20171002 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20170907

El North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
September 7, 2017
Ms. Amanda Fuemmeler
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
SUBJECT: Phillips Project
South Fork New River, Watauga County
Dear Ms. Fuemmeler:
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed an
application to stabilize 126 feet of the 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).
Project activities should not impact wild trout and do not need to be avoided during the trout
moratorium. However, the South Fork New River is recognized by the NC Natural Heritage
Program as the South Fork New River Aquatic Habitat, rated Exceptional for the richness of rare
species it contains. Rare and listed species found in the river in the vicinity of the project include
two mussels—Green Floater [Lasmigona subviridis, US Federal Species of Concern (FSC), NC
Endangered] and Spike [Elliptio dilatata, NC Special Concern (SC)].
The application proposes to stabilize an eroding reach of bank through sloping the bank, planting
native woody and herbaceous vegetation, and installing one in -stream rock vane. Most work will
be done from the bank, but some instream access may be necessary for proper installation of the
rock vane. We support this project, as it should address bank erosion and reduce instream
sediment.
We offer the following recommendations to minimize impacts to the aquatic community:
1. In -channel work should be accomplished as quickly as possible and vigilance used in
sediment and erosion control during site preparation, construction, and clean up. Disturbed
areas should be seeded, mulched and/or matted as soon as possible, preferably at the end of
each work day.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Phillips Project Page 2 September 7, 2017
South Fork New River, Watauga County
2. Any erosion control matting used should be free of nylon or plastic mesh, as this type of
mesh netting frequently entangles wildlife and is slow to degrade, resulting in a hazard that
may last for years.
3. For the rock vane installation, we recommend diverting flows around the work area in order
to reduce the risk of fine sediment liberation and loss.
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: Glen Sullivan, Foggy Mountain Nursery
Sue Homewood, NC Division of Water Resources
Byron Hamstead, US Fish and Wildlife Service