20191197 Ver 1_Guilford_Pogonia_TE_Lttr_20190910

�.. ECOSYSTEM
PLANNING &
RESTORATION
August 18, 2017
Ms. Aileen Mayhew, PE
Mott MacDonald
7624 Purfoy Road, Suite 115
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, LLC
559 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: [phone]
www.eprusa.net
SUBJECT: Small whorled pogonia assessment for NCDOT Division 7 Low Impact Bridge
Replacements at four sites in Guilford County.
Dear Ms. Mayhew,
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration (EPR) has performed surveys for small whorled pogonia
(Isotria medeoloides) at four low impact bridge replacement sites in Guilford County on July 27,
2017. The four sites are:
17BP.7.R.114 - Bridge #52 over UT to Deep River on Scientific Street
17BP.7.R.116 - Bridge #224 over South Buffalo Creek on McConnell Road
17BP.7.R.107 - Bridge #235 over Big Alamance Creek on Alamance Church Road
17BP.7.R.113 - Bridge #240 over Little Alamance Creek on Causey Lake Road
Small whorled pogonia is a federally threatened plant known to occur in Guilford County. It
occurs in young as well as maturing (second to third successional growth) mixed -deciduous or
mixed-deciduous/coniferous forests. It does not appear to exhibit strong affinities for a particular
aspect, soil type, or underlying geologic substrate. In North Carolina, the perennial orchid is
typically found in open, dry deciduous woods and is often associated with white pine and
rhododendron. The species may also be found on dry, rocky, wooded slopes; moist slopes;
ravines lacking stream channels; or slope bases near braided channels of vernal streams. The
orchid, often limited by shade, requires small light gaps or canopy breaks, and typically grows
under canopies that are relatively open or near features like logging roads or streams that create
long -persisting breaks in the forest canopy.
Biological Conclusion: No Effect
Habitat for small whorled pogonia occurs at all four bridge locations on the hillslopes above the
stream floodplain. Surveys of these areas were conducted by EPR biologists on July 27, 2017.

ECOSYSTEM
PLANNING He
RESTORATION
No individuals of small whorled pogonia were observed. A review of NCNHP records (August
2017) indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of each site.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at [phone] or
rlepsic(d),orusa.net.
Sincerely,
Robert Lepsic, PWS
Senior Scientist
cc: Tim Jordan PE, Mott MacDonald
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