Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080719 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080610,good o 7/9 :r (JS? ? C ?„?..'3f? J ® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9 TO: David Baker, NCDOT Coordinator Asheville Regulatory Field Office, USACE FROM: Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Permit Coordinator a"?L eta,m&Il-- Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC DATE: May 27, 2008 SUBJECT: Review of NCDOT's request for Section 404 and 401 permits to replace Bridge No. 42 on SR 1163 (Dink Cannon Road) over Second Broad River, McDowell County, North Carolina. TIP No. B-4195. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has submitted an application to obtain a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and a 401 Water Quality Certification from the Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). Staff biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the information provided. These comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c)) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d). NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 42 on SR 1163 (Dink Cannon Road) over Second Broad River with a new 80-foot by 32-foot bottomless pre-cast reinforced concrete culvert. Traffic will use an offsite detour. Project impacts total 90 feet of permanent fill and 0.05 acres of temporary fill in the Second Broad River. No wetlands occur on the project. The Second Broad River is expected to support a rainbow trout population in the project area and is assigned a best usage classification of WS-V by NCDWQ. The rainbow trout moratorium should apply. NCWRC can concur with the issuance of Section 404 and 401 permits provided that the following conditions are implemented: Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721 Telephone: (919) 707-0220 - Fax: (919) 707-0028 B-4195, Bridge No. 42 on SR 1163 Second Broad River, McDowell Co. -2- May 27, 2008 1. In-stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone is prohibited during the trout-spawning period of January 1-April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of rainbow trout. 2. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for sensitive watersheds and be strictly maintained until project completion. 3. Temporary or permanent herbaceous vegetation should be planted on all bare soil as soon as possible following the completion of permanent or temporary ground disturbing activities to provide appropriate long-term erosion control. 4. Tall fescue should not be used in riparian areas. We encourage NCDOT to utilize onsite native vegetation and materials for bank stabilization when practicable. Erosion control matting should be used in riparian areas (streambanks) and any disturbed steep slopes, instead of straw mulch, and well anchored with 12" staples, wooden survey stakes, or live stakes. 5. Stormwater should be directed to buffer areas or retention basins and should not be routed directly into the river, when practicable. 6. Discharge of materials into the river from demolition of the old bridge should be avoided as much as practicable. Any materials that inadvertently reach the river should be removed. 7. The natural dimension, pattern, and profile of the river above and below the crossing should not be modified by widening the channel or changing the depth of the river. 8. Removal of vegetation in riparian areas should be minimized. Native trees and shrubs should be planted along the banks to reestablish the riparian zone and to provide long- term erosion control. 9. Grading and backfilling should be minimized, and tree and shrub growth should be retained if possible to ensure long term availability of shoreline cover for fish and wildlife. Backfill materials should be obtained from upland sites. 10. Riprap placed for bank stabilization should be limited to the bank below the high water mark, and vegetation should be used for stabilization above the high water elevation. 11. If concrete will be used during construction, work must be accomplished so that wet (uncured) concrete does not contact surface waters. This will lessen the chance of altering the water chemistry and causing a fish kill. 12. Discharging hydroseeding mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment in or adjacent to surface waters is strictly prohibited. B-4195, Bridge No. 42 on SR 1163 Second Broad River, McDowell Co. -3- May 27, 2008 13. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the channel whenever possible in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into the river. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters should be inspected and maintained regularly to prevent contamination of surface waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids or other toxic materials. Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at (704) 984-1070. cc: Mike Parker, NCDWQ Brian Wrenn, NCDWQ Troy Wilson, USFWS Elizabeth Lusk, NCDOT Carla Dagnino, NCDOT