20240248 Ver 1_BR-0250_Avery 149,Caldwell 252 and Watauga 231_Application_DWR 20240248v1_NCWRC Comments_20240219

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director
February 19, 2024
Lori Beckwith
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
SUBJECT: Comments on Replacement of Avery Bridge 149, Watauga Bridge 231, and Caldwell
Bridge 252. BR-0250
DWR 20240248 ver.1
Dear Ms. Beckwith,
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) applied for a permit to replace the existing
timber bridges Avery 149, Watauga 231, and Caldwell 252 with similar structures on the same roadway
alignments. The 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. 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).
Horse Creek (WS-V Tr) at Avery Bridge 149 supports naturally reproducing populations of Brown Trout
(Salmo Trutta) and Rainbow Trout (Salvelinus oncorhynchus). Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis, NC Special Concern) are found in the North Toe River downstream of the bridge and may
be in Horse Creek as well given its coarse rocky substrate. If the work here requires excavation of the
creek, the NCWRC would appreciate advisement of the approximate schedule so that biologists have an
opportunity to look for and move hellbenders.
Norris Fork (C Tr+) at Watauga Bridge 231 supports naturally reproducing populations of Brown Trout
(Salmo Trutta) and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinahs). Kanawha Darter (Etheostoma kanawhae) and
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Watauga 231
Page 2 February 19, 2024
Tonguetied Minnow (Exoglossum laurae), both with significantly rare status, are found in Meat Camp
Creek downstream.
UT Zacks Fork (C) does not support trout and so a spawning moratorium is unnecessary. The NCWRC
does not recommend any special conditions regarding the Caldwell Bridge 252 work.
The NCWRC requests that the following conditions be included in authorizations to help conserve trout
and other aquatic resources that may be affected:
1. The October 15 to April 15 trout moratorium should be followed for Avery 149 and Watauga 231
since construction has a reasonable potential to cause inadvertent sedimentation in trout spawning
habitat downstream of the bridge.
2. Applicable measures from the current NCDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Design and
Construction Manual should be adhered to for Avery 149 and Watauga 231. Design Standards
for Sensitive Waters (15A NCAC 04B .0124) are recommended where practical with these bridge
replacements because waters 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 other periods of extended stream disturbance have 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.
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: NCDEQ, DWR Laserfiche
Kevin Hining, NCDOT Division 11 DEO