How has the Project Team identified the natural resources that may be affected by the Route 250 Bypass at McIntire Road Project?
The Project Team reviewed existing information to obtain a preliminary overview of the resources within the project area. Some of those sources were:
- 7.5-minute United States Geological Survey (USGS) Topographic Quadrangle for Charlottesville East, Virginia
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain maps
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetland Inventory for Charlottesville East, Virginia
- Local land use mapping
- Other sources
The Project Team sent inquiries to the USFWS and the Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation (VA DCR) Division of Natural Heritage asking for information about rare, threatened and endangered species that have been identified within the project area.
The Project Team performed a field review to confirm the presence of existing mapped resources and identify any others. Field-surveyed resources included waters of the US (streams, open water and wetlands) and forests. During the field review for waters of the US , the project team marked the boundaries of each resource with flags.
What natural resources were identified that may be affected by the project?
The Project Team identified natural resources within the project area that may be affected by one or more alternatives being considered. These resources include:
- Schenk's Branch
- Two other waters of the US
- Upland forested area southeast of Schenk's Branch and north of Route 250 Bypass
No wetlands were identified. The floodplain of Schenk's Branch is outside of the northern limit of the project area. No rare, threatened or endangered species were reported by FWS and VA DCR within the project area.
What are the potential impacts of the alternatives on natural resources?
In Progress
Products
Natural Resources Technical Memorandum (PDF, 8mb)
Land Use and Socio-Economic Baseline Conditions Technical Memorandum (PDF,9mb)
Wetland Investigation Report (PDF, 18mb)
Regulations and Guidelines
Natural resources are protected from harm through a variety of Federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances including:
The Clean Water Act (Sections 401, 402, and 404)
The Clean Air Act
The Coastal Zone Management Act
The Endangered Species Act
Local Zoning Regulations - See "Final Approved Zoning Map" (PDF, 1.3mb)
Floodplain - Executive Order 11988
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program
Wetlands Protection Act
Virginia DEQ (for general environmental resources information)
|
