20170834 Ver 1_D7_T&E_Lttr_20170706

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May 24, 2016
Ms. Aileen Mayhew, PE
Mott MacDonald
7624 Purfoy Road, Suite 115
Fuquay-Vai•ina, NC 27526
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, LLC
559 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: [phone]
www.eprusa.net
SUBJECT: Threatened and Endangered Species Assessment for NCDOT Division 7 Low
Impact Bridge Replaceinents—Five Low Impact Bridge Sites in Guilford and Alai�7ance
Counties.
Dear Ms. Mayhew,
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration (EPR) has perfonned an assessment for the occurrence of
federally protected species at five low i�npact bridge replace projects witllin NCDOT Division 7.
The five projects are:
B-4958 Bridge #106 over Reedy Fork Creelc on SR 2128 - Guilford County
B-5715 Bridge #1 7 over Haw River on SR 2351 - Guilford and Rocici��gham Counties
B-5726 Bridge #]35 over Squirrel Creek on SR 1001 - Guilford County
B-5731 Bridge #112 over Haw River on SR 2109 - Guilford County
B-5735 Bridge #307 over Back Creek on SR 1936 - Alamance County
The following sw�nmarizes our findings. As of May 2017, the US Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) lists three federally protected species for Rocicingl�am County and one for Guilford
County. No federally protected species are listed as potentially occ�irring in Alamance County.
A brief description of each species' habitat requirements follows, along with the Biological
Conclusion rendeied based on survey results in the study area. Habitat requii-ements for each
species are based on the cui-rent best available infoi�nation from referenced literature and/or
USFWS.
- PROVIDING ECOSYSTEM PLANN/NG AND RESTORAT/ON SERVICES TO SUPPORT A SUSTA/NABLE ENVIRONMENT -

EC�SYSTEM
�
PLANNING Ec
�� F RESTORAII�N
County Common Scientific Federal Bridge(s) Biological
Name Name Status Conclusion
B-4958, B-
Guilford Small whorled Isotr�ia T 5715, B-5726, No Effect
pogonia medeolodies B-5731
Rockingham Roanoke per�cina rex E B-5715 No Effect
logperch
Rockingham James Pleur�obema E B-5715 No Effect
spine n�ussel collina
Rockinghain Smooth Echi�iacea E B-5715 No Effect
coneflower laevigata
E= endangered. A taxon "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significailt portion of its
range."
T= threatened. A t�axon "likely to become endangered withi�7 tl�e foreseeable future tl�roughout
all or a significant portion of its range."
Small whorled pogonia
USFWS Optimal Survey Window: mid May-early July
Habitat Description: Small whorled pogonia occLirs in young as well as maturing (second to third
successional gcowth) mixed-deciduous or nlixed-deciduolis/coniferous forests. It does not
appear to exhibit strong affinities for a particular aspect, soil type, or underlying geologic
substrate. In North Carolina, the perennial orchid is typically found in open, dry
deciduous woods and is often associated with white pine and rhododendron. The species
may also be found on dry, rocky, wooded slopes; moist slopes; ravines lacking stream
channels; or slope bases near braided channels of vernal streams. The orchid, often
limited by shade, requires small light gaps or canopy brealcs, and typically grows under
canopies that are relat�ively open or near feattires like logging roads or streams that create
long-per-sisting breaks in the forest canopy.
Biological C�onclusion: No Effect
Habitat for sma11 whorled pogonia occurs at four bridge locations (B-4958, B-5715, B-
5726, and B-5731) on the hillslopes above the floodplain. Surveys of these areas were
condticted by EPR biologists on May 24, 2017. No individuals of small wl�orled pogonia
were observed. A review of NCNHP records (Septeinber 2016) indicates no known
occurrences within 1.0 mile of the projects.
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�. ECOSYSTEM
PLANNIN� &
� F. �" RESTOR<tTI�N
Smooth coneflower
USFWS Optiinal Survey Window: late May-October
Habitat Description: Smooth coneflower, a pere�lnial herb, is typically found in meadows, open
woodlands, the ecotonal regio��s between ineadows and woodlands, cedar bai-rens, diy
liinestone bluffs, clear cnts, and roadside and utiliry rights-of-way. In North Carolina, the
species nor�nally grows in magnesium- and calcium- ric11 soils associated with gabbro
and diabase parent material, and typically occurs in Iredell, Misenheiiner, and Picture soil
series. It grows best where there is abundant sunlight, little competition in the herbaceotis
layer, a��d periodic disturbances (e.g., regular fire regime, well-timed mowing, carefill
clearing) that prevents encroachment of shade-producing woody sllrubs and trees. On
sites where woody succession is held in check, it is characterized by a number of species
with prairie affinities.
Biological Conclusion: - No Effect
Only B-5715 is located in Rocicinghain County. Habitat for smooth cone flower occurs
at B-5715 along the maintained right-of-way of SR 2351. Surveys were conducted by
�PR biologists o�1 May 24, 2017. No individuals of small whorled pogonia were
observed. A review of NCNHP records (September 2016) indicates no known
occui-rences within 1.0 mile of the project.
Roanoke logperch
USFWS Recominended Suivey Window: year round; April — June (optimal)
Habitat Description: In North Carolina, the logperch is known fioi� the upper Roanoke River
basin. The fish typically inhabits warm, usually clear, small to medium sized rivers.
These waterways have a moderate to low gradient, and the iish usually inllabit riffles and
runs, with silt-fi-ee sai�dy to boulder-strewn bottoms. Young are iisually foimd in slow
runs and pools with clean sandy bottoi�ns. In winter, logperch may be more tolerant of
silty substrates, and may also iilhabit pools. Spawning occurs in April or May ii1 deep
runs over gravel and small cobble. Males are associated with shallow riffles during the
reproductive period; females are common in deep nins over gravel ai�d small cobble,
where they spawn. The upper Roanoke River population is threatened by iu-banization,
industrial development, water supply ai�d flood control projects, and agricultuY-al runoff in
the uppei- basin.
Biological Conclusion: No Effect
Roanolce logperch only occur in the upper Roanolce River Basin. B-5715 is located in the
Cape Fear River Basin. A review of NCNHP records (Septeinber 2016) indicates no
known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the project.
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�, ECOSYSTEM
PLANNINC &
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James spinymussel
USFWS Recoininended Survey Window: year round; April-June (optimal)
Habitat Description: The James spinyn�ussel was once found tllroughout the main stem of the
James River and all of its major tributaries upstream of Richmond VA. The species has
experienced a precipitous decline over the past two decades and now exists only in small,
headwater triUutaries of the upper James River basin in Virginia and West Virginia and
the upper Roa�loke River drainage of Virginia and North Carolina. The James
spinymussel is foLind in waters with slow to moderate current and relatively hard water
on sand and mixed sand-gravel sLibstrates that are free from silt.
Biological Conclusion: No Effect
In North Carolina, James spineyinussel only occur in the upper Roanoke River Basin. B-
5715 is located in the Cape Fear River Basin. A review of NCNHP recoi-ds (September
2016) indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the project.
If you have any c�uestions or concerns, please contact �ne at [phone] or
rlepsic(cueprusa.net.
Sincerely,
r �
�, �'� `� ,,�--�_
�
Robert Lepsic, PWS
Senior Scientist
cc: Tim Jordan PE, Mott MacDonald
File
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