20080681 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080422

~Q~~~~~/
~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT
Amanda Jones, USACOE
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
' 1 Re Tonal Coordinator /'~
Ron Lmvil e, g
Habitat Conservation Program
April 11, 2008
a~R ~ ~ 200
pENR - WATER QUAU i Y
W!ET~ANDS AND STORMWATER ~}RA,Ni:F?
Eason Project, Unnamed Tributaries Phoenix & Little Phoenix Creeks, Ashe
County
The applicant proposes to restore diminished stream habitats. 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 is indicated to help restore stream integrity and stream habitats that have been
severely diminished from Christmas tree farming activities upstream. Brook tout are known for
tributaries to little Phoenix and Brown trout are known for lower tributaries near the New River.
Kanawha minnow, Phenacobius teretulus (NCSC, FSC); logperch, Percina caprodes (NCT);
seep mudalia, Leptoxis dilatata (NCT); sharpnose darter, Percina oxyrhynchus (NCSC); purple
wartyback, Cyclonaias tuberculata (NCSC); spike, Elliptio dilatata (NCSC); tonguetied
minnow, Exoglossum laurae (NCSR); Kanawha darter, Etheostoma kanawhae (NCSR); and
crayfish on the NC Watch List (New River crayfish, Ccrmbarus chasmodactylus; and Orconectes
cristavarius, no common name) occur throughout the New River and tributaries.
Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project providing the following
recommended conditions are implemented:
In stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are
prohibited during the brown and brook trout spawning season of October 1 S through
April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of trout from off-site sedimentation during
construction.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Eason Project -Page 2 -
April 11, 2008
2. State-of--the-art natural channel design techniques should be incorporated into the
project.
3. As public funds are involved, restored 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. For
streams that do not support federally listed threatened or endangered aquatic species,
we recommend 50' intermittent and 100' perennial stream buffers. Maximum
available buffers should be provided; however, the 25-foot trout buffer should be
restored and remain undisturbed to the maximum extent practicable.
4. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124).
5. If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.
6. To the extent practicable, 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) days of ground disturbing activities in the 25-foot trout buffer
to provide long-term erosion control. We encourage use of natural fiber matting
instead of plastic matting that can entrap small animals.
If practicable to implement to protect this restoration project or if required pursuant to state or
federal regulations, Best Management Practices should be provided to help control stormwater
runoff and preclude erosion and sedimentation issues from the Christmas tree farm. These
activities should be pursued by appropriate regulatory agencies having specific farm land and
sediment control oversight.
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: Sue Homewood, DWQ-WSRO