RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER

FORAGING HABITAT ANALYSIS REPORT,

CAPE FEAR CROSSING,

BRUNSWICK AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES,

NORTH CAROLINA

S.T.I.P. Number U-4738

The North Carolina Department of Transportation

Division of Highways Environmental Analysis Unit

20 September 2018

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER

FORAGING HABITAT ANALYSIS REPORT,

CAPE FEAR CROSSING,

BRUNSWICK AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES,

NORTH CAROLINA

I. INTRODUCTION

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is proposing to construct a

roadway and bridge across the Cape Fear River that will connect United States (US) Highway

(Hwy.) 17 in Brunswick County to US Hwy. 421 in New Hanover County (Figure 1). This

project is identified in NCDOT’s State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as U-4738.

There are 6 Detailed Study Alternatives (DSA) being analyzed for consideration, and one DSA

(Alternative B) is located within the 0.5-mile radius foraging habitat partition of federally

Endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates = Picoides borealis) (RCW) Brunswick

(BRU) Cluster 1.

Dr. J.H. Carter III & Associates, Inc. (JCA) was contracted by NCDOT in 2018 to

conduct a foraging habitat analysis (FHA) for BRU Cluster 1. This FHA report provides updated

cluster and cavity tree status, survey results and current FHA data for BRU Cluster 1.

II. PROJECT AREA

The proposed project is located in the Outer Coastal Plain of southeastern NC (Figure 1).

The area has nearly level topography with gradual slopes leading into drainages. Elevations

range from 0 to 20 feet (ft.) above mean sea level. Mapped soil types in the project area consist

of Leon-Murville-Mandarin poorly drained fine sands, Torhunta-Croatan-Pantego poorly drained

loams, Woodington-Foreston poorly to moderately drained loams, Baymeade-Blankton-Norfolk

well drained loams and Muckalee-Dorovan-Chowan mixed type mucks in very poorly drained

lower floodplains (US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) 2018). The project area is located in the Cape Fear River Basin. Major

1

Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

Figure 1. General location of the Cape Fear Crossing Detailed Study Alternative B project

design (U-4738) that will connect United States (US) Highway (Hwy.) 17 in

Brunswick County and US Hwy. 421 in New Hanover County, North Carolina.

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Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, NGCC, ©OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

DSA B

2

hydrological features within the survey area include the Brunswick and Cape Fear Rivers,

Jackey's and Town Creeks, Greenfield Lake and numerous unnamed tributaries.

Much of the DSA B study area has been converted from its historic natural state when the

uplands were longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) dominated communities and pocosins and bays

were pond pine (P. serotina) dominated communities. Loblolly (P. taeda) and slash pines (P.

elliottii) are widely present throughout the study area due to past forestry plantings. Logging,

drainage, prolonged fire exclusion and residential and commercial development have altered the

natural landscape in most of this portion of Brunswick County.

Habitats were divided into vegetative community types: Xeric Sandhill Scrub (Coastal

Fringe subtype), Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhill (Coastal Fringe subtype), Mesic Pine Savanna

(Coastal Plain subtype), Wet Pine Flatwoods (Typic subtype), Pond Pine Woodland, High

Pocosin, Managed Loblolly and Longleaf Pine forests and Pine Plantations (Schafale 2018).

Xeric Sandhill Scrub (Coastal Fringe subtype) occurs on xeric, excessively drained

coarse sands. The overstory consists of longleaf pine in varying densities with turkey oak

(Quercus laevis) as the dominant midstory species. Carolina wiregrass (Aristida stricta) is

dominant in the ground cover.

Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhill (Coastal Fringe subtype) occurs on fine sands and has an

overstory consisting of longleaf or loblolly pine and a mixed scrub oak or xeric hardwood

understory/midstory. The ground cover is dominated by Carolina wiregrass and a diversity of

herbaceous species.

Mesic Pine Savanna (Coastal Plain subtype) occurs on loamy sands and has an overstory

of longleaf pine. It is distinguished from the Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhill habitat by an absence of

scrub oaks in the midstory. The ground cover in stands subject to regular burning is dominated

by Carolina wiregrass and a diversity of other grasses and herbs. With little or no fire

management, the understory/midstory usually contains mixed mesic hardwoods, where sweet

gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) can be prominent. Infrequent burning, fire exclusion and/or

previous site disturbances (e.g. logging, agriculture) can lead to an overstory of loblolly pine or

mixed pines.

