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Home My WebLink About20090132 Ver 1_Memorandum of Understanding_20050202Michael F Easley, Governor William G Ross Jr, Secretary North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Alan W Klimek, P E Director Division of Water Quality February 2, 2005 MEMORANDUM TO Missy Dickens, NCDOT Project Development Engineer FROM Brian L Wrenn, NC Division of Water Qualityjuj SUBJECT Scoping Review of NCDOT's proposed bridge replacement projects B-4163, B-4162, B- 4289, B-4072, B-4147, and B-4034 In reply to your correspondence dated December 3, 2004 (received December 15, 2004) in which you requested comments for the referenced projects, the NC Division of Water Quality has the following comments L Project-Specific Comments B-4163 Brume No. 123 over Scotts Creek, Jackson Co. Scott Creek are class C, Tr waters of the State DWQ recommends that the most protective sedimentation and erosion control BMPs be implemented to reduce the risk of turbidity violations in trout waters In addition, all disturbances within trout buffers should be conducted in accordance with Division of Land Resource requirements B-4162 Brume No. 320 over the Norfolk Southern Railroad, Jackson Co. This project site is adjacent to Scotts Creek Scott Creek are class C, Tr waters of the State DWQ recommends that the most protective sedimentation and erosion control BMPs be implemented to reduce the risk of turbidity violations in trout waters In addition, all disturbances within trout buffers should be conducted in accordance with Division of Land Resource requirements B-4289 Bridee No. 93 over North Fork French Broad River, Transylvania Co. North Fork French Broad River are class B, Tr waters of the State DWQ recommends that the most protective sedimentation and erosion control BMPs be implemented to reduce the risk of turbidity violations in trout waters In addition, all disturbances within trout buffers should be conducted in accordance with Division of Land Resource requirements B-4072 Bridre No. 98 over Brasstown Creek Overrun, Cherokee Co. This protect site is adjacent to Brasstown Creek Brasstown Creek are WS-IV waters of the State Water supply IV waters are subject to 30-foot vegetated buffer requirements as well as requirements to minimize storm water runoff and to maximize use of BMPs Refer to 15A NCAC 2B 0216(3)(b)(1)(F) and (G) B-4147 BruiQe No. 75 over Rtzht Pronz Mud Creek and Bridze No. 76 over Little Proniz Mud Creek Henderson Co. Mud Creek are class C waters of the State and Greer Creek are class B waters of the State Mud Creek is on the 303(d) list for turbidity and biological integrity DWQ is very concerned with sedimentation and erosion impacts that could result from this project DWQ recommends that the most protective sedimentation and erosion control BMPs be implemented to reduce the risk of turbidity in Mud Creek DWQ requests that road design plans provide treatment of the storm water runoff through best management practices as detailed in Best Management Practices for the Protection of Surface Waters Refer to 15A NCAC 2B 0224(2) and 15A NCAC 2H 1006 V_ Acne Cazohna Transportation Permitting Unit 1Namrally 1650 Mad Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 1650 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Phone 919 733 1786 / FAX 919 733-6893 / Internet http //h2o enr state nc us/ncvvetlands B-4034 Bridge No. 134 over Stony Fork Creek, Buncombe Co. Stony Fork are class C, Tr waters of the State DWQ recommends that the most protective sedimentation and erosion control BMPs be implemented to reduce the risk of turbidity violations in trout waters In addition, all disturbances within trout buffers should be conducted in accordance with Division of Land Resource requirements II. General Comments Rekardinz Bridke Replacement Protects 1 If corrugated metal pipe arches, reinforced concrete pipes, or concrete box culverts are used to replace the bridge, then DWQ recommends the use of Nationwide Permit No 14 rather than Nationwide Permit 23 2 If the old bridge is removed, no discharge of bridge material into surface waters is preferred Strict adherence the Corps of Engineers guidelines for bridge demolition will be a condition of the 401 Water Quality Certification DWQ prefers spanning structures Spanning structures usually do not require work within the stream and do not require stream channel realignment The horizontal and vertical clearances provided by r -bridges allows for human and wildlife passage beneath the Structure, does not block fish passage, and does not block navigation by canoeists and boaters 4 Bridge deck drains should not discharge directly into the stream, stormwater should be directed across the bridge and pre-treated through site-appropriate means (grassed swales, pre-formed scour holes, vegetated buffers, etc ) before entering the stream. Please refer to NCDOT Best Management Practices for the Protection of Surface Waters 5 Live concrete should not be allowed to contact the water in or entering into the stream Concrete is mostly made up of lime (calcium carbonate) and when in a dry or wet state (not hardened) calcium