20071312 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070820

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North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
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TO: Amanda Jones, USACOE ~ L `°'' "~ +~`` ~y ~`~'~ ~+.~,
Asheville Regulatory Field Office ~ i~ ~ ~ ' ~~~
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Ron Linville Re Tonal Coordinator ~'~ '~;~;,,
FROM: Habitat Conservation Program ~Tt.~Fa~i,-' a=~~± ~T~~ ~ ar ~ 5Rq~
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DATE: August 7, 2007
SUBJECT: Linville Resorts/Kawana Fishing Club, Linville River, Avery County
The applicant proposes to install fish habitat structures to enhance trout club fish holding
habitats. Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are familiar with
habitat values in the area. These comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and the
North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through 113A-10; NCAC 25).
The project is to construct a j-hook on the left bank to replace a wooden fish structwe lost during
the 2004 floods. In addition, four large boulders are proposed downstream to provide fish
habitat in an area just above the Highway 181 Bridge. This portion of the project may not occur
unless approved by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) due to nght-of--way
issues related to the bridge. A preliminary site visit was conducted by this office and Mr. Bob
Brown, Fish biologist on June 19, 2007. Mr. Kevin Barnett with the NC Division of Water
Quality also attended the site visitation. Brown and Rainbow trout are known for this area of the
Linville River.
The activities proposed should provide increased fish holding habitats. Accordingly, we will not
object to the project providing the activities are implemented so as not to cause bank or bridge
instability. State-of--the-art natural channel design structures and techniques, including well
placed and installed fiber logs, fiber matting, j-hooks, w-weirs, and root wads are preferred
techniques as these methods tend to restore natural channel dimensions, including the natural
thalweg. The following conditions are recommended for inclusion in permits and certifications
for the project:
• In stream work and land disturbance within the twenty-five (25) foot wide buffer
zone are prohibited during the brown and brook trout spawning season of October 15
through April 15 to protect the egg and fiy stages of trout from off-site sedimentation
during construction.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Faz: [phone]

Linville Resorts/Kawana Fishing Club -Page 2 -
August 7, 200'7
• Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124).
• If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.
• Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream channel
in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other
pollutants into the stream. Where this is not possible or practicable, equipment used
should be new or low-hour and well maintained. Spill containment equipment should
be readily available during equipment work in channel.
Where the project disturbs buffers, temporary or permanent native herbaceous
vegetation should be established on all bare soil wrthm five (5} days of ground
disturbing activities in the twenty-five (25} foot trout buffer to provide long-term
erosion control. We encourage use of fiber matting. Onsite vegetation and materials
may be used for stream bank stabilization when practicable. Restored banks should
be replanted with autochthonous (native) plants like silky dogwood, rhododendron,
dog hobble, red maple, silky willow, tag alder, black willow, sycamore, river birch, or
other native woody species.
We continue to have general water quality concerns about the Linville River associated with
upstream activities and impacts. For this specific project, we recommend additional
consultations with the NCDOT to determine if j-hooks, w-weirs or other natural design structures
can enhance fish holding, natural channel habitats, and bridge stability.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning
stages. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-
WILD (9453).
E-copy: Kevin Barnett, DWQ-ARO