Wet Pine Flatwoods (Typic subtype) included seasonally wet, open, grassy longleaf pine

or pond pine communities on coarse sandy spodosols. It naturally has more grasses than shrubs.

The low shrub layer is often dominated by dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), inkberry (Ilex

3

glabra), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), staggerbush (L.

mariana), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), dwarf azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum) and switch

cane (Arundinaria tecta). The herbaceous layer includes Carolina wiregrass, eastern bracken

fern (Pteridium latiusculum) and a diverse assemblage of grasses and herbs.

Pond Pine Woodland has a canopy dominated by pond pine, along with loblolly bay

(Gordonia lasianthus), sweetbay, red maple (Acer rubrum) and Atlantic white cedar

(Chamaecyparis thyoides). The dense shrub layer includes titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), fetterbush,

sweet gallberry (Ilex coriacea), inkberry, swamp bay (Persea palustris) and switch cane. The

latter species may dominate the shrub layer after severe fires or repeated burns.

High Pocosin occurs on poorly drained peat deposits and wet sands and generally has a

canopy of pond pine with a scattering of swamp bay, loblolly bay and sweetbay. Fetterbush, titi,

sweet gallberry, inkberry and laurel-leaf greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) dominate the dense shrub

layer.

Managed Loblolly and Longleaf forest types occur on old field and/or modified (drained

and/or intensively site prepared) sites. The dominant overstory species are loblolly pine and/or

longleaf pine, sometimes mixed with hardwoods such as sweet gum, water oak (Quercus nigra),

other oaks and red maple. The understory/midstory is often tall and dense and consists of

hardwood saplings, pine regeneration and vines. Herbaceous ground cover is often sparse unless

burned frequently.

Pine Plantations consist of planted pines on various soil types, including wet or drained

mineral soils. The overstory is typically loblolly or slash pine and a dense midstory develops

quickly. Sweet gum is often the dominant midstory species, but other mesic hardwoods and tall

shrubs also occur. Herbaceous ground cover is often sparse unless burned frequently.

Several Carolina Bays occurred in the project area. Carolina Bays are elliptic wetland

depressions from one to several hundred acres in size and were originally vegetated with various

hydrophytic communities including pocosin, Wet Pine Flatwoods and Pond Pine Woodland.

Many have been drained and converted to other land uses. These vegetative communities

occurred on Murville mucky fine sand, Torhunta mucky fine sandy loam and Muckalee loam.

Other communities in the project area most closely resembled Cypress-Gum Swamp and

Tidal Freshwater Marsh. These communities did not contain a significant pine component and

4

would not be expected to be used for foraging by RCWs. However, they do contain sufficient

hardwoods and dead pines to serve as travel or dispersal corridors.

Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, located approximately 10 miles (mi.) south of the

survey area, is listed as a Significant RCW Support Population for the Mid-Atlantic Coastal

Plain Recovery Unit (US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 2003).

III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

NCDOT proposes to construct a project known as the Cape Fear Crossing (U-4738)

which would be a fully controlled access transportation facility extending from the vicinity of US

Hwy. 17 Bypass and Interstate (I)-140 in Brunswick County to US. Hwy. 421 in New Hanover

County, including a crossing of the Cape Fear River. DSA B begins with an interchange at I-

140, runs 2.4 mi. southeast to an interchange at US Hwy. 17, continues southeast 3.9 mi. to an

interchange at NC Hwy. 133, then runs northeast for 3.5 mi. across the Cape Fear River and

terminates at Shipyard Boulevard and US Hwy. 421 (Figure 1).

According to the Feasibility Study for the Wilmington Southern Bridge from US Hwy. 17

Bypass near Bishop to US Hwy. 421 (NCDOT 2003), the project would serve multiple users,

including the Port of Wilmington, the military, commuters and tourists. The project is

anticipated to be part of a comprehensive transportation network connecting Brunswick County

to New Hanover County and will serve as an important intermodal connector in improving

freight movements within the Wilmington area by accommodating anticipated growth at the Port

of Wilmington, as well as providing hurricane evacuation routes.

