20171306 Ver 1_Comments_20171016

1
Williams, Paul C
From:Jordan, Gary <[e-mail]>
Sent:Friday, October 13, 2017 10:23 AM
To:Williams, Paul C
Cc:John Hammond; Wilson, Travis W.; Sanderson, Mike
Subject:Re: [External] Fwd: FW: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for
Comments
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify that the 
attachment and content are safe. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to [e-mail]. 

Paul,

Thanks for the additional info. With no pine removals, it appears it would be a "No Effect" biological
conclusion for RCWs.

Gary Jordan
Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Liaison to NCDOT
US Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726

Phone: [phone] x.32
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

NOTE: This email correspondence and any attachments to and from this sender are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
and may be disclosed to third parties.

On Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 9:06 AM, Williams, Paul C <[e-mail]> wrote:
No pine trees will be removed.  There are a few along the canal, but they are not in the area to be excavated.  The 
vegetation that will be removed during excavation is mostly Phragmites, with a few small Red Maples.  Photos 
attached.

Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Environmental Specialist
Division One
NC Department of Transportation

2
[phone] office
[phone] mobile
[phone] fax
[e-mail]

113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Jordan, Gary [mailto:[e-mail]]  
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 3:32 PM 
To: Williams, Paul C <[e-mail]> 
Cc: John Hammond <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Sanderson, Mike 
<[e-mail]> 
Subject: [External] Fwd: FW: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project ‐ Request for Comments

3
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify that the 
attachment and content are safe. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to [e-mail].

Paul,

This project would fall within the foraging partition of RCW Cluster TYR 4. This cluster was active in
2016. If pine trees are removed, it may necessitate a Section 7 consultation. We would need to know if pine
trees will be removed, what size, and how much acreage. You might want to touch base with Mike Sanderson
in Raleigh about this. I have cc'd him with this response.

Gary Jordan
Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Liaison to NCDOT
US Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726

Phone: [phone] x.32
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

NOTE: This email correspondence and any attachments to and from this sender are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
and may be disclosed to third parties.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jordan, Gary <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 3:03 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments
To: "Williams, Paul C" <[e-mail]>
Cc: Travis Wilson <[e-mail]>
Paul,
4

Like Travis, my main concern would be salt intrusion. Would there be a benefit if another tide gate was placed
farther north than the existing one? It appears that salt water could travel 1/2 mile before it is stopped by the
existing 42" CMP and tide gate.

Ultimately I would support better drainage because of negative effects that are occurring to RCW habitat.

Gary Jordan
Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Liaison to NCDOT
US Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 33726
Raleigh, NC 27636-3726

Phone: [phone] x.32
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

NOTE: This email correspondence and any attachments to and from this sender are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
and may be disclosed to third parties.

On Mon, Oct 9, 2017 at 2:38 PM, Williams, Paul C <[e-mail]> wrote:
Gary,

NCDOT plans to re-establish a canal to the Albemarle Sound in the Palmetto Peartree Preserve in Tyrrell
County. An existing canal was severely shoaled in with last year's tropical storms, as shown on the attach
photos. In order to re-establish drainage for the community, NCDOT plans to excavate the canal on Pledger
Harbor Road to reconnect it to the Albemarle Sound. This canal has a historical record of connectivity, as
shown on the aerial photo from 1964. Opening the canal on Pledger Harbor Road will have less impacts than
5
removing the sand that has shoaled in the existing canal to the west of the road. The community of Goat
Neck wants to re-establish drainage of the area due to flooding concerns.

NCDOT requests comments for the canal project from USFWS. The email thread below includes
coorespondence with NCWRC and NCDCM about the proposed project. Do you have any concerns
regarding re-establishing this canal?

Thanks, and let me know if you need additional information.

Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Environmental Specialist
Division One
NC Department of Transportation

[phone] office
[phone] mobile
[phone] fax
[e-mail]

113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
6
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Wilson, Travis W.
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2017 10:24 AM
To: Williams, Paul C <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments

Per our conversation this morning. My greatest concern is the saltwater intrusion into P3. For the most part I
think those concerns are alleviated with the presence of the tide gate just south of where the north/south canal
intersects the east/west canal. As well as the comments that from the RCW contractor over concerns that the
lack of drainage is now causing too much water and is resulting in tree mortality.

Also as you are now aware WRC is assessing P3 for acquisition, the proposal to open the older canal adjacent
to SR 1225 instead of the canal interior to P3 will also be beneficial in terms of future NCDOT maintenance
of that canal.

