20090854 Ver 1_WRC Comments_20090819

~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~

Gordon Myers, Executive Director

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Cyndi Karoly, 401 Certification Unit
NC Division of Water Quality

Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator ~
Habitat Conservation Program

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AUG 1 9 2009

FROM:

OENR - WATERQUAUTY
WET!},rmS AND STOPJJ.WATEft W.HCH

DATE: August 17,2009

SUBJECT: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CDIA) Danga Lake (Little Paw Creek)
Maintenance Project, NCDWQ No. 2009-0854, Mecklenburg County

CDIA proposes to comply with a Notice of Deficiency regarding Danga Lake issued by the NC
Division of Land Resources. 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-1O; NCAC 25).

The project will impact an additional 42 linear feet of stream and 0.003 acres of wetlands
associated with the dam repairs/renovation. No listed species are indicated for the area.

Based on our review of the submittal, we will not object to the project as proposed providing the
following conditions are implemented:

1. If practicable, water in the lake should be siphoned prior to breaching the existing
dam in order to reduce downstream aquatic impacts from erosion, sedimentation and
turbidity. Irregard1ess of how the lake is drained, water quality and Water Quality
standards should not be diminished or violated with or without appropriate BMP
usage.

2. Prior to issuance of Clean Water Act permits and certifications, consideration should
be given by project proponents to suction dredging and sediment bag options like
those used around Lake Norman.

3. A minimum flow release should be established for the inline impoundment using NC
Division of Water Resources standards. Discharge waters from the lake should be
aerated if possible.

Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries · 1721 Mail Service Center · Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] · Fax: [phone]

CDIA-Danga Lake Dam Improvements

Page 2

August 17,2009

4. Remaining jurisdictional waters and wetlands should be buffered, either through
protection or provision of undisturbed forested buffer zones. Buffers should be
permanently preserved as common contiguous forest areas instead of being
subdivided. For streams that do not support federally listed threatened or endangered
aquatic species, we recommend 50' intermittent and 100' perennial stream buffers.
Maximum available buffers should be provided.

5. If any concrete will be used, work must be accomplished so that wet concrete does
not contact stream water.

6. Heavy equipment should be operated from the bank: rather than in the stream channel
in order to minimize sedimentation and reduce the likelihood of introducing other
pollutants into the stream.

7. Temporary or permanent native herbaceous vegetation should be established on all
bare soil within five (5) days to ten (10) days of ground disturbing activities to
provide long-term erosion control. Restored buffers should be planted with
autochthonous (native) plants like silky dogwood, silky willow, tag alder, black
willow, river birch, or other native woody species.

8. 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:

Alan Johnson, DWQ-MRO
Alan Ratzlaff, USFWS-ARO
Steve Chapin, USACOE-ARO