20081349 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20080912

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North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT
Cyndi Karoly, 401 Certification Unit
NC Division of Water Quality
Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
September 10, 2008
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SEp 12 2008
WEDS AND STORMW BRMC"
City of Newton, First Street Culvert, DWQ No. 2008-1349, Snow Hill Branch,
Catawba County
The applicant proposes to replace culverts to maintain local transportation. 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-I through 113A-10; NCAC 25).
The project is to install a single and a dual barrel culvert. Total impacts will increase from
current impacts by 134 linear feet of intermittent and perennial waters. No listed species or trout
are known for the area.
Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project as proposed. We routinely
recommend the following for culvert projects:
1. Bridges are preferred for permanent crossings of streams, floodplains and associated
wetlands to eliminate fill in active streams and floodplains. Floodplain capacities and
floodplain functions should be maintained or restored. Where culverts must be used,
culverts should be designed and constructed to ensure passage of storm events and
passage of aquatic organisms during low flow conditions. Culverts should be as short
as possible and culverts should not be used for non essential or non linear crossing
purposes. Culverts 48" diameter or larger should be buried at least a foot (12") below
the streambed. Culverts less than 48" diameter should be buried to a depth equal to
or greater than twenty (20) percent of their diameter. Depth of burial should be based
on the stream's natural thalweg depth. Culverts should be aligned and situated so that
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Faleigh, NU 2 709y-1 /Ll
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]
Newton - First Street Culvert R&R -Page 2 -
September 10, 2008
no channel realignment or widening is required unless such modification will
improve natural conditions. Widening of the stream channel at the inlet or outlet of
the culvert structure causes a decrease in water depth and velocity causing
sedimentation impacts and reduction of aquatic passage. Piping should be large
enough to prevent high velocity erosion (faucet effect) on the downstream end and
erosive swirling on the upstream end. Bottomless arch culverts should be large
enough and installed in a manner that a) the active stream and bank full benching can
be accommodated within the structure and b) significant floodwaters can access the
floodplain without structural or riparian zone damage. Flat concrete aprons between
wing-walls must not be used. Riprap must not be placed in the streambed unless
absolutely necessary and if used in channel, it must provide natural channel
dimensions. If multiple barrels are installed, base flow barrels should be installed as
indicated above while additional barrels should be placed with floors located at the
active floodplain or bank full elevation. These elevated barrels should be connected
to the active floodplain or bank full benches to ensure natural stream dimensions for
the base flow channel with sufficient water depth during low flows and drought
conditions to accommodate normally anticipated aquatic movement. If culverts are
long and/or sufficient slopes exist, alternating baffles should be provided in the base
flow barrel in a manner to conform to channel bends upstream and downstream, to
mimic natural meanders, to prevent upstream scour and downstream deposition, to
move and contain typical bed load materials, and to provide resting areas for aquatic
species. When multiple barrels are used, at least one barrel should be designed and
constructed with a floor material easily used by terrestrial wildlife. Plastic pipes
should be corrugated (not smooth or slick) on the inside so that bed load materials can
be established to provide and maintain natural substrates.
2. Stringent erosion control measures should be installed where soil is disturbed and
maintained until project completion.
If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.
4. 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.
Temporary or permanent native herbaceous vegetation should be established on all
bare soil without undue delay to provide long-term erosion control. Natural fiber
matting is recommended over plastic matting that can impinge and entrap small
animals. Onsite vegetation and materials may be used for stream bank 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: Kevin Barnett, Linda Wiggs, DWQ-ARO