20070561 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20070419

? North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
To: Cyndi Karoly
NC DENR/DWQ
Kimberly Garvey
USACE
From: Steven H. Everhart, PhD, CWB
Southeastern Permit Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
A957A4C94__
Date: April 19, 2007
RE: Meadowlands Golf Club - McLamb Tract 401/404 Application, Brunswick County,
DWQ#07-0561 AID#200400468
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
application for impacts to wildlife and fishery resources. Our comments are provided in accordance with
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.),
and Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (as amended).
The project is located south of and adjacent to Shingletree Swamp, off SR 1302, in the southwest corner
of its intersection with SR 1330, in Brunswick County. The property consists of approximately32 acres
(estimated from GIS) including approximately 6.73 acres of wetlands. Land use in the vicinity includes
undeveloped, golf course, and residential. The subject property is currently undeveloped with an
abandoned sand mine in the northeastern corner.
The applicants propose to impact approximately 1.27 acres of wetland through excavation to construct a
retention pond and 0.41 acre through filling to create upland for development of a residential subdivision.
The applicants propose to mitigate for wetland impacts through restrictive covenants on the remaining
5.05 acres of wetlands on-site and through restrictive covenants on a 2.13 upland buffer surrounding the
protected wetlands.
We have the following concerns/recommendations:
• The plan does not describe how the slopes of the retention pond will be stabilized or maintained.
We recommend the use of locally native species such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Meadowlands Golf Course - McLamb Property
April 19, 2007
post-disturbance stabilization. Also, we recommend shrub species such as wax myrtle (Myrica
cerifera), silverling (Baccharis halimifolia), and/or marsh elder (Iva frutescens) for mid-story
cover and wetland tree saplings such as red maple (Acer rubrum), black gum (Nyssa biflora),
and/or laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) for canopy be planted around the retention pond. The use
of these species will provide food and cover for wildlife not afforded by lawn grasses typically
used for stabilization.
The NCWRC does not support the filling of wetlands for development and any required permit
authorization will receive a recommendation for denial unless the project has significant public
benefits and all wetlands or aquatic habitat impacts are fully mitigated. There is not sufficient
evidence in the application that minimization and avoidance of impacts has been accomplished.
To full mitigate impacts, we recommend that all remaining wetlands on-site be preserved through
conservation easement/deed restriction using language consistent with U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) guidelines for the preservation of wetlands. This language prohibits cutting,
pruning, mowing, or burning of vegetation; construction of any kind; use of herbicides; any land
disturbing activities; dumping or storing of soil, trash, or other waste; and the pasturing, grazing
or watering of animals, or any other agricultural or horticultural purpose within wetlands. In
addition, we recommend that, in order to provide for no net loss of wetlands, that the applicant be
required to purchase credits from NC EEP, preferably in Brunswick County.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this application. If you have any questions or
require additional information regarding these comments, please call me at [phone].