20000846 Ver 1_Year 3 Monitoring Report Cover Ltr_20080204

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Natu~ ~tl Resource
Restoration & Conservation
January 29, 2008
Ms. Cyndi Karoly
NC Division of Water Quality
Wetlands Section
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Suite 201
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260
Subject: DWQ Certification Nos. 3428 and 3708
Dear Ms. Karoly:
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FEB 4 2008
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Please find attached two copies of the Annual Monitoring Report for Year 3 (2007) for
the Causey Farm Stream and Wetland Mitigation Site and a CD with the file in .pdf format. The
site provides compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to wetlands and streams at the
Piedmont Triad International Airport. The report describes monitoring activities, success
criteria, and results of 4.0 acres of wetland and 7,670 feet of stream restoration at the Site during
the third year after completion. As described in the report, all wetland areas and stream lengths
were determined to be fully successful.
As you requested in your comments made last year (letter dated February 17, 2007) in
response to the Year 2 Monitoring Report, we have included a summary (Table SB) of past and
current vegetative data to allow for evaluation of success and trends. However, we have
continued to count Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum) and Cephalanthus occidentalis
(buttonbush) as part of the success criteria. The justification for this is as follows.
These two species are classified as Character Tree Species in the agency-approved
Detailed Stream and Wetland Mitigation Plan on the basis that sweetgum is present in the
Reference Forest Ecosystem and buttonbush was planted as part of the streamside shrub
assemblage. As Character Tree Species, they have been counted toward success criteria in
previous Monitoring Reports. Sweetgum was noted in only one plot this year (two stems) and
thus does not appear to dominate. The loss of oaks appears to be an artifact of sampling rather
than the actual mortality of stems. The total number of oak stems over Years 1-3 is relatively
constant (~40 total stems). However, it is possible that field personnel were inconsistent in
identifying the two oak species; these often appear very similar during their juvenile stages.
Pilot Mill • 1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]

Ms. Karoly
January 29, 2008
Page 2
I trust this information is acceptable to you. Please feel free to contact me at 919-755-
9490 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
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David H. Schiller, Manager
Contract Affairs
Attachments
cc: Mr. Mickie Elmore, PTAA (w/o attachments)
Mr. Richard Darling, Baker Engineering (w/attachment)