HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190397_RE R-2566BA Watauga River Bridge Replacement_20180928Wanucha, Dave
From: Chambers, Marla J
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2018 9:01 AM
To: Zerman, William S; Adima, Nathan N; Steve Kichefski; Wanucha, Dave; Buncick, Marella;
'militscher.chris@epamail.epa.gov'; Beaver, Brian T; Dagnino, Carla S; Paschal, Keith; Bob May; David Petty;
Cochran, Cameron; Lipscomb, Brian S; Dilday, Jason L; Lee, Craig J; Cox, Marissa R; Beaver, G Trent; Slaughter,
Johnathan H; zrichard@tgsengineers.com; Lee, Amber M; Patterson, Robert D; cellwanger@fws.gov;
johnjaimison@ncdot.gov; Moore, Brenda L; Staley, Mark K
Cc: Robinson, Beverly G; Whittington, Kevin K; Williams, Lori A
Subject: RE: R-2566BA Watauga River Bridge Replacement , Division 11; County: Watauga - Site Visit on August 22,
2018--
The area of concern for the Longtail Salamander is not under the bridge, it's the rock outcrops along Old Tweetsie Road, above
the roadway. Their habitat is at the end of Old Tweetsie Rd, where itjoins NC 105, and runs both directions— both along NC 105
and especially along Old Tweetsie Rd. for a distance. This entire hillside is to be removed as the road is shifted in that direction
and the entrance to Old Tweetsie Road is moved. It's impacts to that hillside that we'd like to see minimized as much as possible.
I was made aware of the specific location of this habitat at the field meeting by our biologist, Lori Williams.
I do appreciate the efforts to look at shifting the roadway, but it doesn't appear to help with minimizing the removal of this
hillside. Is there anything that can be done to significantly reduce that cut?
Thanks,
Marla
IP'��urlll� �Ill�m�i�r�ll��ur� �� II'��III':'�t�..�.. ���ur�°�liiu�����ur
II...W�Il�lid.�d. ��u���:u���d.li�u� Il:�ir��ir�u�
II'�� liilll�°�Illlii�� III'����u�ur��� ��i�r�i�r�lii��lii�u��
��� II��II::��.'ll..
��Dc� �Il��u�d.�:ir �d.ir�:�:d.
�Illl��:u��irll�:, II��u�ll� ��ir�llliu�� ����°�
Il:�liir�;��q ���'u� �� Il...liu��� ��D�...��� ����D.�
u tt��ll�li II�;: .��D�...���... � �D.��D
IVl_�.irl�..�.Ih�m�b�ir�Ca�u��wildlif�.r�irq
ncwildlife.orq
j� ,�r��"
From: Zerman, William S
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2018 5:23 PM
To: Chambers, Marla J<marla.chambers@ncwildlife.org>; Adima, Nathan N<nadima@ncdot.gov>; Steve Kichefski
<Steven.l.kichefski@usace.army.mil>; Wanucha, Dave <dave.wanucha@ncdenr.gov>; Buncick, Marella
<marella_buncick@fws.gov>; 'militscher.chris@epamail.epa.gov' <militscher.chris@epamail.epa.gov>; Beaver, Brian T
<btbeaver@ncdot.gov>; Dagnino, Carla S<cdagnino@ncdot.gov>; Paschal, Keith <kpaschal@ncdot.gov>; Bob May
<BMay@wetherilleng.com>; David Petty <dpetty@tgsengineers.com>; Cochran, Cameron <acochran@ncdot.gov>; Lipscomb,
Brian S<blipscomb@ncdot.gov>; Dilday, Jason L<jldilday@ncdot.gov>; Lee, Craig J<cjlee@ncdot.gov>; Cox, Marissa R
<mrcox@ncdot.gov>; Beaver, G Trent <tbeaver@ncdot.gov>; Slaughter, Johnathan H<hslaughter@ncdot.gov>;
zrichard@tgsengineers.com; Lee, Amber M<amlee@ncdot.gov>; Patterson, Robert D<robert.patterson@ncdenr.gov>;
cellwanger@fws.gov; johnjaimison@ncdot.gov; Moore, Brenda L<blmoore@ncdot.gov>; Staley, Mark K<mstaley@ncdot.gov>
Cc: Robinson, Beverly G<brobinson@ncdot.gov>; Whittington, Kevin K<kkwhittington@ncdot.gov>
Subject: RE: R-2566BA Watauga River Bridge Replacement, Division 11; County: Watauga - Site Visit on August 22, 2018
��
Conc�rning wildlif� passag�, our d�sign�rs will striv� to �qual or �xc��d th� op�n ar�a that curr�ntly �xists und�r th� �xisting
Watauga Riv�r bridg�.
