proposed Lake
Coffey/Santis project.

Proposed Minimum Release Schedule for Proposed Lake Coffey/Santis
Winter (November 1 - Summer (April 1 - October
March 31) 31)
Reservoir depths & Water Shortage Response Plan
Tier estimated elevations (amsl) % MAF cfs % MAF cfs (WSRP) Action
Top of Dam (est. 4230 ft) -
4.0 feet below top of
1 spillway (est. 4221 ft) 36% 1.2 31% 1.0 None
No withdrawals occurring: Stage
1 Voluntary restrictions;
4.0 feet below top of Withdrawals occurring: Stage 2
spillway - invert of 1st Mandatory Restrictions (10%
2 intake (est. 4210 ft) 31% 1.0 25% 0.8 reductions)
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Stage 3 Mandatory restrictions
3* Below invert of 1st intake 25% 0.8 17% 0.6 (20% reductions)

* Tier 3 cfs values are based on the minimum flows (i.e., 0.9 cfs: winter; 0.6 cfs: summer) for effluent discharge
requirements at the Pond Creek wastewater treatment facility approximately 0.5 miles downstream of the proposed
dam outfall, per current NPDES permit.

**MAF% is intended to provide a context for the methodology used to establish the values; therefore, the cfs values
will remain static overtime.

Conditions:
1. Minimum release values are based on outflows at the base of the proposed dam structure.
2. Construction of a fish barrier on the (East Fork) Pond Creek to prevent the upstream movement of
competing fish species from the new lake into waters currently dominated by the native Brook Trout.
Approval for proposed device will be the responsibility of NCWRC with authorization granted by the
NCDEQ Section 401 Water Quality Certificate.
3. Automated minimum release devices will be installed within the proposed Lake Coffey/Santis to ensure
releases are met at all times. Depth and location of device will be coordinated between the Town,
NCWRC, and NCDEQ.
4. Automated minimum release devices will be installed within the existing Buckeye Lake to ensure
minimum releases are met at all times. Depth and location of device will be coordinated between the
Town, NCWRC, and NCDEQ.
5. A permanent stream flow gage will be installed in Pond Creek near the base of the dam at an
appropriate location approved by USGS.
6. Applicant shall investigate the source(s) of the known high specific conductance in Pond Creek
between the proposed dam and the WWTP and take measures to address it.

Thank you for your patience and assistance as we worked through the process of determining a proposed
minimum release schedule. A special thank you for building the hydrologic model for the watershed and
walking us through it; it was very helpful. Please let me know if you or anyone from the Town have any
questions and if you would like to have a meeting (online or in-person) to discuss and work through the
details.

Thank you again and happy holidays,

Harold M. Brady
Water Supply Development Coordinator
Division of Water Resources – Water Planning Section
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

919 707-9005 office
[e-mail]

Archdale Building
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
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North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

5