20090006 Ver 5_WRC Comments_20150611

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Karen Higgins
NC Division of Water Resources
FROM: Gabriela Garrison
Eastern Piedmont Coordinator
Habitat Conservation
DATE: June 11, 2015
SUBJECT: Pre - Construction Notification for Stoney Creek Stream Enhancement Project — Phase II.
DWR 9: 20150490.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ( NCWRC) have reviewed the
proposed project description. Our comments are provided in accordance with certain provisions of the
Clean Water Act of 1977 (as amended), Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16
U.S.C. 661- 667e), and North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 113 -131 et seq.).
The applicant proposes to enhance a portion of Stoney Creek by creating sloughs in the floodplain, adding
floodplain benches, removing invasive species and planting native vegetation. Stoney Creek is located in
Goldsboro; it is a tributary to the Neuse River in the Neuse River basin.
Stream restoration projects often improve water quality and aquatic habitat. Establishing native, forested
buffers in riparian areas will help protect water quality, improve aquatic and terrestrial habitats and
provide a travel corridor for wildlife species. Records from the Natural Heritage Program indicate that
the federal species of concern and state- special concern, southern hognose snake (Heterodon sinus) may
be found in the vicinity. As such, the NCWRC urges the use of biodegradable and wildlife - friendly
sediment and erosion control devices. 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 and similar products that have been reinforced with plastic or metal mesh
should be avoided as they impede the movement of terrestrial wildlife species (in most cases, snakes).
Excessive silt and sediment loads can have detrimental effects on aquatic resources including destruction
of spawning habitat, suffocation of eggs and clogging of gills.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If I can be of further assistance,
please contact me at (910) 409 -7350 or gabriela. arrison a)ncwildlife.org.
ec: Gary Beecher, USACE
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]