4.4.2

4.4.2 Lakes, Rivers, and Streams
4.4.2.1 Methodology for Assessing the Impacts of the Proposed Alternatives
Stream impact analysis utilizes the approximate stream acreage (length to be impacted multiplied by average
width of that stream) expected to be permanently lost or temporarily affected as a result of new location
transportation infrastructure and/or disturbances during construction. Length of stream impacts was
calculated using ArcGIS software by overlying streams with the potential construction footprint for both the
Primitive and Principal Park Roads. Streams are identified and depicted in Figure 3-5. Attachment M-6
identifies each stream impacted per alternative and the approximate linear footage and area impacted based
upon stream determinations and functional designs prior to mitigation. Both permanent and short-term
impacts to streams would be expected from the potential project. If a partial-build or build alternative is
selected, stream delineations may need to be conducted to determine the exact location, length, and width of
stream features. The assessment of impacts to lakes, rivers, and streams was completed assuming no
implementation of mitigation measures; this is the worst-case scenario. However, NPS is committed to the
protection of water resources and would utilize applicable avoidance, minimization, and mitigation
measures, such as described in Section 4.4.2.3, if a partial-build or build alternative were implemented.
Impacts to stream water quality are discussed in Section 4.4.3 of this report.
Type
Impact types are either beneficial and/or adverse. Beneficial impacts are defined as having a positive effect
on streams. Adverse impacts have a negative effect on streams.
Context
Context is defined as sit�specific, local, or regional. Sit�specific impacts are the portions of the streams
that would be filled for crossings or have culverts placed directly within their channel. Local impacts are
based on current NCDOT procedures for road crossings and mussel surveys associated with streams.
Localized impacts occur within 330 ft(100 m) upstream and 1,320 ft(400 m) downstream of the
construction footprint. These areas would not be significantly affected by the road but may have altered flow
regimes or sedimentation from the proposed project, especially during construction. Regional impacis are
those impacts that occur downstream and outside of the localized impacts.
Duration
Short-term impacts are those that would occur for less than 1 year, typically as an episodic or temparary
event. Long-term effects occur as a result of construction activities at a specific ]ocation throughout the life
of construction (this is assumed to be between 1 year and 15 years), but the impact is more than that of a
temparary event. Permanent impacts are considered to be anything that persist throughout the construction
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-162
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

period. These impacts include the permanent loss of the stream functions (sometimes associated with
culverts or fill areas) from the new road itself, and may include a complete loss of stream function.
Intensity
Intensiry is the degree to which resources are affected and is categorized as negligible, minor, moderate, or
major. The definitions for the stream impacts are based on the current USACE agency requirements
associated with permitting for linear transportation projects (Nationwide Permit 14). Due to the potentially
large number of streams that would be filled and the total area of fill needed, selection of the partial-build or
build alternatives would likely exceed the threshold of a Nationwide Permit 14 and it is likely that an
Individual Permit would be required. For all permits, USACE requirements utilize stream acreage impacts
per linear transportation crossing to determine permitting and mitigation needs.
No/Negligible
Impacts may occur, but are not detectable and have no observable effects on streams. These impacts are not
expected to be significant or observable.
Minor
Impacts associated with the fill of or complete loss of less than 0.10 ac (0.04 ha) of stream and/or occurring
when the proposed project does not cross a stream but is parallel to and within 50 ft (15.2 m) of a stream.
These impacts occur when a small portion of stream is impacted by fill or culvert and when the proposed
road comes within a 50-foot (15.2-m) buffer of the stream but does not directly impact the stream.
Moderate
Impacts associated with the fill of or complete loss of inore than 0.10 ac (0.04 ha) but less than 0.5 ac
(0.2 ha) of stream.
Major
Impacts associated with the fill of or complete loss of greater than 0.5 ac (0.2 ha) of stream.
