20150630 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20150618

E North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission IQ
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
June 18, 2015
Ms. Tasha Alexander
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801 -5006
SUBJECT: Dutch Creek Stream Restoration Project
Dutch Creek, Watauga County
Dear Ms. Alexander:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 720 feet of Dutch Creek in Watauga County. I spoke with Carrie Boyd of
Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting about the project on June 17, 2015. 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 in the vicinity of the project, and in- stream work should be avoided
between October 15 and April 15. In addition, this portion of the river is recognized by the NC
Natural Heritage Program as part of the Watauga River Aquatic Habitat, rated Moderate for the
richness of rare species it contains. A reproducing population of Eastern Hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US FSC, NC SC) is present in Dutch Creek, and we request that
activities be avoided during the nesting and hatchling season (late August to November 30) and
that shelter rocks be left undisturbed.
We are supportive of this project as described, as it is intended to address an eroding section of
channel and should improve aquatic habitat. We also appreciate the consultant's interest in
avoiding impacts to Hellbender habitat and possibly incorporating habitat features into the
design.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
1. In order to avoid impacts to Brown Trout and the breeding population of Eastern Hellbender,
we request that project construction activities be avoided from late August through April 15
to avoid impacts to Trout spawning and Hellbender breeding, nesting, and hatchling
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699 -1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Dutch Creek Stream Restoration Project Page 2 June 18, 2015
Dutch Creek, Watauga County
development. We recognize that this moratorium is of considerable length; if this poses
difficulties for the project, we can work with Brushy Fork Environmental to adjust this
timeframe.
2. In addition, we request that shelter rocks potentially used by Hellbenders be left in place
during construction activities. Shelter rocks are typically large flat rocks at least a foot in
diameter.
3. As discussed with Ms. Boyd, we request an on -site meeting before the in- stream construction
begins in order to evaluate potential Hellbender habitat within the project reach. At this
meeting, we can also discuss the possibility of incorporating habitat into in- stream structures
planned for the site. If there are questions about Hellbender habitat, contact me or Lori
Williams, NCWRC's Western Wildlife Diversity Biologist at lori.williams(a,ncwildlife.ora_ .
4. 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.
5. Disturbed areas should be seeded, mulched and/or matted as soon as possible, preferably at
the end of each work day, as the application describes; at a minimum, disturbed areas should
be stabilized within five working days or seven calendar days, whichever is shorter.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
(828) 400 -4223 if you have any questions about these comments or need further assistance.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Carrie Boyd, Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting
Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Resources
Lori Williams and Kin Hodges, NCWRC