20221790 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20230112

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
January 12, 2023
Ms. Brooke Davis
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Tributary to Thompson River Restoration
UT to Thompson River, Transylvania County
Dear Ms. Davis:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to restore 630 ft of an unnamed tributary (UT) to the Thompson River in
Transylvania County. This project is part of a resolution of multiple notices of violation issued to
the landowner. 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).
There are wild Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in the project vicinity, and in -stream work
should be avoided between October 15 and April 15 to minimize impacts to trout reproduction.
In addition, the Thompson River supports the rare Chauga Crayfish (Cambarus chaugensis, NC
Special Concern). Effective erosion and sediment control on this project is essential to protect
these species and their habitats.
The subject reach is just downstream of a dam spillway. Pattern, profile, and dimension would be
addressed within the upstream 450 ft with new channel alignment. Boulder steps, constructed
riffles, and native plantings would be used throughout the restored reach. A culvert will be
replaced with a spanning structure.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife:
1. In -channel work should be accomplished as quickly as possible and vigilance used in
sediment and erosion control during site preparation, construction, and clean up. Disturbed
areas should be seeded, mulched and/or matted as soon as possible, preferably at the end of
each workday.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

UT Thompson R Restoration Page 2 January 12, 2023
UT Thompson R, Buncombe Co.
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of plastic or nylon mesh, as this type of
mesh frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that may last
for years.
3. In -stream work should be avoided between October 15 and April 15 to minimize impacts to
trout reproduction.
4. The planted buffer width is not described in the application. We recommend that a woody
buffer of at least 30 feet be planted on both sides of the stream as infrastructure allows in
order to ensure project success. A wide forested buffer can ensure cooler stream
temperatures, greater bank stability, filter overland pollutants, and provide habitat for birds
and other wildlife.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Andrew Bick, Headwaters Engineering
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources