19951097 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_19950118

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
John N. Morris, Director
January 10, 1995
MEMORANDUM
IN
A1 410.9 MAI
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TO: Jam K. Leumas, Land Quality Section
FROM: J n Sutherland, Water Resources Planning Section ?,4H
SUBJECT: Southern Village Lake and Dam Minimum Flow Requirement ?9NT"4tS??Fs
Wilson Creek, Orange County
The Division of Water Resources (DWR) and Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) visited the
site on December 19, 1994. After examining the stream, the affected reach from the proposed
dam to the confluence with Morgan Creek was given an aquatic habitat rating of "moderate,"
subject to 15A NCAC 02K.0501.
The proposed dam is located in the piedmont region of North Carolina at a drainage area of 3.4
square miles and with a mean annual daily flow of 3.5 cubic feet per second (cfs). Using the
procedure described in 15A NCAC 02K.0502(c)(2)(C) the minimum flow required to maintain
aquatic habitat downstream of the proposed structure should be 0.76 cfs. This calculation
was based on data from U.S. Geological Survey gaging station 02086000 - Dial Creek
near Bahama. Alternatively, the applicant may conduct a site-specific field study to determine the
minimum flow requirement, subject to the review and approval of the Department.
The plans for the proposed dam do not include provisions for making a continuous minimum
release. The applicant should be required to submit additional information to address this
deficiency before the Dam Safety permit is issued.
Subject to 15A NCAC 02K.0504, provisions must be made for monitoring compliance with the
minimum flow requirement. Because the minimum flow is not over 1.0 cfs, an accurately
calibrated release mechanism such as a gate or pipe opening may be used to document compliance
with the minimum flow requirement. Plans for such a calibrated release mechanism should be
submitted to the Department for review and approval prior to construction.
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
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Alternatively, a calibrated staff gage indicating the water elevation corresponding to 0.76 cfs
could be installed in an easily viewed location in the vicinity of the Cuthbert Drive (SR 1994)
bridge downstream of the dam. Installation should follow procedures described in U.S.
Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2175, "Measurement and Computation of Streamflow."
Plans for a staff gage should be provided to the Department for approval prior to installation.
Calibration of any staff gage should be verified at least every two years. All initial calibration and
re-calibration measurements, including field data, should be provided to the Department within 30
days of completion.
We concur with the WRC recommendation that the applicant consult with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (COE) to determine the extent of wetlands impacted. It is quite possible that a
Section 404 permit will be required (administered by COE, reviewed by state and federal
agencies) and also a Section 401 water quality certification (administered by the Division of
Environmental Management). If the 401/404 permitting process indicates that mitigation for
wetlands loss is necessary, we encourage the applicant to consider establishing an adequate
conservation buffer along both sides of Wilson Creek downstream of the proposed dam as part of
a mitigation package.
Please contact Steve Reed or Jim Mead if you have any questions regarding these
recommendations.
cc: Steve Reed, DWR
Woody Yonts, DWR
Owen Anderson, WRC
Shari Bryant, WRC
Monica Swihart, DEM