20240999 Ver 1_E+T Spp Rept H2Go Wells-1_20240726

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MOGENSEN MITIGATION, INC
Brunswick H2G0 Wells and Access Road, Leland, Brunswick County NC
Endangered Species Biological Assessment Report -- July 2024
Introduction
Mogensen Mitigation, Inc. (MMI) biologists conducted a biological assessment of potential impacts to federal
and state listed endangered and threatened animal and plant species that may occur in the areas where
Brunswick Regional Water & Sewer H2GO is planning to install three new water supply wells and a well access
road and raw water line in western Leland, Brunswick County NC. This biological assessment report is required
for federal and state permitting for the project.
Project Description
The H2G0 water treatment plant (WTP) and five existing wells were built during 2021 (SAW-2017-00627; DWR #
2017-0500). Each of the three new wells (Wells 6, 7, and 8) will be installed on a 1.0 to 1.5-acre site located
immediately east of the Interstate 1-140 right-of-way fence and approximately 5,000 feet apart from each other.
The 18-inch raw water line connecting the three wells will extend 10,400 feet southward along the highway
right-of-way from Well-8 to Well-6, then southeast through forested land for 1,100 feet, and then south for the
remaining 4,800 feet along a private dirt road through rural residential land and Wolfridge Road to the
intersection with Goodman Road. At Goodman Road the new line will connect to the existing raw water line
that carries flow eastward to the WTP on Gregory Road, approximately three miles east of Goodman Road. The
water line will be installed by a combination of open -cut trenching and horizontal directional drilling (HDD)
depending on local environmental resources, engineering and construction constraints, and landowner
agreements.
The access road for building and servicing all three wells will begin on Buckeye Road NE approximately 450 feet
northeast of Well 6. It will parallel the north edge of Well-6 westward to the highway right-of-way fence, then
follow the right-of-way northward from Well-6 for approximately 10,200 feet to Well-8. The access road will be
20 feet wide on top with a footprint ranging from 25 to 40 feet wide depending on the depth of fill required.
The road will be built first, followed by the wells and raw water line. The line will be installed directly beneath
the road by horizontal directional drilling (HDD) except for the segments within 100 to 200 feet from each well
which must be installed by open trenching in order to connect the wells. No permanent access road will be
needed along the water line south of Well-6.
Environmental Setting & Habitats
The southern portion of the project area is drained by a headwater tributary of Morgan Branch in the Lower
Town Creek sub -basin of the Cape Fear River watershed (USGS HUC # 03030005-0603). The northern portion is
drained by a headwater tributary of Sturgeon Creek in the Sturgeon Creek sub -basin of the Cape Fear River
watershed (USGS HUC # 03030005-0502). Both are designated Class-C-Swamp waters by the NC Division of
Environmental Field Studies ■ Wetland & Stream Delineation ■ 404-401 Permits ■ Mitigation Plans & Banking

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Water Resources (DWR). There is no tidal water or coastal wetland in the project area; the lowest elevation is
approximately 30 feet above sea level. The three well sites are approximately 45, 55, and 60 feet in elevation.
The majority of the project area is forested, except for the roadside water line segment along Wolfridge Road.
Habitats include two small stream swamps adjacent to Well-6 and mixed pine and hardwood flatwoods habitat
across most of the project area, much of which was ditched, drained, and converted to pine plantation during
the 1970s to 1990s. The wetter areas support bay forest vegetation among the rows of pines, including
Gordonia, Magnolia, Persea, Symplocos, Ilex, Cyrilla, and other characteristic flatwoods and bay forest species.
The USDA Soil Survey of Brunswick County (1986) maps predominantly non-hydric upland soils including the
Baymeade, Lynchburg, and Norfolk series along Wolfridge Road and the off -road segment extending north to
Well-6. The small stream floodplain adjacent to Well-6 is mapped as Muckalee loam, a predominantly hydric
series. North of Well-6, the remainder of the project area is a mosaic of hydric and and non-hydric soils typical of
outer coastal plain flatwoods including Baymeade, Foreston, Mandarin, and Tomahawk series which are
predominantly non-hydric; and Leon, Murville, Torhunta, and Pantego series which are partially to
predominantly hydric soils.
Federal Endangered & Threatened Species
The US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) Information, Planning, and Consultation (IPaC) evaluation tool currently
lists 13 endangered, threatened, or proposed species reported from Brunswick County that might occur in or
near the project area (Table 1).
