20160728 Ver 1_20140106_letter_Service to NCDOT_Division 7 bridge replacements_20160815

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh. North Carolina 27636-3726
Januaiy 6, 2014
Pamela Williams
North Carolina Department of Transportation
TPMU-Priority Projects Unit
1020 Birch Ridge Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
Dear Ms. Williams:
This letter is in i•esponse to your request for comments fi•om the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) on the potential envir•onmental effects of the following proposed bridge replacements
in Division 7.
County Sti•ucture Number Route Stream
Guilford 400183 SR 2710 Prong Haw River
Guilfoi•d 400254 SR 3121 Unnamed Ci•eek
Guilford 400271 SR 3343 Stinking Quai•ter Creek
Guilford 400314 SR 3121 Branch South Prong Stinking Quarter Creek
Guilford 400379 SR 2715 Prong Reedy Fork
Guilfoi�d 400427 SR 2704 Branch of Haw River
Rockingham 780121 SR 2150 Branch Creek
Rockingham 780122 SR 2150 Prong Jacobs Creek
Rocicingham 780130 SR 2153 Unnamed Creelc
Orange 670023 SR 1508 South Fork Little River
Orange 670061 SR 1002 Unnamed Creek
Orange 670075 SR ll27 New Hope Creek
Orange 670077 SR 1113 New Hope Creek
Orange 670126 SR 1526 Unnamed Creek
Orange 670132 SR 1500 Unnamed Creek
Orange 670173 SR 1353 Prong Eno River
Orange 670221 SR 1135 Unnamed Creek
These comments provide information in accordance with provisions of the National
Envii•onmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543). The Service will not be attending the scheduled
field scoping meetings.

Specific Comments
Rockin�ham County Bridge No. 122 and No. 130
The federally endangered Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) is known to occur in the Dan River
and some of its tributaries. Both Bridge No. 122 and 130 are located on tributaries that flow
directly into the Dan River. Although it is unknown if the Roanoke logperch occurs in these
tributaries, surveys for the species should be conducted if suitable habitat occurs at or
immediately downstream of the bridge crossings.
General Comments
For bridge replacement projects, the Service recommends the following general conservation
measures to avoid or minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Wetland, forest and designated riparian buffer impacts should be avoided and minimized
to the maximum extent practical;
2. If unavoidable wetland or stream impacts are proposed, a plan for compensatory
mitigation to offset unavoidable impacts should be provided early in the planning
process;
3. Off-site detours should be used rather than construction of temporary, on-site bridges.
For projects requiring an on-site detour in wetlands or open water, such detours should be
aligned along the side of the existing structure which has the least and/or least quality of
fish and wildlife habitat. At the completion of construction, the detour area should be
entirely removed and the impacted areas be replanted with appropriate tree species;
4. In streams utilized by anadromous fish, the NCDOT policy entitled "Stream Crossing
Guidelines for Anadromous Fish Passage" should be implemented;
5. New bridges should be long enough to allow for sufficient wildlife passage along stream
corridors;
6. On each side of the stream bank underneath bridges, at least 10 feet of the bank should
remain clear of riprap;
7. "Best Management Practices (BMP) for Construction and Maintenance Activities"
should be implemented;
8. Bridge designs should include provisions for roadbed and deck drainage to flow through
a vegetated buffer prior to reaching the affected stream. This buffer should be large
enough to alleviate any potential effects from run-off of storm water and pollutants;
9. Bridge designs should not alter the natural stream and stream-bank morphology or
impede fish passage. To the extent possible, piers and bents should be placed outside the
bank-full width of the stream; and

10. Bridges and approaches should be designed to avoid any fill that will result in damming
or constriction of the channel or flood plain. If spanning the flood plain is not feasible,
culverts should be installed in the flood plain portion of the approach to restore some of
the hydrological functions of the flood plain and reduce high velocities of flood waters
within the affected area.
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act requires that all federal action agencies (or their
designated non-federal representatives), in consultation with the Service, insure that any action
federally authorized, funded, or carried out by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of any federally threatened or endangered species. To assist you, a county-
by-county list of federally protected species known to occur in North Carolina and information
on their life histories and habitats can be found on our web page at
http•//www fws.�ov/ralei�pecies/cnt li�st/nc counties.html .
Although the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) database does not indicate any
known occurrences of listed species near the project vicinities, use of the NCNHP data should
not be substituted for actual field surveys if suitable habitat occurs near the project sites. The
NCNHP database only indicates the presence of known occurrences of listed species and does
not necessarily mean that such species are not present. It may simply mean that the area has not
been surveyed. If suitable habitat occurs within the project vicinities for any listed species,
surveys should be conducted to determine presence or absence of the species.
If you determine that the proposed actions may affect (i.e. likely to adversely affect or not likely
to adversely affect) a listed species, you should notify this office with your determination, the
results of your surveys, survey methodologies and an analysis of the effects of the actions on
listed species, including consideration of direct, indirect and cumulative effects, before
conducting any activities that might affect the species. If you determine that the proposed
actions will have no effect (i.e. no beneficial or adverse, direct or indirect effect) on listed
species, then you are not required to contact our office for concurrence.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to comment on these projects. If you have any questions
regarding our response, please contact Mr. Gary Jordan at [phone], ext. 32.
Sincerely,
�- Pete Benjamin
� Field Supervisor
Electronic copy: Andy Williarns, USACE, Wake Forest, NC
Travis Wilson, NCWRC, Creedmoor, NC