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Home My WebLink About20210303 Ver 2_Macon County - B204 - NC Hertiage Program_20231025Roy Cooper, Governor 0■0■� INC DEPARTMENT OF ■■�■m NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ■ ■■■ June 9, 2023 Patrick Breedlove NCDOT-Division 14 253 Webster Road Sylva, NC 28779 RE. Macon County - Bridge 204, 17BP.14.R.159 Dear Patrick Breedlove. d_ Reid Wilson, Secretary Misty Buchanan Deputy director, Natural Heritage Program NCNHDE-22261 The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) appreciates the opportunity to provide information about natural heritage resources for the project referenced above. A query of the NCNHP database indicates that there are records for rare species, important natural communities, natural areas, and/or conservation/managed areas within the proposed project boundary. These results are presented in the attached `Documented Occurrences' tables and map. The attached `Potential Occurrences' table summarizes rare species and natural communities that have been documented within a one -mile radius of the property boundary. The proximity of these records suggests that these natural heritage elements may potentially be present in the project area if suitable habitat exists. Tables of natural areas and conservation/managed areas within a one -mile radius of the project area, if any, are also included in this report. If a Federally -listed species is documented within the project area or indicated within a one -mile radius of the project area, the NCNHP recommends contacting the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for guidance. Contact information for USFWS offices in North Carolina is found here: https://www.fws.gov/offices/Directory/ListOffices.cfm?statecode=37. Please note that natural heritage element data are maintained for the purposes of conservation planning, project review, and scientific research, and are not intended for use as the primary criteria for regulatory decisions. Information provided by the NCNHP database may not be published without prior written notification to the NCNHP, and the NCNHP must be credited as an information source in these publications. Maps of NCNHP data may not be redistributed without permission. Also please note that the NC Natural Heritage Program may follow this letter with additional correspondence if a Dedicated Nature Preserve, Registered Heritage Area, Land and Water Fund easement, or an occurrence of a Federally -listed species is documented near the project area. If you have questions regarding the information provided in this letter or need additional assistance, please contact Rodney A. Butler at rod nev.butlerWncdcr.gov or 919-707-8603. Sincerely, NC Natural Heritage Program DEPARTh1EN7 OF NATURAL_ AND CULTURAL RESOVRCES Q 121 W. JONES STREET. RALEIGH. NC 27603 • 1651 MAIL SERVICE CENTER. RALEIGH. NC 27699 OFC 918.707.9120 • FAX 919.707.9121 Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Intersecting the Project Area Macon County - Bridge 204 Project No. 17BP.14.R.159 June 9, 2023 NCNHDE-22261 No Element Occurrences are Documented within the Project Area There are no documented element occurrences (of medium to very high accuracy) that intersect with the project area. Please note, however, that although the NCNHP database does not show records for rare species within the project area, it does not necessarily mean that they are not present, it may simply mean that the area has not been surveyed. The use of Natural Heritage Program data should not be substituted for actual field surveys if needed, particularly if the project area contains suitable habitat for rare species. If rare species are found, the NCNHP would appreciate receiving this information so that we may update our database. No Natural Areas are Documented within the Project Area Managed Areas Documented Within Project Area Managed Area Name Owner - Nantahala National Forest - Nantahala Ranger US Forest Service Owner Type Federal District NOTE: If the proposed project intersects with a conservation/managed area, please contact the landowner directly for additional information. If the project intersects with a Dedicated Nature Preserve (DNP), Registered Natural Heritage Area (RHA), or Federally -listed species, NCNHP staff may provide additional correspondence regarding the project. Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at httr)s://ncnhde.natureserve.ora/heir). Data query generated on June 9, 2023; source: NCNHP, Spring (April) 2023. Please resubmit your information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database. Page 2 of 4 Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area Macon County - Bridge 204 Project No. 17BP.14.R.159 June 9, 2023 NCNHDE-22261 Element Occurrences Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area Taxonomic EO ID ntific Name Common Name Element Accuracy Federal State Global State Group L Observation Occurrence Status Status Rank Rank i AL Date dbm Rank < < M i _11111 Dragonfly or 33445 Calopteryx amata Superb Jewelwing 2004-Pre H? 5-Very --- Significantly G5 S1S2 Damselfly Low Rare Freshwater Fish42043 Salvelinus fontinalis Brook Trout 2022-10-26 E 3-Medium --- Significantly G5 S4 Rare Natural 31061 Chestnut Oak Forest --- 2011-05-09 BC 3-Medium --- --- G5 S5 Community (Dry Heath Subtype) Natural 29040 Montane Red Cedar- --- 2011-05-09 AB 2-High --- --- G2 S2 Community Hardwood Woodland Vascular Plant 9551 Gentianopsis crinita Fringed Gentian 1968-Pre H 5-Very --- Endangered G5 S1 Low Vascular Plant 23934 Hackelia virginiana Virginia Stickseed 1968-Pre H 5-Very --- Significantly G5 S2 Low Rare Peripheral Natural Areas Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area rite Name esentational Rating _ Collective Rating Grindstone Knob/Cedar Knob R3 (High) C3 (High) Houston Knob R5 (General) C5 (General) Managed Areas Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area Managed Area Name wner Owner Type Nantahala National Forest - Nantahala Ranger US Forest Service Federal District Highlands -Cashiers Land Trust Easement Highlands -Cashiers Land Trust Private Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at httr)s://ncnhde.natureserve.ora/heir). Data query generated on June 9, 2023; source: NCNHP, Spring (April) 2023. Please resubmit your information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database. Page 3 of 4 NCNHDE-22261: Macon County - Bridge 204 June 9, 2023 ® NHP Natural Area (NHNA) Q Buffered Project Boundary ® Managed Area (MAREA) Q Project Boundary Natural Heritage Element Occurrence (NHEO) Sources: Esn, Airbus DS, USGS, NCA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA, Intermap and the GIS user community Sources Esn, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NCAA, USGS, ® OpenStreetMap contributors, and the CIS User Community Page 4 of 4