20240642 Ver 1_Clay County - B79 - NC Hertiage Program (2023)_20240503

Roy Cooper, Governor
MEN
�00 0 INC DEPARTMENT OF
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■■u■■ NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
■ ■■■
December 11, 2023
Patrick Breedlove
NCDOT-Division 14
253 Webster Road
Sylva, NC 28779
RE. Clay County Bridge 79, BP14.R010
Dear Patrick Breedlove:
D_ Reid Wilson, Secretary
Misty Buchanan
Deputy director, Natural Heritage Program
NCNHDE-24286
The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) appreciates the opportunity to provide
information about natural heritage resources for the project referenced above.
Based on the project area mapped with your request, a query of the NCNHP database indicates that
there are no records for rare species, important natural communities, natural areas, and/or
conservation/managed areas within the proposed project boundary. Please note that although there
may be no documentation of natural heritage elements within the project boundary, it does not
imply or confirm their absence, the area may not have been surveyed. The results of this query
should not be substituted for field surveys where suitable habitat exists. In the event that rare
species are found within the project area, please contact the NCNHP so that we may update our
records.
The attached `Potential Occurrences' table summarizes rare species and natural communities that
have been documented within a one -mile radius of the property boundary. The proximity of these
records suggests that these natural heritage elements may potentially be present in the project area
if suitable habitat exists. Tables of natural areas and conservation/managed areas within a one -mile
radius of the project area, if any, are also included in this report.
If a Federally -listed species is found within the project area or is indicated within a one -mile radius of
the project area, the NCNHP recommends contacting the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for
guidance. Contact information for USFWS offices in North Carolina is found here:
httl2s://www.fws.gov/offices/Directory/ListOffices.cfm?statecode=37.
Please note that natural heritage element data are maintained for the purposes of conservation
planning, project review, and scientific research, and are not intended for use as the primary criteria
for regulatory decisions. Information provided by the NCNHP database may not be published
without prior written notification to the NCNHP, and the NCNHP must be credited as an information
source in these publications. Maps of NCNHP data may not be redistributed without permission.
The NC Natural Heritage Program may follow this letter with additional correspondence if a
Dedicated Nature Preserve, Registered Heritage Area, Land and Water Fund easement, or Federally -
listed species are documented near the project area.
If you have questions regarding the information provided in this letter or need additional assistance,
please contact the NCNHP at natural.heritageLdncr.nc.gov.
Sincerely,
NC Natural Heritage Program
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOVRCES
121 W. JONES STREET. RALEIGH. NC 27603 • 16S1 MAIL SERVICE CENTER, RALEIGH. Nc 27699
OFC g19.707.9120 • FAX [phone]

Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Clay County Bridge 79
Project No. BP14.R010
December 11, 2023
NCNHDE-24286
Element Occurrences Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Taxonomic
EO ID
Scientific Name
Common Name
Element
Accuracy
Group
Observation
Occurrence
i
Date
Rank
Amphibian
10918
Cryptobranchus
Eastern Hellbender
2014-07-07
BC
3-Medium
alleganiensis
alleganiensis
Dragonfly or
33719
Somatochlora elongataSki-tipped Emerald
2004-Pre
H?
5-Very
Damselfly
Low
Sawfly, Wasp,
37119
Bombus affinis
Rusty -patched Bumble
1984-07-02
H
4-Low
Bee, or Ant
Bee
Vascular Plant
23931
Hackelia virginiana
Virginia Stickseed
1968-Pre
H
5-Very
Low
No Natural Areas are Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Managed Areas Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Managed Area Name Owner Owner Type
Nantahala National Forest - Tusquitee Ranger US Forest Service Federal
District
Federal State
Global
State
Status Status
Rank
Rank
IlM J&
--- Special
G3T2
S3
Concern
--- Significantly
G5
S2
Rare
Endangered Significantly
G2
S1
Rare
--- Significantly
G5
S2
Rare
Peripheral
Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at httr)s://ncnhde.natureserve.ora/heir). Data query generated on December]], 2023; source: NCNHP, Fall (October) 2023.
Please resubmit your information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database.
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NCNHDE-24286: Clay County Bridge 79
December 11, 2023
® Managed Area (MAREA)
Natural Heritage Element Occurrence (NHEO)
Q Buffered Project Boundary
Q Project Boundary
Sources: Esri, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS,
NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA,
Intermap and the GIS user community
Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, m OpenStreetMap
contributors, and the GIS User Community
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