20080119 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080320

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Z 2 0 2008
WATER QUALITY
STOIiA,pyATER BRANCH
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~~
MEMORANDUM
TO: Amanda Jones, USACOE
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator ~
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: January 18, 2008
SUBJECT: Lowe's of SE Catawba County, DWQ No. 20080119, Unnamed Tributary Killian
Creek, Catawba County
The applicant proposes to impact wetlands and install a culvert in waters for site development.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are familiar with habitat
values in the area. These comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and the North
Carolina Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through 113A-10; NCAC 25).
The project includes impacting 0.425 acres of wetland and 2621inear feet of perennial stream. A
retaining wall will reduce direct impacts to remaining wetlands. Killian Creek is not known to
support trout or listed species.
Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project as proposed providing the
following conditions are implemented
1. To the maximum extent practicable, culverts 48" or larger should be buried a foot
into the streambed. Culverts less than 48 inches in diameter should be buried to a
depth equal to or greater than 20% their size to allow for aquatic life passage. These
measurements must be based on natural thalweg depths. Aquatic life passage must be
assured during low flow or drought conditions. Any riprap used must not interfere
with aquatic life movement during low flows.
2. Remaining jurisdictional waters and wetlands should be buffered, either through
protection or provision of undisturbed forested buffer zones. Buffers should be
permanently preserved as common contiguous forest areas instead of being
subdivided into portions of individual lots. For streams that do not support federally
listed threatened or endangered aquatic species, we recommend 50' intermittent and
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Lowes of SE Catawba -Page 2 -
January 18, 2008
100' perennial stream buffers. Maximum available buffers should be provided and
remain undisturbed to the maximum extent practicable.
3. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (i SA NCAC 4B .0124).
4. Stormwater mans. eg ment should be provided, especially for large impervious areas
and commercial properties. To the extent practicable, pre development hydrograph
and stream recharge conditions should be maintained.
5. If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.
6. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream channel
in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other
pollutants into the stream.
7. Temporary or permanent native herbaceous vegetation should be established on all
bare soil within five (5) to ten (10) days of ground disturbing activities within the
buffer to provide long-term erosion control. We encourage use of natural fiber
matting instead of plastic matting which can entrap small animals. Onsite vegetation
and materials may be used for stream bank stabilization when practicable.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning
stages. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336/769-9453.
E-copy: Kevin Barnett, DWQ-ARO