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HomeMy WebLinkAboutS-632 Wetland and Protected Species Assessment Report WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. 115 MacKenan Drive | Cary, NC 27511 t: 919.469.3340 | f: 919.467.6008 | www.withersravenel.com | License No. C-0832 Cary | Greensboro | Pittsboro | Raleigh | Wilmington July 27, 2016 Mr. Brian Gurganus ST Wooten Corporation, Inc. PO Box 2408 Wilson, NC 27894 Re: Wetland and Protected Species Assessment Report Sutton Lake Mine Expansion Site (±80.43 acres) Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC WR Project # 02050449.20 Mr. Gurganus: On July 20 & 21, 2016, WithersRavenel conducted a review of the ±80.43 acre property proposed for expansion of the existing mine for the purpose evaluating the presence of wetlands, and streams, as well as federal and state listed threatened and endangered species. The review area consisted of the ±80.43 acre westernmost portion of the 1,045 acre parcel (PID: R02400-001-001- 000) owned by Invista S.A.R.L., as depicted in the attached exhibits. The review area is located on US 421, directly west of the existing Invista facility in Wilmington, New Hanover County at Latitude: 34.309732; Longitude: -77.987537. Specifically, the review area is bound to the east by the CRX railroad track, to the west by the Duke Energy – Sutton Plant property, to the south by an existing sand mine, and to the north by a high voltage power line easement. The review area is located within two sub-basins of the Cape Fear River Basin (see attached Cape Fear Basin Exhibit). The majority of the review area drains to the NE Cape Fear River (HUC: 03030007; Stream Index: 18-74-(52.5); Water Quality Classification: C;Sw). A small area in central, western portion of the review area drains to the Cape Fear River (HUC: 03030005; Stream Index: 18-(71); Water Quality Classification: SC). Before conducting the site visit, a preliminary assessment was completed by compiling topographic base maps, New Hanover County soils maps, color aerial photographs and USGS Quadrangle Maps. Proposed Activities The review area is located within a heavily developed area along the US 421 corridor where most of the industrial development is concentrated within New Hanover County. The areas south of the review area are heavily developed, and very little natural habitat exists to the south of the review area. The natural habitat that does exist to the south is severely fragmented with very few unimpeded travel corridors for wildlife. The proposed activities within the review area consist of the proposed expansion of the existing sand mine, located adjacent to the south. Due to the nature of a mining operation, the proposed activities will result in impact to the entire review area. WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 2 of 16 Site Conditions The review area consisted of undeveloped woodlands, maintained roads and a maintained overhead power line easement. The review was characterized by two main communities, consisting of longleaf pine-turkey oak forest, and maintained corridors (roads and overhead power line easement)(See Vegetative Communities Exhibit). The maintenance associated with the maintained corridors prevents a canopy or significant understory/shrub strata. The vegetative composition of the maintained corridors consisted of a mixture of camphorweed (Heterotheca subaxillaris), wiregrass (Aristida stricta), broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scopariu,) longleaf pine (seed stage) (Pinus palustris), sandhills beaksedge (Rhynchospora megalocarpa), centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), lespedeza (Sericea lespedeza), bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) and reindeer lichen (Cladonia spp.), as well as other common weeds and grasses. The longleaf pine/turkey oak forest was characterized by a canopy of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), the vast majority of which are less than 50 years old with only scattered mature longleaf pines, and an understory of immature longleaf pine and turkey oak (Quercus laevis). Due to a lack of natural fire patterns, the longleaf pine/turkey oak forest has lost many of the characteristics of the historic xeric longleaf pine scrub natural community. The understory within the majority of the review area was dense, with some areas of sparse understory and only a few areas of barren sand. With the exception of the barren sand areas, the leaf litter ranged from 3-6 inches thick. In the areas of dense understory, the vegetative composition of the herbaceous strata consisted of little blue stem and sandhills beaksedge. In areas where the understory was sparse, the herbaceous strata consisted of a mixture of wiregrass (Aristida stricta), sandhills beaksedge, little bluestem, Carolina October-flower (Polygonella polygama var. croomii) and reindeer lichen. The vegetative composition of the barren sand areas consisted sparse wire grass, Carolina October-flower, sandhills beaksedge and reindeer lichen. Wetland Delineation Prior to conducting the site visit, WR reviewed aerial photographs, the USFWS National Wetland Inventory maps, the USDA Soil Survey for New Hanover County (1977), the 2013 USGS Quadrangle Map (Castle Hayne Quad) and New Hanover County GIS data (i.e. topography, streams, etc.). WR surveyed the review area for the presence of wetlands, streams and surface waters jurisdictional to the Corps of Engineers (Corps) and/or NC Division of Water Resources (DWR). WR conducted surveys for features meeting the 1987 USACE Wetlands Delineation Manual and 2010 Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Regional Supplement. The New Hanover County Soil Survey characterizes the majority of the soils within the review area as Kureb sand (Kr), with three pockets of Rimini sand (Rm) and one pocket of Leon sand (Le). Both Kureb and Rimini soils are excessively drained upland soils. Leon soils are poorly drained soils. The survey did not identify any wetlands or surface waters within the review area. The majority of the review area consists of xeric longleaf pine/turkey oak sand ridge. The review of the mapped area of Leon sand in the southeastern corner of the review determined that the soils were WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 3 of 16 consistent with Leon Sand. However, there were no hydrologic indicators within the upper 12” of the soil surface, and the area did not contain a dominance of wetland vegetation. Additionally, three small low lying areas, less than 0.10 acres each, were identified within the site and intense investigation was conducted within these area. Two of the low lying areas are located immediately north of the central access road, and one was located immediately east of the western property boundary within the maintained power line easement. The vegetation in these areas was considered hydrophytic based on the Dominance Test in the Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Regional Supplement. However, the soils in these areas were not hydric, and did not have sufficient hydrologic indicators in the upper 12 inches of the soil surface to meet wetland criteria. Therefore, these areas are not wetlands, and are simply low lying areas within an upland landscape that hold water periodically during heavy rain events, with no surface water connection to jurisdictional waters. This report represents the professional opinion of our Senior Environmental Scientist and does not represent concurrence by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Threatened & Endangered Species Review Methodology Per conversations with New Hanover County Development Services, the review for threatened, endangered and rare species consisted of the following: • Federally listed threatened and endangered species for New Hanover County; • Federally listed Federal Species of Concern (FSC) identified as occurring within the New Hanover County portion of the “421 Sand Ridge Significant Nature Heritage Area”, as documented in the Natural Area Inventory of New Hanover County (2003), prepared by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program; • State listed threatened, endangered and rare species identified as occurring within the New Hanover County portion of the “421 Sand Ridge Significant Nature Heritage Area”, as documented in the Natural Area Inventory of New Hanover County (2003), prepared by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program; Prior to conducting the site visit, WR reviewed US Fish and Wildlife Service’s online threatened and endangered species database, located at: http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/New Hanover.html and the NC Wildlife Resource Commission’s “State and Federally Listed Endangered Wildlife Species of North Carolina” publication, located at www.ncwildlife.org, to identify federal and state listed species known to occur in New Hanover County, North Carolina. WR also reviewed the NC Natural Heritage Program’s (NCNHP) online database, located at http://www.ncnhp.org/web/nhp/database-search to identify known occurrences of federal and state listed threatened or endangered species known to occur in New Hanover County. WR submitted a project review request to the NCNHP through their Data Explorer webpage, located at: https://ncnhde.natureserve.org/, to identify known occurrence of listed species within 1.0 miles of the subject property. WR also obtained NCNHP GIS data for all known occurrences of listed species within 2.0 miles of the review area. On July 21, 2016, WR conducted a pedestrian survey of the subject property to assess vegetative communities and identify potential habitat for, or occurrences of the federal and state listed species WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 4 of 16 as requested by New Hanover County Development Services. The vegetative communities found within the subject property consists of maintained corridors and longleaf pine/turkey oak forest as previously discussed in the Site Conditions section of this report. Species synopsis and Pedestrian Survey Results Plants and animals classified as Endangered (E) or Threatened (T) by the USFWS are protected under the provisions of Section 7 and Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Additionally, plants and animals classified as Endangered (E) or Threatened (T) by the State of the North Carolina are protected under provisions of 15A NCAC 10I.0101 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. There is no protection afforded to species classified as Federal Species of Concern (FSC) by FWS or classified as Special Concern (SC) or Watch List (W) by the State. The following tables present the species for which surveys were conducted. Federally listed species surveyed for are based on the USFWS for New Hanover County, North Carolina, as last updated on 04/02/15. Please note that marine species and species which only occur on the barrier islands or immediately on the beaches have been omitted from this report due to a lack of suitable habitat within the review area (i.e. seabeach amaranth, shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, West Indian manatee, piping plover, red knot and sea turtles. State listed species listed in the following tables are based on the New Hanover County Development Services request to survey for species identified as occurring within the New Hanover County portion of the “421 Sand Ridge Significant Nature Heritage Area”, as documented in the Natural Area Inventory of New Hanover County (2003), prepared by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Therefore, Venus flytrap and Carolina goldenrod were omitted from this report; however, it should be noted that potential habitat for these species does not occur within the review area. Common Name Scientific Name Federal Status State Status Habitat Present Biological Conclusion Animals American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis T (S/A) T No No Effect Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus BGPA T No No Effect Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum None None Yes No Effect Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger None None Yes No Effect Northern Long- Eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis T T Yes May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis E E No No Effect Southern Hognose Snake Heterodon simus FSC SC Yes May Affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 5 of 16 Common Name Scientific Name Federal Status State Status Habitat Present Biological Conclusion Plants Cooley’s Meadowrue Thalictrum cooleyi E E No No Effect Florida Scrub Frostweed Helianthemum nashii None E Yes No Effect Golden Sedge Carex lutea E E No No Effect Lace-Lip Ladies’ Tresses Spiranthes laciniata None SC-V No No Effect Pickering’s Dawnflower Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii FSC SC-V Yes No Effect Robbin’s Spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii None SC-V No No Effect Rough-Leaved Loosestrife Lysimachia asperulaefolia E E No No Effect Sandhills Milkvetch Astragalus michauxii FSC SC-V Yes No Effect Shrubby Seedbox Ludwigia suffruticosa None T No No Effect Viviparous Spikerush Eleocharis vivipara None E No No Effect West Indies Meadow-Beauty Rhexia cubensis None W1 No No Effect BGPA = Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act SC = Special Concern T (S/A) = Threatened by similarity of appearance SC-V = Special Concern-Vulnerable T = Threatened W1 = Watch List E = Endangered FSC = Federal Species of Concern Animals American Alligator FWS Status – T(S/A) State Status – T The American alligator is a large, semi-aquatic, armored reptile that ranges in size from 6 to 14 feet long. Alligators live in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. There is no critical habitat designated for the American alligator. There was no potential habitat for the American alligator observed within the review area. Based on a lack of potential habitat, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on the American alligator. Biological Conclusion – No Effect WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 6 of 16 Bald Eagle FWS Status – BGPA State Status - T 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 miles of open water. There were no trees found within or adjacent to the review area that were considered suitable nesting habitat as there were no large pine trees observed with adequate limb structure and unobstructed ingress/egress. No bald eagles or their nests were observed during the pedestrian survey of the review area. A review of the NCNHP data did not identify any known eagle nesting or roosting sites within 2.0 miles of the review area. Sutton Lake and the Cape Fear River are located within 1.0 miles of the review area and are considered potential foraging habitat. In accordance with the USFWS’ “National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines (May 2007), a pedestrian survey was conducted for area within 660 ft of the review area for bald eagle nests as depicted in the Bald Eagle Nest Survey Exhibit. The 660 ft review area was created in ArcGIS and downloaded into a Trimble mapping grade GPS unit in order to locate the limits of the survey area in the field. There was no potential nesting habitat within the survey area to the west of the review area as there were no mature trees present. The area to the south is no longer forested, as this is an active sand mine. The survey of the forested areas to the east did not identify any nests. Per the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines, activities taking place in excess of 660 ft from a bald eagle nest will have no effect on nesting activities. Therefore, based on a lack of existing nests within 660 ft of the review area and lack of nearby records, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on bald eagles. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Coachwhip FWS Status – None State Status - None Coachwhips are long, slender snakes that can grow to over 8 feet in length. Their coloration is very distinctive, fading gradually from black on the head to tan or nearly white on the tail. The pattern of the scales on the rail resemble a braided whip. Habitat consists of open areas with sandy soils associated with sandhill scrub habitats, coastal dunes and old fields. Coachwhips live underground and hunt during the daytime, and are most commonly seen in hot weather. It should be noted that the coachwhip is not classified by the USFWS or State as threatened, endangered or species of special concern. Therefore, this species is not imperiled or protected. The onsite longleaf pine/turkey oak forest was determined to be potential habitat for the coachwhip. No individuals were observed during the pedestrian survey. Additionally, based on the NCNHP GIS data, there are no know occurrences of the coachwhip within 2.0 miles of the review area. WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 7 of 16 The proposed activities within the review area will result in the removal of habitat for the coachwhip. Very little potential habitat exists to the south of the review area, as this area has been heavily developed. There is existing habitat within the Duke Energy property to the west that will continue to serve as a travel corridor. While potential habitat does exist within the review area, the coachwhip is not considered “rare” by either the USFWS or State of North Carolina. Therefore, species populations remain sufficiently stable that loss of habitat does not threaten the continued existence of the species. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on the coachwhip. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Eastern Fox Squirrel FWS Status – None State Status - None The eastern fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel, growing up to 15 inches in length. Eastern fox squirrels exhibit a variety of color phases and patterns ranging from gray to black to red. Habitat consists primarily of mature longleaf pine and open pine-oak forests in the Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain. It should be noted that the eastern fox squirrel is not classified by the USFWS or State as threatened, endangered or species of special concern. Therefore, this species is not imperiled or protected. The NC Wildlife Resource Commission has established hunting seasons for the eastern fox squirrel, which is from October 12 – December 31. The onsite longleaf pine/turkey oak forest was considered potential habitat for the eastern fox squirrel. While two gray squirrels were observed during the pedestrian survey, no eastern fox squirrels were observed, nor were their nests. Based on the pedestrian survey, only marginal habitat exists within the review area. While marginal habitat does exist within the review area, the eastern fox squirrel is not considered “rare” by either the USFWS or State of North Carolina. Species populations remain sufficiently stable that loss of habitat does not threaten the continued existence of the species. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on the eastern fox squirrel. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Northern Long-Eared Bat FWS Status – T State Status - T The northern long-eared bat is a medium-sized bat about 3 to 3.7 inches in length but with a wingspan of 9 to 10 inches. This bat is distinguished by its long ears. During the summer, northern long-eared bats roost singly or in colonies underneath bark, in cavities or in crevices of both live and dead trees, typically within the interior of large blocks of mature forests. It has also been found, rarely, roosting in structures like barns and sheds, and all “mature forest” is considered potential roosting habitat by the USFWS. WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 8 of 16 The USFWS is protecting the northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act because of strongly declining populations, largely because of white-nose syndrome, a disease that is severely affecting this species. Population decline is in no way attributed to loss of roosting habitat. A proposal to list this bat as Endangered was submitted by USFWS on October 2, 2013, and the bat gained federal protection when it was officially listed as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act on 04/02/15. Potential roosting habitat for the northern long-eared bat is specified as any forested areas with trees over 3 inches in diameter. The USFWS Final 4(d) rule for the Northern Long-Eared bat specifies that tree removal within the White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Zone is not prohibited as long as it occurs more than 0.25 miles from known hibernacula and does not result in destroying known occupied maternity roost trees, or any other trees within a 150 ft- radius from the maternity tree, during the pup season (June 1 – July 31). The review area is not located within 0.25 miles of any known hibernacula, nor is there any known maternity roost trees present within the review area. The onsite longleaf pine/turkey oak forest was considered suitable roosting habitat for the northern long-eared bat due to the presence of trees greater than 3 inches in diameter. It should be noted that the NCNHP data did not identify any known occurrences of the northern long-eared bat within 1.0 miles of the subject property. Surveys were not conducted to determine whether or not there were occurrences of the northern long-eared bat onsite. Since there is potential roosting habitat present, WR concludes that the proposed activities may effect, but is not likely to affect the northern long-eared bat. However, it should be noted that the review area does not contain critical habitat (i.e. hibernacula; maternity roost) for the northern long-eared bat. Additionally, the presence of potential northern long-eared bat roosting habitat is of no significance, as all forested areas within New Hanover County are considered potential roosting habitat. Biological Conclusion – May Affect, Not Likely to Affect Consultation with the USFWS for an “effect” determination is only required if federal funding is involved, or a federal permit such as a Department of the Army 404 permit or FEMA permit is required. Since there are no wetlands or FEMA floodplain with the review area, consultation with the USFWS would not be required for proposed activities within the review area. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker FWS Status – E State Status - E The red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) occurs in extensive tracts of open stands of mature pines, particularly longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), for foraging and nesting/roosting habitat, typically 70 to 100 acres or more. The red-cockaded woodpecker is rarely found in deciduous or mixed pine- hardwoods. The RCW excavates cavities for nesting and roosting in living pine trees, aged 60 years or older, which are contiguous with pine stands at least 30 years of age to provide foraging habitat. Optimal habitat is characterized as a broad savanna with a scattered overstory of large pines and a dense groundcover containing a diversity of grass, forbs, and shrub species. Midstory vegetation is sparse or absent. Frequent fires maintain the quality of the RCW’s habitat. The foraging range of the RCW is normally no more than 0.5 miles. WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 9 of 16 The onsite longleaf pine/turkey oak forest was considered marginal RCW nesting habitat due to the relatively young age of the longleaf pines, as well as the density of the understory. During the pedestrian survey, WR observed each mature pine for evidence of active or abandoned cavity trees. No active or abandoned cavity trees were observed during the pedestrian survey of the review area. Therefore, the review area does not contain an RCW nesting habitat. Areas within the review area where the understory was sparse were considered potential RCW foraging habitat. Therefore, in accordance with Appendix 4 of the USFWS 2003 “Recovery Plan of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Second Revision”, WR conducted a pedestrian survey of all potential nesting habitat within a 0.5 mile radius of the review area. Aerial photography and GIS was used to establish the 0.5 mile survey limits and to identify potential RCW nesting within the survey limits as depicted in the RCW Nest Survey Exhibit. The limits of the 0.5 mile review area was created in ArcGIS and downloaded into a Trimble mapping grade GPS unit in order to locate the limits of the survey area in the field. Portions of the 0.5 mile survey are north and south of the review area along US 421 had been recently cleared. The pine stand immediately west of the review area is less than 20 years old and therefore investigation was not necessary. The pine dominated stands immediately north and east of the review were reviewed by pedestrian survey and these areas lacked trees of adequate age and size for nesting. Additionally, the understory within these areas was much too dense to be potential nesting habitat. The pine dominated area to the northeast of the review area is located within the New Hanover County Landfill site. Extensive surveys of this area have been completed during the investigations for the Natural Area Inventory of New Hanover County by NCNHP, as well as additional surveys completed for the permitted expansion of the landfill. The NCNHP data referenced survey data within this area as recent as Fall of 2015, and did not identify any known occurrences of RCWs within this area despite the numerous investigations completed for this area. Therefore, pedestrian surveys were not conducted in this area, as the likelihood of an undocumented RCW colony occurring within this area is unlikely. A mature stand of pines with adequate age and size to be suitable nesting habitat was identified along the perimeter of Sutton Lake. A pedestrian survey was conducted within these areas, and each mature tree was observed for evidence of active or abandoned cavity trees, but none were found. In general, the pine dominated areas within 0.5 miles of the review area contain trees that are too young, and the understory is too dense to be considered potential RCW nesting habitat. Pedestrian surveys for active or abandoned cavity trees were negative, and it appears that RCW nest sites are not located within 0.5 miles of the review area. Additionally, a review of the NCNHP GIS data did not identify any known occurrences of RCW within 1.0 miles of the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on red-cockaded woodpeckers. Biological Conclusion – No Effect WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 10 of 16 Southern Hognose Snake FWS Status – FSC State Status – SC The southern hognose snake is a fairly small, heavily bodied snake that reaches about 24 inches in length. These snakes are easily distinguished from most snakes by their pointed, upturned snouts. The southern hognose snake is gray, tan or reddish in color with a series of dark brown blotches down the center of the back and alternating smaller blotches along the sides. Habitat consists of open, xeric habitats with well drained, sandy or sandy-loam soils associated with sand ridges, pine flatwood, mixed oak-pine woodlands and forests and coastal dune habitats. This species lives underground and hunts during the day. It should be noted that the southern hognose snake is not classified by the USFWS or State as a Species of Special Concern, and therefore this species is not protected. The onsite longleaf pine/turkey oak forest was determined to be potential habitat for the southern hognose snake. During the pedestrian survey, no individuals were observed. NCNHP records identify that a southern hognose snake was observed within the adjacent Sutton Lake Gamelands in 2008. The proposed activities within the review area will result in the removal of habitat for the southern hognose snake. Very little potential habitat exists to the south of the review area, as this area has been heavily developed. Suitable habitat exists to the west, north and east of the review area for any southern hognose snakes that may be displaced by the proposed activities. Additionally, there is existing habitat within the Duke Energy property to the west that will continue to serve as a travel corridor along the western edge of the review area. While the onsite potential habitat for the southern hognose snake will be eliminated by the proposed activities, the presence of suitable habitat immediately adjacent the review area diminishes the overall effect on the species. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities may effect, but are not likely to adversely affect the southern hognose snake. Biological Conclusion – May Effect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect Plants Cooley’s Meadowrue FWS Status – E State Status – E Cooley’s meadowrue is a perennial herb originating from an underground rhizome which usually grows up to 3 feet in height. In full sun, the stems are erect, and when shaded, stems are lax and may trail on the ground or lean on other plants. The compound green leaves have leaflets which are lance-shaped and less than 2 cm long. Cooley’s meadowrue occurs on circumneutral soils in grass- sedge bogs and wetland pine savannahs and savannah like areas. It may also grow along fire flow lines, in roadside ditches, woodland clearings and power line right of way, and needs some type of disturbance such as fire or mowing to maintain open habitat. Plants often found growing with Cooley’s meadowrue include tulip poplar growing with bald cypress and/or Atlantic white cedar. Cooley’s meadowrue flowers in mid-June to early-July. WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 11 of 16 The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for Cooley’s meadowrue within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on Cooley’s meadowrue. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Florida Scrub Frostweed FWS Status – None State Status – E Florida scrub frostweed is a perennial flower, growing to 20 inches tall. Stems are covered with gray hairs or are smooth. Leaves are alternate, pale green on both surfaces. Flowers are of 2 kinds; closed with petals lacking or poorly developed and open with 5 yellow petals. Habitat consists of xeric sandy areas. Survey efforts for Florida scrub frostweed were focused primarily within areas of the longleaf pine/turkey oak forest where the understory and herbaceous strata were sparse, where this species is mostly to occur. With the exception of the few areas of barren sand, the leaf litter ranged from 3- 6 inches deep due to lack of recent fires, which further limited the potential habitat. The pedestrian survey did not identify any Florida scrub frostweed plants within the areas identified as potential habitat. Based on the lack of observation of Florida scrub frostweed during the pedestrian survey, it is WR’s opinion that this species is not present within the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on Florida scrub frostweed. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Golden Sedge FWS Status – E State Status – E Golden sedge, a very rare perennial grass endemic of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, grows in sandy soils overlying calcareous deposits of coquina limestone, where the soil pH, typically between 5.5 and 7.2, is unusually high for this region. Golden sedge prefers the ecotone between the pine savanna and adjacent wet hardwood or hardwood/conifer forest. Most plants occur in partially shaded savanna/swamp where occasional to frequent fires favor an herbaceous ground layer and suppress shrub dominance. Soils supporting the species are very wet to periodically shallowly inundated. Other occurrences may occur on disturbed areas such as roadside and drainage ditches or power line rights-of-way, where mowing and/or very wet conditions suppress woody plants. Poorly viable occurrences may occur in significantly disturbed areas where ditching activities that lower the water table and/or some evidence of fire suppression threatens the species. Survey efforts for golden sedge were focused within the three small low lying areas along the central access road and western property boundary, as these areas were considered marginal habitat. The lack of hydrologic indicators within the upper 12 inches of the soil surface confirmed that these areas on only saturated for very short periods, and the “very wet to periodically inundated” conditions to support a population of golden sedge were not present. Therefore, these WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 12 of 16 areas do not contain habitat for golden sedge. Additionally, the pedestrian survey did not identify any individual golden sedge plants present. Due to a lack of habitat and lack of observation of golden sedge plants within the review area, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on golden sedge. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Lace-Lip Ladies’ Tresses FWS Status – None State Status – SC-V Lace-lip ladies’-tresses is a perennial flower growing from 1-3 feet tall from fleshy root systems that are sometimes thick and appear tuberous. Flowering occurs around May, and flowers are white or cream, which grow in a spiral around a terminal spike. Flowers twist during development into an upside down position. This plant is typically found in moist to wet habitats associated with swamps, marshes, wet meadows, roadsides, ditches and savannahs. The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for lace-lip ladies’ tresses within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on lace-lip ladies’ tresses. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Pickering’s Dawnflower FWS Status – FSC State Status – SC-V Pickering’s dawnflower is a perennial herbaceous, trailing vine with linear leaves and small, white morning-glory-like flowers. The plant can grow to 3-6 feet in length, and flowers profusely from late-May to mid-August. Habitat consists of dry to xeric, nutrient poor, well drained, coarse sandy soils with little competing vegetation or litter. Tree cover is sparse to non-existent, composed of pines and scrubby oaks. Survey efforts for Pickering’s dawnflower were focused primarily within areas of the longleaf pine/turkey oak forest where the understory and herbaceous strata were sparse, where this species is mostly to occur. With the exception of the few areas of barren sand, the leaf litter ranged from 3- 6 inches deep due to lack of recent fires, which further limited the potential habitat. The pedestrian survey did not identify any Pickering’s dawnflower plants within the areas identified as potential habitat. Based on the lack of observation of Pickering’s dawnflower during the pedestrian survey, it is WR’s opinion that the species is not present within the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on Pickering’s dawnflower. Biological Conclusion – No Effect WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 13 of 16 Robbin’s Spikerush FWS Status – None State Status – SC-V Robbin’s spikerush is a perennial herb that grows up to 3 feet tall. It has erect, flowering stems that are sharply triangular in a cross-section. Leaves are greenish spikelets which consist only of bladeless sheaths. Robbin’s spikerush grows in the shallow waters of limesink ponds, clay-based Carolina bays, peat-burn lakes, millponds, beaver ponds, artificial lakes, ditches and drainage canals. The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for Robbin’s spikerush within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on Robbin’s spikerush. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Rough-Leaved Loosestrife FWS Status – E State Status - E Rough-leaved loosestrife is an erect, rhizomatous, late spring- to early summer-flowering perennial herb which grows to 2 feet tall. Its leaves are mostly 3-whorled, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, sessile, and 2-4 cm long. There are usually three conspicuous veins on each leaf. The inflorescence is terminal with 5-petaled, showy, yellow flowers. The fruit is an ovoid or subglobose capsule, 3-4.5 mm in diameter, with several somewhat winged seeds. Rough-leaf loosestrife occurs most often in ecotones between longleaf pine uplands and pond pine pocosins in moist, sandy or peaty soils with low vegetation that allows for abundant sunlight to the herb layer. Fire is primarily responsible for maintaining low vegetation in these ecotones. The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for rough-leaved loosestrife within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on rough-leaved loosestrife. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Sandhills Milkvetch FWS Status – FSC State Status – SC-V Sandhills milkvetch is a perennial herb, with erect, solitary stems growing 1-3 feet tall. Leaves are alternating, up to 6 inches long. Flowering occurs from May-June, and flowers are pale to dark purple, and resemble pea flowers. In NC, sandhills milkvetch can be found in xeric longleaf pine/ scrub oak/wiregrass communities. Sandhills milkvetch habitat is fire-dependent to maintain a sparse subcanopy and herbaceous strata. Soils are typically coarse, nutrient poor sands that are commonly underlain by a clay layer close to or several meters below the surface. Survey efforts for sandhills milkvetch were focused primarily within areas of the longleaf pine/turkey oak forest where the understory and herbaceous strata were sparse, where this species is mostly to occur. With the exception of the few areas of barren sand, the leaf litter ranged from 3- WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 14 of 16 6 inches deep due to lack of recent fires. The pedestrian survey did not identify any sandhills milkvetch plants within the areas identified as potential habitat. Based on the lack of observation of sandhills milkvetch during the pedestrian survey, it is WR’s opinion that this species is not present within the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on sandhills milkvetch. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Shrubby Seedbox FWS Status – None State Status – T Shrubby seedbox is a perennial herb that grows to 1-3 feet in height. Leaves are 1-4 cm long and are alternate and glabrous. Flowers are white with red/pink centers. Shrubby seedbox grows in limesink ponds and clay-based Carolina bays. The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for shrubby seedbox within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on shrubby seedbox. Biological Conclusion – No Effect Viviparous Spikerush FWS Status – None State Status – E Viviparous spikerush is a perennial sedge that grows in clumps of thin stems that can grow to 12 inches in height. A spike of white flowers appear at the tip of the stems. Habitat consists of bogs and pools with shallow water depths. The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for viviparous spikerush within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on viviparous spikerush. Biological Conclusion – No Effect West Indies Meadow-Beauty FWS Status – None State Status – W1 The West Indies meadow-beauty is a perennial herb that grows 1-2 feet tall. Flowers are purple with four petals. The plant is typically found growing in limesink ponds. The pedestrian survey did not identify any potential habitat for West Indies meadow-beauty within or immediately adjacent to the review area. Therefore, WR concludes that the proposed activities will have No Effect on West Indies meadow-beauty. Biological Conclusion – No Effect WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 15 of 16 New Hanover County CAMA Land Use Plan Consistency Determination The CAMA Land Use Plan for New Hanover County (2006) classifies the property as a Natural Heritage Resource Protection Area, which is located in the northwest corner of the county. Natural Heritage Resource Protection Areas are identified by the NC DEQ Natural Heritage Program as generally unique habitats that warrant special attention and protection. The threat to these areas is loss of habitat or fragmentation of habitat that may be crucial to a particular natural community identified as important. The focus of strategies for the Natural Heritage Resource Protection Area is to better identify these area and develop specific protection strategies. The review area was intensively reviewed for the presence of threatened, endangered or rare species and/or critical habitat. There are no threatened, endangered or rare species or their critical habitat present within the review area, with the exception of potential roosting habitat for the northern long-eared bat. While potential roosting habitat is present, there review area is not located within 0.25 miles of hibernacula, or within 125 lf of a maternity roost. Therefore, while potential northern long-eared bat roosting habitat is present within the review area, it is not considered critical habitat. Therefore, due to a lack of threatened, endangered and rare species, and lack of critical habitat for such species within the review area, specific protection strategies are not warranted for the proposed construction of a mine within the review area. Summary The review area consists entirely of uplands and does not contain wetlands or surface waters. As a result, permits from the Corps of Engineers or NC Division of Water Resource – 401 Wetlands Unit are not required for the construction of the proposed mine within the review area. The survey for federal and state listed threatened and endangered species, as well as species of special concern resulted in a biological conclusion that the construction of a mine within the review area will have “No Effect” on the American alligator, bald eagle, coachwhip, eastern fox squirrel, red- cockaded woodpecker and all listed plants due to either a lack of habitat or the lack of presence of the species within the review area. Due to the presence of potential roosting habitat for the northern long-eared bat, and potential habitat for the southern hognose snake, the biological conclusion is that the construction of a mine within the review area “May Affect, But Not Likely to Adversely Affect” these species. However, the review area does not contain critical habitat for either species. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the contents of this report. Sincerely WithersRavenel Troy Beasley Senior Environmental Scientist WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. Page 16 of 16 Attachments: 1) Aerial Photo (2012) 2) Topography Exhibit 3) Cape Fear Basin Exhibit 4) Vegetative Communities Exhibit 5) USGS Quads 6) New Hanover County Soil Survey 7) USFWS T&E List for New Hanover County 8) USFWS National Wetland Inventory Map 9) Bald Eagle Nest Survey Exhibit 10) RCW Nest Survey Exhibit 11) 421 Sand Ridge Excerpt from Natural Area Inventory of New Hanover County (2003) WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. AERIAL PHOTO (2012) REVIEW AREA BOUNDARY INVISTA PLANT U S 4 2 1 C R X R A I L R O A D PO WER L I N E E A S E M E N T POWE R L I N E E A S E M E N T EXISTING SAND MINE DUKE ENERGY PROPERTY DUKE ENERGY PROPERTY SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION AERIAL - 2012 WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 500 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 250500 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. TOPOGRAPHY EXHIBIT SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION TOPOGRAPHY EXHIBIT WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 500 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 250500 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. CAPE FEAR RIVER BASIN EXHIBIT U S 4 2 1 C R X R A I L R O A D REVIEW AREA BOUNDARY CAPE FEAR RIVER BASIN HUC: 03030007 CAPE FEAR RIVER BASIN HUC: 03030005 SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION CAPE FEAR BASIN EXHIBIT WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 500 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 250500 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. VEGETATIVE COMMUNITIES EXHIBIT U S 4 2 1 C R X R A I L R O A D REVIEW AREA BOUNDARY LOW LYING AREAS MAINTAINED CORRIDORS LP/TO LP/TO LP/TO L P /T O SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION VEGETATIVE COMMUNITIES EXHIBIT WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 500 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 250500 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors LP/TO = LONGLEAF PINE/TURKEY OAK FOREST = MAINTAINED CORRIDOR = LOW LYING AREAS WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. USGS QUADS SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION USGS QUAD (2013) - CASTLE HAYNE WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 3000 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 15003000 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION USGS QUAD (2013) - CASTLE HAYNE WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 500 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 250500 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. NEW HANOVER CO. SOIL SURVEY (1977) SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION SOIL SURVEY (1977) - SHEET 6 WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 500 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 250500 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors NEW HANOVER CO. WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. USFWS T&E LIST FOR NEW HANOVER CO. End angered Species, Threatened Species,Federal Species of Concern, and Candidate Species, New Hanover County, North Carolina Not e:Marine Threatened and Endangered Species information can be found at the National Marine Fis eries Service (NMFS) Endangered and Threatened Species website Upd ated: 4-2-2015 Critical Habitat Designations: Piping plover - Charadrius melodus - See the Federal Register for a description of the primary constituent elements essential for the conservation of wintering piping plovers within the designated units. This document also contains a map and a description of each designated unit. Federal Register Reference: July10, 2001, Federal Register, 66: 36038-36136. Loggerhead Sea Turtle - Caretta caretta - See the Federal Register for a description of the primary constituent elements essential for the conservation of nesting Loggerhead sea turtles within the designated units. This document also contains a map and a description of each designated unit. Federal Register Reference: July10, 2014, Federal Register, 79:51264-51266 Common Name Scientific name Federal Status Record Status Vertebrate: American alligator All igator mississippiensis T (S/A)Current American eel Anguilla rostrata FSC Current Carolina gopher frog Rana capitocapito FSC Current Eastern painted bunting Passerina cirisciris FSC Current Green sea turtle Che lonia mydas T Current Pag e 1 of 4New Hanover County Endangered Species, Threatened Species,Federal Species of Conce ... 7/20/2016https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/new_hanover.html Hawk sbill (=carey) sea turtle Ere tmochelys imb ricata E His toric Kem p's (=Atlantic) ridley sea tur tle Lep idochelys kempii E Current Leatherback sea turtle Der mochelys coriacea E Current Loggerhead sea turtle Car etta caretta T Current Mimic glass lizard Ophisaurusmimicus FSC Historic Northern long-eared bat Myo tis septentrionalis T Current Northern pine snake Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus FSC Current Piping plover Cha radrius melodus T Current Rafinesque's big-eared bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii FSC Current Red-cockaded woodpecker Pic oides borealis E Current Red knot Cal idris canutus rufa T Current Southeastern myotis Myotis austroriparius FSC Current Southern hognose snake Heterodon simus FSC Current West Indian manatee Tri chechus manatus E Current Invertebrate: Buchholz's dart moth Agrotis buchholzi FSC Current Cape Fear threetooth Triodopsis soelneri FSC Current Eastern beard grass skipper Atrytone arogosarogos FSC Obscure Greenfield rams-horn Helisoma eucosmium FSC Historic Loammi skipper Atrytonopsis loammi FSC Obscure Magnificent rams-horn Planorbella magnifica FSC Historic Rare skipper Problema bulenta FSC Current Vascular Plant: Bog St. John's-wort Hypericum adpressum FSC Historic Carolina bishopweed Ptilimnium ahlesii FSC Current Carolina lead-plant Amorpha georgiana var. confusa FSC Historic Coastal beaksedge Rhynchospora pleiantha FSC Current Coastal goldenrod Solidago villosicarpa FSC Historic Cooley's meadowrue Tha lictrum cooleyi E Current Dune blue curls Trichostema sp. 1 FSC Current False coco Pteroglossaspis ecristata FSC Historic Golden sedge Car ex lutea E Probable/Potential Grassleaf arrowhead Sagittaria weatherbiana FSC Current Pickering's dawnflower Stylismapickeringii var. pickeringii FSC Current Pondspice Litsea aestivalis FSC Current Raven's boxseed Ludwigia ravenii FSC Historic Rough-leaved loosestrife Lys imachia asperulaefolia E Current Pag e 2 of 4New Hanover County Endangered Species, Threatened Species,Federal Species of Conce ... 7/20/2016https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/new_hanover.html San dhills milk-vetch Ast ragalus mic hauxii FSC His toric Sea beach amaranth Ama ranthus pumilus T Current Small-leaved meadow-rue Thalictrum macrostylum FSC Current Spring-flowering goldenrod Solidago verna FSC Current Tough bumelia Sideroxylon tenax FSC Historic Venus' fly-trap Dionaeamuscipula FSC Current Nonvascular Plant: Lichen: Definitions of Federal Status Codes: E = endangered. A taxon "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." T = threatened. A taxon "likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range." C = candidate. A taxon under consideration for official listing for which there is sufficient information to support listing. (Formerly "C1" candidate species.) BGPA =Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. See below. FSC=Federal Species of Concern. FSC is an informal term. It is not defined in the federal Endangered Species Act. In North Carolina, the Asheville and Raleigh Field Offices of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) define Federal Species of Concern as those species that appear to be in decline or otherwise in need of conservation and are under consideration for listing or for which there is insufficient information to support listing at this time.Subsumed under the term "FSC" are all species petitioned by outside parties and other selected focal species identified in Service strategic plans, State Wildlife Action Plans, or Natural Heritage Program Lists. T(S/A) = threatened due to similarity of appearance. A taxon that is threatened due to similarity of appearance with another listed species and is listed for its protection. Taxa listed as T(S/A) are not biologically endangered or threatened and are not subject to Section 7 consultation. See below. EXP = experimental population. A taxon listed as experimental (either essential or nonessential). Experimental, nonessential populations of endangered species (e.g., red wolf) are treated as threatened species on public land, for consultation purposes, and as species proposed for listing on private land. P = proposed. Taxa proposed for official listing as endangered or threatened will be noted as "PE" or "PT", respectively. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGPA): In the July 9, 2007 Federal Register( 72:37346-37372), the bald eagle was declared recovered, and removed (de-listed) from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered wildlife. This delisting took effect August 8,2007. After delisting, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) becomes the primary law protecting bald eagles. The Eagle Act prohibits take of bald and golden eagles and provides a statutory definition of "take" that includes "disturb". The USFWS has developed National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines to provide guidance to land managers, landowners, and others as to how to avoid disturbing bald eagles. For mor information, visit http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/baldeagle.htm Thr eatened due to similarity of appearance(T(S/A)): In the November 4, 1997 Federal Register (55822-55825), the northern population of the bog turtle (from New York south to Maryland) was listed as T (threatened), and the southern population (from Virginia south to Georgia) was listed as T(S/A) (threatened due to similarity of appearance). The T Pag e 3 of 4New Hanover County Endangered Species, Threatened Species,Federal Species of Conce ... 7/20/2016https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/new_hanover.html (S/A) designation bans the collection and interstate and international commercial trade of bog turtles fro m the southern population. The T(S/A) designation has no effect on land management activities by private landowners in North Carolina, part of the southern population of the species. In addition to its official status as T(S/A), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the southern population of the bog turtle as a Federal species of concern due to habitat loss. Definitions of Record Status: Cur rent - the species has been observed in the county within the last 50 years. Historic - the species was last observed in the county more than 50 years ago. Obscure - the date and/or location of observation is uncertain. Incidental/migrant - the species was observed outside of its normal range or habitat. Probable/potential - the species is considered likely to occur in this county based on the proximity of known records (in adjacent counties), the presence of potentially suitable habitat, or both. Pag e 4 of 4New Hanover County Endangered Species, Threatened Species,Federal Species of Conce ... 7/20/2016https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/new_hanover.html WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. USFWS NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY MAP Sutton Lake Mine Expansion - ±80.43 acres Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and Estuarine and Marine Deepwater Estuarine and Marine Wetland Freshwater Emergent Wetland Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland Freshwater Pond Lake Other Riverine July 27, 2016 0 0.45 0.90.225 mi 0 0.7 1.40.35 km 1:26,899 This page was produced by the NWI mapper National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) This map is for general reference only. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is not responsible for the accuracy or currentness of the base data shown on this map. All wetlands related data should be used in accordance with the layer metadata found on the Wetlands Mapper web site.   WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. BALD EAGLE NEST SURVEY EXHIBIT U S 4 2 1 C R X R A I L R O A D 66 0’ BALD EAGLE NEST SURVEY LIMITS SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION 660' BALD EAGLE NEST SURVEY EXHIBIT WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 600 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 300600 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. RCW NEST SURVEY EXHIBIT C L E A R E D C L E A R E D EXISTING MINE BALD EAGLE NEST SURVEY BOUNDARY (0.5 MILES) POTENTIAL RCW NESTING HABITAT NEW HANOVER CO. LANDFILL PROPERTY SUTTON LAKE MINE EXPANSION RCW NEST SURVEY EXHIBIT (0.5 MILES) WILMINGTON NEW HANOVER COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1 inch = 1000 ft. GRAPHIC SCALE 0 5001000 WithersRavenel Engineers | Planners | Surveyors WithersRavenel Our People. Your Success. 421 SAND RIDGE EXERPT FROM NCNHP NATURAL AREA INVENTORY OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY (2003) 63 New Hanover County Natural Area Inventory 421 SAND RIDGE Significant Natural Heritage Area Site significance: state Size: 7966 acres: 7071 acres within primary boundary (2029 in New Hanover County), 895 acres in secondary boundary (341 in New Hanover County) Quadrangles: Castle Hayne, Currie, Leland Ownership: New Hanover Co., private SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: 421 Sand Ridge is one of the best formed and largest of the aeolian sand ridges associated with the Coastal Plain terraces east and northeast of the Cape Fear River south from Cumberland County. Although fragmented by industrial development, primarily in New Hanover County, the site continues to support extensive natural habitat with eight community types or variants, including the rare Cypress Savanna. Ten rare plants and four rare animals have been identified from the site. Among the rare plants is the Federally and State Endangered rough-leaf loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia), and four Federal Species of Concern: Sandhills milkvetch (Astragalus michauxii),Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), Carolina goldenrod (Solidago pulchra), and Pickering’s dawnflower (Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii). Among the rare animals are the Federally and State Endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), and Federal Species of Concern southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus). LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: This site is located in northern New Hanover County and southern Pender County on the long north/south sand ridge between the lower reaches of the Northeast Cape Fear River on the east and Black River and Cape Fear River on the west. It extends southward from near Bear Branch in Pender County to just north of the confluence of Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear rivers in New Hanover County. Bio-geographically, it is a pivotal area connecting major ecosystems in southeastern North Carolina. It is directly connected eastward to the Northeast Cape Fear River Floodplain natural area, and from there to the Camp Lejeune/Holly Shelter Megasite extending east into Onslow County. To the west it is directly connected to the Black River Floodplain Macrosite, and from there to Bladen Lakes Natural Areas Megasite extending northward into Bladen, Sampson, and Cumberland counties. Southward it is directly connected to Brunswick River/Cape Fear River Marshes natural area in New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Within the natural area, the primary boundary includes habitat in good natural condition and/or with other exceptional biological values, while the secondary boundary includes areas of lesser natural value, but which buffer primary habitat and/or have good restoration potential. SITE DESCRIPTION: 421 Sand Ridge is characterized by rolling sandhills interspersed with numerous irregular, elliptical, and nearly round depressions, including examples of the Carolina bay geomorphic feature. The uplands support four longleaf pine ecosystem communities: Wet Pine Flatwoods Wet Spodosol Variant, and Xeric Sandhill Scrub Sand Barren, Coastal Plain, and Coastal Fringe variants. (The rare Coastal Fringe Sandhill community, formerly occurring in the southern portion of this site, has been destroyed by logging.) Dry-Mesic Oak–Hickory Forest occurs on slopes above Fishing Creek, where fire appears to have been rare naturally. Depressions that 64 intersect the water table support three wetland community types: Cypress Savanna, Small Depression Pocosin, and Vernal Pool. A few wet depressions have permanent aquatic zones and belong to the Small Depression Pond community but have been disturbed by logging, nutrient input, and other impacts. Wet Pine Flatwoods Wet Spodosol Variant occurs on wet sandy soil that tends to dry out in the latter stages of the growing season. It is found on low flats within and adjacent to sandhill habitat at 421 Sand Ridge. