HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071483 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070910
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Amanda Jones, Permit Coordinator, Asheville Office ~~~~~~,~ ~„.,p ~~ ii{~ ~~_:~,~^~s~f
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers !r
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FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program ' ~~ ~,,s~: ti ~~ar~R ou~ur~~
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DATE: August 24, 2007
SUBJECT: Lake James Shoreline Stabilization Application, Robert Bisson, Lot 140, Section
II, South Pointe Subdivision, Burke County
The applicant is requesting letters of concurrence from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC) to obtain a 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
NCWRC has reviewed information provided by the applicant, and field biologists on our staff
are familiar with habitat values of the project area. These comments are provided in accordance
with provisions of 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).
The applicant proposes to install riprap to stabilize 90 feet of eroding shoreline on Lake James.
Based on the information provided by the applicant, we will not object to the project provided
that the following non-prioritized conditions are followed:
1. The stabilization project should be done by barge with minimum class I (class II
preferred) riprap or rock instead of a wall. This size rock improves aquatic
habitat structure. We do not support the use of river rock as mining river rock
causes impacts to aquatic environments and destabilizes riparian zones by causing
unnatural geomorphic regime modifications. Fabric matting may be used beneath
the stone to reduce erosion and turbidity. To the extent practicable, rock or stone
should be placed just above the high water mark and towards the lake five (5) to
six (6) feet to provide continuous aquatic edge habitat.
2. Stabilization work should occur from the water instead of the shore to minimize
buffer impacts. Existing wooded buffers should be preserved. Any Large
Woody Debris (LWD) and natural rock should be maintained to the maximum
extent practicable to provide aquatic habitat. If relocated, the LWD must be
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: (919) 733-3633 Faz: (919) 715-7643
Bison Stabilization, Lake Lames 2
August 24, 2007
securely anchored so that it will remain where installed. We recommend that
large boulders be placed for fish habitat every 30 feet to provide enhanced aquatic
habitat. Placement should be accomplished so as not to cause hazardous
conditions.
3. Stringent erosion control measures should be installed where soil is disturbed and
maintained until project completion. Temporary or permanent herbaceous
vegetation should be planted on all bare soil within ten (1 O) days of ground
disturbing activities to provide long-term erosion control.
4. Disturbed banks may be revegetated with silky dogwood (Corpus amotrum), silky
willow (Salix sericea), tag alder (Alms serrulata), black willow (Salix nigra), and
sycamore (Platamrs occidentalis) or other native plants to provide long term bank
stability and stream shading. Note that silky dogwood, silky willow and black
willow can be planted as live stakes collected during the dormant growing season.
Cuttings should be randomly planted and done on four (4} foot centers from the
waters edge to the top of the bank. Trees should be planted on ten (10) to twelve
(12) foot centers. Banks in these areas should also be seeded with an approved
riparian/wetland seed mix or temporary crop of wheat or rye.
5. Wide undisturbed shoreline buffers and natural vegetation should be maintained
to the extent practicable.
6. The applicant should contact state and local planning and environmental
authorities to determine if permits are needed for the any buffer infringements or
impacts.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at 336/769-9453.
Cc: Kevin Barnett, DWQ-Asheville