.� � #F � . � . .� : . ��� �.� . � �.� .� �� , �.�
�� . '��� . +� . �� . .
R�alizing that your primary conc�rn is �xcavation in ar�as with salamand�r habitat, w� r�visit�d sit� photos of th� ar�a. It
app�ars that �xcavation n��d�d for construction of th� north�rn �nd b�nt may not b� in a habitat ar�a. Sinc� our Hydro
consultant, David P�tty, has a b�tt�r knowl�dg� of th� NE quadrant than I, I ask�d David to w�igh in on his opinion as to our
propos�d �nd b�nt location (un-shift�d bridg� alignm�nt) and vvhat may b� salamand�r habitat ar�as. David°s comm�nt; "The
first photo is on NC 105 looking down Old Tweetsie rd.The second is taken from SE quad looking at NE quad streambank. The big
rocks at water edge are in the lower left part of the red oval you show below. Here those rocks may extend 1/3 to 1/2 way up the
slope. There may be a few rocks at waters edge in the upper left portion of red oval and under existing bridge but as best 1 recall
and can see in pics, the remaining portion of slope throughout is grassed and as best 1 understand, would not be typical longtail
salamander habitat." Whil� th� plan vi�w b�low has th� bridg� shift�d 56° w�st, th� original bridg� alignm�nt would also not
app�ar to hav� its north�rn �nd b�nt in a habitat ar�a. Th� third attach�d photo (144645) is looking dir�ctly at th� NE quadrant
und�r th� �xisting bridg�. It should b� not�d that vv� ar� still �nt�rtaining a 2 span bridg� option as vvas discuss�d during our
fi�ld m��ting.
Tr�nt; vvith you knovvl�dg� of th� sit� can you pl�as� confirm that any pot�ntial �xcavation n��d�d for construction of th�
north�rn �nd b�nt should not impact habitat ar�as?
� en�al Exrava2d
� � 4aks? 4ot
` in inder
i � __ � �-�
�,-- -
R� u ���� Yx ���� - _.
�" a . . ,
..� -
��a.., �i� �. •_
�'' ' �
From: Chambers, Marla J
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2018 12:28 PM
To: Adima, Nathan N<na_d.i_rrr�a(c�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Steve Kichefski <�teven..:.l.:_k%�h_e�s_ki_(c�_u_sa�e.._a_rrrr�.y.:_rrr�i.l>; Wanucha, Dave
<dave_:wa_n_u�ha_(c�_n_cd_e_nr.:.�crv>; Buncick, Marella <rrr�a_re.l.l_a......_k�_u_n�i_ck(c�_�ws...�ca.v>;'militscher.chris@epamail.epa.gov'
<m�ilitscher.chris�e.pa_m�ai.l.:e.pa.:.�crv>; Beaver, Brian T<k�tk�eaverC�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Dagnino, Carla S«d_a.�ni_ncr_..C,�_n_cdca.t.:.�crv>; Paschal,
..........................................................................� ............................................,�. _ _
Keith <k.pa_s�ha.l_(e�_n�dca.t...�ca.v>; Bob May <I�INlla.y(e�_weth_e_ri.l_I_e_n�:�cr_m�>; David Petty <d.pett.��t�s_e_n.�i_n_eers..�ca.m�>; Cochran,
Cameron <a�ca.�hra_n_..C,�_n_cdca.t.:.�crv>; Lipscomb, Brian S<�I_i.�s�ca.rn��(e�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Dilday, Jason L<jldilda�v(e�ncdcrt.�crv>; Lee, Craig J
<ca.lee(�_n�d_crt:.�crv>; Cox, Marissa R<m�rccrxC�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Beaver, G Trent <tk�eaverC�_n�dca.t...�ca.v>; Slaughter, Johnathan H
.... ..............................._. .......................................� _ .
