BrysonCityIslandPark_TuckasegeeR_Swain_NCWRCComments

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
June 14, 2023
Ms. Brooke Davis
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Bryson City Island Park
Tuckasegee River, Swain County
Dear Ms. Davis:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 461 ft and temporarily impact 110 ft of the Tuckasegee River in Swain
County. I have visited the site multiple times in the past. 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).
Wild trout reproduction should not be impacted by project activities and a trout moratorium is
not needed. However, the Tuckasegee River is a popular trout fishery, and it is important to
minimize turbidity from project activities. In addition, the Tuckasegee River is part of the
Tuckasegee River Aquatic Habitat, a natural area rated Exceptional by the NC Natural Heritage
Program due to the richness of rare species it supports. Rare and listed species in the river in the
project vicinity include Appalachian Elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana, US and NC Endangered),
Sicklefin Redhorse (Moxostoma sp., NC Threatened), Wounded Darter [Etheostoma vulneratum,
US Federal Species of Concern (FSC), NC Special Concern (SC)], Olive Darter (Percina
squamata, US FSC, NC SC), Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US FSC, NC
SC), Little Tennessee Crayfish (Cambarus georgiae, US FSC, NC SC), and Smoky Dace
(Clinostomus sp., NC SC). These species are especially sensitive to sedimentation, and effective
erosion and sediment control measures for this project are essential to protect these species.
The project proposes to stabilize eroding reaches of stream by removing rock walls, grading
stream banks, installing geolifts and one log vane, and planting native riparian vegetation. A
temporary ford will be used to cross the river right channel for equipment access to the island;
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Bryson City Island Park Page 2 June 14, 2023
Tuckasegee River, Swain Co
NCWRC staff have surveyed the general area for Appalachian Elktoe, and no animals were
found.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
1. 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. Disturbed
areas should be seeded, mulched and/or matted as soon as possible, preferably at the end of
each work day.
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of plastic mesh, as this type of mesh netting
frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that may last for
years.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
cc: Julie Bernstorf, Wildlands Engineering
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources