20130412 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20150601

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

MEMORANDUM

TO: Andrew Williams, Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

FROM: Shari L. Bryant, Western Piedmont Coordinator
Habitat Conservation

DATE: 1 June 2015

SUBJECT: Hoosier Dam Pre-Removal Aquatic Community and Habitat Sampling, Hoosier Dam
Umbrella Mitigation Bank, Rocky River, Chatham County, North Carolina.

The Catena Group, Inc. and Unique Places, LLC have submitted a proposal for pre-removal
aquatic community and habitat sampling for Hoosier Dam. The proposed pre-dam removal surveys will
determine the existing condition of aquatic species (mussel, macro-snail, and fish) in the impounded and
adjacent un-impounded reaches of Rocky River. The proposal includes pre-dam removal surveys for
aquatic habitat; rare, endangered or threatened species; and benthic macroinvertebrate communities.
Results of the pre-dam removal monitoring will be used in the development of performance standards and
success criteria.

We offer the following comments or recommendations regarding the Pre-Removal Aquatic
Community and Habitat Sampling.

 Section 4.0 Field Data Collection – Pre-removal surveys will be conducted at four lotic sites
outside the impoundment (two upstream and two downstream), three sites within the
impoundment (lower, middle, and upper), and two of the four tributaries that will be used for
credit. In addition, two un-impounded reference tributaries will be sampled.
We have no objection to pre-removal sampling on only two of the four tributaries that will be
used for credit. However, if there is a significant difference in watershed size between these four
tributaries, then we suggest sampling the tributary with the smallest watershed and the tributary
with the largest watershed. Also, the two un-impounded reference tributaries should have
watershed sizes that are comparable to those within the impoundment.
 Section 4.3 Fish Community Surveys – It appears fish captured in the impoundment sites will be
identified, counted, and returned to the river after processing. Fish captured in the un-impounded
reaches also should be identified, counted, and returned to the river after processing. In addition,
effort (i.e., the number of seconds (or minutes) of electrofishing or seining/dip netting) should be
recorded so catch-per-unit-effort can be calculated.

Page 2

1 June 2015
Hoosier Dam Umbrella Mitigation Bank
Pre-Removal Sampling Proposal

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this pre-removal sampling protocol. If we can be
of further assistance, please contact our office at [phone] or [e-mail].

ec: Lynnette Batt, Unique Places, LLC
Gabriela Garrison, NCWRC
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Ryan Heise, NCWRC
Jessica Baumann, NCWRC
Corey Oakley, NCWRC