20220980 Ver 2_Notification of Impact Reduction Culvert to Bridge_20230301

Baker, Caroline D
From: Nikki Thomson < [e-mail] >
Sent: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 10:14 AM
To: Phillips, George L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Thomas, Zachary T
Cc: Sean Clark
Subject: [External] Buckhorn Creek Phase 2; Holly Springs; Wake Co.; USACE AID
SAW-2022-01482; DWR # 20220980 V2
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
Report Spam.
Good morning Lyle and Zach —
The applicant decided to further refine the design on this project which you both just recently approved (we submitted a
revised application end of last year). It was determined that a spanning structure would be less expensive than a double
barrel culvert and the compensatory mitigation incurred. Therefore, they have supplied me with updated maps showing
the REDUCTION in overall stream impacts now that the first crossing into the development - which is needed because
this channel cannot be avoided as it follows the eastern and northern property line — is a bridged crossing. The other
culvert crossing will remain. The wetland impacts also remain unchanged.
Therefore, the updated project impacts are as follows:
Impact 1— Road crossing — 0.057 ac permanent wetland impact (unchanged)
Impact 1— Road crossing — (Stream SE) ELIMINATED; NOW A BRIDGE
Impact 2 — Road crossing — (Stream SB) 88 LF (0.012 ac.) perm impact (culvert); 32 LF (0.004 ac) perm impact, no loss
(countersunk rip rap); 20 LF (0.003 ac.) temp impact (dewatering) (unchanged)
With these changes, no compensatory mitigation is required for this project.
Normally, I wouldn't even be asking for a response as "less is more" and a reduction in impacts is a good
thing. However, we're anticipating that Holly Springs will require at least an acknowledgement from both the USACE
and DWR (in writing) that the project may proceed forward as redesigned and that it will still be compliant with the
approved impacts as they are being reduced, the impact footprint will not change, and the applicant is aware of the
limits of disturbance which must adhere to per the revised approvals (received January 19t" from DWR and January 315Y
from the USACE).
Would it be possible for you to respond with an email that you concur with the proposed change and that the existing
approvals would still apply as impacts are being reduced, not increased? I'm hoping to avoid needing to resubmit this
project for a 3rd time as the impacts have been reduced.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate the help!
Nik
Nicole Thomson, PWS
Sage Ecological Services, Inc.
nthomson(a)sageecological.com

[phone]