HomeMy WebLinkAbout20171465 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. James spinymussel in North
Carolina. http://www.fws.gov/raleig�species/es iames_spinymussel.html.
(Accessed 7/1/14)
Dan George Rd. (SR1484)
Stokes County Bridge 129
� " � � s� � � � � � "� r
y � � �
�r �` �a l r * ll
� � � .
� I � I
#�� , i � � �,:,.,,;; ��
� �.: �
� �p���y
�,� - ��
� _J
� �1
'C1'�ut�� � � � _ . , ..
- lY� � �,', ii _
� ` � � 7
� 4 � � ..
� � - � _
� � �' � ■
� ���f � � f�:� I�,in I;i•,�i
� - - , � -- --� � - _ ,�' � � ti��o�c�
� � �a # � _— -
c a�: � �
�' e �" � � � � � I
- .� _ � �_ ,� d.i'
�' � `"
'� � �
� � � �
� _ n
7
� ' � � � .
� � � � ♦ � - � � � � �j,f �.
� '� � � , � � FqBo � . pent\6! O.;G.
i °th�ka
� � � � TaYtor r�,��l
s� � � I � `�a -Single Treee H0 . sn,. c. �,
� + '! ,� 287 n, , m�8r�u�� ' !V ., .
a! � � �
j � 1 � % 'i'.
� � .. Y' I � � /J 1- }.4;j YIO�• � .
� � y7 l�loctes �` �
j C, � Spcings % �
� , 9 +
� � i'I ��PO Q;�O' �� �. i�fr �.
N � � _ —_ Q� ,� �
� � � _ -. �, � �:_ . ____
� � � � _ � '� Ro �..''
r1'� N /� � I - .
��d��r r } �
\i� , iiiu �� .�
�
SOOm
1000ft
�
O 2013 NCDOT Disclaimer: NCDOT, it's agents, and employees make no warranty as to the correctness or accuracy of the information whether express or implied, in fact or in
law, including, without limitation, the implied warranties of inerchantability and fitness for a particular use. Users are advised that their use of any NCDOT GIS Data is at their own
risk.