20090761 Ver 1_Information Letter_20090708

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® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Monte Matthews, USACOE
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: July 8, 2009
SUBJECT: SRI 123B, Laurel Creek Road, Unnamed Tributaries Laurel Creek. Watauga County
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to improve the referenced roadway.
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).
The NCDOT project is to impact an additional 40 liner feet of stream during pipe upgrades and
extensions. A temporary dewatering process will be used for the project to allow the project to be done in
the dry to minimize sedimentation and turbidity. Our review of the project area found that Laurel Creek
is a NC Division of Water Quality Class C-Trout stream. Tributaries thereof are classified the same.
Additionally, Laurel Creek is a Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters that is Hatchery Supported by
this agency. Wild Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout are known for the area. The Hellbender,
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis (NCSC, FSC) and the Green floater, Lasmigona subviridis (FSC, NCE) are
known from the Watauga River basin, including perennial tributaries. Accordingly, connectivity of
streams and supporting headwaters is functionally important for habitat maintenance.
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:
In stream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are prohibited
during the brown and brook trout spawning season of October 15 through April 15 to protect
the egg and fry stages of trout from off-site sedimentation during construction.
2. To the maximum extent practicable, culverts 48" diameter or larger should be buried a foot
into the streambed. Culverts less than 48" diameter should sized large enough to 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
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
SRI 1236, Laurel Creek Rd. Page 2 July 8, 2009
assured during low flow or drought conditions. Perched pipes should be avoided to the extent
possible. Riprap base flow channels should be provided below piping to avoid and minimize
potentially perched conditions. Any riprap used should 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 should be accomplished so that wet concrete does not
contact stream water to avoid water quality standard violations and impacts to aquatic life.
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 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. Onsite vegetation and materials may be used for stream
bank stabilization when practicable.
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, Amy Euliss, DWQ-WSRO
Heath Slaughter, NCDOT
Kathy Matthews, USEPA
Marla Chambers, NCWRC
Marella Buncick, USFWS
Sonya Gregory, DWQ-Raleigh