carbonate is very soluble in water and has a pH of approximately 12 In an unhardened state concrete or cement will change the pH of fresh water to very basic and will cause fish and other macroinvertebrate kills 6 If possible, bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream. 7 If temporary access roads or detours are constructed, they should be removed back to original ground elevations immediately upon the completion of the project Disturbed areas should be seeded or mulched to stabilize the soil and native tree species should be planted with a spacing of not more than 10'x10' If possible, when using temporary structures the area should be cleared but not grubbed Clearing the area with chain saws, mowers, bush-hogs, or other mechanized equipment and leaving the stumps and root mat intact, allows the area to re-vegetate naturally and minimizes disturbed soil 8 A clear bank (np rap-free) area of at least 10 feet should remain on each side of the steam underneath the bridge 9 Sedimentation and erosion control measures sufficient to protect water resources must be implemented prior to any ground disturbing activities Structures should be maintained regularly, especially following rainfall events d. 10 Bare soil should be stabilized through vegetation or other means as quickly as feasible to prevent sedimentation of water resources 11 All work in or adjacent to stream waters should be conducted in a dry work area Sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams, or other diversion structures should be used where possible to prevent excavation in flowing water 12 Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in stream channels in order to nummize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into streams This equipment should be inspected daily and maintained to prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other toxic materials III. General Comments if Replacing the Bridke with a Culvert 1 The culvert must be designed to allow for aquatic life and fish passage Generally, the culvert or pipe invert should be buried at least 1 foot below the natural streambed (measured from the natural thalweg depth) If multiple barrels are required, barrels other than the base flow barrel(s) should be placed on or near stream bankfull or floodplain bench elevation (similar to Lyonsfield design) These should be reconnected to floodplamn benches as appropriate This may be accomplished by utilizing sills on the upstream end to restrict or divert flow to the base, flow barrel(s) Sufficient water depth should be provided in the base flow barrel during low flows to accommodate fish movement If culverts are longer than 40-50 linear feet, alternating or notched baffles should be installed in a manner that mimics existing stream pattern This should enhance aquatic life passage 1) by depositing sediments in the barrel, 2) by maintaining channel depth and flow regimes, and 3) by providing resting places for fish and other aquatic organisms In essence, the base flow barrel(s) should provide a continuum of water depth and channel width without substantial modifications of velocity 2 If multiple pipes or cells are used, at least one pipe or box should be designed to remain dry during normal flows to allow for wildlife passage 3 Culverts or pipes should be situated along the existing channel alignment whenever possible to avoid channel realignment Widening the stream channel should be avoided Stream channel widening at the mlet or outlet end of structures typically decreases water velocity causing sediment deposition that requires increased maintenance and disrupts aquatic life passage 4 Riprap should not be placed in the active thalweg channel or placed in the streambed in a manner that precludes aquatic life passage Bioengineering boulders or structures should be professionally designed, sized, and installed In most cases, we prefer the replacement of the existing structure at the same location with road closure If road closure is not feasible, a temporary detour should be designed and located to avoid wetland impacts, mimmize the need for clearing and to avoid destabilizing stream banks If the structure will be on a new alignment, the old structure should be removed and the approach fills removed from the 100- year floodplam Approach fills should be removed down to the natural ground elevation The area should be stabilized with grass and planted with native tree species Tall fescue should not be used in riparian areas If the area that is reclaimed was previously wetlands, NCDOT should restore the area to wetlands If successful, the site may be used as wetland mitigation for the subject protect or other projects in the watershed Thank you for requesting our input at this time The DOT is reminded that issuance of a 401 Water Quality Certification requires that appropriate measures be instituted to ensure that water quality standards are met and designated uses are not degraded or lost If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Brian Wrenn 919-733-5715 pc Angie Pennock, USACE Asheville Field Office Chris Mihtscher, USEPA Marla Chambers, NCWRC Marella Buncick, USFWS File Copy