20090256 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20030519

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MICHAEL F. EASLEY LYNDO TIPPETT
GOVERNOR SECRETARY
s T _
,i
May 1, 2003
WETLANDS 1401 GROUP.
w0 ' ,A•J
MAY 1 2 10'0-3', Cynthia Van der Wiele
DENR-Division of Water Quality/Wetland WATER QUALITY SECTION
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699
RE: Request for comments on Bridge Replacement Projects B-3430, B-3431, B-4347,
B-4348, B-4349, B-4690, B-4691, and B-4692.
Dear Ms. Van der Wiele:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is preparing the planning
and environmental studies for the replacement of the subject bridges. We anticipate that the
projects will be processed as Programmatic Categorical Exclusions. The bridge replacement
projects are included in NCDOT's 2002-2008 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The purpose of this letter is to solicit your input concerning the potential impact of the
proposed projects upon social, economic, demographic, land use or environmental conditions
near the projects. A vicinity map and bridge demolition package is attached for each project,
described below. All of the projects are located within NCDOT Division. 14.
• B-3430, Cherokee County, Replace Bridge No. 43 over Hanging Dog Creek on SR
1331 (Beaver Dam Road) west of Murphy.
¦ B-3431, Cherokee County, Replace Bridge No. 45 over Beaver Dam Creek on SR
1331 (Beaver Dam Road) west of Murphy.
¦ B-4347, Jackson County, Replace Bridge No. 3 over Norton Mill Road on SR 1107
(Whiteside Cove Road) southwest of Cashiers.
¦ B-4348, Jackson County, Replace Bridge No. 156 over Dicks Creek on SR 1388
(Dicks Creek Road) near Dillsboro.
¦ B-4349, Jackson County, Replace Bridge No. 36 over Dicks Creek on SR 1388
(Dicks Creek Road) near Dillsboro.
MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: [phone] LOCATION:
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE UNIT FAX: [phone] BERYL ROAD
1565 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NC
RALEIGH NC 27699-1565 WEBSITEI WWW.DOH.DOT.STATE.NC.US

¦ B-4690, Transylvania County, Replace Bridge No. 55 over Tucker Creek on SR 1324
(Tanasee Gap Road) in the Balsam Grove community.
B-4691, Transylvania County, Replace Bridge No. 59 over Tucker Creek on SR 1324
(Tanasee Gap Road) in the Balsam Grove community. ,
¦ B-4692, Haywood County, Replace Bridge No. 283 over Wesleys Creek on SR 1334
in the Fines Creek community. .
Please note that there will be no formal interagency scoping meeting for these projects.
This letter constitutes solicitation for scoping comments related to the projects. To allow us to
fully evaluate the impacts of the proposed projects, please respond in writing by June 3, 2003
concerning any beneficial or adverse impacts of the proposed projects relating to the interest of
your agency.
If you have any questions or comments concerning these projects, please contact me at
[phone], ext. 8277. Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Mike Summers
Project Manager
Bridge Maintenance Unit
LWM/ms
Attachment
® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Charles R. Fullwood, Executive Director
TO: Mike Summers, Project Manager
Bridge Maintenance Unit, NCDOT
FROM: Marla Chambers, Highway Projects Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC
DATE: June 26, 2003
SUBJECT: Scoping review of NCDOT's proposed bridge replacement projects B-3430,13-
3431, B-4347, B-4348, B-4349, B-4690, B-4691, B-4692 in Cherokee, Jackson,
Transylvania and Haywood Counties.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has requested comments from
the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) regarding impacts to fish and
wildlife resources resulting from the subject project. Staff biologists have reviewed the
information provided and have the following preliminary comments. These comments are
provided in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(c)) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Star. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C.
661-667d).
Our standard recommendations for bridge replacement projects of this scope are as
follows:
1. We.generally prefer 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 bridges allows for human and wildlife passage beneath
the structure, does not block fish passage, and does not block navigation by canoeists and
boaters.
2. Bridge deck drains should not discharge directly into the stream.
Live concrete should not be allowed to contact the water in or entering into the stream.
4. If possible, bridge supports (bents) should not be placed in the stream.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] ext. 281 0 Fax: [phone]
Bridge Scopings
Cherokee, Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood Co. 3 June 26, 2003
16. During subsurface investigations, equipment should be inspected daily and maintained to
prevent contamination of surface waters from leaking fuels, lubricants, hydraulic. fluids,
or other toxic materials.
If corrugated metal pipe arches, reinforced concrete pipes, or concrete box culverts are
used:
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
floodplain 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). Silled barrels should be
filled with sediment so as not to cause noxious or mosquito breeding conditions.
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.
Culverts or pipes should be situated along the existing channel alignment whenever
possible to avoid channel realignment. Widening the stream channel must be avoided.
Stream channel widening at the inlet 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, minimize 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 floodplain. 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
Bridge Scopings
Cherokee, Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood Co. 5 June 26, 2003
B-4690, Transylvania Co., Bridge No. 55 over Tucker Creek on SR 1324 (Tanasee Gap
Road). A moratorium prohibiting in-stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot
trout buffer is recommended from October 15 to April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of
rainbow and brown trout: Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the
design standards for sensitive watersheds.
7. B-4691, Transylvania Co., Bridge No. 59 over Tucker Creek on SR 1324 (Tanasee Gap
Road). Same as B-4690 above.
B-4692, Haywood Co., Bridge No. 283 over Wesleys Creek on SR 1334. No special
concerns indicated. Standard requirements should apply.
We request that NCDOT routinely minimize adverse impacts to fish and wildlife
resources in the vicinity of bridge replacements. The NCDOT should install and maintain
sedimentation control measures throughout the life of the project and prevent wet concrete from
contacting water in or entering into these streams. Replacement of bridges with spanning
structures of some type, as opposed to pipe or box culverts, is recommended in most cases.
Spanning structures allow wildlife passage along streambanks, reducing habitat fragmentation
and vehicle related mortality at highway crossings.
If you need further assistance or information on NCWRC concerns regarding bridge
replacements, please contact me at [phone]. Thank you for the opportunity to review and
comment on these projects.
cc: Cynthia Van Der Wicle, DWQ
Marella Buncick, USFWS
Sarah Kopplin, NHP
Level I Assessment ?(?j
????A?eh V' QY
w
Directions for use: The observer is to survey a minimum of 500 feet of stream, preferably in an upstream direction starting above
the bridge pool and the road right-of-way. The segment which is assessed should represent average stream conditions. To pefform
proper habitat evaluation the observer needs to get into the stream. To complete the form, select the description which best fits the'
observed habitats and then circle the score. If the observed habitat falls in between two descriptions, select an intermediate score.
final habitat score is determined by adding the results from the different metrics.
Stream_Beaverdam Creek_Location/road: _SR 1331_(Road Name )County-Cherokee
7.

