20030618 Ver 2_Other Agency Comments_20090730

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
July 30, 2009
Ms. Liz Hair
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, North Carolina 28801-5006
Ms. Cyndi Karoly
NCDENR, Division of Water Quality, 401 Unit
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
SUBJECT: Nationwide Permit Application for the Town of Fletcher
Streambank stabilization, Cane Creek, Henderson County
DWQ No. 03-0618 v2
Dear Ms. Hair and Ms. Karoly:
The Town of Fletcher requested a letter of concurrence from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission (Commission) for a 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project
involves stabilizing about 100 feet of Cane Creek using a rock cross vane and riparian vegetation
planting. Comments from the Commission are provided under provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977
(33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C.
661-667d).
The project should not harm trout spawning.
The Commission supports the planting of riparian vegetation with this project, as proposed. A dense
cover of riparian trees and shrubs is critical to the long-term stability of most streams in the mountains of
North Carolina. Rapid establishment of root material in streambanks is particularly important to the
success of stream improvement and stabilization projects. Likewise, it is important to maintain existing
riparian vegetation where grading work is not necessary. Mature vegetation provides organic material to
streams and seed sources that expedite natural regeneration.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]
Town of Fletcher Page 2 July 30, 2009
Henderson County
The Commission can concur with a permit for the project if the following recommended conditions are
attached and used to help conserve fish and wildlife resources:
1. Only clean, large, angular rock, root wads, logs, or other natural stream design materials and
techniques can be used for bank stabilization. Materials must not be placed in the stream channels in
a manner that overly constricts flow or that impedes aquatic life during low water.
2. Rock, sand, or other materials must not be excavated from the stream channels except where
necessary to construct structures or to reestablish a natural channel according to reference
information. These materials are unstable in flowing-water and are unsuitable for bank stabilization
3. Only existing and actively eroding areas can be stabilized. Grading and backfilling must be
minimized and tree and shrub cover retained where possible to ensure long term availability of stream
bank cover for aquatic life and wildlife. Backfill materials must be obtained from upland sites.
4. Sediment and erosion control measures must be used and maintained until all disturbed soils are
permanently stabilized. All bare soil shall be seeded as soon as possible after ground disturbance and
erosion control matting used with seeding on disturbed stream banks. Matting should be secured with
stakes or, wherever possible, live stakes of native trees. Tall fescue must not be used along streams.
5. In-water excavation shall be conducted in dry work areas whenever practical by using sandbags or
other temporary diversion structures.
6. All heavy equipment operated near streams must be inspected and maintained regularly.
7. Hydroseed mixtures and wash-waters must not reach streams.
8. Disturbance of riparian vegetation shall be kept to a minimum. Where disturbance for temporary
access is necessary, trees and shrubs should be cut and the stumps and roots left to resprout.
Disturbed stream banks and the widest possible zone outward from the channel should be planted
with native trees and shrubs (e.g., silky dogwood, rhododendron, dog hobble, red maple, silky willow,
tag alder, black willow, sycamore). This will help provide long-term bank stability and stream
shading. Note, silky dogwood, silky willow, and black willow can be planted as live stakes collected
during the dormant season. Cuttings should be randomly planted on four (4) foot centers from the
waters edge to the top of the bank. Trees should be planted on ten (10) to twelve (12) foot centers.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. Commission staff may inspect the
work site during or after construction. Please contact me at [phone] extension 24 if there are any
questions about these comments
Sincerely,
Dave McHenry
Mountain Region Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Cc: A. Bick, Confluence Engineering