4.4.2.2 Summary of Impacts
Direct stream impacts far each alternative and road design are listed in Table 4-18. Vegetated buffers would
also be impacted on both sides of a stream for typical road crossings. Most culverts are designed to carry a
typical storm flow for a stream, but scouring and erosion may occur during high flows upstream and
downstream of stream crossings. Detailed impacts to jurisdictional stream are in Attachment M-1. Impacts
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-163
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

are based on current functional design without implementation of avoidance or minimization techniques. All
values of impact are approximate and are based on function designs prior to mitigation.
There would be no impacts to any national wild and scenic rivers or rivers listed on the NRI. Also, there
would be no impacts to areas designed as sol�source aquifers, groundwater recbarge zones, or other
groundwater drinking water sources.
Table 4-18. Direct Stream Impacts within the Proposed Partial-Build and Build Alternatives'
Primitive
Park Road
Stream
Crossinqs
Total
Acreage
(ha)
Total Linear
Ft (m)
Laurel Partial-Build
Branch Alternative
Picnic to Bushnell
AreaZ (baseline)
9 34
Southern Option
at Forney Creek
Embayment
8 less than
baseline
Northern Southern Southern
Shore Option at Option at Southern Option
Corridor Forney Creek Hazel/Eagle Crossing Fontana
(baseline) Embayment Creek Dam
Embayments
131 8 less than 8 less than 15 less than
baseline baseline baseline
0.37 (0.15) 1.41 (0.57)
0.17 0.37 (0.15) less 0.44 (0.18) less
(0.07) 0.69 (0.28) than baseline 3.86 (1.56) less than less than than baseline
baseline baseline
1,249 4,714 982 (303) less 23,230 982 (303) less 5,709 (1,740) 2 422 (738) less
(381) (1,437) than baseline (7,081) than baseline less than than baseline
baseline
Principal
Park Road
NA
Stream
Crossinas
Total
Acreage NA
(ha)
Total Linear
Ft (m) NA
35 12 less than 141
baseline
0.73 (0.30) 0.37 (0.15) less 4.27 (1.73)
than baseline
5,300 2,102 (641) 25,374
(1,615) less than �7,�34)
baseline
12 less than 17 less than 16 less than
baseline baseline baseline
0.37 (0.15) 1.76 (0.71) 0.48 (0.19) less
less than less than than baseline
baseline baseline
2,102 (641) 7,298 (2,224) 2,656 (810) less
less than less than than baseline
baseline baseline
Notes:
1 All values shown are approximate and based on functional designs prior to mitigation.
2 The entrance/exit road to Laurel Branch Picnic Area is best discussed as a Primitive Park Road, but its design does not
necessarily conform to the NPS design criteria for a Primitive Park Road.
N/A Not Applicable
4.4.2.2.1 No-Action
The No-Action Alternative would not impact streams and lakes in the project study corridors.
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-164
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

4.4.2.22 Monetary Settlement
The Monetary Settlement Alternative would not directly impact streams or lakes in the project study
corridors. Indirect impacts to streams within GSMNP would be unlikely.
4.4.2.2.3 Laurel Branch Picnic Area
The Laurel Branch Picnic Area would ha�e nine stream crossings that include one named stream, Laurel
Branch, and eight unnamed tributaries to Laurel Branch totaling approximately 0. ] 7 ac (0.07 ha) or 1,249
linear ft(381 m). Direct loss of stream channel is confined to the construction footprint; therefare, impacts
would be moderate, adverse, sit�specific, and permanent. Indirect impacts occur when a road parallels a
stream, especially within 50 ft (l 5 m). The existing hydrology ar floodplain of the stream may be altered.
Based on the potential road designs, the road would parallel short sections of stream channel. Indirect
impacts would be minor, adverse, local, and permanent.
The Laurel Branch Picnic Area would have no impacts to Fontana Lake.
4.4.2.2.4 Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell (Primitive and Principal Park Roads)
For the Primitive Park Road, the baseline Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell would cross nine named
streams and 25 unnamed tributaries totaling approximately 0.69 ac (028 ha) or 4,7141inear ft(],437 m).