<hslau�_hter(e�_n�d_crt:.�crv>; z_richard�t�s_e_n.�i_neers..�ca.rn�; Lee, Amber M<arn�leeC�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Patterson, Robert D
......................... ..........................., _ . . ... ..............................._.
<rcrk�ert.�atte_rscrnC�_n�d_e_n_r:.�crv>; �e.l.l.wan�er(e��Fws..�ca.v; icahnllaim�iscrn('�ncdcrt.�crv; Moore, Brenda L <k�lm�crcrre(e�_n�d_crt:.�crv>;
................................. . ......_. _ ...._...._...._... ..........................................
Staley, Mark K <m�stal_e.y(�_n�d_crt:.�crv>
Cc: Zerman, William S<k�z_e_r_rn�an(�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Robinson, Beverly G<�rca.�i_n_scr_n_(�_n�dca.t...�ca.v>; Whittington, Kevin K
<kkwh itti n�tca.n (c�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>
............................................
Subject: RE: R-2566BA Watauga River Bridge Replacement, Division 11; County: Watauga - Site Visit on August 22, 2018
I thought I'd share my comments on the FONSI for this project (attached), in particular the part regarding making the bridge
readily passible by wildlife. I recall from our field meeting a mention of a riprapped slope under the bridge that sounded like it
went all the way to the water. That would prevent deer from crossing, as they don't do well with riprap. I'm wanting to make
sure the bridge is being designed for passage underneath, as this is the only crossing on the project that can pass large animals.
I don't know if there will be any minutes from that field meeting, but as much as I wanted that meeting onsite, it was difficult to
hear and understand the various conversations that occurred. It was hard to hear at the road level due to traffic noise and hard
to hear under the bridge due to the roar of the river that day. I wanted to make sure the team is aware of NCWRC's concern
about widening this bridge to the east, which will decimate the habitat of the Longtail Salamander at and near the end of Old
Tweetsie Road that has been well studied and documented over the years by us, ASU, and others. This State-listed species is not
easily moved, but we are planning to attempt to move as many as we can before the mountainside is removed there. The
remaining habitat will be fragmented and it's unknown what this will do to the population. I'd really like to see, not in great
detail, but what impacts would occur if the bridge were widened to the west, like the project roadway adjacent and to the south
will be. I've heard it MAY impact Laurel Fork, but don't know if it could be avoided or what type, how much of impact would
occur. The eastern widening was selected by designers prior to knowledge about this salamander (not to be confused with the
aquatic salamander, hellbender, which is also a concern for this project.). I just want to make sure we are truly designing the
least environmentally damaging practicable option for this portion of the project.
Marla
IP'��urlll� �Ill�m�i�r�ll��ur� �� II'��III':'�t�..�.. ���ur�°�liiu�����ur
II...W�Il�lid.�d. ��u���:u���d.li�u� Il:�ir��ir�u�
II'�� liilll�°�Illlii�� III'����u�ur��� ��i�r�i�r�lii��lii�u��
��� II��II::��.'ll..
��Dc� �Il��u�d.�:ir �d.ir�:�:d.
