20190062 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20190314

0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
14 March 2019
Mr. Perry Isner
Wetlands & Waters, Inc.
4108 LB Propst Drive
Conover, North Carolina 28613
SUBJECT: Pre -Construction Notification for the Verona Subdivision, Guilford County, North
Carolina. USACE Action ID: SAW -2018-01856; DEQ No. 20190062.
Dear Mr. Isner,
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
document. Comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as
amended) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended;
16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
On behalf of Eastwood Construction, Wetlands & Waters, Inc. has submitted a Pre -Construction
Notification (PCN) application for the Verona development to be located south of U.S. Highway 70 and
west of Springwood Church Road in Burlington, Guilford County, North Carolina. The site is currently
used as a cattle pasture that is surrounded by residential, agricultural lands, and Burlington Springwood
County Park.
An unnamed tributary of Back Creek in the Cape Fear River basin and headwater wetlands occur on the
site. We are pleased to see the site has been redesigned to reduce the impacts to jurisdictional wetlands.
The proposed project would result in the loss of 0.188 acre of wetlands and permanently impact 141
linear feet of an intermittent stream for the installation of a culvert. On 19 February 2019, NCWRC
conducted a site visit. Based upon the conditions and the slope of the intermittent stream, we concur that
the culvert does not need to be buried to allow for aquatic passage.
We have no current records of the federal or state -protected species within or near the site. The state
significantly rare Greensboro burrowing crayfish (Cambarus catagius) may occur at the site. The
Greensboro burrowing crayfish has been found in all types of soils from sandy loams to hard clay and
burrows are not usually directly associated with any drainage or stream flow (McGrath 1994). The species
has never been found in any flowing water. The full extent of its distribution in this watershed is unknown
due to lack of targeted surveys. Please notify Brena Jones, Central Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator
([e-mail], 919-707-0369), if there are signs of burrowing crayfish activity (holes). The
lack of records from the project area does not imply or confirm the absence of federal or state -listed species.
An on-site survey during the appropriate survey period is the only definitive means to determine if the
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

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Verona Subdivision
USACE Action ID: SAW -2018-01856
proposed project would impact rare, threatened, or endangered species. A Guildford County Open Space
borders the site to the south.
We offer the applicant the following recommendations to minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial
wildlife resources.
Maintain a minimum 100 -foot undisturbed, native, forested buffer along perennial streams, and a
minimum 50 -foot buffer along intermittent streams and wetlands. Maintaining undisturbed,
forested buffers along these areas will minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife
resources, water quality, and aquatic habitat both within and downstream of the project area.
Also, wide riparian buffers are helpful in maintaining stability of stream banks and for treatment
of pollutants associated with urban stormwater.
2. We prefer the existing damaged culvert is removed from the stream and that section of stream
restored to natural conditions.
Due to the decline in bat populations, avoid the removal of large trees at the site. Avoid tree
clearing activities during the maternity roosting season for bats (May 15 — August 15).
4. Consider using native seed mixtures and plants that are beneficial to wildlife for revegetating
disturbed areas and landscaping, including pollinator species. Avoid using Bermudagrass, redtop,
tall fescue, and lespedeza, which are invasive and/or non-native and provide little benefit to
wildlife. Consider an alternative mix of red clover, creeping red fescue, and a grain, such as oats,
wheat, or rye. Also avoid using invasive, non-native landscaping plants (i.e., privet and nandina).
For a list of non-native species, visit http://www.ncwildflower.org//plant galleries/invasives_list.
5. The use of biodegradable and wildlife -friendly sediment and erosion control devices is
strongly recommended. Silt fencing, fiber rolls and/or other products should have loose -weave
netting that is made of natural fiber materials with movable joints between the vertical and
horizontal twines. Silt fencing that has been reinforced with plastic or metal mesh should be
avoided as it impedes the movement of terrestrial wildlife species. These measures should be
routinely inspected and properly maintained. Excessive silt and sediment loads can have
numerous detrimental effects on aquatic resources including destruction of spawning habitat,
suffocation of eggs, and clogging of gills of aquatic species.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input for this project. If I can provide further assistance or free
technical guidance, please call [phone] or email olivia.munzer cr,ncwildlife.org.
Sincerely,
C2��
Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
Literature Cited
McGrath, C. 1994. Status survey for the Greensboro burrowing crayfish. Proceedings of the annual
conference, Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners, 48: 343-349.

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14 March 2019
Verona Subdivision
USACE Action ID: SAW -2018-01856
ec: David Bailey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sue Homewood, N.C. Division of Water Resources
John Ellis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service