The named streams include Goldmine Branch, Gray Wolf Creek, Glady Branch, Forney Creek, Jenny
Branch, Gunter Branch, Monteith Branch, Chambers Creek, and Antbony Branch. The Principal Park Road
would cross all of the same streams except Forney Creek and would cross 27 unnamed tributaries totaling
approximately 0.73 ac (0.30 ha) ar 5,300 linear ft(],615 m). Direct impacts far both road types area
classified as major, adverse, site-specific, and permanent. The eRisting hydrology or floodplain of the stream
may be altered. Indirect impacts for both road types would be minor, adverse, local, and permanent for the
baseline Partial-Build Altemative to Bushnell.
The baseline Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell would have direct impacts to Fontana Lake. Functional
designs have a boat ramp that would impact approximately 0.3 ac (0.1 ha) of the lake. These impacts would
be moderate, adverse, local, and permanent.
Southern Option at Forney Creek Embayment (Primitive and Principal Park Roads)
As compared to the baseline Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell, the Southern Option at Forney Creek
Embayment would avoid impacts to Forney and Gray Wolf creeks. Both the Primitive and Principal Park
Road designs far this option could cross Glady Branch and Goldmine Branch in addition to Jenny, Gunter,
and Monteith branches. This alternative would reduce direct impacts for both road types. Indirect impacts
would be decreased from the baseline Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell by avoiding Gray Wolf Creek.
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-165
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

This option would have the same direct impacts to Fontana Lake as the baseline Partial-Build Altemative to
Bushnell. The bridge proposed for this option is designed to be a steel arch bridge that would span the entire
embayment. Therefare, there would be no additional impacts to Fontana Lake.
4.4.2.2.5 Northern Shore Corridor (Primitive and Principal Park Roads)
The baseline Northern Shore Corridar is the longest of the alternatives and consequently has the greatest
amount of impacts to streams. Both the Primitive and Principal Park Roads would cross 131 and 141
streams, respectively. The Primitive Park Road would directly impact approximately 3.86 ac (1.56 ha)
comprising 23,230 linear ft (7,081 m) of stream. The Principal Park Road design would impact
approximately 4.27 ac (1.73 ha) comprising 25,3741inear ft(7,734 m) of stream. Direct impacis for both
road types for this alternative would be major, adverse, sit�specific, and permanent. Indirect impacts would
occur with the baseline Northern Shore Corridor, as the road would parallel several stream channels,
including Gray Wolf Creek, Mill Branch, Pilkey Creek (Primitive Park Road), Chambers Creek (Primitive
Park Road), Shehan Branch, and Hazel Creek. Indirect impacts for both road rypes would be major, adverse,
local, and permanent.
The baseline Northern Shore Corridor would have no impacts to Fontana or Cheoah lakes.
Southern Option at Forney Creek Embayment (Primitive and Principal Park Roads)
The Southern Option at Forney Creek Embayment would avoid direct and indirect impacts to Forney and
Gray Wolf creeks and their tributaries as compared to the baseline Northern Shore Corridor. This option
would reduce direct impacts far both the Primitive and Principal Park Roads. Indirect impacts for both road
types also would be decreased from the baseline Northern Shore Corridor by avoiding Gray Wolf Creek.
This option would have the same direct impacts to Fontana Lake as the baseline Northern Shore Corridor.
The bridge anticipated for this option (e.g., steel arch) would span the entire embayment. Therefore, there
would be no additional impacts to Fontana Lake.
Southern Option at Hazel and Eagle Creek Embayments (Primitive and Principal Park Roads)
The Southern Option at Hazel and Eagle Creek Embayments would significantly reduce direct and indirect
impacts to streams. By bridging both embayments, impacts would be avoided to Birchfield Branch, Lost
Cove Creek, Eagle Creek, Shehan Branch, Laurel Branch, and Hazel Creek. This option would a�oid many
stream crossings by following the ridgeline of Welch Ridge, but would directly impact Augerhole Branch,
Myers Branch, and Jobnny Branch (Primitive Park Road only). Direct impacts would be reduced from the
baseline Northern Shore Corridor for the Primitive and Principal Park Roads. Indirect impact would be
reduced by not paralleling Shehan Branch and Hazel Creek. Augerhole Branch would have indirect impacts.