Table 1. Federal Protected Species near Holly Ridge: from FWS-IPAC and NOAA-NMFS --11 Dec 2022
Scientific Name
Common Name
FWS
NC Habitat in Onslow County
Myotis septentrionalis
Northern Long-
E
E Forages over fields or water. Roots in trees with
eared Bat
crevices, hollows, loose bark; abandoned buildings
Perimyotis subflavus
Tricolored Bat
PE
Forages over fields or water. Roots in trees with
crevices, hollows, loose bark; abandoned buildings
Picoides borealis
Red-cockaded
E mature open pine forests, with sparse sub -canopy
WoodpeckerE
Lysimachia asperulifolia
Rough-leaf
eaf
E
E open edges of pocosins and wet pine savanna
Loife
Thalictrum cooleyi
Cooleyoley's
E
E wet pine savanna, soils with near neutral pH
M ue
Alligator mississippiensis American Alligator TSA T rivers, swamps, fresh to slightly brackish marsh
Planorbella magnifica
Charadrius melodus
Calidris canutus rufa
Caretta caretta
Chelonia mydas
Magnificent
E
E
tidal freshwater streams and swamps
Ramshorn
Piping Plover
T
T
ocean beaches and island -end flats
Red Knot
T
T
ocean beaches, island -end flats, marsh (winter)
Loggerhead Sea
T
T
estuaries, coastal waters, beaches (nesting)
Turtle
Green Sea Turtle
T
T
estuaries, coastal waters, beaches (nesting)
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Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback SeaTurtle E E coastal waters, beaches (nesting)
Kemp's Ridley Sea
Lepidochelys kempii Turtle E E estuaries, coastal waters, beaches (nesting)
E = Endangered; PE = Proposed Endangered; T = Threatened; TSA = Threatened (by Similarity of Appearance);
C = Candidate for Endangered or Threatened Listing.
Federal Species Accounts and Likelihood of Impacts
Species descriptions and habitat requirements were compiled from US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), NC
Natural Heritage Program (NHP), NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), and other published and online
sources. Previously reported locations within several miles of the project area were obtained from the NHP
Data Explorer and NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Characteristics for identifying potentially suitable habitats
for each species are described in the species accounts below.
Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) -- Endangered
Northern long-eared bats roost in colonies in caves and mines in western NC during winter. Bat hibernacula
caves have relatively stable temperatures, high humidity, and minimal air currents. In spring, the bats leave their
hibernacula and migrate across much of NC to their summer foraging areas, usually with a mix of forested and
open habitat, where they feed on flying insects over fields, rivers, and other open habitats. During the warm
seasons these bats roost singly or in small colonies in cavities or crevices of live or dead trees, beneath loose
bark, or in buildings. In eastern NC they may be active year-round. Maternity roost sites, often in hollow trees or
rock crevices, are occupied during the pup rearing season from June through July. The NC Natural Heritage
Program (NHP) has recent records of Northern long-eared bat in western Brunswick County approximately 20
miles from the project area.
Northern long-eared bats may occur near the project area during any time of year, and may roost in trees on the
site. The project will require removing potentially suitable roosting trees (pines and hardwoods) from roughly
16 acres. To minimize potential adverse impact to bats, FWS recommends conducting tree removal either
during the period from Feb 15 to Apr 15 (prior to maternity roosting) or from July 30 to Dec 15 (after pups have
fledged, and before the bats move into winter roosts). Based on the Northern long-eared bat impact
determination key, the project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect the Northern long-eared bat. The
determination key concurrence letter is included with the permit submittal.
Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) -- Proposed Endangered
Tricolored bats roost in colonies during winter in caves, mines, and rock crevices in western NC, and in road
culverts and similar cave -like features in eastern NC. Like the Northern long-eared bat, Tricolored bats in eastern
NC have a less distinct hibernation period and often emerge to forage during warm periods in winter. During
the warm seasons, these bats migrate across much of NC to forage in both forested and open habitats, where
they feed on flying insects over fields, rivers, and other open habitats. They roost singly or in small colonies in
cavities or crevices of live or dead trees, beneath loose bark, under bridges and culverts, or in buildings.
Maternity roost sites are occupied during the pup rearing season from June through July. NHP has recent
records of Tricolored bats at sites within 5 miles from the project area. Tricolored bats may occur near the
project area year-round, and may roost in trees or man-made structures on the site.
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The project will require removing potentially suitable roosting trees (pines and hardwoods) from roughly 16
acres. The seasonal tree clearing restrictions described above for the Northern long-eared bat will also minimize
potential adverse impact to the Tricolored bat. The Tricolored bat is not yet federally listed, and Section 7
consultation requirements do not apply. If it becomes listed before project construction is complete, then FWS
consultation will be required, but the mitigation measures required for the Northern long-eared bat may suffice
for this species also.
Red -cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) -- Endangered
The Red -cockaded woodpecker (RCW) occurs in large areas of mature pine -dominated forest, typically 80 to 100
acres or more. Unlike other woodpeckers, they excavate cavities for nesting and roosting exclusively in live
pines, typically 80 years or older and surrounded by an open understory with minimal hardwood encroachment
or climbing vines. They live in small groups comprising a breeding pair and one to three "helpers" that are often
the pair's offspring from previous years. Foraging habitat comprises pine -dominated stands at least 10-inch
diameter (generally 30 years or older) with sparse understory and within 0.5 mile from the cavity trees.
