20170594 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20170531

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
May 31, 2017
Ms. Sue Homewood
NC Division of Water Resources
450 West Hanes Mill Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
SUBJECT: McRee Stream Enhancement
East Fork South Fork New River, Watauga County
Dear Ms. Homewood:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application for stream bank stabilization work that would impact 80 ft of the East Fork South
Fork New River in Watauga County. Our comments on this application are offered for your
consideration under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
The East Fork South Fork New River contains Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout,
and project activities should be avoided between October 15 and April 15 to minimize impacts to
trout spawning. In addition, the river hosts the NC Significantly Rare Tongue-tied Minnow
(Exoglossum laurae). These species are especially sensitive to excess sediment.
The project will involve the replacement of an 80 -ft section of failing concrete wall along the
East Fork South Fork New River. A house and deck are sited on the edge of the river bank. The
project involves the construction of 2 6 -ft sections of concrete wing wall, with stacked boulders
and vegetation to be used for the remainder of the stabilization. Stream banks will be sloped
back to 3:1, matted, and planted with a mix of ornamental and native plants. It appears that work
will be performed from the stream bank, and silt fences will be used to contain sediment. Sand
bags will be used to isolate the areas where concrete walls will be reconstructed. Disturbed areas
will be stabilized at the end of each work day.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources:
1. Project activities should be avoided between October 15 and April 15 to minimize impacts to
trout spawning.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

McRee Stream Enhancement Page 2 May 31, 2017
E Fk S Fk New R, Watauga County
2. Work should be accomplished as quickly as possible and vigilance used in sediment and
erosion control during site preparation, construction, and clean up.
3. We recommend that the entire work area be isolated from flows with sand bags or other
material. Work should be done during a period of low flow.
4. It is essential that concrete be allowed to cure in the dry to avoid dangerously high in -stream
pH levels.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Please contact me at
[phone] if you have any questions about these comments.
Sincerely,
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Region Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Program
ec: Teresa Buckwalter, Destination by Design
Scott McRee, landowner
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service