20191067 Ver 1_U-5906 NRTM_20190812

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Roy COOPER
GOVERNOR
DATE: September 20, 2018
TO: U-5906 Project File — Natural Environment
FROM: Larry Thompson, Division Environmental Officer
SUBJECT: U-5906 Natural Resources Technical Memo
JAMEs H. TROGDON, III
SECRETARY
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) project U-5906 is an intersection and
surrounding area improvement project located at the intersection of Torrence Chapel Road and
West Catawba Avenue. There is one site along the project where temporary and permanent
surface water impacts will occur. These impacts will occur at a headwall installation and a
proposed ditch entering a jurisdictional stream.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) biologists recently conducted natural
resources investigations within the project study area (Figure 1). The study area comprises
approximately 137 acres and is located within the Catawba River Basin. Corresponding fieldwork
was conducted in the project study area September 17-19, 2018. There was a single jurisdictional
stream identified in the study area. No habitat for federally listed threatened and endangered
(T&E) species exists within the project study area.
Surface Waters and Wetlands
A single perennial stream was identified on Knox Road at geographic coordinates 35.484807, -
80.880714.
Terrestrial Communities
Two terrestrial communities were identified in the study area: Maintained/disturbed and Mesic
Mixed Hardwood Forest Piedmont Subtype.

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Protected Species and Habitats
Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) lists six federally protected species for
Mecklenburg County. Table 2 provides updated information for each species specific to the project
study area. Pedestrian surveys were conducted for listed plant species September 17-19, 2018. A brief
description of each plant species' habitat requirements follows, along with the biological conclusion
rendered based on survey results in the study area. Habitat requirements for each species are based on
the current best available information as per referenced literature and USFWS correspondence.
Table 2. Federally protected species listed for Mecklenburg County.
Scientific Name
Common Name
CountyFederal
Status
Habitat
Present
Biological
Conclusion
Myotis
septentrionalis
Northern long-eared
bat
Mecklenburg
T
No
No Effect
Lasmigona decorata
Carolina heelsplitter
Mecklenburg
E
No
No Effect
Bombus affinis
Rusty -paced bumble
be
Mecklenburg
E*
No
No Effect
Rhus michauxii
Michaux's sumac
Mecklenburg
E
No
No Effect
Helianthus
schweinitzii
Schweinitz's
sunflower
Mecklenburg
E
No
No Effect
Echinacea laevi ata
Smooth coneflower
Mecklenburg
E
No
No Effect
E - Endangered
T - Threatened
* - Historic record (the species was last observed in the county more than 50 years ago)
No suitable habitat for any of the federally listed species exists in the study area. Vegetated areas
within the project study area consist of well -maintained yards and landscapes as well as
fragmented small portions of Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest. A review of NCNHP data on
September 17, 2018, indicated no occurrence of any listed T&E species within 1.0 mile of the
study area. Therefore, this project has a Biological Conclusion of No Effect.
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
Habitat for the bald eagle primarily consists of mature forest in proximity to large bodies of open
water for foraging. Large, dominant trees are utilized for nesting sites, typically within 1.0 mile
of open water. Potential foraging habitat for the bald eagle does not exist in the study area,
however, Lake Norman is located with 0.3 of a mile of the project study area.
No eagles or eagle nests were observed by NCDOT biologists in the area during field
investigations.

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3
Endangered Species Act Candidate Species
Currently, the USFWS lists one Candidate species (C), Georgia Aster (Symphyotrichum
georgianum) for Mecklenburg County. Suitable habitat for Georgia aster is not present in the
study area. A biological conclusion is not required for Candidate species.