20180712 Ver 1_16-040_Rocky River Road West Street Improvements_20180523

United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
November 23, 2015
Mr. Brandon Phillips
STV Engineers, Inc.
900 West Trade Street, Suite 715
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-1144
Dear Mr. Phillips:
Subject: Request for Evaluation, Proposed Rocky River Road West Street Improvements,
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Log No. 4-2-16-040
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received your letter for the above-referenced
project on October 27, 2015, and submit the following comments in accordance with the
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 661-667e); the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq.); and section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543) (Act).
Project Description
According to your letter, the City of Charlotte is proposing "street improvements" to Rocky
River Road West. However, your letter did not detail these improvements beyond this basic
description. The proposed project area and adjacent lands are dominated by developed open
space and low intensity development, but also contain Southern Piedmont dry oak-pine forest.
Federally Listed Endan�ered and Threatened Species
According to the information you provided and the Service's records, there may be suitable
habitat in the project area for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), which is
currently federally listed as a threatened species. During the summer, northern long-eared bats
typically roost singly or in colonies in a wide variety of forested habitats, underneath bark, or in
cavities/crevices of both live trees and snags. Northern long-eared bats have also been
documented roosting in man-made structures (i.e., buildings, barns, etc.) during the summer.
Northern long-eared bats predominately winter in hibernacula that include caves and abandoned
mine portals. It should be noted that the general habitat types described above may not be
all-inclusive; additional habitat types may be identified as new information is obtained.
The nearest Service record of occurrence for this species is greater than 40 miles from the project

site. Since, the probability of "take" that could occur from this project is insignificant and/or
discountable, we would concur with a determination that the proposed project "may affect", but
is "not likely to adversely affect" the northern long-eared bat. However, we still recommend that
the tree-cutting moratorium of May 15 — August 15 be incorporated into development plans.
While our "not likely to adversely affect" determination is not dependent on this action, the
cutting moratorium is a measure that can be implemented to further reduce the probability of
"take" for this species.
Based on the information you provided and the Service's records, we have no evidence for the
presence of any other federally listed endangered or threatened species in the proposed project
area. Therefare, at this time, the Service requires no further action and considers the consultation
process to be complete. However, be aware that obligations under section 7 of the Act must be
reconsidered i£ (1) new information reveals impacts of this identified action that may affect
listed species or critical habitat in a manner not previously considered, (2) this action is
subsequently modified in a manner that was not considered in this review, or (3) a new species is
listed or critical habitat is determined that may be affected by the identified action.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to comment on this project. Please contact Mr. Byron
Hamstead of our staff at 828/258-3939, Ext. 225, if you have any questions. In any future
correspondence concerning this project, please reference our Log Number 4-2-16-040.
Sincerely,
- - original signed - -
Janet A. Mizzi
Field Supervisor
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