20181337 Ver 1_Woodpecker SOPI Lot Survey Letter_20181005

Endangered Species Surveys  Environmental Assessments  Land Management  Wetlands Mapping and Permitting
DR. J.H. CARTER III & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Environmental Consultants
P.O. Box 891  Southern Pines, N.C. 28388
[phone]  Fax [phone]

5 May 2017

Mrs. Susan Miller
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Sandhills Outpost
140 Southwest Broad Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387

Dear Mrs. Miller:
On 4 May 2017, personnel from Dr. J. H. Carter III & Associates, Inc. (JCA), conducted
a red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) (RCW) survey of a, 96+/- acre proposed
residential development composed of 7 individual parcels (Moore County lot pin #s 32317,
38374, 38373, 41610, 38372, 97000413 and 40331), on Waynor Road, on the west side of North
Carolina Highway 22 and the Moore County Airport near Whispering Pines, Moore County,
North Carolina. The parcels have been labeled 1 through 7 on the attached Figure 1. Parcels 3, 4
and 5 have existing residential structures and attending features, the remaining 4 parcels do not
have any structures.
Parcel 1 has a large stream channel and hardwood/pine wetland complex on its southern
end. The northern portion is upland and is forested with a dense overstory of uneven-aged
loblolly (Pinus tadea) and longleaf pine (P. palustris) and has a moderately dense midstory of
15-20 feet (ft.) tall blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and turkey oak (Q. laevis). In portions
of Parcel 1, there is a dense shrub layer of deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), loblolly pine and
blackjack oak saplings and herbaceous ground cover composed of sparse fragrant goldenrod
(Solidago odora) and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). Parcel 1 also contained areas where
the midstory, shrub and herbaceous layers were completely absent.
Parcels 2 and 3 have a dense overstory of uneven-aged loblolly and longleaf pines
approximately 30 to 35 year old, areas of dense loblolly pine growth being most common. These
parcels have a moderately dense midstory of 10-15 ft. tall blackjack oak and turkey oak and a
dense shrub layer of deerberry, loblolly pine and blackjack oak saplings. The ground cover was
sparse fragrant goldenrod, bracken fern and Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens).

Endangered Species Surveys  Environmental Assessments  Land Management  Wetlands Mapping and Permitting
Parcels 4 and 5 have large open grassy mowed fields with a few large longleaf pines 60
to 70 years old interspersed throughout. Parcel 5 is more heavily forested in its western half
with a moderately dense midstory of 15-25 ft. tall blackjack and turkey oak and a moderately
dense shrub layer of loblolly pine and blackjack oak saplings. Parcel 5 also contains 2 small
man-made ponds.
Parcel 6 was similar to parcels 2 and 3 in that it contained areas of pine regeneration in its
western half except for the presence of a large area of extremely dense 15 to 20 year old loblolly
pine that did not have a midstory shrub layer or significant herbaceous ground cover. The
eastern half of Parcel 6 was slightly less dense than parcels 2 and 3 in the overstory and
contained 40-50 year old long leaf pines with a moderately dense understory of blackjack and
turkey oaks and a sparse to moderate ground cover of fragrant goldenrod, common greenbrier
(Smilax rotundifolia), Carolina jessamine and sparse wiregrass (Aristida stricta).
Parcel 7 has a large open mowed field in its northern half and contains a man-made pond.
A cleared sewer right-of-way line traverses the parcel from east to west. The area south of the
sewer line is densely forested with an overstory of dense loblolly pine regeneration in the 30 to
40 years old, a sparse midstory of turkey and blackjack oaks and a sparse ground of fragrant
goldenrod, Carolina jessamine and young poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).
No RCW cavity trees were found on the any of the 7 Parcels, however, part of the
southernmost parcel (#7) is within the foraging habitat partition of active RCW cluster SOPI 34
(Figure 1). SOPI 34 has been active for several decades. The nearest RCW cavity tree is south
of Parcel 7 (tag # 04793 inactive cavity). The nearest active cavity tree (tag #16225) in SOPI 34
is 1,660 ft. south of Parcel 7.
Select habitats within one half mile of the parcels were surveyed, particularly the sites
immediately to the east and north. The portion of the Forest Creek property that immediately
abuts the parcel 7 was also surveyed at the parcels intersection point. No new RCW cavities
were located.
Please feel free to call if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

William Mullin
Wildlife Biologist

Endangered Species Surveys  Environmental Assessments  Land Management  Wetlands Mapping and Permitting
cc. Colin Webster
Alan Cassavant