20231703 Ver 1_B-6013_DWR 20231703v1_Bridge 142_Buncombe_NCWRC Comments_20231215

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
December 15, 2023
Lori Beckwith
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 Application for Replacement of Bridge 142 on SR 2027 (Martins Creek
Road) over Martin Creek, Buncombe County (B-6016)
DWR 20231703 ver.1
Dear Ms. Beckwith and Mr. Mitchell,
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a permit for the subject project.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's (NCWRC) comments are offered to help conserve the
wildlife resources affected by the project and to promote wildlife -based recreation in accordance with
applicable provisions of the state and federal Environmental Policy Acts (G.S. I I3A-Ithrough 113-10; 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).
Yancey timber bridge 142 over Martin Creek is being replaced with a cored slab bridge. Martin Creek is
classified as WS-II Tr HQW. As the NCWRC's noted in its scoping comments to central NCDOT,
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) are expected in the project area.
Therefore, the trout moratorium for stream and buffer disturbance should be followed with this project.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

B-6013 Page 2 December 15, 2023
Buncombe County
In addition to trout, there are records for Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in the
Ivy Creek watershed. They are not expected near the bridge, though habitat conditions may be suitable.
This amphibian is prone to mortality from instream work due to its limited mobility. While this project
will have limited impact on the creek, the NCWRC would nonetheless appreciate notification of the
construction schedule, preferably two months in advance or near the contract let date, so that NCWRC
biologists can attempt to relocate any at -risk animals as needed and as schedules allow.
The NCWRC requests that the following conditions be included in authorizations to help conserve trout
and other aquatic resources affected by the project:
1. The October 15 to April 15 trout moratorium should be followed since construction has a
reasonable potential to cause inadvertent sedimentation in trout spawning habitat downstream of
the bridge.
Applicable measures from the current NCDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Design and
Construction Manual should be adhered to. Design Standards for Sensitive Waters (15A NCAC
04B .0124) are recommended where practical in the project's erosion control because a watershed
with sensitive species will be affected.
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 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. Streambed material replaced below culverts should be
compacted to the proper invert depth to help resist the development of an outlet perch
Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on this project. Please contact me
at david.mchenrya,ncwildlife.org or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Cordially,
Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator
cc: Karina Clough, NCDOT Division 13 Environmental Specialist II
Yates Allen, NCDOT Division 13 Environmental Specialist 11
Lori Williams, NCWRC Wildlife Diversity Biologist