20021259 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20060421

i
.*'k® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 15

Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director
TO: Jean Manuele, Supervisor
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office, USACE
FROM: Marla Chambers, Western NCDOT Permit Coordinator tea`- 6 1m,&W
Habitat Conservation Program, NCWRC
DATE: April 21, 2006
SUBJECT: Review of the Year-Three Monitoring Report - 2005 for Deep Creek Wetland &
Stream Mitigation Bank, Yadkin County.
Staff biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have
reviewed the information provided in the Year-Three Monitoring Report - 2005 for Deep Creek
Wetland & Stream Mitigation Bank and most recently visited the site on April 6, 2006. These
comments are provided in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d) and the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C.
466 et seq.).
We are pleased that data presented in the report indicated general hydrologic success for
the third year of monitoring, 2005, despite the drier-than-normal year. Ten of the 13 site gauges
indicated hydrologic success, one suffered data loss and two appeared to be anomalies. The
latter three were surrounded by successful gauges and one additional gauge has been installed
and another proposed near the two gauges showing anomalies. Vegetation monitoring indicated
success as the site survival density was 566 stems per acre, far exceeding the 260 stems per acre
that is required at the end of the fifth monitoring year. We can concur with the release of
wetland credits for this year. We are also pleased that the benthic sampling shows considerable
improvement of the number and types of macroinvertebrates inhabiting the stream, indicating a
shift toward more intolerant species and an improvement in water quality.
We remain concerned, however, about the stream channel stability. Cross-sectional
profiles show the riffles getting consistently deeper over time and the longitudinal profile
appears to show a similar trend, especially at the lower end of the site. Several eroding banks
were observed during the site visit, particularly at the lower end. Repair work had been
conducted on two of the eroding locations that were noted from my visit in the spring of 2005.
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Deep Creek Wetland & Stream Mitigation Bank
Year 3 Monitoring, Yadkin Co. -2- April 21, 2006
These two locations had grass growing on the banks during the 2006 field review; however it did
not appear that trees were planted on the banks, which would help provide long-term stability.
Several other locations are in need of remedial action.
Concerns regarding stream bank stability have been raised each monitoring year.
Possible causes suggested include banks on the inside bends being too steep and bankfull height
being constructed too high, preventing flood waters from accessing the floodplain during
bankfull and slightly greater events. This can increase stress on the outside bends and cause
down-cutting. Some bank and riparian work may be needed to relieve the stress and provide
better access to the floodplain. At the very least, additional trees should be planted on the banks
receiving the most stress. We are hesitant to concur with the release of additional stream credits
until this issue can be resolved.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this project. If you have any
questions regarding these comments, please contact me at [phone].
cc: Marella Buncick, USFWS
Rebecca Fox, USEPA
John Dorney, NCDWQ