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-166
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

This option would have the same direct impacts to Fontana Lake as the baseline Northern Shore Corridor.
The bridge proposed for this option is designed to be a steel arch bridge that would span the entire
embayment. Therefare, there would be no additional impacts to Fontana Lake.
Southern Option Crossing Fontana Dam (Primitive and Principal PaNk Roads)
The Southern Option Crossing Fontana Dam would avoid direct impacts for both road types to three named
streams: Sweet Branch, Lewellyn Branch, and Fox Branch. Both road types of this option would directly
impact two small unnamed tributaries to Fontana Lake. Indirect impacts would be reduced by avoiding
indirect impacts to unnamed tributaries to Cheoah Lake.
4.4.2.2.6 Cumulative Impacts
Past actions, described in Section A. ].2, affected streams and lakes in the study area, with the 1944
completion of Fontana Dam having the most evident impact. Past activities with the Park have caused
streams in the project study corridors to be straightened, channelized, and piped. Present and reasonably
foreseeable projects in the area that are in proximity to streams or include stream crossings also have the
potential to impact this resource. These other projects include NCDOT STIP projects, road construction
listed in local thoroughfare plans, the Ravensford Land Exchange, future sections of Foothills Parkway, and
private development.
The Northern Shore Corridor, which has substantially more stream crossings than other alternatives, is
projected to include as many as 141 stream crossings, resulting in major impacts. These impacts would be
minimized to the extent practicable and remaining stream degradation or loss would be offset through
mitigation. Due to the sit�specific nature of impacts expected, no cumulative effects were identified.
4.4.2.3 Options to Address Potential Impacts
NPS would require a sequence of avoiding adverse stream impacts to the extent practicable, miniruizing
impacts that could not be avoided, and mitigating for remaining unavoidable adverse impacts via restoration
of degraded streams. It may not be possible to avoid or mitigate all stream impacts.
Avoidance Technigues
Avoidance examines all appropriate and practicable possibilities of averting impacts to "Waters of ihe
United States." According to a 1990 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the USEPA and the
USACE, in determining "appropriate and practicable" measures to offset unavoidable impacts, such
measures would be appropriate to the scope and degree of those impacts and practicable in terms of cost,
existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes. Main avoidance techniques include
relocating a road to eliminate stream crossings, bridging an entire stream and its floodplain, and reducing the
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-167
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

width of a road. Stream crossings can be eliminated by having the road on high elevations; however, due to
steep terrain, these options are not always practicable.
Minimization Technigues
Where no alternatives that avoid adverse impacts on streams are found to be practicable, minimization steps
must be employed to reduce adverse impacts. Implementation of these steps would be required through
design modifications and implementation of BMPs to limit and control impacts during and after project
construction. A summary list of BMPs is provided in Section 2.3.2 of Appendix M. Every practicable effort
would be made to maintain the integrity of the natural stream systems, preserving their features and
functions.
Design modifications that can minimize impacts are bottomless arch culverts or buried culverts. Traditional
culverts have a bottom that can impact the hydrology and aquatic biology of the stream. Bottomless culverts
avoid impacts to the stream bed and allow for the normal flow, substrate, and passage of aquatic species.
The arch culvert would impact the flooding regime and stream banks. Another design modification tbat
minimizes impacts is to construct all stream crossings perpendicular to the streams. This would limit the
direct impacts to the stream, to riparian buffers, and to the hydrologic regime.
