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Home My WebLink About20171465 Ver 1_Br 129 Dan George Road (SR 1484) Stokes Concurrence request_20171115STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPAR'I'MENT OF TRANSPORTATION PAT MCCRORY GOVERNOR February 2, 2015 Mr. Jason Mays U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Asheville Field Office 160 Zillicoa Street Asheville, NC 28801 ANTHONYJ.TATA SECRETARY Subject: Sectian 7 Concurrence Request for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 129 on SR 1484 (Dan George Road) over South Double Creek in Stokes County. (WBS No. 17BP.9.R.61). Dear Sir: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge No. 129 over Sou[h Double Creek. The existing bridge is a steel plank deck on I-beams. The end bents are timber caps and piles. The interior bents are reinforced concrete posts and beams with steel caps, posts and concrete sills. The proposed bridge is a concrete cored slab superstructure, and concrete substructure. The structure will span the stream. The sedimentation and erosion control measures will adhere to the Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds. The James spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is a Federally Endangered species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for Stokes County. On July 2, 2014, a mussel survey was conducted on South Double Creek by NCDOT biologists Neil Medlin (Permit No. 14-ES00030), Jared Gray (Permit No. 14-ES00314), and Division 9 staff inembers Amy Euliss and Stephanie Braquet. No live mussels or mussel shells were observed. The Natural Heritage Program (NHP) database indicated that there is a known occurrence of the federally endangered James spinymussel in ffie Dan River, approximately 0.6 river miles downstream of this project. Due to the proximity of the James spinymussel occurrence, we concluded that the project may affect but is not likely to adversely affect this species. Attached is a copy of the survey report. The remaining Federally Endangered species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for Stokes CounTy include Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) and small-anthered bittercress (Car damrne n�rcranthera). Habitat exists for both Schweinitz's sunflower and small-anthered bittercress. Surveys for Schweinitz's sunflower were conducted on June 25, 2014 and October 27, 2014, and none were found. The closest historic population of Schweinitz's sunflower was found at Hanging Rock State Park which is just over 1 mile away. However during field surveys in 2000, no sunflowers were found (NaWral Heritage Database). Surveys were conducted for small-anthered bittercress on May l, 2014, and none were found. The closest small-anthered bittercress is located greater than 1 mile away along a UT to the Dan DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS DIVISION NINE DIVISION OFFICE 37$ SILAS CREEK PARKWAY, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127 PHONE (336) 747-7800 FAX (336) 703-6693 River. A biological conclusion of "AIo EffecY' was reached for both Schweinitz's sunflower and small-anthered bittercress. A US Fish and Wildlife Service proposal for listing the Northern Long�ared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as an Endangered species was published in the Federal Register in October 2013. The listing may become effective as soon as April 2015. Furthermore, this species is included in USFWS's current list of protected species for Stokes County. NCDOT is working closely with the USFWS to understand how this proposed listing may impact NCDOT projects. NCDOT will continue to coordinate appropriately with USFWS to determine if this project will incur potential effects to the Northern long-eared bat, and how to address these potential effects, i£ necessary. NCDOT believes that the requirements of Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA have been satisfied and hereby request your concurrence. Thank you for your assistance with this project. If you have any questions or need additional information, please wntact Amy Euliss at (336) 747-7802 or at aeuliss@ncdot.gov. Enclosures: Freshwater mussel survey report, vicinity map Si cerely, � F� Amy Euliss Division Environmental Officer, NCDOT Division 9 Cc: Mr. John Thomas, USACE Neil Medlin, NCDOT Biological Surveys Group Matt Jones, NCDOT Division 9 Bridge Program Manager Pam Williams, NCDOT Priority Projects Unit STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PAT MCCRORY ANTHONY 7. TATA GOVERNOR SECRETARY November 21, 2014 Memorandum to: Amy Euliss, Division 9 Environmental Officer (DEO) From: Matt Haney, Environmental Specialist Natural Environment Section, Biological Surveys Group Subject: Freshwater Mussel Survey Report for Proposed Replacement of Bridge 129 over South Double Creek, SR 1484 (Dan George Rd.), Stokes County, NCDOT Division 9. WBS # 17BP.9.R.51 The North Carolina Department of Transportation proposes to replace Bridge 129 over South Double Creek in Stokes County. South Double Creek is in the Roanoke River Basin. From the project site, South Double Creek flows into the Dan River approximately 0.2 mile downstream. The federally endangered James spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is listed by the USFWS as potentially occurring in Stokes County. The James spinymussel is known to occur in the Roanoke River basin in the mainstem of the Dan and Mayo Rivers. This mussel is found in streams with clean sand and cobble substrates. The James spinymussel is limited to areas of unpolluted water, and may be more susceptible to competition from exotic clam species (Corbicula fluminea) when its habitat is disturbed. South Double Creek is not classified as a 303d stream. There is a NPDES facility that discharges into South Double Creek approximately 0.1 mile upstream of this project: Young Leonard-Residence (Permit No. NC0066753). Prior to conducting in-stream surveys, a review of the NC Natural Heritage Program database was conducted (July 1, 2014) to determine if there were any records of rare mussels within the proposed project study area or receiving waters. This review indicated that there is a known occurrence of the federally endangered James spinymussel in the Dan River, approximately 0.6 river mile downstream of this project. On July 2, 2014, a mussel survey was conducted on South Double Creek by NCDOT biologists Neil Medlin (Permit No. 14-ES00030), Jared Gray (Permit No. 14- ES00314), and Division 9 staff inembers Amy Euliss and Stephanie Braquet. A visual search for mussels was conducted for 2.0 person-hours. The substrate of South Double Creek consisted of primarily sand and silt, but also consisted of gravel, bedrock, clay and MAILING ADDRESS: LOCATION: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TELEPHONE: 919-707-6000 CENTURY CENTER, BUILDING B PROJECT DEVELOPMENT $� ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS UNIT FAX: 919-212-5785 1 O2O BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE 1598 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH NC 2761 O Ra�eiGH NC 27699-1598 WEBSITE:NCDOT.GOV cobble. The width of the stream ranged from 7-20 ft and the unstable streambanks ranged from 7-10 ft high. No live mussels or mussel shells were observed. Due to the proximity of the James spinymussel occurrence, this project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect this species. Biological Conclusion: May Affect-Not Likely to Adversely Affect for James spinymussel for Bridge 129 References NC Natural Heritage Program. 2014. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program database (Accessed 7/1/14). Raleigh, N.C. [USFWS] United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 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