Replace Bridge 279 on SR 1832 (B-5394)__NCWRC Comments

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
January 2, 2024
Crystal Amschler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Mary Plummer
401 and Buffer Transportation Permitting Branch
Department of Environmental Quality
610 E. Center Ave., Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
SUBJECT: Comments on Application for Replacement of Bridge 279 on SR 132 (Eagle Mills Road)
over Hunting Creek, Iredell County (B-5394)
DWR 20201587vl
Dear Crystal and Mary,
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a 404 Permit and 401
Certification for the subject project. Comments from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
(NCWRC) are offered to conserve wildlife resources that are 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. 113A-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).
The existing steel beam and timber deck bridge 279 over Hunting Creek will be replaced with a new
bridge and slight realignment. Impacts to the stream are needed for rip rap stabilization and causeways.
Hunting Creek (WS-III) downstream of the bridge supports Thicklip Chub (Cyprinella labrosa), which is
a state threatened fish.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

B-5394
Iredell County
Page 2 January 2, 2024
The NCWRC has no major concerns with the project. However, to better accommodate wildlife passage,
we request that the NCDOT maintain some rip rap free passage under the bridge near the top of the banks
(-830 feet elev.). There are forested riparian areas along this creek and so wildlife habitat connectivity
could be enhanced if rip rap free benches are maintained, as shown in portions of the plans. If rip rap
ultimately extends from stream edge to bridge cap, then a strip or path on -site floodplain material or
gravel is recommended across the rip rap face (see photo).
Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide recommendations on this project. Please contact me
at david.mchenrykncwildlife.org or [phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Cordially,
Dave McHenry, NCWRC Western DOT Coordinator
cc: Jeff Wyatt, NCDOT Division 12 Environmental Officer