20071789 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20071105

®North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
November 5, 2007
Ms. Loretta Beckwith
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
Mr. Ian McMillan
NCDENR, Division of Water Quality, 401 Unit
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
SUBJECT: Mr. Harold A. Huscusson 404 Permit application
Boat channel dredging -Lake Chatuge
Clay County DWQ No. 07-1789
Dear Mrs. Beckwith and Mr. McMillan:
Mr. Harold A. Huscusson requested a 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Comments
from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (Commission) on this permit action are offered under
provisions of 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 applicant proposes excavating about 25 cubic yards of Lake Chatuge bottom to improve boat access
at a private pier.
The project would not affect trout resources. However, the Commission is concerned about the adverse
effects of some dredging projects on other fish and wildlife resources. Dredging in wetlands and other
vegetated shallows should be avoided since these areas are important fish spawning areas and are good
habitat for birds. There apparently will not be disturbance of wetlands near the project site.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If there are any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at 828/452-2546 extension 24.
Sincerely,
~~
Dave McHenry
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
cc: Mr. Harold A. Huscusson
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]