FW: Sidden NRCS/EQIP Stream Restoration - NCWRC comments

Hartshorn, Blake
From:Homer, Seren M
Sent:Tuesday, May 7, 2024 11:26 AM
To:Hartshorn, Blake
Subject:FW: Sidden NRCS/EQIP Stream Restoration - NCWRC comments
Attachments:SiddenStreamRestoration_UTsDoubleCr_Wilkes_NCWRCComments.pdf
Can’t remember if I forwarded this to you already or not but forwarding now just in case- see a?ached.

Thanks!
Seren Homer (she/her)
Environmental Specialist II, Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone] | Cell: [phone]
[e-mail]

From: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 12:38 PM
To: Anderson, Mitchell <[e-mail]>
Cc: Homer, Seren M <[e-mail]>; [e-mail]
Subject: Sidden NRCS/EQIP Stream Restoration - NCWRC comments

Hi Mitchell-

Attached are NCWRC’s comments on the Sidden NRCS/EQIP Stream Restoration project.

Andrea

_____________________________________________
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-803-6054 (office)
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org

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North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Cameron Ingram, Executive Director

Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
April 2, 2024

Mr. Mitchell Anderson
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006

SUBJECT: Sidden NRCS/EQIP Stream Restoration Project
UTs to Double Creek, Wilkes County

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to restore 2,930 ft of unnamed tributaries (UTs) to Double Creek in Wilkes County.
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 trout reproduction should not be impacted by project activities and a trout moratorium is
not needed.

The application proposes to stabilize an eroding reach of stream by installing in-stream
structures, including cross vanes, j-hooks, toewood, log vanes, and habitat rocks, as well as
sloping stream banks, and planting a buffer.

We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
1. In-channel work should be accomplished as quickly as possible and vigilance used in
sediment and erosion control during site preparation, construction, and clean up. Disturbed
areas should be stabilized at the end of each work day.
2. Where in-stream work will be performed in the wet, we recommend diverting flows around
the work area to reduce the risk of fine sediment liberation and loss.
3. 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.
4. The minimum planted buffer width will be 10 ft. We strongly recommend that a woody
buffer of at least 30 feet be planted on both sides of the stream as infrastructure allows in
Sidden Stream Restoration Page 2 April 2, 2024
UTs Double Cr, Wilkes Co
order to ensure project success. A wide forested buffer can ensure greater bank stability,
filter overland pollutants, and provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.
5. Two high density polyethylene (HDPE) culverts will be installed. We recommend against
using high density polyethylene (HDPE), as this is slick and can become a barrier for fish
and other aquatic animal movement; a ford or corrugated metal are better alternatives.

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

ec: Jeff Bellflower, designer
Seren Homer, NC Division of Water Resources