The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About20070833 Ver 1_USACE Correspondence_20100514REPLY TO ATTENTION OF: Regulatory Division Action ID. 2000-0985 01-og33 h r ?` L MAY 1 4 201.0 DENR . wATI.R a.%L TY wE'P.A?4vS ANI) S i G)2rti°, r kr_cR BRANCH Mr. David Ashcraft N.C. State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc. Campus Box 8010 Room 3060, Biltmore Hall Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 Dear Mr. Ashcraft: This letter serves to confirm our evaluation, through coordination with the Interagency Review Team (IRT), of your March 2, 2010 monitoring report (Year 4) for the Hofmann Forest Wetland Mitigation Bank (Hofmann Bank) in the Hofmann State Forest, adjacent to the White Oak Pocosin, north of Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina. Please reference our May 22, 2009 letter concerning the 3rd year monitoring report. As discussed in the May 22"d letter, our office shared concerns relating to the hydrologic and vegetation success criteria being satisfied for certain portions of the bank site. Specifically, the vegetative plots 1_1, 1_4, & 1_12 in Block 1 and plots 2_5 and 2_7 in Block 2 were on target for failing, or have failed, to meet the required 260 planted trees per acre at the end of the 5-year monitoring period. The Year 4 report shows that all of these plots, with the addition of 1_10 in Block 1, have exhibited a survival rate less than the required amount of 260 trees/acre. In Blocks 1 & 2, the trees were planted in 1999 and the initial hydrology modifications were in place in 2004, with additional plugs installed in 2007. Supplemental plantings in Block 3 and the initial plantings for Block 4 & 5 took place in early spring of 2005, which completed the initial construction phase for the entire bank and secured the 2006 growing season as the first monitoring year. In summary, the planted tree stems for Blocks 1 & 2 have been in place and monitored for approximately 10 years, with hydrology restoration for these two blocks in place for 5-6 years. Upon acknowledging the shortfalls of the identified vegetative plots, our overall position, after reviewing previous reports and conducting several onsite observations, is that Blocks 1 & 2 are moving toward reaching the established success criteria for the targeted plant community. Therefore, no remedial or contingency action is necessary at this time. Monitoring of the planted stems and volunteer species will continue for the 2010 growing season, and no modifications to the sampling method and/or presentation of data in the reports are required at this time. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 69 DARLINGTON AVENUE WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343 May 12, 2010 11 -2- For the hydrology component, the water level trends for (4) wells, Block 1 North, Block 2 North, Block 4 North, and Block 4 South, raise greater concerns in meeting the success criteria. Specifically, Block 2 North has not met the requirement in the last 3 seasons. Although this well is meeting wetland jurisdictional status by definition, it fails to meet the established threshold of 12.5% of the growing season set forth in the restoration plan. The summary table in the Year 4 monitoring report shows that this well cumulatively shows saturated/inundated conditions for just over 9.0% of the growing season. In my discussions with Mr. Glen Catts of your office, it has been decided that an additional well will be placed near Well Block 2 North location for calibration, and to determine if the installation and/or location is a factor for this shortfall. For Block 1 North and both wells in Block 4, their water level readings exhibit success only during periods of above normal rainfall conditions. Hydrograph results show quicker and deeper than expected draw downs after most rainfall events. It has been determined that an additional well will also be installed, at a depth less than 20 inches from the surface, near Block 4 North location. This is expected to help determine if the present wells in this block are installed too deep and have intercepted the sand lens, or if the block is being affected by existing ditches. Reference our previous responses to years 1-3 for our concerns on the well data. Pursuant to the May 20, 2008 letter detailing the modified credit release schedule, 15% of the total credits are eligible for release after year 4 monitoring. At this time, our office has determined that 6 of the 10 hydrology wells have conclusively met the success criteria, with Block 2 North solidly falling short and Block 1 North and all of Block 4 remaining in question for long-term success. It has been concluded that, with the continuing uncertainty of the above mentioned wells, only 8% (or 31 credits) of the 15% eligible credits will be released. To date, this brings the cumulative amount of credits released from Hofmann Bank to 282 credits. Please be reminded, as stated in the May 22nd letter, that 5% (or 20 credits) of the credits were withheld for similar reasons. These 20 credits, coupled with the 27 credits (or 7%) above, will continue to be ineligible for release until further assessments conclusively demonstrate hydrologic success for the questionable wells. Our intentions of withholding credits are to ensure the long-term sustainability of the site meeting its goals and objections as a compensatory mitigation bank. Please be reminded of your obligations pursuant to the 24 May 2004 Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI); and to continue maintenance inspections of the check dams and culverts throughout the bank in order to evaluate the condition and stability of each structure in perpetuity. Should you have any questions, please contact me at (910) 251-4811. Sincerely, Mickey Sugg, Project Manager Wilmington Regulatory Field Office -3- Copies Furnished: Mr. Glenn Catts Hofmann Forest Liaison College of Natural Resources North Carolina State University 2023 Biltmore Hall Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 Mr. Pete Benjamin U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh North Carolina 27636-3726 Ms. Maria Dunn N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission 943 Washington Square Mall Washington, North Carolina 27889 Ms. Molly Ellwood N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington North Carolina 28405-3845 r. Tammy Hill ivision of Water Quality N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 2321 Crabtree Boulevard Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260 Mr. Ron Sechler National Marine Fisheries Service Pivers Island Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 Mr. Howard Hall U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh North Carolina 27636-3726 Ms. Becky Fox U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wetlands Regulatory Section- Region IV 1349 Firefly Road Whittier, North Carolina 28789 Mr. Stephen Everhart N.C. Division of Coastal Management 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington North Carolina 28405-3845 Ms. Tere Barrett N.C. Division of Coastal Management 400 Commerce Avenue Morehead City, North Carolina 28557-3421 Mr. John Domey N.C. Division of Water Quality 2321 Crabtree Boulevard Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260 Mr. Steve Sollod N.C. Division of Coastal Management 1638 Mail Service Center Raleigh North Carolina 27699-1638