20150579 Ver 1_NCWRC Draft Comments_20140228

0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon S. Myers, Executive Director
February 28, 2014
Mr. Andrew C. Givens
Cardinal Energy Service, Inc.
620 N. West St. Suite 103
Raleigh, NC 27603
Via Email
Subject: Draft License Application Comments
Ward Mill Dam Hydropower Project (P-9842-004)
Dear Mr. Givens:
Pursuant to the regulations governing the relicensing of a hydroelectric project.by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Traditional Licensing Process (18 CFR 16.8),
this letter contains the comments and recommendations of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC) on the Draft License Application (DLA) for the Ward Mill Dam project.
The NCWRC provides these comments in accordance with provisions of the Federal Power Act
(16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended;
16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
Mr. Ray Ward, licensee of the referenced project, proposes to continue using the existing
facilities operated in a run -of -river mode. Mr. Ward submitted a Pre -Application Document
(PAD) and request to use the Traditional Licensing Process (TLP) dated August 31, 2011. The
NCWRC provided biological data to the Licensee on June 27, 2011 for inclusion in the PAD.
We also provided comments on the PAD and request to use the TLP on September 27, 2011. On
October 21, 2011 the FERC granted Mr. Ward's request to use the TLP instead of the Integrated
Licensing Process. A site visit and joint meeting was held on December 8, 2011, which the
NCWRC attended. We provided First Stage Consultation comments and study requests to the
Licensee on February 3, 2012. Mr. Ward submitted the DLA for comment on January 27, 2014.
Draft License Annlication
The DLA is generally adequate in describing project facilities and operations, the environmental
resources of the area and the expected impacts on the environment. Attached is a copy of the
Mailing Address: 645 Fish Hatchery Road • Marion, NC 27652
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Draft License Application Page 2 February 28, 2014
P-9842-004
DLA with editorial comments and suggestions to improve the final license application. We also
provide the following substantive comments.
Section A.1.8 — This section should include a description of the sand gates in the dam, the extent
to which they leak, and how often and for what purposes they are operated.
Section A.3 — This section should more fully describe the canoe portage take out and put in
areas, include any signage.
Section E.3.3 — Table 3 should be updated to include fish data collected the reservoir in October
2013. The Aquatic Survey Report (Appendix A of the DLA) states that such an additional fish
survey was conducted, but no data summary is provided in the Report or in DLA.
Section E.3.6 — This section should indicate that although the relicensing surveys did not collect
any listed species in the project vicinity, two state -listed species are known to have occurred in
the
=a k the recent past.
Tbg, Green Floater (Lasnukona subvirid
i t En d
the
Cryptob alffiallffi�aniensis)
is
Special C[as
e
oc
in t e t area '
w n s. The Li
pplicati
is these w ecies
as
he state d po
ly occ g in the
of the pr
Se
n E.3.7 — sect'
does n port an
re al usewe
had reques in ourFe
y 3, 2012 er li
quests.
oug e projeexempted
mfili
Form 80 rt, t
ng study r
est sh havesed.
Re mendati
BOW
AM
W ommenfollo g Prote n, Mationandance t measures be in Oratec
The project should -be operated -in run -of -river mode, such tit outflow equals in -Tow at
all times. If the reservoir level drops below the crest of the dam, the turbine(s) should
stop running so that water can immediately spill over the dam.
2. Records of inflow and outflow should be maintained to ensure run -of -river operation.
Inflow to the project is available on a 15 -minute interval from the U.S. Geological Survey
gage (#03479000) located just upstream of the reservoir. If the USGS gage is no longer
maintained the licensee shall install a stream gage after consulting with the FERC and
appropriate resource agencies. Records of pond stage and generation should be made
available to the NCWRC and other agencies upon request to compare outflow from the
project to inflow.
A sediment management plan should be developed with the NCWRC and other resource
agencies prior to any actions to open the sand gates, dredge sediment from the reservoir
or otherwise release sediment from the project.
4. A reservoir drawdown and refill management plan should be developed with the
NCWRC and other resource agencies prior to any actions to lower the reservoir level
substantially below the crest of the dam.

Draft License Application Page 3 February 28, 2014
P-9842-004
5. The canoe take-out and put -in should be formalized and signed appropriately.
If you have any questions concerning these comments, please call me at 828-652-4360 ext. 223.
Sincerely,
Christopher Goudreau
Hydropower Licensing Coordinator

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