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Home My WebLink About20170836 Ver 1_D7_T&E_Lttr_20170706EC�SYSTEM _ F'LAN�IINC & •• F� ESTO RATI O N May 24, 2016 Ms. Aileen Mayhew, PE Mott MacDonald 7624 Purfoy Road, Suite 115 Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, LLC 559 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 150 Raleigh, NC 27606 Phone: (919) 388-0787 www.eprusa.net SUBJECT: Threatened and Endangered Species Assessment for NCDOT Division 7 Low Impact Bridge Replacements—Five Low Impact Bridge Sites in Guilford and Alamance Counties. Dear Ms. Mayhew, Ecosystem Planning and Restoration (EPR) has performed an assessment for the occurrence of federally protected species at five low impact bridge replace projects within NCDOT Division 7. The five projects are: B-4958 Bridge #106 over Reedy Fork Creek on SR 2128 - Guilford County B-5715 Bridge #17 over Haw River on SR 2351 - Guilford and Rockingham Counties B-5726 Bridge #135 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 summarizes our findings. As of May 2017, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) lists three federally protected species for Rockingham County and one for Guilford County. No federally protected species are listed as potentially occurring in Alamance County. A brief description of each species' habitat requirements follows, along with the Biological Conclusion rendered based on survey results in the study area. Habitat requirements for each species are based on the current best available information from referenced literature and/or USFWS. - PROVIDING ECOSYSTEM PLANN/NG AND RESTORAT/ON SERVICES TO SUPPORT A SUST,4/NABLE ENV/RONME'NT - Ec�svsr�M PLA�]NING Ec �� R'ESTORATiQN County Common Scientific Federal Bridge(s) Biological Name Name Status Conclusion Small whorled Isotria B-4958, B- Guilford pogonia medeolodies T 5715, B-5726, No Effect B-5731 Rockingham Roanoke percina rex E B-5715 No Effect lo erch Rockingham James Pleurobema E B-5715 No Effect s ine mussel collina Rockingham Smooth Echinacea E B-5715 No Effect coneflower laevigata E= endangered. A taxon "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." T= threatened. A taxon "likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range." Small whorled pogonia USFWS Optimal Survey Window: mid May-early July Habitat Description: Small whorled pogonia occurs in young as well as maturing (second to third successional growth) mixed-deciduous or mixed-deciduous/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 breaks, and typically grows under canopies that are relatively open or near features like logging roads or streams that create long-persisting breaks in the forest canopy. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Habitat for small 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 conducted by EPR biologists on May 24, 2017. No individuals of small whorled pogonia were observed. A review of NCNHP records (September 2016) indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the projects. PAGE 2 ,,,��`}}}s. EC�SYSf�M i�� PLA�]NINGEc i F2£STOF2l�,T10N Smooth coneflower USFWS Optimal Survey Window: late May-October Habitat Description: Smooth coneflower, a perennial herb, is typically found in meadows, open woodlands, the ecotonal regions between meadows and woodlands, cedar barrens, dry limestone bluffs, clear cuts, and roadside and utility rights-of-way. In North Carolina, the species normally grows in magnesium- and calcium- rich soils associated with gabbro and diabase parent material, and typically occurs in Iredell, Misenheimer, and Picture soil series. It grows best where there is abundant sunlight, little competition in the herbaceous layer, and periodic disturbances (e.g., regular fire regime, well-timed mowing, careful clearing) that prevents encroachment of shade-producing woody shrubs 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 Rockingham County. Habitat for smooth cone flower occurs at B-5715 along the maintained right-of-way of SR 2351. Surveys were conducted by EPR biologists on May 24, 2017. No individuals of small whorled pogonia were observed. A review of NCNHP records (September 2016) indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the project. Roanoke logperch USFWS Recommended Survey Window: year round; April — June (optimal) Habitat Description: In North Carolina, the logperch is known from 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 fish usually inhabit riffles and runs, with silt-free sandy to boulder-strewn bottoms. Young are usually found in slow runs and pools with clean sandy bottoms. In winter, logperch may be more tolerant of silty substrates, and may also inhabit pools. Spawning occurs in April or May in deep runs over gravel and small cobble. Males are associated with shallow riffles during the reproductive period; females are common in deep runs over gravel and small cobble, where they spawn. The upper Roanoke River population is threatened by urbanization, industrial development, water supply and flood control projects, and agricultural runoff in the upper basin. Biological Conclusion: No Effect Roanoke logperch only occur in the upper Roanoke River Basin. B-5715 is located in the Cape Fear River Basin. A review of NCNHP records (September 2016) indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the project. PAGE 3 „,��`}}}--- s. ECc7SYST�M i�� PLA�]NINGEc i R£STOFiA,T1dN James spinymussel USFWS Recommended Survey Window: year round; April-June (optimal) Habitat Description: The James spinymussel was once found throughout 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 tributaries of the upper James River basin in Virginia and West Virginia and the upper Roanoke River drainage of Virginia and North Carolina. The James spinymussel is found in waters with slow to moderate current and relatively hard water on sand and mixed sand-gravel substrates that are free from silt. Biological Conclusion: No Effect In North Carolina, James spineymussel only occur in the upper Roanoke River Basin. B- 5715 is located in the Cape Fear River Basin. A review of NCNHP records (September 2016) indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the project. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at (919) 388-0787 or rle�sic(a�eprusa.net. Sincerely, i � ,� � f � ,�� U _ �i ” Robert Lepsic, PWS Senior Scientist cc: Tim Jordan PE, Mott MacDonald File PAGE 4