The nearest known suitable habitat and RCW breeding site was an area of mature open pine forest on the
southeast rim of a Carolina Bay 0.4 mile west of Well-8. Birds were observed roosting in cavities in this patch
between 2003 and 2014, but no breeding behavior was reported and no birds have been seen there for the past
10 years. The pine -dominated forests in the project area are too dense and have too much hardwood
understory to provide suitable foraging habitat, and too young to provide suitable cavity trees for RCWs. With
active management these stands could become suitable habitat in several decades. Based on this analysis, the
project may affect but is not likely to affect the Red -cockaded woodpecker.
Roughleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia) -- Endangered
Roughleaf loosestrife occurs in wet pine savannas and open edges of pocosins and wet pine flatwoods where
periodic fires every few years to prevent shrubs and trees from overshadowing them. In areas without periodic
fires, remaining populations often persist along roadsides and utility rights -of -way where occasional mowing
limits the growth of trees and shrubs. There are recent records of Roughleaf loosestrife within a few miles of
the project area to the west of Interstate 1-140.
The project area includes dense -canopy forests and upland roadside habitats that are not suitable for Roughleaf
loosestrife. No suitable habitat was observed along the water line and access road corridors. Based on the lack
of suitable habitat, the project will not affect Roughleaf loosestrife.
Cooley's meadowrue (Thalictrum cooleyi) -- Endangered
Cooley's meadowrue occurs in wet pine savannas and open edges of pocosins and wet pine flatwoods with high
pH soils (near neutral) derived from marl (limestone), which is a rare habitat in the NC Coastal Plain. Like
Roughleaf loosestrife and Pondberry, it requires periodic fires to prevent overgrowth of shrubs and trees. In
areas without periodic fires, remaining populations often persist along roadsides and utility rights -of -way where
occasional mowing limits woody competition. Nearly all of the known records for Cooley's meadowrue in NC
are in a small area in western Onslow County and eastern Pender County where the Castle Hayne Formation
limestone occurs at shallow depths; the nearest site is 9 miles from the project area.
Wetland habitats in the project area appear to have acidic soils that are not suitable for Cooley's meadowrue;
we did not observe any characteristic calciphilic plant species. The project area includes dense -canopy forests
and upland roadside habitats that are not suitable for Pondberry. No suitable habitat was observed along the
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water line and access road corridors. Based on the lack of suitable habitat, the project will not affect Cooley's
meadowrue.
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) -- Threatened by Similarity of Appearance
The American Alligator is not a federally endangered or threatened species, but is listed as Threatened by
Similarity of Appearance (TSA) to protect the American Crocodile from hunting and trade. However, the
Alligator is listed as threatened under state law. Alligators occur in coastal plain rivers, lakes, and swamps and
marshes adjacent to open water bodies, from fresh to slightly brackish. They do not normally inhabit dense
forests or shrub -dominated habitats along small headwater streams. The nearest suitable habitat for Alligators
is in Town Creek several miles southeast of the project area. Based on this analysis, the project will not affect
the American Alligator.
Magnificent Ramshorn Snail (Plarorbella magnifica) -- Endangered
This large freshwater snail formerly occurred in the lowermost portion of Town Creek near the Brunswick River,
seven to ten miles from the project area. Efforts are underway to re-establish a wild population from captive
brood stock. The small headwater swamp streams in the project area are not suitable habitat for this snail.
Based on the lack of suitable habitat, the project will not affect the Magnificent Ramshorn Snail.
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) -- Threatened
Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) -- Threatened
These two shore birds occur on ocean beaches and island end flats -- habitats that do not occur within ten miles
of the project vicinity. Based on the lack of beach and island end flat habitats, the project will not affect the
Piping Plover or Red Knot.
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) -- Threatened
Kemp's Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) -- Endangered
Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) -- Endangered
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) -- Threatened
These four sea turtle species occur in the ocean, sounds, and brackish reaches of rivers, and nest exclusively on
ocean beaches. The nearest suitable beach nesting habitat for these species is more than 10 miles from the
project area. Based on the lack of beach and estuary habitats, the project will not affect these turtle species.
Qualifications of Preparer
Gerald Pottern has BS and MS degrees in biology, and 30+ years of experience in stream and wetland science,
endangered species surveys and consultation, 404-401 permitting, NEPA and SEPA environmental impact
documents, natural resource inventory and conservation plans, water quality studies, riparian zone assessment,
restoration site planning and monitoring, and environmental education. He is well -versed in federal and state
environmental regulations and natural resource field assessment and documentation methods, and secondary
and cumulative impact mitigation planning. He has assisted public and private clients in designing projects to
meet environmental agency objectives and permit requirements, and has prepared grant applications for
riparian conservation and water quality improvement projects. He has served on the Scientific Council to the NC
Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee, and has conducted numerous surveys of aquatic and terrestrial plants
and wildlife for scientific and educational purposes.
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