JCA was contracted in 2014 to conduct a RCW survey of 12 DSAs for the proposed Cape

Fear Crossing project. Since that time, 6 DSAs have been eliminated and one of the remaining

DSAs (Alternative B) is located within the 0.5-mile radius foraging habitat partition of known

RCW BRU Cluster 1 (Figure 2).

IV. METHODOLOGY

A. RCW SURVEY

A variety of resources were utilized in preparation for field surveys and the FHA,

including aerial photographs, topographic maps, soil surveys (USDA NRCS 2018), historical

RCW cavity tree data and other data from previous surveys by JCA. Natural communities and

5

BRU 1

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ALE

MACO

ALBRIGHT

SLATER

LANSAN

LEWI

S

OLD F

ORES

T

GRANDIFLORA

NUNS

LAPH

AM

TARA

FORE

ST

BUCKEYE

BREMAN

SAVANNA BRANCH

WATE

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LD

BODY SHOP

AVINGTON

GLASGOW

HIGHCROFT

SUNBURST

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GREENSVIEW

WHITEH

ILL

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PRIN

WINDINGWOOD

PINEBRUSH

HEATHWOOD

SOUTHBEND

BRADBURY

ROSEA

NORTHRIDGE

ALEXANDERI-1

40

AVINGTON Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

RCW cavity trees 2018U-4738 DSA B project designRCW survey area0.5 mile radius foraging habitat partitionStreets

Figure 2. Location of red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis) BRU Cluster 1 and part of DSA B of the proposed Cape Fear Crossing (U-4738), near Leland, Brunswick County, North Carolina.

0 0.5 10.25 Miles

/

6

plant nomenclature in the project area were classified according to Schafale (2018) and Weakley

(2015), respectively.

Biologists surveyed uplands within the 0.5-mile radius of the proposed DSA B including

BRU Cluster 1 for RCWs (Figure 2). All known RCW cavity trees were visited on the ground and

the activity status of each cavity was updated.

Potential RCW nesting habitat was defined as pine or pine-hardwood stands >60 years of

age (USFWS 2003). Commercial and residential areas were checked by vehicle and large

forested tracts with potentially suitable habitat were surveyed on foot using parallel transects.

Surveys were conducted and transects spaced so that all suitable habitat was viewed at least

once.

B. FORAGING HABITAT ANALYSIS

A FHA was completed for RCW foraging habitat partition BRU 1 in July 2018. The

specific data parameters collected included vegetative community type, dominant woody species,

diameter at breast height (dbh) for pines and hardwoods >4 inches dbh in 2-inch diameter

classes, pine and hardwood overstory basal areas (BA), understory/midstory density and height,

ground cover density and stand contiguity.

Foraging habitat was analyzed using pine stems ≥8 inches dbh because of site conditions

that resulted in slow growth and a paucity of pines ≥10 inches dbh. The low pine BA and low

numbers of pine stems ≥10 inches dbh are natural conditions of xeric sands, Wet Pine Flatwoods,

Pond Pine Woodland and pocosin habitats in the area. Poor growing conditions due to excessive

soil dryness or wetness and low soil fertility can prevent pines on such sites from reaching 10

inches dbh in less than 100 years, perhaps never on some sites. Therefore, pines trees ≥8.0

inches dbh were counted as available foraging habitat and the lack of pines >10 inches dbh

should not be interpreted as representing poor or insufficient RCW foraging habitat (Carter

2012).

Sampling plots were placed every 5 chains (1 chain = 66 ft.) along transects spaced

approximately 5 chains apart within the 0.5-mile radius foraging habitat partition. Foraging

substrate was measured with a 10-factor BA prism using the prism-plot method. Pine BA, the

number of pines and hardwoods ≥4 inches dbh in 2-inch diameter classes and the age of a

representative dominant pine were obtained in each plot.

7

Pine stands were also assessed by the density and height of the midstory. Determining

midstory density was subjective, but followed these basic criteria: a stand with a sparse

hardwood midstory had few or no hardwoods present; a stand with a dense hardwood midstory

had limited visibility and movement through the stand was difficult; and a stand with a

moderately dense hardwood midstory was intermediate. Each habitat type was further

subdivided according to hardwood midstory height. Midstory hardwoods <7 ft. in height were

considered low, hardwoods from 7-15 ft. in height were considered moderate and hardwoods

>15 ft. in height were considered tall.

