20240056 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20240209

® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
February 9, 2024
Mr. Mitchell Anderson
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Veterans Park Streambank Restoration
Swannanoa River, Buncombe County
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 635 ft of the Swannanoa River in Buncombe County. NCWRC staff have
visited the site multiple times. Our comments on this application are offered for your
consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
Wild Rainbow Trout are found in the project vicinity, and in -stream work should be avoided
between January 1 and April 15 to minimize impacts to trout reproduction. In addition, the
Eastern Hellbender [Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, US Federal Species of Concern (FSC), NC
Special Concern] is found in the Swannanoa River in the project footprint. Due to the sensitivity
of these species to fine sediments, it is essential that excellent erosion and sediment control be
maintained during the project.
This site was the subject of a 2021 stream restoration project, but subsequent storms destabilized
the site. The current project involves the stabilization of an eroding reach of river at four main
work areas. Work will involve riffle adjustments (including adding riprap to existing riffles), log
sills at existing log vanes, bank grading, toewood, and rock toe. The site would be planted in a
native riparian buffer.
It is extremely important to avoid existing hellbender habitat, as multiple hellbenders were
captured on the site at the time of the last stream restoration project. Due to the potential for the
project reach to support hellbenders, NCWRC biologists will survey for and relocate animals
before the project begins.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Veterans Park Streambank Restoration Page 2 February 9, 2024
Swannanoa R, Buncombe Co
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. In -stream work should be avoided between January 1 and April 15 to minimize impacts to
trout reproduction.
2. The applicant should notify Lori Williams (lori.williams&ncwildlife.org) and Andrea Leslie
(andrea.leslie(d),ncwildlife.org) at least 3 weeks before project construction is to begin so the
affected reach can be surveyed for hellbenders and found animals relocated.
3. Be vigilant with sediment and erosion control during site staging, construction, and cleanup.
Disturbed areas should be stabilized at the end of each day.
4. Work should be done at low flows.
5. Flows should be diverted away from work areas with coffer dams or other diversion devices.
6. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
7. Avoid disturbing large rocks as much as possible, as hellbenders can use them for shelters.
Do not harvest in -stream boulders to create habitat structures, as these boulders may already
provide hellbender habitat.
8. Avoid heavy equipment access in the channel as much as possible. This is especially
important where larger rock is present that could harbor hellbenders.
9. If Eastern Hellbenders are disturbed during construction, they should be captured in a bucket
and moved away from the area of disturbance. Contact Lori Williams
(lori.williams(ancwildlife.org) if animals are seen.
10. Due to the possibility of hellbender impacts, we request a pre -construction meeting with the
construction and design firms that involves the commenting agencies, including NCWRC.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
cc: Taylor Kiker, Kimley-Horn
Andrew Moore, NC Division of Water Resources
Lori Williams, NCWRC