20150177 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20150219

L North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
February 19, 2015
Ms. Tasha Alexander
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801 -5006
SUBJECT: David Rice Project
North Fork New River, Ashe County
Dear Ms. Alexander:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 200 feet the North Fork New River in Ashe 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. This portion of the river is recognized by the NC Natural Heritage
Program as the North Fork New River Aquatic Habitat, rated High for the richness of rare
species it contains. Four rare fish are found in the North Fork New River in the vicinity of the
project -- Kanawha Minnow (US Federal Species of Concern, NC Special Concern), Kanawha
Rosyface Shiner [NC Significantly Rare (SR)], Kanawha Darter (NC SR), and Tonguetied
Minnow (NC SR).
We are supportive of this project as described, as it is intended to address an eroding section of
channel and should improve aquatic habitat. We recommend that any erosion control matting
used be free of nylon mesh; nylon mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to
degrade resulting in a hazard that may last for years.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

David Rice Project Page 2 February 19, 2015
North Fork New River, Ashe County
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. NCWRC staff would like
to observe the project during or after construction. Please contact me at (828) 400 -4223 if you
have any questions about these comments or need further assistance.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Glen Sullivan, Foggy Mountain Nursery
Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Resources