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is the canopy dominant, with pond pine (P. serotina) locally prominent. The shrub layer is patchy to moderate, with dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) dominant, and staggerbush (Lyonia mariana), inkberry (Ilex glabra), and a St. John’s-wort (Hypericum reductum) forming patches. The ground layer is moderate to moderately dense with Carolina wiregrass (Aristida stricta) dominant, creeping blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium) subdominant to co-dominant, and the uncommon southern bogbutton (Lachnocaulon beyrichianum) locally prominent. Xeric Sandhill Scrub Sand Barren Variant occurs on the driest and most excessively drained sand ridges. The canopy is sparse to moderately open, and exclusively dominated by small longleaf pine trees typically 35-45 feet high, with the moderate to moderately dense understory dominated by small turkey oaks (Quercus laevis) 10-15 feet high. Carolina October-flower (Polygonella polygama var. croomii) is prominent in the sparse to patchy shrub layer, with Carolina wiregrass prominent in the sparse ground layer, where reindeer lichen (Cladonia sp.) forms patches. This community variant does not appear to burn frequently naturally, likely due to the sparseness of the ground vegetation. The openness of the various stratal layers is apparently due to the extreme dryness. The occurrence of this community in the New Hanover County portion of the site has been destroyed by logging, but the community persists in the Pender County portion. Dry but not as excessively drained sandhill areas support Xeric Sandhill Scrub Coastal Plain Variant, the dominant community type over much of the site. Conditions are variable, depending on soil moisture, and fire and logging history. Canopy density varies from sparse to moderately dense, with longleaf pine dominant. The oak understory is moderate to moderately dense, with turkey oak dominant. The shrub and ground layers are sparse to patchy, in some areas due to litter accumulation and increased understory density due to lack of fire, and in other areas apparently due to pinestraw raking. Dwarf huckleberry and seedling longleaf pine are patch dominants in the shrub layer, with Carolina wiregrass and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) prominent in the sparse ground layer. A small sandhill area near the southern end of the sand ridge in New Hanover County supports the uncommon Xeric Sandhill Scrub Coastal Fringe Variant community. It also occurs on very dry soil, but contains some species primarily found along the coast, such as sand live oak (Quercus geminata) and sandhill beaksedge (Rhynchospora megalocarpa). Like other sandhill sites in the region, the open to patchy canopy is dominated by longleaf pine with turkey oak forming a moderately dense to moderate understory. Sand live oak and sand laurel oak (Q. hemisphaerica) are also found in the understory. Reindeer lichen is dominant in the open to patchy ground layer, with little bluestem 65 prominent. This community contains two very rare plants, Florida scrub frostweed (Helianthemum nashii) and Pickering’s dawnflower, plus the rare southern hognose snake. Dry-Mesic Oak–Hickory Forest occurs on bluffs and slopes above the floodplain of the Northeast Cape Fear River and Fishing Creek along the east side of the site. This community type is restricted to areas naturally protected from fire by the floodplain slopes. The canopy is dominated by sand laurel oak, with mockernut hickory (Carya alba) prominent. The understory is diverse, with common pawpaw (Asimina triloba), wild olive (Osmanthus americanus), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), American holly (Ilex opaca), and farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) prominent. This community is bordered by Xeric Sandhill Scrub at the slope summit (where not cleared), and by marsh and swamp habitat at the slope base. A small Carolina bay in the Pender County portion of the site supports the rare Cypress Savanna community. Carolina bays are elliptical wetland basins surrounded by arcuate, usually dry sand ridges called bay rims. Cypress Savannas, especially rare on the outer Coastal Plain, occur in depressions that are shallowly flooded for much of the year, but tend to be exposed during at least the latter part of the growing season. They are characterized by an open canopy of pond-cypress (Taxodium ascendens), swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora), and swamp red maple (Acer rubrum var. trilobum) over an herbaceous ground layer. Dominant herbs include maidencane (Panicum hemitomon), redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana), and Virginia chainfern (Woodwardia virginica). Other prominent herbs include soft-headed pipewort (Eriocaulon compressum) and witch grasses (Dichanthelium spp.). This community formerly occurred in a depression near the southern end of the site in New Hanover County, but was severely impacted by logging. Small isolated basins that intersect the water table support either the Small Depression Pocosin or Vernal Pool communities. Small Depression Pocosin occurs on saturated peats in isolated basins within the sandhill communities. It is characterized by an open canopy over a dense shrub layer. Pond pine is the canopy dominant, with fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) dominant and southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium formosum) and staggerbush abundant. The Vernal Pool community occurs in small depressions that typically flood in winter and spring and dry out by summer. This produces ideal breeding conditions for amphibians. The seasonal pool typically is dominated by such grasses as switchcane (Panicum virgatum) and white bluestem (Andropogon capillipes). Swamp tupelo and swamp red maple are present at some pools. 421 Sand Ridge is an important wildlife area. The majority of habitat is dry sandhill with an open canopy, moderate understory, and sparse to patchy shrub and ground layers. Several small isolated depressions contain wetlands. These conditions provide home and foraging habitat for many animal species, including critical habitat for populations of the Federally and State Endangered red- cockaded woodpecker. However, extensive logging in the 1980s eliminated much habitat for this species in this area. The sandhill understory oaks provide mast for game animals, and the isolated depressions provide potential amphibian breeding sites. However, habitat has become increasingly segmented and isolated over time due primarily to industrial development, largely in New Hanover County. Such fragmentation can seriously impact several groups of animals. 66 MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: Natural habitat in 421 Sand Ridge has experienced a considerable reduction in recent years, especially in New Hanover County. Much habitat has been eliminated by industrial development and for county infrastructure (e.g., a 400-acre landfill). Large areas in the New Hanover County portion of the site have been logged in recent years, with considerable surface impact. Remaining habitat has become increasingly fragmented, and variously impacted by fire suppression (throughout) and pinestraw raking (local). Portions of remnant native ground layers in powerline corridors have been replaced by large food plots. The US 17 Wilmington Bypass is scheduled to cross this site, adding to the reduction and fragmentation of remaining natural habitat. Management efforts should focus on restoring natural processes such as fire, while protection efforts should seek to preserve large areas of intact or easily restorable natural habitat. NATURAL COMMUNITIES: Cypress Savanna*, Dry-Mesic Oak–Hickory Forest, Small Depression Pocosin*, Vernal Pool, Wet Pine Flatwoods Wet Spodosol Variant, Xeric Sandhill Scrub Coastal Fringe Variant, Xeric Sandhill Scrub Coastal Plain Variant, Xeric Sandhill Scrub Sand Barren Variant*. RARE PLANTS: Sandhills milkvetch (Astragalus michauxii), Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)*, Robbin’s spikerush (Eleocharis robbinsii), Florida scrub frostweed (Helianthemum nashii), roughleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia)*, shrubby seedbox (Ludwigia suffruticosa), West Indies meadow-beauty (Rhexia cubensis), lace-lip ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes laciniata), Carolina goldenrod (Solidago pulchra)*, Pickering’s dawnflower (Stylisma pickeringii var. pickeringii). RARE ANIMALS: southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum), red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). *Only in Pender County at this site REFERENCES: DuMond, D.M. 1977. Rare plant survey: proposed Northeast Cape Fear River disposal sites. Wilmington District Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, N.C. LeBlond, R.J. 1999. Site survey report: 421 Sand Ridge, Takeda survey site. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, OCCA, DENR, Raleigh, NC. LeBlond, R.J. 2000. Natural Area Inventory of Pender County, North Carolina. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, OCCA, DENR, Raleigh, N.C. Leonard, S.W., and R.J. Davis. 1981. Natural area inventory of 421 Sand Ridge. In Natural Areas Inventory of Pender County, North Carolina, pp. 106-118. Coastal Energy Impact Program (CEIP) Report No. 11, N.C. Coastal Management Program. Schafale, M., A. Weakley, H. LeGrand, and S. Hall. 1993. Natural Heritage site survey report: 421 Sand Ridge, southern portion. N.C. Natural Heritage Program, Office of Conservation and Community Affairs, DENR, Raleigh, N.C.