20050861 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20061208

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~ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ~
Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Cyndi B. Karoly, Supervisor
401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit
NCDWQ Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
FROM: Ron Linville, Regional Coordinator /'~~
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: December 8, 2006
SUBJECT: Snow Creek Restoration Project, DWQ No. 20050861 version 2, Surry County
The applicant is requesting 401 Water Quality Certification from the North Carolina Division of Water
Quality. The NCWRC has reviewed information provided by the applicant, and field biologists on our
staff are familiar with habitat values of the project area. These comments are provided in accordance with
provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d).
The previously submitted project is to restore natural channel pattern, profile and dimensions to improve
aquatic and terrestrial habitats to this reach of Snow Creek. The recent request is to replace a culvert on
an unnamed tributary to provide cattle access and stream protection. Impacts are indicated to twenty (20)
feet of intermittent stream, which is indicated to be three (3) feet in width.
Based on the information provided by the applicant and our knowledge of the project area, we do not
believe this project and culvert will cause significant effects to waters. Therefore, we do not object to the
project providing that culverts 48 inches diameter or larger are buried a foot into the streambed. Culverts
less than 48 inches diameter should be buried to a depth equal to or greater than 20% their size to allow
for aquatic life passage. These measurements must be based on natural thalweg depths. Standard 404
Permit and 401 Certification measures should be applicable.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any questions
regarding these comments, please contact me at 336/769-9453.
E-copy: John Thomas, USACOE-RRO
Daryl Lamb, DWQ-WSRO
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
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