20181317 Ver 1_Macon County - B244 - NWP 14 Cover Letter (Signed)_9/28/2018 1:48 PM

ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTN�NT OF TRANSPORTATION
September 24, 2018
Ms. Crystal Amschler - Project Manager
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-2714
Subject: Nationwide 14 Permit Application
Replace Bridge No. 244 on SR 1114 (Shope Road)
Over Nork Fork Coweeta Creek
Macon County, North Carolina
WBS Element No. 48220.1.1
TIP: B-6025
FA Project Number: BRZ-1114 (009)
Dear Ms. Amschler:
JAMES H. TROGDON, III
SECRETARY
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing to replace the subject
bridge. The purpose of the project is to replace the functionally obsolete 25' 6" L X 20' W single
span timber floor on steel I-Beam bridge. The new structure will be a 67' 6" L X 25' 3" W x 7'
9" H aluminum box culvert on a 60 degree skew and 0.70 % slope. Culvert sills (12' W X 1' H)
will be installed on the inlet and outlet of culvert to help retain stream bedload material and to
facilitate fish passage. Traffic will be detoured onsite usilizing a triple pipe crossing structure
downstream of exisitng bridge. The new permanent culvert will be constructed in the existing
bridge location. The project will also include some minor approach work on the existing
roadway.
I am enclosing a PCN application, compensatory mitigation acceptance letter, jurisdictional
determination form, SHPO forms, plan sheets showing the proposed work, a marked vicinity
map, a USGS quad map and photographs.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 9 species for Macon County that have federal status and that
are known from either current or historical records. Spotfin chub (Erimonax monachus),
Appalachian Elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana), Little-wing pearlymussel (Pegias fabula), small
whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), Virginia spiraea (Spiraea virginiana), rock gnome lichen
(Gymnoderma lineare), gray bat (Myotis grisescens), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalist) and the
northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis, NLEB) are listed as either threatened or
endangered.
Division 14 Office
Telephone: [phone] Webster Road, Sylva, North Carolina 28779 Fax: [phone]

Bridge No. 244 — Macon County Page 2 September 24, 2018
The Little Tennessee River about 3.62 miles downstream of the bridge is a Natural Heritage Area
that supports several federally listed aquatic species. Spotfin chub have not been found in North
Fork Coweeta Creek. North Fork Coweeta Creek at the bridge is too small, steep, and/or cold far
Appalachian Elktoe or Little-wing pearlyrnussel. The project is limited in scope to replacing a
bridge with a concrete box culvert in a temporarily dewatered stream channel. Therefore,
adverse effects of the work on aquatic habitat should be minor and temporary and only occur a
short distance downstream. Riparian habitat at the project site is disturbed by mowed yards,
residential driveways and agricultural fields. There are wetlands within project site boundaries
that will be impacted. There are no mountain bogs present on site.
Small whorled pagonia typically occurs in open, dry, deciduous woods with acid soil, though
habitats can include slopes along streams and mesic forest in association with white pine and
rhododendron. There is no forested habitat near the bridge that would be affected by the
construction work. Plants were not seen in forested areas further from the anticipated bridge
construction during a survey on June 20, 2018.
The rock gnome lichen is typically found at high elevations on vertical rock surfaces that are
often bathed in fog. However, it can occur at lower elevations on cliffs that occasionally receive
seepage and on damp rock faces in river gorges where there is high humidity. The elevation at
the project site is approximately 2,190 feet and the site is situated in an open valley. Also, there
are no damp rock faces near the site.
Virginia spiraea typically occurs along high gradient rivers that are larger than Watauga Creek. It
is usually found on rocky, flood-scoured riverbanks and rock bars. These habitats are absent at
the bridge site and there are no records for this plant in the North Fork Coweeta Creek watershed.
Plants were not seen near the bridge during a survey on June 20, 2018.
Gray Bats usually roost in caves or in/on structures year-round while Indiana Bats and NLEB
only winter in caves or mines with stable, but not freezing, cold temperatures. During warm
seasons Indiana Bats and NLEB usually roost on/in structures, under the shaggy bark of live trees
such as white oaks, sycamores, and hickories, or in cavities or under the loose peeling bark of
dead trees. This project should not require blasting, but it will require pile driving and the
removal of approximately 20 trees (poplar, sourwood, mixed hardwoods) and demolition of an
old timber bridge. The bridge was surveyed for bats and evidence of bat roosting on 8.23.2016
and 6.20.2018 and none were evident; absence of bats and signs of bat usage will be confirmed
prior to demolition. Therefore, the project should have no effect on gray bats. The bridge is not
situated in a"red HUC" where known NLEB maternity roosts and/or hibernacula are a concern
and is over a mile from records for NLEB. Therefore, the project is consistent with Section 4(d)
rule, codified at 50 C.F.R. § 17.40(0) and effective February 16, 2016. To protect Indiana bats,
the obstructing trees will be removed from October 15 to April 15 (winter clearing). This
measure will also afford protection to other tree roosting bats such as NLEB.
The project is limited to the replacement of an existing bridge with an aluminum box culvert.
Erosion and sedimentation control measures will be implemented to protect aquatic habitats.

