20081056 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080702

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission P

MEMORANDUM

TO: Amanda Jones, USACOE p
Asheville Regulatory Field Office v

FROM Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator ZWC; J U L 2 3 2008
Habitat Conservation Program UENR - WATER QUALITY
WETLANDS AND STORMWATER BRANCH
DATE: July 2, 2008

SUBJECT: Yonahlossee Club Tennis Court Project Modification, Lance Creek, Watauga
County

The applicant proposes to relocate and enhance the creek instead of piping the stream. 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).

The project will temporarily impact 230 linear feet of perennial stream during channel relocation
and enhancement. Relocation is being done instead of previously requested piping. Wild
Rainbow trout are known for Lance Creek.

Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the providing the following non-
prioritized recommendations are implemented:

1. In stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are
prohibited during the rainbow trout spawning season of January 1 through April 15 to
protect the egg and fry stages of trout.

2. Remaining jurisdictional waters and wetlands should be buffered as proposed using
autochthonous plants. Buffers should be permanently preserved as common
contiguous forest areas. For streams that do not support federally listed threatened or
endangered aquatic species, we recommend 50' intermittent and 100' perennial
stream buffers. Maximum available buffers should be provided; however, the

Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]

July 2, 2008
Yonahlossee Club Tennis Courts -Page 2 -

twenty-five (25) foot trout buffer should be provided as undisturbed to the maximum
extent practicable.

3. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for
sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124).

4. A trout waiver from the NC Division of Land Resources may be needed prior to
beginning work in the trout buffer.

5. If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.

6. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream channel
in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other
pollutants into the stream.

7. Temporary or permanent native herbaceous vegetation should be established 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. Restored streams and stream
banks should be planted with autochthonous (native) plants like silky dogwood,
rhododendron, dog hobble, red maple, silky willow, tag alder, black willow,
sycamore, river birch, or other native woody species.

8. The project should be done in the dry and fully established with vegetation prior to
turning water into the new channel.

9. State-of-the-art natural channel design methods and techniques should be used for the
project.

10. Natural fiber matting is recommended over plastic matting that can impinge and
entrap small animals.

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-WSRO