20160268 Ver 1_401 DWR Cover Letter-Signed_20160318

to C
March 9, 2016
Ms. Karen Higgins
NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit Supervisor
512 North Salisbury St.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Re: Poplar Cove Creek (Corpening) Stream Restoration Project
Section 401 Permit
Ms. Higgins,
Wolf Creek Engineering, pllc
Engineering and Environmental Consulting
Resource Institute, Inc. (RI) is seeking approval from the NCDEQ for a Section 401 Permit for
construction of the Poplar Cove Creek (Corpening) Stream Restoration Site (the Site) in Macon
County, North Carolina. Restoration is proposed for approximately 618 linear feet of Poplar
Cove Creek, 0.5 miles upstream from its confluence with Cartoogechaye Creek.
Funding for the proposed restoration efforts is being coordinated by RI and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (MRCS), and is a combination of state funding and the NRCS
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
RI has contracted with Wolf Creek Engineering to provide design and construction oversight
services for the implementation of the restoration. The construction plans are included as an
attachment to this permit application. The following is a brief description of the site conditions
and the proposed restoration efforts.
Project Location
The Site is located in the southern Appalachian mountains of Western North Carolina, in
Macon County, approximately six miles southwest of Franklin. The upstream end of the Site
lies at LAT/LONG 35°7'57.28"N, 83°30'3.79"W and extends downstream on Poplar Cove
Creek for approximately 700 linear feet. The Site drains to Cartoogechaye Creek and then to
the Little Tennessee River (USGS 8 -digit Hydrologic Unit Code 06010202).
Property and Land Use
The Site includes four privately -held tracts of land totaling approximately 12.2 acres. Two of
the four tracts of land have most recently been used for hay production. The remaining two
tracts of land are occupied as residences and contain stands of mature trees.
12'/z Wall Street, Suite C • Asheville, NC 28801 • 828.449.1930 • www. wolf creekeng.com

Restoration Goals and Objectives
The primary goal of the Poplar Cove Creek Stream Restoration Project is to repair a degraded
reach of stream through implementation of sound restoration techniques, including bank
stabilization and in -stream structure installation.
The project objectives include the following:
Improve water quality and reduce sediment input into Poplar Cove Creek by stabilizing
actively eroding banks
Establish a buffer maintenance policy with the property owners to provide a riparian
buffer on the left channel bank within project limits
Increase aquatic habitat and channel bed form diversity through the installation of in -
stream structures
Correct channel incision and restore floodplain -stream interaction through the
excavation of a floodplain at bankfull elevation
Reduce the risk of flooding to an existing residence by restoring the existing channel
alignment to a stable condition.
Existing Conditions
Within the project area of the Site, the left side of Poplar Cove Creek is bordered by an existing
residence and an agricultural field that has been used for hay production for at least the last 20
years. The right side of the creek is forested. Based on historic aerial imagery and personal
accounts, the left bank of Poplar Cove Creek began rapidly eroding following Hurricane Irene
in 2011.
Poplar Cove Creek flows from west to east towards Cartoogechaye Creek, with a contributing
watershed of approximately 3.7 square miles. The watershed is approximately 89% forested,
with agricultural and low-density residential land use composing the remainder. At the Site, the
average bed width is approximately 15 feet and the average depth -to -terrace is approximately 4
feet. Most of the left channel bank is vertical, with a rapidly eroding bluff which contributes
significantly to the sediment input into Poplar Cove Creek. Additionally, the current channel
alignment poses a high risk of flooding to an adjacent residence.
Restoration Methods
A geomorphically stable pattern will be returned to Poplar Cove Creek by re -meandering the
upstream portion of the channel through the Site. A new floodplain will be excavated at
bankfull elevation which will increase flood conveyance and reduce flood stages, therefore
reducing stress on the bed and banks during flood events. In -stream log and boulder structures
will be installed to increase bed form and aquatic habitat diversity, and will be constructed
using onsite material whenever possible. The proposed channel bed will be constructed of
onsite, native bed material.
Wetland and Stream Impacts
Jurisdictional wetlands have not been delineated within the limits of the proposed construction
activities. Unavoidable, temporary stream impacts will occur along the entire length of Poplar
Cove Creek within the Site boundary in order to re -meander the channel along its proposed
alignment and provide approximately 618 linear feet of restoration. Efforts will be made to
minimize the impacts to the channel banks and, where disturbances occur, bank stabilization
techniques will be implemented to re-establish native vegetation.
12'/z Wall Street, Suite C • Asheville, NC 28801 • 828.449.1930 • www. wolf creekeng.com

Summary
We anticipate that the immediate effects of implementing this project will be ground
disturbance due to the use of heavy equipment in the construction of the stream components.
These activities are necessary to reverse the extensive disturbance and degradation of the Site.
The long-term effects of the project will be an overall enhancement and restoration of stream
functions, riparian buffer, and human safety.
Should you have any questions, or if you require any additional information, please feel free to
contact me at my office [phone]. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Wolf Creek Engineering, plic
s
Christopher M. ngle, P.E.
Project Manager
Attachments:
Application Fee of $570.00 (Check # 5628 )
Pre -Construction Notification (4)
Construction Plans, Half -Size (4)
Bound Copy of Supporting Documents (4)
12'/z Wall Street, Suite C - Asheville, NC 28801 • 828.449.1930 - www. wolf creekeng.com