�Illl��:u��irll�:, II��u�ll� ��ir�llliu�� ����°�
Il:�liir�;��q ���'u� �� Il...liu��� ��D�...��� ����D.�
u tt��ll�li II�;: .��D�...���... � �D.��D
IVl_�.irl�..�.Ih�m�b�ir�Ca�u��wildlif�.r�irq
ncwildlife.orq
j� ,�r��"
From: Adima, Nathan N
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2018 4:40 PM
To: Steve Kichefski <�teven..:.l.:_k%�h_e�s_ki_(c�_u_sa_ce.._a_rrn�.y.:_rn�i.l>; Wanucha, Dave <dave_:wa_n_u�ha_(c�_n_cd_e_n_r.:.�crv>; Chambers, Marla J
<rrr�a_rla.:_charrr�_�ers_(c�_n_�wi.l_dl_i�e_:cr_r�>; Buncick, Marella <rrr�a_re.11_a....._�un�ic_k�Fws...�ca.v>;'militscher.chris@epamail.epa.gov'
<m�ilitscher.chris�e.pa_m�ai.l.:e.pa.:.�crv>; Beaver, Brian T<k�tk�eaverC�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Dagnino, Carla S«d_a.�ni_ncr_..C,�_n_cdca.t.:.�crv>; Paschal,
..........................................................................� ............................................,�. _ _ _
Keith <k.pa_s�ha.l_(e�_n�dca.t...�ca.v>; Bob May <I�INlla.y(e�_weth_e_ri.l_I_e_n�:�cr_m�>; David Petty <d.pett.��t�s_e_n.�i_n_eers..�ca.m�>; Cochran,
Cameron <a�ca.�hra_n_..C,�_n_cdca.t.:.�crv>; Lipscomb, Brian S<�I_i.�s�ca.rn��(e�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Dilday, Jason L<jldilda�v(e�ncdcrt.�crv>; Lee, Craig J
<ca.lee(�_n�d_crt:.�crv>; Cox, Marissa R<m�rccrxC�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Beaver, G Trent <tk�eaverC�_n�dca.t...�ca.v>; Slaughter, Johnathan H
.... ..............................._. .......................................� _ .
<hslau�_hter(e�_n�d_crt:.�crv>; z_richard�t�s_e_n.�i_neers..�ca.rn�; Lee, Amber M<arn�leeC�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Patterson, Robert D
......................... ..........................., _ . . ... ..............................._.
<rcrk�ert.�atte_rscrnC�_n�d_e_n_r:.�crv>; �e.l.l.wan�er(e��Fws..�ca.v; icahnllaim�iscrn('�ncdcrt.�crv; Moore, Brenda L <k�lm�crcrre(e�_n�d_crt:.�crv>;
................................. . ......_. _ ...._...._...._... ..........................................
Staley, Mark K <m�stal_e.y(�_n�d_crt:.�crv>
Cc: Zerman, William S<k�z_e_r_rn�an(�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>; Robinson, Beverly G<�rca.�i_n_scr_n_(�_n�dca.t...�ca.v>; Whittington, Kevin K
<kkwh itti n�tca.n (c�_n�dcrt.:.�ca.v>
............................................
Subject: R-2566BA Watauga River Bridge Replacement, Division 11; County: Watauga - Site Visit on August 22, 2018
AI I,
Following our m��ting of August 8, 2018 on th� r�vi�w of r�dlin� plans, constructability and impact issu�s of proj�ct R-2566�A,
a sit� m��ting has b��n sch�dul�d for � n�s ay, �a �ast 22, 2 1� at 9:3 a n�ar th� int�rs�cti�n �f � 1 5
an r�a st�n� �a , Vilas, � 2�692.
If th�r� is n��d for Van Pool, a 15-s�at�r van has b��n r�s�rv�d at th� County Maint�nanc� Yard locat�d at 1865 NC-194 North,
�oon�, NC 28607, vvhich is about 15 minut�s from th� sit� (Contact at th� County Maint�nanc� Yard is K�vin Whittington —(828)
268-6044).
I hop� s�� you at th� sit� at 9e30am.
Thanks.
Nathan N. Adima, PE
Project Manager
Project Management Unit — Divisions 11-14
North Carolina Department of Transportation
919 707 6210 office
919 707 6200 main
u�_� d. i_m� �_� u� � d r� t.�
1000 Birch Ridge Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
1582 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 2699-1582
a������ �������,��:s���������� �� ����� ������ ��`��,� ����:����,�,� �,� ,�������� �� ��`��
�V����� �°��������� ��.����� ��������,� ��W�r ����:� a���.� �� ���,����,���� �� �������� �s�����,�.
I!Irr�7ail �;urre,�l�ui�dc,i��:e, C�u ai�d ��ruir7 U•ii� �ci�dcr i� �ul����;�E� �C�u U•ic, I"J,�, I ul�li�; I'�Ee,�;ur;� I...aw ai�d rr�7ay I�c rll��:lu�crl �C�u �C�h•ih�rl I�artle,�,