20041905 Ver 3_Other Agency Comments_20070820

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Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Monte Matthews, USACOE
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: August 17, 2007
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Pipe Addition/Permit
Modification, SRI 127, Shawnee Road, Unnamed Tributary Shawneehaw Creek
(Class C, Trout), Watauga County
NCDOT proposes to install an additional CMP as they grade, drain, base, and pave SRI 127.
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).
Previous permits have been issued for the bulk of this project. Total new stream impacts will be
30 linear feet. A temporary dewatering process will allow the project to be accomplished in the
dry. Rainbow, brown and some brook trout are present throughout the project area. The Green
floater, Lasmigona subviridis (NCE, FSC) has been documented for portions of the Watauga
River drainage. The Beech Creek Bog, a NC Parks Natural Area is located along portions of
Shawnee Road.
Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of the area, we will not object to the
project as proposed providing the following conditions are followed and properly implemented:
1. Instream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are
prohibited during the brown and brook trout spawning season of October 15 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]
` SRI 127, Shawnee Road MOD 2 August 17, 2007
2. Culverts 48" diameter or larger should be buried a foot into the streambed. Culverts
less than 48" diameter should be buried to a depth equal to or greater than 20% their
size to allow for aquatic life passage. These measurements must be based on natural
thalweg depths. All waters must flow through without freefalling or damming on
either end during low flow conditions to maintain aquatic life and/or fish passage.
Any riprap used must be installed so as not to interfere with aquatic life movement
during low flows.
3. The dimension, pattern, and profile of the stream above and below the pipe should not
be modified by widening the stream channel or reducing the depth of the stream.
Floodplains and streams associated with the road project should be maintained and/or
restored to natural geomorphic conditions.
4. If concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does not
contact stream water.
5. Stringent erosion control measures should be installed where soil is disturbed and
maintained until project completion. Heavy equipment should be operated from the
bank rather than in the stream channel in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce
release of petroleum pollutants to waters.
6. Temporary or permanent herbaceous vegetation should be planted on all bare soil
within five (5) days of ground disturbing activities in the twenty-five (25) foot trout
buffer to provide long-term erosion control. We encourage NCDOT to utilize onsite
vegetation and materials for streambank stabilization when practicable.
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
Heath Slaughter, DOT
Marella Buncick, USFWS
Kathy Matthews, EPA
Marla Chambers, WRC