20180401 Ver 1_17BP.4.R.87 mussel report_20180321

ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
January 12, 2017
JAMES H. TROGDON, III
SECRETARY
Memorandum to: Chad Coggins, Division 4 Environmental Officer
EAU, Environmental Coordination and Permitting Group
From: Matt Haney, Environmental Senior Specialist
EAU, Biological Surveys Group
Subject: Freshwater Mussel Survey Report for the Proposed
Replacement of Bridge 15 over West Bear Creek on SR
1719 (Beston Rd), Wayne County. WBS # 17BP.4.R.87.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation proposes to replace Bridge 15
over West Bear Creek on SR 1719 (Beston Rd) in Wayne County. West Bear Creek is in
the Neuse River Basin. From the project, West Bear Creek flows approximately 2.6 river
miles until converging with Bear Creek. The proposed threatened Yellow Lance (Elliptio
lanceolata) is listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as potentially
occurring in Wayne County. Additionally, the Atlantic Pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni) is
being considered for listing by the USFWS and has historically been known to occur in
Wayne County.
In North Carolina, the Yellow Lance is found near the Fall Line in the upper to
middle reaches of the Neuse River Basin (below Falls Reservoir) and in the Tar-Pamlico
River Basin. This species prefers clean sands and is often found near the edge of rivers on
sandbars.
The Atlantic Pigtoe has been found in multiple physiographic provinces, from the
foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, through the Piedmont and into the Coastal Plain,
in streams less than one meter wide to large rivers. The preferred habitat is a substrate
composed of gravel and coarse sand, usually at the base of riffles; however, it can be
found in a variety of other substrates and lotic habitat conditions.
West Bear Creek is not classi�ed as a 303d stream. The closest NPDES facility
(Eastern Wayne High School, Permit No. NC0038075) is approximately 2.4 river miles
upstream from this project.
Prior to conducting a mussel survey, a review of the NC Natural Heritage Program
database was conducted (November 15, 2017) to determine if there were any records of
rare mussels within the proposed project study area or receiving waters. This review
indicated that there are no known occurrences of Yellow Lance or Atlantic Pigtoe in
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West Bear Creek. The closest known occurrence of Yellow Lance is over 28 river
miles away in Mill Creek (EO ID 21888, found in 1994) and the closest known
occurrence of Atlantic Pigtoe is over 15 river miles away in the Neuse River (EO ID
15611, found in 1985).
Mussel surveys of West Bear Creek were conducted by NCDOT biologist Matt
Haney, along with RK&K biologist Neil Medlin (Permit No. 17-ES00030) and Dewberry
biologist Anne Burroughs on November 16, 2017 and December 1, 2017. The
channelized stream was approximately 13-16 ft. wide. The average depth was 1.5 ft. The
unstable streambanks were approximately 3-10 ft. high. The dominant substrate was
unconsolidated sand, the subdominant substrate was silt, and clay, pebble, detritus and
muck was also observed. The buffer width was narrow and the surrounding land use was
natural, active crop and rural. Algae was observed on some of the substrate.
The mussel survey was conducted from approximately 400 meters downstream of
the bridge to 100 meters upstream of the bridge. A total of 4.0 person hours of survey
time was spent in the reach, with one species of freshwater mussel being found. A total of
2 live Elliptio spp. mussels were found, resulting in a CPUE of 0.5/hr.
Due to the distance to known records of Yellow Lance, degraded habitat in this
stream and no Yellow Lance being found during the survey, this project will have no
effect on this species.
Biological Conclusion Yellow Lance: No Effect
While the following species is not currently federally protected and a biological
conclusion is not necessary at the time of the writing of this report, if this species was to
receive federal protection, the appropriate biological conclusion due to the distance to
known records of Atlantic Pigtoe and no known occurrences of this species in this
waterbody is as follows:
Biological Conclusion Atlantic Pigtoe: No Effect