Vegetative communities were divided into 4 stand types: sparse pine (<40 square feet

(ft2) of pine BA/acre (ac.); moderately dense pine (≥40 to ≤70 ft2 of pine BA/ac.); dense pine

(>70 ft2 of pine BA/ac.) and non-foraging or unsuitable habitat. Non-foraging or unsuitable

habitat consisted of hardwood-pine drains, bays or pocosins devoid of pine trees, clear-cuts,

agricultural lands, treeless developed areas, road and power line rights-of-way and other

permanently cleared areas.

Removals within the RCW partition were calculated using ArcGIS software and were

subtracted from the affected stands. The total acreage and pine BA removed by DSA B were

subtracted from the pre-project totals for the BRU Cluster 1 foraging partition. Removals were

based on slope stakes received from project engineers at AECOM. JCA added an additional 25

ft. buffer to the slope stakes to calculate clearing limits.

RCW RSMS foraging habitat standards for the Outer Coastal Plain in southeastern North

Carolina and northeastern South Carolina (Carter 2012)

The Regional Standard for Managed Stability (RSMS) (Carter 2012) guidelines require a

minimum of 3,000 ft2 of pine BA on at least 75 ac. of good quality suitable foraging habitat as

defined (USFWS 2003) or modified below. The minimum dbh of pines varies from 4 to 10

inches dbh depending on vegetative community type. Because the minimum pine BA

requirements also vary among community types, the minimum area necessary to achieve 3,000

ft2 of pine BA will usually exceed 75 ac.

The following Standard for Managed Stability guidelines (USFWS 2003) are applicable

in southeastern NC and northeastern South Carolina (SC) with the RSMS (Carter 2012) changes

in bold below and listed in Table 1.

8

(1) Pine stands must be at least 30 years of age or older.

(2) Average BA of pines ≥8 inches dbh should be between 30 and 70 ft2/acre.

Exceptions: in High Pocosin habitat and bays where pine BA can be as low as 20

ft2/acre in stems >4 inches dbh and in Old Field/Managed Loblolly & Longleaf

Pine habitats and Pine Plantations where pine BA should not be less than 40

ft2/acre in stems ≥10 inches dbh.

(3) Average BA of pines <8 inches dbh should be less than 20 ft2/acre. Exceptions: High

Pocosin and Pond Pine Woodland habitats which do not have a maximum BA for

pines <8 inches dbh.

(4) No hardwood midstory exists, or if a hardwood midstory is present, it must be sparse

and/or less than 7 ft. in height, except in High Pocosin and Pond Pine Woodland

habitats where there is no hardwood midstory height or density limitation.

(5) Total stand BA, including overstory hardwoods, should be less than 80 ft2/acre (see 7

below for exception).

(6) Overstory hardwood BA must be ≤10 ft2/ acre.

(7) Total stand BA can exceed 80 ft2/acre if the maximum limits for overstory hardwood

BA and pines <8 inches dbh are not exceeded and the BA in pines 8-14 inches dbh is

30-70 ft2/acre. (in other words, the excess in BA is comprised of pines ≥14 inches

dbh) (W. McDearman, USFWS, pers. comm.) This situation is most likely to

occur in Old Field/Managed Loblolly & Longleaf Pine habitats and Pine

Plantations.

Additionally, all land counted as foraging habitat must be within 200 ft. of another

foraging stand or the cluster and all stands counted as foraging habitat should be within 0.25 mile

(mi.) of the cluster (USFWS 2003). Foraging habitat available for the cluster was first evaluated

using a 0.25 mi. radius foraging habitat partition. If the minimum SMS requirements were not

met within the 0.25 mi. radius partition, a 0.5 mi. radius partition was used. RCW foraging

habitat separated by more than 200 ft. from other foraging habitat was considered non-

contiguous and was not counted as available habitat (USFWS 2003).

Pine stands that met the RSMS Guidelines (Carter 2012) for overstory BA and had a

sparse hardwood midstory, a moderately dense hardwood midstory that was low in height or a

dense hardwood midstory that was low in height were considered “suitable” foraging habitat.

9

“Potentially suitable habitat” was described as stands that met most requirements, but

exceeded the maximum limits for pine BA in certain dbh classes, hardwood midstory density/

height and/or overstory hardwood density. These stands have the necessary pine BA and could

meet the RSMS with midstory removal, prescribed burning and/or thinning. Stands with suitable

overstory characteristics containing a moderately dense or dense midstory that was moderate or

tall in height were in this potentially suitable category.

All stands on sites managed for pine dominance that did not fall into the suitable or

potentially suitable categories were classified as “future potential habitat.” These stands will

require time and management to meet the RSMS requirements.

Table 1. Summary of red-cockaded woodpecker RSMS foraging habitat requirements in the

Outer Coastal Plain of southeastern North Carolina & northeastern South Carolina.

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. RCW

The RCW is a small black and white woodpecker with horizontal bars on its back,

spotted flanks and a white belly. The cap and chin stripe are black and the male has a small,

Xeric Sandhill Scrub

Pine- Scrub Oak

Sandhill

Mesic Pine

Savanna

Wet Pine Flatwoods/

Sandy Pine

Savanna

Pond Pine Woodland

High Pocosin

Old Field/

Managed Loblolly

& Longleaf

Pine Plantation

Pine BA (Min.)

30 ft2/acre (8 inches dbh min.)

20 ft2/acre

(4 inches

dbh min.)

40 ft2/acre (10 inches dbh min.)

Pine BA (Max.)

20 ft2/acre (<8 inches dbh) N/A 20 ft2/acre (<10 inches

dbh)

Hardwood BA

(overstory maximum)

<10 ft2/ac

Midstory/ Understory Density &

Height

Sparse and/or <7 ft. in height N/A Sparse and/or <7 ft. in

height

10

difficult to see, red spot on each side of the black cap. It is most easily identified by the large

white cheek patches that distinguish it from similar species (USFWS 2003).

The RCW is endemic to mature, fire-maintained pine forests in the southeastern United

States, where it was historically common. Prime nesting habitat for RCWs includes open,

mature southern pine forests dominated by longleaf, loblolly, pond, slash or other southern pine

species greater than 60 years of age with little or no mid- or understory development. Pine

flatwoods and pine-dominated savannas, which have been maintained by frequent fires, serve as

ideal nesting and foraging habitat for RCWs. Potential foraging habitat is defined as open pine

or pine/ hardwood stands 30 years of age or older (USFWS 2003). Logging, fire exclusion and

conversion of forestlands for agricultural and other uses have destroyed most of this species’

habitat (USFWS 2003).

B. RCW CLUSTER STATUS

Brunswick (BRU) Cluster 1 was documented as active during a survey in the winter of

1992-93 (JCA 1992) (Figure 2). When the area was resurveyed by JCA biologists in 2003, the

RCW cluster was still active and an after-hatching-year male was captured and banded (JCA

2003). In 2014, the cluster was active with a solitary unbanded bird. The cluster is currently

inactive and contains 9 cavity trees in various stages of completion and suitability (Figure 2 and

Table 2). All cavity trees are >850 ft. from DSA B of the U-4738 project (Figure 2).

Table 2. Status of red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis) cavity trees associated with BRU Cluster 1, Brunswick County, North Carolina.

GPS Location*

Cluster Cavity Tree

Number Cavity Stage

Cavity Activity

Easting Northing

BRU 1 1 Healed over start Relic 694134 52775

2 Healed over start Relic 694122 52802

3 Healed over start Relic 694098 52851

4 Completed cavity, suitable Inactive 694076 52872

5 Completed cavity, enlarged Relic 694021 53033

6 Healing over cavity Relic 694124 52960

7 Healed over start Relic 694188 52840

8 Completed cavity, enlarged Relic 694210 52847

9 Healed over start Relic 694058 52875

* Location is in NAD 1983 State Plane meter

11

C. RCW SURVEY

A majority of the proposed project site has been negatively impacted by timber

harvesting, fire suppression and residential, commercial and industrial development resulting in

very little suitable RCW habitat. Uplands within the DSA B 0.5-mile survey area and within the

vicinity of BRU Cluster 1 were surveyed in July 2018 (Figure 2). However, no RCW cavity

trees outside of BRU Cluster 1 were found during ground surveys.

D. FORAGING HABITAT ANALYSIS

The cluster does not meet the 0.25 mi. radius RSMS guidelines. The RSMS data analysis

for the 0.50 mi. radius foraging partition follow.

