20090828 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20090810

Revd ?°
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission P
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Liz Hair, USACOE L5
Q uG
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office ©2009
ivETLAN STTOOROS AND SR QUALITy
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator TER BRANCH
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: August 3, 2009
SUBJECT: Shawneehaw Creek Stream Relocation/Restoration, Town of Banner Elk, Avery County
The Town of Banner Elk proposes to provide stream restoration through stream relocation and restoration.
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 Town of Banner Elk proposes to relocate and restore 600' of perennial stream using natural channel design
methodologies and restored floodplain access. Shawneehaw Creek supports wild brown and rainbow trout.
Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project with the following conditions:
1. Instream work and land disturbance within the 25-foot wide buffer zone are prohibited during the rainbow
trout spawning season of January 1 through April 15 to protect the egg and fry stages of trout.
2. State-of-the-art natural channel design methodologies should be provided and maintained.
3. Buffers should be as wide as practicable. Minimum 25-foot trout buffers should be provided and these
should be permanently protected with conservation easements.
4. Sediment and erosion control measures should adhere to the design standards for sensitive watersheds (15A
NCAC 4B.0024).
5. Restored streams and streambanks should be planted with autochthonous (native) plants like silky dogwood,
rhododendron, dog hobble, mountain peppeibush, paw paw, red maple, silky willow, tag alder, black willow,
sycamore, river birch, or other native woody species.
6. If used, natural fiber matting is recommended over plastic matting that can impinge and entrap small animals.
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: Kevin Barnett, Linda Wiggs, DWQ-ARO
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries - 1721 Mail Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]