In order to determine the effectiveness of BMPs and the actual impacts on streams, NPS would conduct
water quality and aquatic ecology monitaring before construction, during construction, and after
construction. Monitoring before construction would be conducted to establish baseline conditions for
comparisons and would occur in the year prior to construction. Based on monitoring protocols utilized for
other NPS projects, sampling would occur approximately nine different times with approximately two
sampling events representing stormwater flow. Suggested parameters to be sampled include: pH,
conductiviry, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, acidity, alkalinity, hardness, total solids, total suspended
solids, turbidity, aluminum, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, and
zinc. In addition, surveys for benthic macroinvertebrates and fish would be conducted at least once prior to
construction. Monitoring during construction would be conducted to determine immediate changes in water
quality. This could be achieved by continuous monitaring of physical parameters such as pH, turbidity, and
conductivity. Any changes to water qualiry could be immediately addressed or could trigger additional water
quality monitoring. Post-construction monitoring would most likely follow the same sampling regime as
pre-construction monitoring.
Mitigation Technigues
After avoidance and minimization have been applied to the maximum practicable extent, remaining stream
degradation or loss must be offset through mitigation. Mitigation is achieved by restoring the natural
function, stability and biological condition to an existing degraded stream. Both the federal and state
governments recognize natural stream channel design as the preferred restaration technique (FISWRG 1998;
Doll et al. 2000). Enhancement is a type of mitigation which involves the manipulation of the physical,
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-168
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement

chemical, or biological characteristics of streams to improve specific functions. The improvements are
achieved by addressing the source of degradation, usually without major channel modifications. Stream
mitigation should be of the same type of stream that was impacted. Potential stream mitigation sites should
be on lands managed by the NPS and the following order of preference would be used: (l ) within the same
immediate system as the impact, (2) within the same watershed, or (3) in another watershed within the Park
(NPS 1998b). NPS would comply with all mitigation required by applicable permits.
4.4.2.4 Impairment Evaluation
Impairment (as defined by NPS policy) to the streams of GSMNP and the AT would not occur under the No-
Action Alternative, Monetary Settlement Alternative, Laurel Branch Picnic Area, and the Partial-Build
Alternative to Bushnell. The Northern Shore Corridor is not likely to impair the streams of GSMNP or the
AT based on the information obtained to date. Due to the magnitude of this alternative, it is likely tbat
additional NEPA documentation would be required to address sit�specific impacts not currently known, to
determine detailed avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures as they relate to final design, and to re-
evaluate the impairment determination related to streams.
4.4.3 Water Quality
4.4.3.1 Methodology for Assessing the Water Quality Impacts
Detailed methodologies for water quality impact analyses are listed in Appendix M. The assessment of
impacts to water qualiry was completed assuming no implementation of mitigation measures, including
encapsulation as described in Appendix L This is the worst-case scenario. However, NPS is committed to
maintaining water quality and they would utilize applicable avoidance minimization and mitigation
measures, such as described in Section 4.43.3, if a partial-build or build alternative were implemented. As
described in Section 3.4.3.1 of this report, NCDWQ classifies surface waters of the state based on their
existing or proposed uses and subsequent water quality standards. Impacts were assessed based on the
designated use and classification of the water body. Each stream and/or waterbody directly crossed by the
potential road or the lake downstream of the crossed streams is evaluated far each applicable water quality
standard. A summary list of applicable North Carolina state water qualiry standards is available in
Table 4-19 (NCDENR 2004). These numerical and biological standards were used in the assessment of
intensity thresholds for water quality.
Because data from water quality sampling is often episodic, biological indices are another method of
evaluating water quality of streams and represent long-term (several years) water quality conditions. Impacts
are evaluated on changes to the comprehensive NCBI scores: Excellent (<4.05), Good (4.06 — 4.88), Good-
Fair (�.89 — 5.74), Fair (5.75 — 7.00), or Poor (>7.00).
Potential impacts to Fontana Lake are evaluated by the NCTSI. The NCTSI is based on a numerical score
that classifies lakes as oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic, or hypereutrophic. Currently, TVA and
Clarification of the term "baseline" for this project:
The Partial-Build Alternative to Bushnell and the Northern Shore Corridor include a baseline route, as well as options to that route.
Baseline routes and options are detailed in Section 2.5 and shown on Figure 2-8. Baseline routes have been compared to existing
conditions. Impact analyses for the options are shown as a difference from the associated baseline route.
Environmental Consequences — 4-169
North Shore Road Final Environmental Impact Statement