20171492 Ver 1_NCWRC Comments_20171220

� North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission �
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
December 20, 2017
MEMORANDUM
TO: Eric Alsmeyer, Regulatory Project Manager
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office, USACE
FROM: Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Coordinator ��ti���- �l��t,��z�
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC
SUBJECT: Review of NCDOT's application for Section 404 and 401 permits to replace
Bridge No. 261 over Cove Creek on SR 1304 (Marion Thomas Road), Watauga
County, North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has submitted an application to obtain a
Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a 401 Water Quality Certification
from the NC Division of Water Resources. Staff biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission have reviewed the information provided. These comments are provided
in accordance with the provisions of the state and federal Environmental Policy Acts (G.S.
113A-lthrough 113-10; 1 NCAC 25 and 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), respectively), the Clean Water
Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act (16 U. S. C. 1531-1543; 87 Stat
884), and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-
667d), as applicable.
The NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 261 over Cove Creek on SR 1304 (Marion Thomas
Road) with a triple barreled box culvert on a 1.23% slope, with each barrel measuring 12' x 4' x
37'. A small unnamed tributary will also be impacted. Permanent stream impacts include 37
linear feet for the culvert and 101 lf for riprap stabilization. Temporary impacts total l O lf for
dewatering. Trout occur in the project vicinity, therefore a moratorium prohibiting in-stream
work and land disturbance within the 25-foot trout buffer should apply from October 15 to April
15 to protect the egg and fry stages of trout. Sediment and erosion control should adhere to the
Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

BRIDGE NO. 261, SR 1304 PAGE 2 DECEMBER 20, 2017
COVE CREEK, WATAUGA CO.
NCWRC will not object to the issuance of the Section 404 permit provided that the following
conditions are implemented:
In-stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are prohibited
during the trout spawning seasons of October 15 through April 15 to protect the egg and
fry stages of trout.
2. Sediment and erosion control measures shall adhere to the Design Standards in Sensitive
Watersheds and be strictly maintained until project completion.
3. Herbaceous vegetation shall be planted on all bare soil as soon as possible following the
completion of permanent or temporary ground disturbing activities to provide appropriate
long-term erosion control.
4. Tall fescue and straw mulch shall not be used in riparian areas. We encourage NCDOT
to utilize onsite vegetation and materials for bank stabilization when practicable. Erosion
control matting shall be used on steep slopes and for establishing permanent vegetation in
riparian areas. The matting shall be well anchored with staples or wooden stakes and,
whenever possible, include live stakes of native trees. Matting in riparian areas should
not contain plastic mesh, which can entangle and trap small animals.
5. Storm water should be directed to buffer areas or retention basins and should not be
routed directly into the waterway.
6. The natural dimension, pattern, and profile of the waterway above and below the crossing
should not be modified by widening the channel or changing the depth of the waterway.
7. Removal of vegetation in riparian areas should be minimized. Native trees and shrubs
should be planted along the banks, as appropriate to the setting, to reestablish the riparian
zone and to provide long-term erosion control.
8. Grading and backfilling should be minimized, and tree and shrub growth should be
retained, if possible, to ensure long term availability of shoreline cover for fish and
wildlife.
9. Where practicable, riprap placed for bank stabilization should be limited to the banks
below the high water mark, and vegetation should be used for stabilization above the high
water elevation.
10. If concrete will be used during construction, work must be accomplished so that wet
(uncured) concrete does not contact surface waters. This will lessen the chance of
altering the water chemistry and causing a fish kill.
1 l. Discharging hydroseeding mixtures and washing out hydroseeders and other equipment
in or adjacent to surface waters is prohibited.

BRIDGE NO. 261, SR 1304 PAGE 3 DECEMBER 20, 2017
COVE CREEK, WATAUGA CO.
12. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the channel whenever
possible in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing
other pollutants into the waterway. All mechanized equipment operated near surface
waters should be inspected and maintained regularly to prevent contamination of surface
waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids or other toxic materials.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at ����.l�..c����m�:���.s�ez)��cw�lc�l��`�.c�r�; or (704) 244-
8907.
cc: Dave Wanucha, NCDWR
Heath Slaughter, NCDOT