20231120 Ver 1_17BP.14.R.155_DWR 20231120v1_Bridge 231_Macon_GP Application__NCWRC Comments_20230821

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9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
August 21, 2023
Crystal Amschler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Kevin Mitchell
NCDEQ, DWR
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
SUBJECT: Comments on GP/WQC Application for Replacement of Bridge 231 on SR 1001 over
North Prong Ellijay Creek, Macon County (1713P.M.R.155)
DWR 20231120 ver.l
Dear Mrs. Amschler and Mr. Mitchell,
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a General 404 Permit and 401
Certification for the subject project. Staff with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
(NCWRC) reviewed the application. The NCWRC offers the following comments on the project to help
conserve wildlife resources and to promote wildlife -based recreation in accordance with applicable
provisions of the state and federal Environmental Policy Acts (G.S. 113A-Ithrough; 1 NCAC 25 and 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), respectively), the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.), and the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
Bridge number 231 on SR 1001over North Prong Ellijay Creek (C Tr) is a timber deck on steel beam
structure that will be realigned slightly and replaced in stages with a 70' one span cored slab structure.
North Prong Ellijay Creek at the bridge is good quality habitat for trout. The creek supports naturally
reproducing populations of Rainbow Trout (Onchorynchus mykiss), as well as Brook Trout (Salvelinus
fontinalis) in its headwaters. The creek also supports smoky dace (Clinostomus sp. 1, NC Special
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

17BP. 14.R. 155 Page 2 August 21, 2023
Macon County
Concern) and there are other rare aquatic species found well downstream of the bridge in the Cullasaja
River.
The NCWRC requests that the following conditions be included in authorizations to minimize impacts of
the project on trout resources and fishing:
1. The January 1 to April 15 trout moratorium will be followed since construction has a reasonable
potential to cause inadvertent sedimentation in trout spawning habitat downstream of the bridge.
2. Applicable measures from the current NCDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Design and
Construction Manual should be adhered to. Design Standards in Sensitive Waters (15A NCAC
04B .0124) are recommended as practical in the project's erosion control design because a
watershed with sensitive species will be affected. Subpart D of the rule describes measures that
can apply to bridge replacement projects where sediment basins are not needed, or practical.
3. In accordance with standard GC conditions, matting used in riparian areas should not contain
nylon mesh because it entangles and kills wildlife. Coir matting should be used on disturbed
stream banks that are steep or susceptible to high water. Matting should be anchored with
wooden stakes according to NCDOT specifications.
4. Heavy equipment needs to be well -maintained and concrete pouring needs to be closely
monitored to avoid and quickly mitigate fuel, fluid, or wet concrete losses in or near streams.
5. Removal of vegetation in riparian areas and wetlands should be minimized.
6. Sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams, or other adequately designed diversion structures should be
used where excavation or other periods of extended stream disturbance has the potential for
downstream sedimentation.
7. The natural dimension, pattern, and profiles of streams and the grades of wetlands should be
restored where temporarily impacted.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on this project. Please contact me
at david.mchepa(kncwildlife.org or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Cordially,
Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator
cc: Patrick Breedlove, NCDOT Division 14 PDEA Engineer