20181227 Ver 1_Guilford_Pogonia_TE_Lttr_20180905

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Au�ist 18, 2017
Ms. Aileen Mayhew, PE
Mott MacDonald
7624 Purfoy Road, Suite 115
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, LLC
559 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: [phone]
www.eprusa.net
SUBJECT: Sinall whot-led pogonia assessment for NCDOT Division 7 Low Impact Bridge
Replacements at foui- sites in Guilfard Colulty.
Dear Ms. Mayhew,
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration (EPR) has perfornled surveys for small whorled pogonia
(Isotricr �7�edeoloicles) at four low impact bridge replacement sites in Guilford County o�1 Jlily 27,
2017. The four sites ar-e:
17BP.7.R.114 - Bridge #52 over UT to Deep River on Scientific Street
17BP.7.R.116 - Bridge #224 over South Buffalo Creek on McConnell Road
17BP.7.R.107 - Bridge #235 over Big Alamance Creek on Alamance Cliurch Road
17BP.7.R.113 - Biidge #240 ovei- Little Alamance Cieek on Causey Lake Road
Sinall whorled pogonia is a federally threatened plant known to occur in Guilford County. It
occurs in young as well as maturing (second to third successional growtl�) inixed-deciduous or
mixed-deciduous/coniferous forests. It does not appear to exhibit strong affinities for a particular
aspect, soil type, or underlying geologic substrate. In North Carolina, the perennial orchid is
typically found in open, dry deciduous woods and is often associated with white pine and
rhododendron. The species may also be found on dry, rocky, wooded slopes; moist slopes;
ravines lacicing stream channels; or slope bases near braided channels of vernal streams. The
orchid, often liinited by shade, requires sinall light gaps or ca��opy breaks, and typically grows
under canopies that are relatively open or near features like logging roads or strea�ns t]�at create
long-persisting breaks in the forest canopy.
Biological Conclusion: No Effect
Habitat for small whorled pogonia occurs at all four bridge locations on the hillslopes above the
stream floodplain. Surveys of these areas were conducted by EPR biologists on Jtily 27, 2017.

ECOSYSTEM
�
PLt1fJiJIN�G &
� " RES-rOR�ATi�N
No individuals of sinall whorled pogonia were observed. A review of NCNHP records (August
2017) indicates no lcnown occui-�-ences within 1.0 mile of each site.
If you have any questions or concei-ns, please contact ine at [phone] or
rlepsic�eprusa.net.
Sincerely,
i ,
� � ��_---
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Robei�t Lepsic, PWS
Senior Scientist
cc: Titn Jordan PE, Mott MacDonald
File
PaGE 2