WatU-5603NC105HodgesC_SC2016-07draft

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director

July 18, 2016

M E M O R A N D U M

TO:
Marshall Edwards, Project Planning Engineer
Project Development and Environmental Analysis, NCDOT

FROM:
Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC

SUBJECT:
Scoping review of NCDOT’s proposed improvements to NC 105 from US 321
(Blowing Rock Road) to NC 105 Bypass (SR 1107), Watauga County, North
Carolina. TIP No. U-5603.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is requesting comments from the North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regarding impacts to fish and wildlife resources
resulting from the subject project. Staff biologists have reviewed the information provided.
These preliminary comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the state and
federal Environmental Policy Acts (G.S. 113A-1through 113-10; 1 NCAC 25 and 42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(c), respectively), the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.) and the Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d), as applicable.

The NCDOT proposes to improve NC 105 from US 321 (Blowing Rock Road) to NC 105
Bypass (SR 1107) for a project length of approximately 2 miles. NC 105 is a multi-lane facility,
lined with businesses, in Boone, NC. Hodges Creek runs along the project roadway most of its
length, flowing to the east, in the South Fork New River watershed. The western end of the
project drains to an unnamed tributary to Laurel Fork, in the Watauga River watershed. Trout are
expected to occur throughout the project area. Rare and listed fish and mussel species occur
downstream in the South Fork New River and Watauga River, including Federal Species of
Concern. A moratorium prohibiting in-stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot trout
buffer should apply from October 15 to April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of trout.
Sediment and erosion control should adhere to the Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds.

Mailing Address:
Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone:Fax:
[phone] • [phone]

U-5603 – NC 105 IMPROVEMENTS PAGE 2 JULY 18, 2016
HODGES CREEK, WATAUGA CO.
In this highly developed setting, storm water management will be important to water quality. We
recommend that NCDOT and local authorities use pervious materials to construct sidewalks and
parking lots and use other low impact development techniques to maximize the management of
storm water quantity and quality in the project area. Information on LID measures can be found
at www.lowimpactdevelopment.org, http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/lidnatl.pdf and
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/. Other important protective measures can be found in the
Guidance Memorandum to Address and Mitigate Secondary and Cumulative Impacts to Aquatic
and Terrestrial Wildlife Resources and Water Quality at
http://www.ncwildlife.org/portals/0/Conserving/documents/2002_GuidanceMemorandumforSec
ondaryandCumulativeImpacts.pdf. In addition, to help facilitate document preparation and the
review process, our general information needs are outlined below:

1. Description of fishery and wildlife resources within the project area, including a listing of
federally or state designated threatened, endangered, or special concern species. Potential
borrow areas to be used for project construction should be included in the inventories. A
listing of designated plant species can be developed through consultation with the
following programs:

The Natural Heritage Program
http://www.ncnhp.org
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N. C. 27699-1601

and,

NCDA Plant Conservation Program
P. O. Box 27647
Raleigh, N. C. 27611
[phone]

2. Description of any streams or wetlands affected by the project. If applicable, include the
linear feet of stream that will be channelized or relocated.

3.Cover type maps showing wetland acreage impacted by the project. Wetland acreage
should include all project-related areas that may undergo hydrologic change as a result of
ditching, other drainage, or filling for project construction. Wetland identification may
be accomplished through coordination with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE). If the USACE is not consulted, the person delineating wetlands should be
identified and criteria listed.

4.Cover type maps showing acreage of upland wildlife habitat impacted by the proposed
project. Potential borrow sites and waste areas should be included.

5.Show the extent to which the project will result in loss, degradation, or fragmentation of
wildlife habitat (wetlands or uplands).

6.Include the mitigation plan for avoiding, minimizing or compensating for direct and
indirect degradation in habitat quality as well as quantitative losses.

U-5603 – NC 105 IMPROVEMENTS PAGE 3 JULY 18, 2016
HODGES CREEK, WATAUGA CO.

7.Address the overall environmental effects of the project construction and quantify the
contribution of this individual project to environmental degradation.

8.Provide a discussion of the probable impacts on natural resources, which will result from
secondary development, facilitated by the improved road access.

9.If construction of this facility is to be coordinated with other state, municipal, or private
development projects, a description of these projects should be included in the
environmental document, and all project sponsors should be identified.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input in the early planning stages of this project. If you
have any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at
[e-mail] or [phone].