Date-June 13, 2003 8 Digit HUC Basin_Hiawassee Class C-trout
Stream [Order 3 Catchment Size (mi)
Observer(s)
Latitude Longitude Ecoregion: ? P ? Slate Belt ? Triassic ? Sand Hills
Agency Identification/tracking Information (TIP#, Action#, etc.)
Physical Characterization: Visible land use refers to immediate area that you can see from sampling location.
Visible Land Use: _70 %Forest 10 %Residential 20 %Active Pasture %Active Crops
%Fallow Fields % Commercial °/ulndustrial 0/601her - Describe:
Observed driving through watershed or from maps, aerial photos, etc.
Watershed land use : X?Forest X?Agriculture ?Urban ? Animal operations upstream ? Commercial
* The fallowing three (3) parameters are all estimated:
Width: (ft) Current wet width - Stream 271 Channel (at top of bank) ? Width variable 3"-16"
Stream Depth: (ft) Riffles - Avg _Max _ Pools - Avg Max.
Bank Height (from deepest part of channel (in riffle or run) to top of bank): (ft)
Bank Angle: ° or ? NA (Vertical is 90°, horizontal is 0°. Angles > 90° indicate slope is towards mid-channel, < 90°
indicate slope is away from channel. NA if bank is too low for bank angle to matter.)
General Observations
?Channelized Ditch ?Dam upstream ?Other hydrologic alterations
?Manmade Stabilization ?Rip-rap, cement, gabions ?Sediment/grade-control structure ?Berm/levee
?Deeply incised ?Both banks undercut at bend ?Channel filled in with sediment
?Steep,straight banks ?Bar development ?Buried structures ?Exposed bedrock
?Recent overbank deposits ?Heavy filamentous algae growth ?Green tinge ?Sewage smell
?Excessive periphyton growth X?Livestock with access to stream ?Evidence of human
use (trash, foot paths, etc.)
Flow conditions : ?High X?Normal ?Low
Turbidity: ?Clear X? Slightly Turbid ?Turbid ?Tannic ?Milky ?Colored (from dyes)
Current Weather Conditions: cloudy Recent Weather Conditions
Photos: ?N ?Y X ? Digital ?35mm
Remarks: Wooden bridge with floor and rails and concrete wing walls. Pasture on both sides upstream. Substrate is silt and sand
mixed with cobble and small boulders. B-4 Two streams join 20 feet below
bridge.

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0 0 125 0.25 0.5 Miles CGIA 2000 Figure No.
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Prepared For Project Vicinity
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P° ghBo, 33127
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.N e B-3431 on Beaverdam Creek
471, 9; l 111;1;2
q 1, 98FAJI - Cherokee County, North Carolina

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