20241224 Ver 1_W-5710X_SA_NCSAM_REV08-30-2024_20240913

NG SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM
USACEAID#: NCDWR#:
INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic
quadrangle, and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same
property, identify and number all reaches on the attached map, and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User
Manual for detailed descriptions and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch" section if any supplementary
measurements were performed. See the NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant.
NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA (do not need to be within the assessment area).
PROJECT / SITE INFORMATION:
1. Project name (if any): W-5710X 2. Date of evaluation: 8/28/2024
3. Applicant/owner name: NCDOT Division 10 4. Assessor name/organization: Anna Reusche
5. County: Mecklenburg 6. Nearest named water body
7. River Basin: Catawba on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Gutter Branch
8. Site coordinates (decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 35.321637,-80.900198
STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations)
9. Site number (show on attached map): SA 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated (feet): 250
11. Channel depth from bed (in riffle, if present) to top of bank (feet): 2 r Unable to assess channel depth.
12. Channel width at top of bank (feet): 5 13. Is assessment reach a swamp stream? r_Yes r_ No
14. Feature type: CPerennial flow Clntermittentflow CTidalMarsh Stream
STREAM RATING INFORMATION:
15. NC SAM Zone: r_Mountains (M) EPiedmont (P) r_Inner Coastal Plain (1) r_Outer Coastal Plain (0)
16. Estimated geomorphic /
valley shape (skip for ra ['b
Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream, flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream, steeper valley slope)
17. Watershed size: (skip re Size 1 (< 0.1 mF) G'Size 2 (0.1 to < 0.5 mi) G'Size 3 (0.5 to < 5 mi) G'Size 4 (>_ 5 mi')
for Tidal Marsh Stream)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
18. Were regulatory considerations evaluated? CYes C No If Yes, check all that appy to the assessment area.
(-Section 10 Water F Classified Trout Waters F Water Supply Watershed ( CI C11 C111 CI CV)
r Essential Fish Habitat F Primary Nursery Area F High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters
F Publicly owned property F NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect F Nutrient Sensitive Waters
F Anadromous fish F 303(d) List F CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC)
F Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area.
List species:
F Designated Critical Habitat (list species):
19. Are additional stream information/supplemer
1. Channel Water - assessment reach metric (skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
UA
Water throughout assessment reach.
[]B
No flow, water in pools only.
[]C
No water in assessment reach.
2. Evidence
of Flow Restriction - assessment reach metric
EA
At least 10% of assessment reach in -stream habitat or riffle -pool sequence is adversely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the
point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impounded on flood or ebb within
the assessment reach (examples: undersized or perched culverts, causeways that constrict the channel, tidal gates).
E- B
Not
3. Feature
Pattern - assessment reach metric
[a]A
A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples: straightening, modification above or below culvert).
EB
Not A.
4. Feature Longitudinal Profile - assessment reach metric
EA
Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile (examples: channel down -cutting, existing damming,
over widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of
these disturbances).
CB
Not
5. Signs
of Active Instability - assessment reach metric
Consider
only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include
active
bank failure, active channel down -cutting (head -cut), active widening, and artificial hardening (such as concrete, gabion, rip -rap).
r'A
< 10% of channel unstable
LB
10 to 25% of channel unstable
[s C
> 25% of channel unstable
6. Streamside Area Interaction - streamside area metric
Consider
for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB).
LB
RB
EA
EA Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction
B
[a] B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down -cutting, aggradation, dredging) that adversely affect
reference interaction (examples: limited streamside area access, disruption of flood flows through streamside area,
leaky or intermittent bulkheads, causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching [including mosquito ditching])
EC
EC Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access
[examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction, bulkheads, retaining walls, fill, stream incision,
disruption of flood flows through streamside area] or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples:
impoundments, intensive mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a
man-made feature on an interstream divide
7. Water
Quality Stress ors - assessment reach/intertidal zone metric
Check
all that apply.
r A
Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone (milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam)
r B
Excessive sedimentation (burying of stream features or intertidal zone)
[- C
Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem

r D Odor (not including natural sulfide odors)
F E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in the "Notes/Sketch"
section.
F F Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone
r G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone
F H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone (removal, burning, regular mowing, destruction, etc.)
r I Other: (explain in "Notes/Sketch" section)
F J Little to no stressors
8. Recent Weather -watershed metric
For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought, for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a
drought.
[]A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
Es C No drought conditions
9 Large or Dangerous Stream - assessment reach metric
[ ]Yes Ce No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes, skip to Metric 13 (Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition).
10. Natural In -stream Habitat Types - assessment reach metric
10a. Le Yes F_ No Degraded in -stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive
sedimentation, mining, excavation, in -stream hardening [for example, rip -rap], recent dredging, and snagging)
(evaluate for size 4 Coastal Plain streams only, then skip to Metric 12)
10b. Check all that occur (occurs if> 5% coverage of assessment reach) (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams)
F_ A
Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses
m w
r F
5% oysters or other natural hard bottoms
(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)
m
F_ G
Submerged aquatic vegetation
B
Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent
o id
n T
r H
Low -tide refugia (pools)
vegetation
a 0
F I
Sand bottom
F C
Multiple snags and logs (including lap trees)
s
F J
5% vertical bank along the marsh
F D
5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots
O
F K
Little or no habitat
in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter
F E
Little or no habitat
*'''''.........................* REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS...* **********..........
11. Bedform and Substrate -assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
11a. CYes CNo Is assessment reach in a natural sand -bed stream? (skip for Coastal Plain streams)
11b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es).
IAA Riffle -run section (evaluate 11c)
B Pool -glide section (evaluate 11 d)
r C Natural bedform absent (skip to Metric 12, Aquatic Life)
11c. In riffles sections, check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach - whether or not submerged.
Check
at least one
box in each row (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain Streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present (NP) _
absent,
Rare (R) = present but!- 10%, Common (C) _ > 10-40%, Abundant (A) _ > 40-70%, Predominant (P) _ > 70%. Cumulative
percentages
should
not exceed 100% for each assessment reach.
NP
R C
A P
E
C C
C V, Bedrock/saprolite
r
r, r,
r, F. Boulder (256 - 4096 mm)
C
V_ V,
C F, Cobble (64 - 256 mm)
E F_ Gravel (2 - 64 mm)
Sand (.062 - 2 mm)
Silt/clay (< 0.062 mm)
Detritus
Artificial (rip -rap, concrete, etc.)
1 td. CYes
V No
Are pools filled with sediment? (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
12. Aquatic Life - assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
12a. CYes F& No Was an in -stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual?
If No, select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. E No Water [,'Other:
12b. CYes r No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check
all that apply. If No, skip to Metric 13.
1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to "individuals" for size 1 and 2 streams and "taxa" for size 3 and 4 streams.
F F Adult frogs
F Aquatic reptiles
F F Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)
r F Beetles (including water pennies)
F F Caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera [f])
r r Asian clam (Corbicu/a )
F F_ Crustacean (isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp)
r F Damselfly and dragonfly larvae
F F Dipterans (true flies)
r r Mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera [E])
F F Megaloptera (alderfly, fishfly, dobsonfly larvae)
r F Midges/mosquito larvae
r F Mosquito fish (Gambusia) or mud minnows (Umbra pygmaea)
r j- Mussels/Clams (not Corbicu/a )
F F Other fish
r r Salamanders/tadpoles
F F Snails
7 r Stonefly larvae (Plecoptera [P])
F_ r Tipulid larvae
r r Worms/leeches
13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition - streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types)

Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and
upland runoff.
LB RB
EA EA Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
E B E B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
EC [a]C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area (examples include: ditches, fill,
soil, compaction, livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees, drainage pipes)
14. Streamside Area Water Storage — streamside area metric (skip for Size 1 streams, Tidal Marsh Streams, and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB) of the streamside area.
LB RB
EA EA Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water>_ 6 inches deep
E B E B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep
EC EC Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep
15. Wetland Presence — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the
normal wetted perimeter of assessment reach.
LB RB
CY CY Are wetlands present in the streamside area?
CN CN
16. Baseflow Contributors — assessment reach metric (skip for size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach.
F A Streams and/or springs (jurisdictional discharges)
F B Ponds (include wet detention basins, do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins)
F C Obstruction that passes some flow during low -flow periods within assessment area (beaver dam, bottom -release dam)
F D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating (iron oxidizing bacteria in water indicates seepage)
P E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present)
F F None of the above
17. Baseflow Detractors — assessment area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all that apply.
I A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach (includes areas excavated for pump installation)
F B Obstruction not passing flow during low flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex: watertight dam, sediment deposit)
F C Urban stream (>_ 24% impervious surface for watershed)
F D Evidence that the stream -side area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach
F E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge
F F None of the above
18. Shading — assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider aspect. Consider "leaf -on" condition.
r_A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category (may include gaps associated with natural processes)
C B Degraded (example: scattered trees)
CC Stream shading is gone or largely absent
19. Buffer Width — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider "vegetated buffer" and "wooded buffer" separately for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) starting at the top
of bank out to the first break.
Vegetated Wooded
LB RB LB RB
r_A r_A CA r_A >_ 100-feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed
EB [a]B F�B V&B From 50 to < 1 00-feet wide
EC EC r_C F;C From 30 to < 50-feet wide
E D E D r� D F� D From 10 to < 30-feet wide
E E E E F E E E < 10-feet wide or no trees
20. Buffer Structure —stream side area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Vegetated" Buffer Width).
LB RB
EA re A Mature forest
E B r_ B Non -mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure
[a]C F�C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees < 10 feet wide
ED r_D Maintained shrubs
E E C E Little or no vegetation
21. Buffer Stressors — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all appropriate boxes for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream (Abuts), does not abut but
is within 30 feet of stream (< 30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet).
If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank, check here and skip to Metric 22: F
Abuts < 30 feet 30-50 feet
LB RB LB RB LB RB
r_A EA r_A r_A r_A r_A Row crops
r_B []B CB F,I r_B OF Maintained turf
E" EC r_C [; F;C E Pasture (no livestock)/commercial horticulture
E E D r_ D [ ; F; D E Pasture (active livestock use)
22. Stem Density — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Wooded" Buffer Width).
LB RB
[]A CA Medium to high stem density
E B C B Low stem density
[a]C r_C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground
23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation > 10-feet wide.
LB RB
CA CA The total length of buffer breaks is < 25 percent.
[' B C B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent.

Le C r_C The total length of buffer breaks is > 50 percent.
24. Vegetative Composition — First 100 feet of streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first) as it contributes
to assessment reach habitat.
LB RIB
CA CA Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native
species, with non-native invasive species absent or sparse.
C B C B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native
species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear -cuffing or clearingor
communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strataor
communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees.
CC CC Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absentor communities
with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strataor communities composed of planted
stands of non -characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single speciesor no vegetation.
25. Conductivity — assessment reach metric (skip for all Coastal Plain streams)
25a. r.Yes re No Was a conductivity measurement recorded?
If No, select one of the following reasons. r. No Water re Other:
25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement (units of microsiemens per centimeter).
G' A <46 G' B 46 to < 67 G' C 67 to < 79 G' D 79 to < 230 G' E >> 230
Notes/Sketch:

Stream Site Name W-5710X
Stream Category Pal
NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
Date of Evaluation 8/28/2024
Assessor Name/Organization Anna Reusche
Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N)
Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N)
Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N)
NC SAM feature type (perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream)
Function Class Rating Summary
NO
NO
NO
Intermittent
USACE/ NCDWR
All Streams Intermittent
(1) Hydrology
(2) Baseflow
(2) Flood Flow
(3) Streamside Area Attenuation
(4) Floodplain Access
(4) Wooded Riparian Buffer
(4) Microtopography
(3) Stream Stability
(4) Channel Stability
(4) Sediment Transport
(4) Stream Geomorphology
(2) Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction
(2) Longitudinal Tidal Flow
(2) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability
(3) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability
(3) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
HIGH
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
LOW
LOW
LOW
LOW
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
HIGH
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
LOW
LOW
LOW
LOW
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
(1) Water Quality
(2) Baseflow
(2) Streamside Area Vegetation
(3) Upland Pollutant Filtration
(3) Thermoregulation
(2) Indicators of Stressors
(2) Aquatic Life Tolerance
(2) Intertidal Zone Filtration
LOW
MEDIUM
LOW
LOW
MEDIUM
NO
LOW
NA
LOW
MEDIUM
LOW
LOW
MEDIUM
NO
NA
NA
(1) Habitat
(2) In -stream Habitat
(3) Baseflow
(3) Substrate
(3) Stream Stability
(3) In -stream Habitat
(2) Stream -side Habitat
(3) Stream -side Habitat
(3) Thermoregulation
(2) Tidal Marsh In -stream Habitat
(3) Flow Restriction
(3) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability
(4) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability
(4) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology
(3) Tidal Marsh In -stream Habitat
(2) Intertidal Zone Habitat
LOW
LOW
MEDIUM
LOW
LOW
LOW
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
LOW
LOW
MEDIUM
LOW
LOW
LOW
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Overall
LOW
LOW