NCDOT and USFWS have been coordinating on a new agreement concerning the future of P3 I recommend
touching base with Gary Jordan on this as well.

Travis W. Wilson
Eastern Region Highway Project Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program

NC Wildlife Resources Commission
7
1718 Hwy 56 West
Creedmoor, NC 27522
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

ncwildlife.org

From: Williams, Paul C
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 3:22 PM
To: Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Staples, Shane <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments

Yes, but it’s 3.7 miles from this location. The canal that runs east to west connecting the two locations has
not been maintained for some time, but appears to have a connection from the aerial photos. Map of this
connection is attached. NCDOT’s goal is to re-establish the drainage in the vicinity of Pledger Harbor Road
that was cut off by recent storms. The drainage will just be shifted to a canal that had historically connected
to the Albemarle Sound.

Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Environmental Specialist
Division One
NC Department of Transportation

8
[phone] office
[phone] mobile
[phone] fax
[e-mail]

113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Wilson, Travis W.
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 2:29 PM
To: Williams, Paul C <[e-mail]>; Staples, Shane <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments

Doesn’t this canal system still have an open connection to the sound further west in the proximity of the radio
tower?
9

From: Williams, Paul C
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2017 8:35 AM
To: Staples, Shane <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments

Shane,

The canal to the west shoaled in last year, and the canal on Pledger Harbor Road shoaled in between 1964 and
1974. The PDF titles “Timelapse” will show recent events on the canals, and the two aerial slides show 1964
and 1974. I’ve also added info to the recent aerial that depicts the canal connectivity and culverts in the
vicinity. This project would re-establish drainage for the same system that was drained by the shoaled in
canal to the west in recent years. NCDOT prefers to open the canal on Pledger Harbor Road rather than
opening the canal to the west near Lewis Point.

There is a tide gate on a culvert that leads to a canal that goes into the Goat Neck Community. The P3
property has several tide gates in various canals.

NCDOT Tyrrell County maintenance would perform the work on the project, and it shouldn’t take more than
a week. That would include the riprap work, as well. The excavation in the Albemarle Sound depicts the
max that would be impacted, but it would only be excavated to meet the 2 ft. water depth. The excavation
would be accomplished with a tracked excavator from the beach. The max. volume excavated would be 13.6
yards in the sound, but realistically less material would be removed. Max distance from NHW would be 20’.

Thanks for the quick response, and let me know if you have any other questions.

Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Environmental Specialist
Division One
NC Department of Transportation

[phone] office
10
[phone] mobile
[phone] fax
[e-mail]

113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Staples, Shane
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2017 3:43 PM
To: Williams, Paul C <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments

From a fisheries standpoint I don’t see much that concerns me about the project. Opening a deadend canal
could potentially lead to some fish making a false run depending on the flows that canal has, but since it has
shoaled in I would suppose it has very little flow. How long has this canal been closed and will it allow
saltwater into areas that have had little salt intrusion? The two canal in question appear to be connected are
11
they? Also how far into the sound will excavation go? Bucket or hydraulic? Volume of material and duration
of work? AFSA moratorium may apply depending on the scale of work.

Thanks

Shane F. Staples
Fisheries Resource Specialist
Division of Coastal Management
Department of Environmental Quality

252 948 3950 office
[e-mail]

943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27817

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

From: Williams, Paul C
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2017 9:49 AM
To: Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Staples, Shane <[e-mail]>
Subject: Palmetto Peartree Preserve Canal Project - Request for Comments

Travis and Shane,
12

NCDOT plans to re-establish a canal to the Albemarle Sound in the Palmetto Peartree Preserve in Tyrrell
County. An existing canal was severely shoaled in with last year's tropical storms, as shown on the attach
photos. In order to re-establish drainage for the community, NCDOT plans to excavate the canal on Pledger
Harbor Road to reconnect it to the Albemarle Sound. This canal has a historical record of connectivity, as
shown on the aerial photo from 1964. Opening the canal on Pledger Harbor Road will have less impacts than
removing the sand that has shoaled in the existing canal to the west of the road. The community of Goat
Neck wants to re-establish drainage of the area due to flooding concerns.

NCDOT requests comments for the canal project. Do you have any concerns regarding re-establishing this
canal.

Thanks, and let me know if you need additional information.

Paul C. Williams, Jr.
Environmental Specialist
Division One
NC Department of Transportation

[phone] office
[phone] mobile
[phone] fax
[e-mail]

113 Airport Dr.
Suite 100
Edenton, NC 27932

13

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.