20150240 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20160324

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission IQ
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Anthony Scarbraugh
NC Division of Water Resources
FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Division
DATE: March 24, 2016
SUBJECT: PCN — Joy Mosley, NWP 14, Beaufort County, North Carolina.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the application
with regard to impacts of the project on fish and wildlife resources. The project site is located off
Norman Road in Blounts Creek, NC. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.) and the Clean
Water Act of 1977 (as amended).
The applicant proposes to establish a private drive to access a proposed home site in a wooded area. To
access the site, a road must be constructed that crosses a tributary to Blounts Creek. This tributary drains
approximately 133 acres of woods and agricultural fields. Just upstream the proposed crossing, two 72"
culverts are used to allow Norman Road to cross the tributary. To facilitate the crossing, the applicant
proposes to install one 72" culvert impacting 85 linear feet of stream. Within this 85' section of stream is
a bend that is proposed to be straightened. This feature is subject to the Tar / Pamlico Buffer Rules and
will impact 3,872 ftz of Zone 1 and 2,639 ftz of Zone 2.
The NCWRC has reviewed the permit application and is concerned with the length of stream and area of
buffer impacts. We believe the 72" culvert would be of adequate size to carry flows, but have concern
with the straightening of the natural stream meander within the culvert design. In addition to providing in
stream habitat, meanders and bends dissipate energy and removing this natural feature may exasperate
erosion on both ends of the culvert. In addition to our concern regarding the change in stream
morphology, we have concern with the 85' stream impact. It appears this impact could be lessened by
reducing the length of the pipe within the stream bed, still allowing for adequate road / shoulder widths
and side slopes. Reduction in the area of impact would lessen concerns with aquatic passage and stream
morphology.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this PCN. If you have further comments, questions, or
concerns, please contact me at [phone] or at maria.dunngncwildlife.org
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Strickland, Bev
From:Dunn, Maria T.
Sent:Thursday, March 24, 2016 1:20 PM
To:Scarbraugh, Anthony
Subject:Mosley - 20150240V2, Beaufort Co.
Attachments:401_Mosley_NCWRC.pdf
Anthony,
Please see the attached comments for the above project. Thank you.
Maria

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Maria T. Dunn

Coastal Coordinator

NC Wildlife Resources Commission

943 Washington Sq. Mall
Washington, NC 27889
office: 252-948-3916
fax: [phone]

www.ncwildlife.org

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

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