20161118 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20161214

Burdette, Jennifer a
From: Munzer, Olivia
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 1:32 PM
To: Dailey, Samantha J CIV USARMY CESAW (US)
Cc: Burdette, Jennifer a; [e-mail]
Subject: PCN SAW -2016-00628 Historic Rogers Rd Sewer Expansion - Orange
Attachments: PCN 161118 Rogers Rd Sewer Expansion Orange -WRC Comments.pdf
Samantha,
Please see the attached recommendations for the PCN application listed above. Please let me know if you have any
questions. Thank you.
Olivia Mi.inzer
Western Piedrnon'i: ... abitat Conservation Coordinator
N( y' idlife Peso,.irces Commission
,� ., n�4,,
Sykes Depot, �=,.I urncr rtd.
Mebane, N Z r 0Z.
Office E 2'Q 056 CSII: 3 2,6Q G 4
[e-mail]
www.ncwildlife.org
a 91 'i "51hiMFMMMM
®mail. cormspondprice to acid fom this spndpr is subjpct to thp N.C. ;Public Records _aw and may by disclos d o H'iiird paries

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Samantha Dailey, Regulatory Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
FROM: Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Coordinator
Habitat Conservation
DATE: December 14, 2016
SUBJECT: Pre -Construction Notification for the Historic Rogers Road Sewer Expansion Project;
Orange County, USACE Action ID No. SAW -2016-00628; DEQ Project No. 20161118.
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
document. Comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as
amended), Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667e), 16 U.S.C.
661-667d), North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 113-131 et seq.) and North Carolina Administrative
Code 15A NCAC 101.0 102.
AECOM, on behalf of Orange County, proposes to install approximately 3,000 linear feet of 12 -inch
ductile iron pipe and 15,500 linear feet of 8 -inch ductile iron pipe for a new gravity sanitary sewer system
within new and existing 30 -foot permanent utility easements. The Nationwide Permit 12 application
indicates that a total of 0.56 acres of wetlands would be impacted, of which 0.02 acre would be permanent
and 0.48 acre of forested wetlands would be converted to emergent wetlands for the permanent easement.
Open -cut construction would temporarily impact 193 linear feet of streams and permanently impact 84
linear feet of streams. Additionally, the proposed project would impact 5,902 square feet of riparian
buffer subject to Jordan Lake Buffer Rules.
Unnamed tributaries to Bolin Creek in the Cape Fear River basin flow through the project area and a
small segment of the project will impact the riparian buffer of an unnamed tributary of Old Field Creek
that occurs in the B. Everett Jordan Lake -New Hope River watershed in the Cape Fear River basin. There
are records for federal species of concern and state endangered brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa),
Atlantic pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni), and Carolina creekshell (Villosa vaughaniana); the state threatened
creeper (Strophitus undulatus); the state species of concern notched rainbow (Villosa constricta) and four -
toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum); and the state significantly rare chameleon lampmussel
(Lampsilis sp.), and eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis) downstream of the unnamed tributary to Old
Field Creek.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation Division • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Page 2
December 14, 2016
Historic Rogers Road Sewer Extension Project
SAW -2016-00628
Due to the sensitive species found in this watershed, we offer the following recommendations to
minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources.
Erosion and sediment control measures should conform to the High Quality Water Zones
standards stipulated in the NC Department of Environmental Quality Erosion and
Sediment Control Plan (htlps:Hdeg.nc.gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-land-
resources/energy-mineral-land-permit-guidance/erosion-sediment-control-planning-
design-manual). Sediment and erosion control measures should be installed prior to any
land -disturbing activity. The use of biodegradable and wildlife -friendly sediment and
erosion control devices is strongly recommended. Silt fencing, fiber rolls and/or other
products should have loose -weave netting that is made of natural fiber materials with
movable joints between the vertical and horizontal twines. Silt fencing that has been
reinforced with plastic or metal mesh should be avoided as it impedes the movement of
terrestrial wildlife species. Excessive silt and sediment loads can have detrimental effects
on aquatic resources including destruction of spawning habitat, suffocation of eggs, and
clogging of gills.
2. Avoid impacting the riparian buffer (Buffer Impact 17, Zone 2) of the unnamed tributary
to Old Field Creek, a headwater stream to New Hope River. In general, maintain a
minimum 100 -foot undisturbed, native, forested buffer along perennial streams, and a
minimum 50 -foot buffer along intermittent streams and wetlands for stream channels not
impacted by project construction. Forested riparian buffers provide habitat areas for
aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species and travel corridors for terrestrial wildlife. In
addition, forested riparian buffers protect water quality by stabilizing stream banks and
filtering stormwater runoff.
3. Reduce the number of stream crossings to avoid or minimize impacts, particularly near
Homestead Road and south of Tallyho Trail. After construction, disturbed stream banks
and wetlands should be restored to original contours and re -vegetated with native plant
materials. Riprap may be used to stabilize the bank in the area of the ordinary high water
stage and vegetation (bioengineering) should be used above this stage. Riprap should not
be placed on the streambed.
4. Disturbed areas should be re -seeded with seed mixtures that are beneficial to wildlife.
Avoid fescue -based mixtures because fescue is invasive and provides little benefit to
wildlife. Native, annual small grains appropriate for the season are preferred and
recommended. Where feasible, use woody debris and logs from corridor clearing to
establish brush piles and downed logs adjacent to the cleared right-of-way to improve
habitat for wildlife. Allowing the corridor area to re -vegetate into a brush/scrub habitat
would maximize benefits to wildlife. For areas adjacent to residential areas, a native
shrub/grass option may also be beneficial.
5. Minimize corridor maintenance and prohibit mowing between April 1 and October 1 to
minimize impacts to nesting wildlife. The NCWRC recommends a maintenance schedule
that incorporates only a portion of the area — one third of the area, for example — each
year instead of the entire project every 3 or 4 years. Avoid using herbicides in wetland
areas or near streams.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If I can be of further
assistance please contact me at [phone] or olivia.munzer(a�ncwildlife.org.
ec: Jennifer Burdette, NC Division of Water Resources
John Ellis, US Fish and Wildlife Service