20190623 Ver 1_Stokes 105 Cover Letter_20190510

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Roy COOPER
GOVERNOR
April 29, 2019
Mr. Bryan Roden -Reynolds
8430 University Executive Park Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28262
JAMEs H. TROGDON, III
SECRETARY
Subject: Pre -Construction Notification for proposed replacement of Bridge No.
840105 over Snow Creek on SR 1697 (Pitzer Rd.) in Stokes County
Dear Sir:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge No. 105 on
Snow Creek on SR 1697 (Pitzer Road) in Stokes County. The existing bridge is 116' long with two
bents at the edge of the water. It is currently at a sufficiency rating of 65.03 and classified as
deficient, and thus, needs replacement. The new structure will be approximately 125' long with a 26'
ten -inch clear roadway width. The bridge will include two ten -foot lanes and three-foot five -inch
offsets. The new structure will span Snow Creek with no bents in the water. We are proposing
temporary impacts for impervious dikes in Snow Creek to remove the existing bents and permanent
impacts to stabilize the existing bank. The sedimentation and erosion control measures will adhere to
the Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds.
The bridge replacement project is located adjacent to a NCDOT owned mitigation site. The site, known as
the Clark Mitigation site, was as a conservation measure for the James Spiny Mussel for two earlier bridge
replacement projects. It was planted in riparian buffer vegetation and is maintained under NCDOT Right of
Way. The project will not impact any of the planted areas. After discussions with Marella Buncick,
USFWS, it was determined that there would be no impact to the site if impacts remained in uplands with no
removal of planted trees. This commitment has been met in the final design.
USFWS lists the James Spiny mussel (Parvaspina collina) as endangered in Stokes County and is
investigating listing the Green Floater (Lasmigona subviridis) as endangered. Surveys were last completed
for both species on October 5, 2017. A determination of "May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect"
(MANLAA) on both species. NCDOT submitted a concurrence request for the MANLAA determination,
dated April 10, 2019, to USFWS. In a letter dated April 23, 2019, they concurred with the MANLAA
determination.
Additionally, the USFWS lists the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as threatened, and
Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) and the Small-anthered bittercress (Cardamine
micranthera) as endangered for Stokes County. The project will utilize the SLOPES agreement with the
USACE for the NLEB, and thus no further coordination is required. The bridge structure was surveyed for
the presence of bats on December 14, 2017 and none were found. The project was surveyed for
Schweinitz's sunflower on August 28, 2018, and no sunflowers were found. NCDOT determined that the

project would have `no effect' on the sunflower. The project was surveyed for the Small-anthered
bittercress on May 3, 2018, and none were found. We determined that the project would have no `effect' on
the bittercress.
Please see the submitted on-line PCN application for the accompanying documentation for this
project.
Regulatory Approvals
Section 404 Permit: The NCDOT requests written authorization for a Nationwide 13 and 33.
Section 401 Permit: The NCDOT is providing this information for record only to NCDWR.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Amy Euliss at (336) 747
7802 or at [e-mail].
Mailing Address: Telephone: [phone] Location:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Fax: [phone] SILAS CREEK PARKWAY
DIVISION 9 Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127
375 SILAS CREEK PARKWAY
WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127 Website: www.ncdot.gov

Sincerely,
Amy'Euliss
Division Environmental Officer, NCDOT Division 9
Cc: Daniel Dagenhart, NCDOT Division 9 Bridge Program Manager
Dave Wanucha, NCDWR