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Home My WebLink AboutNCWRC Comments - 853 Zone Water Transmission Main - UnionNorth Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9 Cameron Ingram, Executive Director Via email 08 March 2023 Mr. Jarrod Karl Hazen and Sawyer 9101 Southern Pine Blvd, Suite 250 Charlotte, North Carolina 28273 SUBJECT: Pre -Construction Notification for the 853 Zone Water Transmission Main Project in Indian Trail, Union County, North Carolina. DEQ No. 20230127. Dear Mr. Karl, Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject document. Comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as amended) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.). On behalf of Union County, Hazen and Sawyer has submitted a Pre -Construction Notification (PCN) application for the 853 Zone Water Transmission Main Project in Indian Trail, Union County, North Carolina. Union County proposes to install approximately 16,200 linear feet of new 16-inch steel water transmission main between Potter Road and Old Monroe Road. The project proposes to impact 0.193 acre of wetland and temporarily impact 82 linear feet of streams in the Catawba River Basin. The project will temporarily impact 36 linear feet of Davids Mine Creek, which is classified as Class C Stream by the NC Division of Water Resources. We have records of the state endangered Carolina creekshell (Villosa vaughaniana) and state special concern Carolina darter (Etheostoma collis) in Davis Mine Creek. The Twelvemile Creek Aquatic Habitat Natural Heritage Natural Area (NHNA) occurs along Davis Mine Creek; natural areas are sites with special biodiversity significance. We also have records for the federal candidate and state threatened Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) and state threatened Carolina birdfoot-trefoil (Acmispon helleri) near the site and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the federal endangered Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) and proposed endangered tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) as having potential to occur in the project area. We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources: Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721 Telephone: (919) 707-0220 • Fax: (919) 707-0028 08 March 2023 Page 2 NCWRC Comments 853 Zone Water Transmission Main DEQ No. 20230127 1. NCWRC requests surveys for state -listed mussel surveys prior to construction in Davis Mine Creek. Surveys should be conducted within the instream work area and 50 meters above and 100 meters below the work area. Any protected species surveys should be conducted by biologists with both state and federal endangered species permits. If state -protected species are found in the project area, the mussels should be relocated to suitable habitat above the project area. Also immediately contact Thomas Russ, the Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Research Coordinator, at 828.803.6035 or thomas.russkncwildlife.org if protected mussel species are found during surveys. 1. Maintain or establish a minimum 100-foot native, undisturbed forested buffer along Davis Mine Creek to the greatest extent possible. Forested riparian buffers protect water quality by stabilizing stream banks and filtering stormwater runoff. 2. Disturbed stream banks and wetlands should be restored to original contours and re -vegetated with native plant materials. Riprap may be used to stabilize the bank in the area of the ordinary high-water stage and vegetation (bioengineering) should be used above this stage. We prefer natural materials such as coir fiber rolls, biodegradable erosion -control blankets, and vegetation instead of rip -rap where practical. Any riprap used should not interfere with aquatic life movement during low flow. 3. Non-native plants should not be used for seeding disturbed areas. Specifically, avoid using Bermudagrass, redtop, tall fescue, and lespedeza, which are invasive and/or non-native. A list of alternatives to non-native species has been attached. Alternatively, use a grain, such as oats, wheat, or rye for temporary cover and native seed mixes for permeant seeding. We recommend planting native, wildflower seed mixes that will create pollinator habitat within the project boundary. 4. Since state -listed species are known to occur in the watershed, erosion and sediment control measures should conform to the High Quality Water Zones standards stipulated in the NC Department of Environmental Quality Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (hitps://deq.nc. gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-land-resources/energy-mineral-land-permit- guidance/erosion-sediment-control-planning design -manual). Sediment and erosion control measures should use advanced methods and installed prior to any land -disturbing activity. Incorporate the following elements into erosion and sediment control plans: minimize clearing and grading, protect waterways, phase construction for larger construction sites (>25 acres), stabilize soils as rapidly as possible (<2 weeks), protect steep slopes, establish appropriate perimeter controls, employ advanced settling devices, implement a certified contractors program, and regularly inspect erosion control measures. 5. Avoid tree clearing activities during the maternity roosting season for bats (May 15 — August 15) because of the decline in populations of several tree -roosting bat species, including the proposed endangered tricolored bat. 6. The use of biodegradable and wildlife -friendly sediment and erosion control devices is strongly recommended throughout the project. Silt fencing, fiber rolls and/or other products should have loose -weave netting that is made of natural fiber materials with movable joints between the vertical and horizontal twines. Silt fencing that has been reinforced with plastic or metal mesh should be avoided as it impedes the movement of terrestrial wildlife species. Excessive silt and sediment loads can have detrimental effects on aquatic resources including destruction of spawning habitat, suffocation of eggs, and clogging of gills. 08 March 2023 Page 3 NCWRC Comments 853 Zone Water Transmission Main DEQ No. 20230127 Thank you for the opportunity to provide input for this project. If I can provide further assistance, please call (336) 269-0074 or email olivia.munzergncwildlife.org. Sincerely, CA� Olivia Munzer Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator Habitat Conservation Program Ec: Thomas W. Russ, NCWRC Doug Perez, USACE Andrew Pitner, NCDWR Byron Hamstead, USFWS RECOMMENDED NATIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR NON-NATIVE GRASSES IN NORTH CAROLINA" (Species are appropriate for all geographic regions unless otherwise indicated) NON-NATIVE SPECIES NATIVE SPECIES Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans Crownvetch Switchgrass Panicum virgatum Centipede Beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps Bermuda Purpletop Tridens flavus Roundheaded bushclover Lespedeza capitata Deer tongue Dicanthelium clandestinum Sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans Partridge pea Chamaecrista asciculata Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans Switchgrass Panicum virgatum Kentucky bluegrass Beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps Tall fescue Purpletop Tridens flavus Sudangrass Broomsedge Andropogon virginicus Deer tongue Dicanthelium clandestinum Canadian wildrye Elymus canadensis Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans Partridge pea Chamaecrista asciculata Switchgrass Panicum virgatum Splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius Sericea lespedeza Beggarlice Desmodium spp. Kobe lespedeza Deer tongue Dicanthelium clandestinum Sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans Partridge pea Chamaecrista asciculata NC Native Plant Recommendations **A recommended revegetation/stabilization mix would ideally include a combination of the species listed in this table. In addition, please note that additional consideration may be needed in areas that are (highly) erodible and/or have sloped terrain. The following species could be included in all regions for additional stabilization and wildlife benefit: Black-eyed susan: Plains coreopsis: Lance -leaved coreopsis: Narrow -leaved sunflower: Created October 2018 Rudbeckia hirta Coreopsis tinctoria Coreopsis lanceolata Helianthus angustifolius