Bridge No. 244 — Macon County Page 3 September 24, 2018
Therefore, for the reasons described above and with the inclusion of the winter tree clearing
requirement for bats, we recommend a"no effecY' determination for threatened and endangered
species with exception of Indiana bats. The conclusion for Indian bats is typically "may affect,
not likely to adversely affect" with the winter tree clearing restriction.
This project was reviewed by NCDOT's Human Environment Unit in 2016 for potential effects
to historical architecture and archaeology. It was determined that no survey was required for
historical architecture, but a survey was conducted for archeological resources with a
determination of no national register or eligible resources affected (see attached forms).
NCDOT best management practices will be used to minimize and control erosion and
sedimentation on this project. The construction foreman will review all erosion control measures
daily to ensure erosion and sedimentation are being controlled effectively. If the devices are not
functioning as intended, they will be replaced immediately with better devices.
Impacts to Waters of the United States
North Fork Coweeta Creek (DWQ Class: B) is shown on the USGS topographic map as a
perennial stream. The channel is well defined with a substrate of gravel, sand, and cobble and is
approximately 10-12 feet in width. The stream has sufficient flow to support fish and other
aquatic life. North Fork Coweeta Creek flows approximately 3.62 miles to the Little Tennessee
River, which meets the definition of a Traditional Navigable Water. For these reasons, we
believe North Fork Coweeta Creek is a Relatively Permanent Water and is under the jurisdiction
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In order to construct the project, it will be necessary to
impact waters of the United States in the Little Tennessee River Basin (HUC 060102020103).
Specifically, NCDOT is requesting to replace Bridge No. 244 with an aluminum box culvert.
Detailed impacts are shown within attached documents on page 1 of 4(Final Structure Plans) &
page 22 or 50 (Final Plans). Listed below is a summary of the proposed impacts:
Site No. Existing Condition Proposed Condition Net
Station Im acts
North Fork Coweeta Creek 25'3" W x 67' 6"L x 7' 9" H
Site 1 Bridge 244 Aluminum Box Culvert 68'
(Permanent)
Stream banks along Sloped stream banks and
Site 2 North Fork Coweeta Creek constructed riprap banks/benches 25,
at culvert inlet
(Permanent)
Stream banks along Sloped stream banks and
Site 3 North Fork Coweeta Creek constructed riprap banks/benches 20,
at culvert outlet
(Permanent)

Bridge No. 244 — Macon County Page 4
September 24, 2018
Impervious dikes and flow
Site 4 North Fork Coweeta Creek diversions to remove old 150'
abutments and place culvert
(Tem ora )
Site 5 North Fork Coweeta Creek Triple 30" Pipes Far Detour 55'
(Temporary)
Bottom Hardwood Forest Land Clearing For Detour 0.02
Site 6 Wetland Construction Acres
(Temporary)
Site 7 Bottom Hardwood Forest Compacted Fill For Detour 0.03
Wetland (Temporary) Acres
Total Permanent Stream Impact for Concrete Box Culvert 68'
Total Permanent Stream Impact for Benches and Streambank Stabilization 45'
Total Temporary Impacts for Detour Roadway Culvert 55'
Total Temporary Impacts for Detour and Impervious Dikes and Diversions 150'
Total Temporary Wetland Impacts for Detour Construction 0.05 Acres
Permits Requested
NCDOT is hereby requesting authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to proceed
with the construction project outlined above. By copy of this letter, I am asking Mrs. Marla
Chambers, Western NCDOT Review Coordinator of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (NCWRC), to comment directly to you and I concerning the 404 Nationwide Permit
request. This application has been sent to the North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources (DWR) for a written certification.
Please contact me at [phone] if you have any questions about this application or need
additional information. Your prompt review and consideration of this request will be greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
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A2DAC8979C7943D...
Patrick J. Breedlove
9/24/2018
Division 14 - Environmental Specialist
Enclosures
cc: Ms. Marella Buncick, Biologist, US Fish &Wildlife Service, Asheville

Bridge No. 244 — Macon County Page 5 September 24, 2018
Mrs. Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Review Coordinator, NCWRC, Albemarle
Mr. Kevin Barnett, Division of Water Resources — DEQ, Asheville
Mr. David McHenry, NCDOT Division 14, Environmental Officer