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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090359 Ver 1_Information Letter_200904210 5?3s? . 1qu?G1 ?n. MEMORANDUM TO: Monte Matthews, USACOE Raleigh Regulatory Field Office FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator )OW Habitat Conservation Program DATE: April 9, 2009 SUBJECT: SR1221B, Locust Gap Road, Unnamed Tributaries Rube Creek, Watauga County North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to improve and pave the referenced highway. Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission are . familiar with habitat values in the area. These comments are provided in accordance, with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661- 667d) and the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (G.S. 113A-1 through 113A-10; NCAC 25). NCDOT project will replace five (5) existing pipes. Cumulative additional impacts are indicated to be 60 linear feet. Wild Rainbow trout are known downstream in Rube Creek. Weller's salamander, Plethodon welleri (NCSC) has been documented close to the highway near the state line. Based on our review of the submittal and our knowledge of area habitats, we will not object to the project providing the following recommendations are followed: 1. Instream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are prohibited during the rainbow trout spawning season of January 1 through April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of trout. This moratorium may be avoided if the culvert projects can be done independently and completely "in the dry" using stringent sediment and erosion control methods, including clean water pipe diversions or pump around techniques plus immediate stabilization using matting and re-vegetation without any delays. Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721 Telephone: (919) 707-0220 • Fax: (919) 707-0028 Gordon Myers, Executive Director SRI221B, Locust Gap Rd. Page 2 April 9, 2009 2. To the maximum extent practicable, culverts 48" or larger should be buried a foot into the streambed. Culverts less than 48 inches in diameter should be buried to a depth equal to or greater than 20% their size to allow for aquatic life passage. These measurements must be based on natural thalweg depths. Aquatic life passage must be assured during low flow or drought conditions. Any riprap used must not interfere with aquatic life movement during low flows. 3. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for sensitive watersheds (15A NCAC 4B .0124). 4. If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does not contact stream water. 5. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank rather than in the stream channel in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other pollutants into the stream. 6. Temporary or permanent native herbaceous vegetation should be established on all bare soil within five (5) days of ground disturbing activities in the twenty-five (25) foot trout buffer to provide long-term erosion control. Natural fiber matting is recommended over plastic matting that can impinge and entrap small animals. Disturbed stream banks should be planted with autochthonous (native) plants like silky dogwood, rhododendron, dog hobble, mountain pepperbush, paw paw, red maple, silky willow, tag alder, black willow, sycamore, river birch, or other native woody species. If practicable, although not recommended as a permit condition, NCDOT Environmental Officers are requested to observe road work near the state line and to take protective measures should any salamanders be unearthed during construction on that end of the project. If Weller's salamanders are observed, occurrences should be reported via e-mail to appropriate state herpetologists. Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project during the early planning stages. If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact me at 336-769-9453. E-copy: Sue Homewood, DWQ-WSRO Heath Slaughter, NCDOT Kathy Matthews, USEPA Marla Chambers, NCWRC Marella Buncick, USFWS Sonya Gregory, DWQ-Raleigh