RSMS

The pre-project RSMS foraging habitat totals for the 0.50 mi. radius foraging partition

were 3,314.01 ft2 of pine BA on 53.70 ac. of suitable habitat, 1,897.36 ft2 of pine BA on 28.38

ac. of potentially suitable habitat and 5,364.15 ft2 of pine BA on 358.52 ac. of future potential

habitat (Figure 3; Table 3).

DSA B will remove 309.37 ft.2 of pine BA on 30.36 ac. of future potential habitat (Table

3).

The post-project RSMS foraging habitat totals for the 0.50 mi. radius foraging partition

were 3,314.01 ft2 of pine BA on 53.70 ac. of suitable habitat, 1,897.36 ft2 of pine BA on 28.38

ac. of potentially suitable habitat and 5,054.78 ft2 of pine BA on 328.16 ac. of future potential

habitat (Figure 3; Table 3). This partition will meet the RSMS requirements post-project

assuming potentially suitable habitat is made suitable (Carter 2012).

VI. SUMMARY

No RCW cavity trees will be removed or impacted by the proposed project. BRU Cluster

1 is currently inactive and there is only one suitable cavity left within the cluster.

BRU Cluster 1 meets the RSMS Guidelines (Carter 2012) post-project, assuming

potentially suitable habitat is made suitable. However, because the BRU 1 foraging partition

is on private property, potentially suitable habitat will most likely never be made suitable. The

proposed project, as currently designed, is only removing future potential habitat. That fact,

12

B

B

GF

G

B

B

G

E

D

D

D

D

A

D

D

D

D

E

D

C

D

FB

E

E

AD

F

B

B

B

¯0 500 1,000250 Feet

/

Project removals

Pine DensitySparseModerateDense

Midstory DensitySparseModerateDense

,,,,,,,,,,,,, , ,, , ,

Midstory HeightLowModerateTall

13-16 year old loblolly pine plantationHardwood drainNon-foraging habitatClear-cut

Figure 3. Red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) foraging habitat within the 0.5 mile radius foraging partition for BRU Cluster 1, Brunswick County, North Carolina.

13

Table 3. Pre-project, project removals and post-project red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) foraging habitat totals using the Regional Standard for Managed Stability (JCA 2012) within the 0.50 mile radius foraging partition for BRU Cluster 1, Brunswick County, North Carolina.

Avg. Stems

Avg. BAAvg.

StemsAvg. BA

Avg. Stems

Avg. BAAvg.

StemsAvg. BA

Avg. Stems

Avg. BA

Avg. Stems

Avg. BA Acres BA Acres BA Acres BA Acres BA Acres BA Acres BA

A 5.63 40 361.13 65.00 22.73 10.00 0.00 0.00 383.86 75.00 22.73 10.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 95.0 Moderate Dense Moderate 5.63 75.00Sub-total 5.63 75.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

B 263.02 77 18.44 3.34 18.56 11.66 1.38 1.67 38.38 16.67 19.94 13.33 12.44 10.00 3.30 10.0 Sparse Moderate Tall 12.16 202.71 0.02 0.33Dense Moderate 152.56 2,543.18Dense Tall 98.30 1,638.66 0.68 11.34

Sub-total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 263.02 4,384.55 0.70 11.67

C 2.46 46 18.52 5.00 26.30 15.00 0.00 0.00 44.82 20.00 26.30 15.00 14.93 10.00 1.00 Sparse Sparse Tall 2.46 49.20 0.11 2.20Sub-total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.46 49.20 0.11 2.20

D 43.31 61 69.80 14.17 60.53 38.33 10.20 14.17 140.53 66.67 70.73 52.50 44.14 40.83 0.00 73.3 Moderate Sparse Moderate 2.88 151.20Sparse Tall 7.80 409.50

Moderate Low 5.81 305.03Moderate Moderate 6.76 354.90Moderate Tall 6.57 344.93

Dense Low 6.84 359.10Dense Moderate 6.65 349.13

Sub-total 23.33 1,224.83 0.00 0.00 19.98 1,048.96 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

E 12.52 75 22.22 6.00 112.53 80.00 17.07 21.00 151.82 107.00 129.60 101.00 100.05 88.00 0.00 88.0 Dense Sparse Moderate 1.61 162.61Sparse Tall 2.51 253.51

Moderate Moderate 8.40 848.40Sub-total 4.12 416.12 0.00 0.00 8.40 848.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

F 20.62 76 18.52 5.00 103.37 77.50 0.00 0.00 121.89 82.50 103.37 77.50 92.00 72.50 0.00 0.0 Dense Dense Moderate 0.95 73.63Dense Tall 19.67 1,524.43

Sub-total 20.62 1,598.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00G 93.04 13-16 353.85 70.00 18.84 10.00 0.00 0.00 372.69 80.00 18.84 10.00 7.47 5.00 0.00 80.0 Sparse Dense Moderate 93.04 930.40 29.55 295.50

Sub-total 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 93.04 930.40 29.55 295.50Total 440.60 53.70 3,314.01 0.00 0.00 28.38 1,897.36 0.00 0.00 358.52 5,364.15 30.36 309.37

Stand Descriptions Acreage Suitable Potential Future Totals Total S&PBA = basal area Total Pre-Project 53.70 28.38 358.52 440.60 82.08dbh = diameter at breast height Total Removals 0.00 0.00 30.36 30.36 0.00Hwd = hardwood Total Post-Project 53.70 28.38 328.16 410.24 82.08HGC = herbaceous ground cover BAS&P = Suitable and Potentially Suitable habitat Stand C - 46 year old sparse, High Pocosin habitat. Total Pre-Project 3,314.01 1,897.36 5,364.15 10,575.52 5,211.37

Total Removals 0.00 0.00 309.37 309.37 0.00Total Post-Project 3,314.01 1,897.36 5,054.78 10,266.15 5,211.37

Stand E - 75 year old, dense Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhill and Mesic Pine Savanna habitat.

Stand F - 76 year old, dense Pond Pine Woodland habitat.

Stand G - 13-16 year old loblolly pine plantation.

RemovalsPotentially

Suitable Habitat

RemovalsFuture

Potential Habitat

Removals

Stand Type

AcresStand Age

4.0-7.9 inches dbh

8-13.9 inches dbh

14.0+ inches dbh

Suitable Habitat

Potentially Suitable Habitat

Future Potential Habitat

Stand A - 40 year old moderately dense, High Pocosin habitat.

4+ inches dbh 8+ inches dbh 10+ inches dbh Canopy Hardwood

BA

HGC (%)

Pine Density

Stand B - 77 year old sparse, High Pocosin habitat.

Value does not meet Regional Standard for Managed Stability requirements (JCA 2012).

Stand D - 61 year old, moderately dense Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhill and Mesic Pine Savanna habitat.

Dense pine stands with a BA of >70 ft2/acre were counted as suitable only if the excess BA was in pines >14 inches dbh (USFWS pers. comm.).

Hardwood Midstory Density

Hardwood Midstory Height

Suitable Habitat

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together with the inactive cluster status, indicates that Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act

does not apply and Section 7 may only require informal consultation.

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VII. LITERATURE CITED

Carter III, Joseph H. 2012. Proposed red-cockaded woodpecker regional SMS foraging habitat standards for the Outer Coastal Plain in the Southeastern North Carolina and Northeastern South Carolina. 6pp.

Dr. J.H. Carter III and Associates, Inc. 1992. Biological assessment for proposed Wilmington Bypass, New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, NC. Prepared for NCDOT. 10 pp. Dr. J.H. Carter III and Associates, Inc. 2003. Red-cockaded woodpecker foraging habitat analysis for Brunswick County Cluster #1, Wilmington Bypass project (T.I.P. No. R- 2633A/B), Brunswick County, North Carolina. Prepared for NCDOT. 13 pp. Dr. J.H. Carter III and Associates, Inc. 2014. Red-cockaded woodpecker aerial and ground

survey report, Cape Fear Crossing (T.I.P. U-4738), Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, North Carolina. Prepared for NCDOT. 27 pp.

North Carolina Department of Transportation. Feasibility Study for the Wilmington Southern Bridge from US Hwy. 17 Bypass near Bishop to US Hwy. 421. August 2003. Schafale, Michael P. 2018 working draft. Guide to the natural communities of North Carolina: 4th approximation. NC Natural Heritage Program, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Raleigh, North Carolina. 217 pp. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. USDA website (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx). Accessed 10 August 2018. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Red-cockaded woodpecker recovery plan: 2nd revision. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia. 296 pp.

Weakley, Alan S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic states: Draft May 2015. UNC- Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. 1320 pp.

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