20031134 Ver 1_Mitigation Report_20070627

O~O~ W AT ~9QG
~ ~
~_ ~
p Y
July 27, 2007
Ms. Barbara S. Wiggins
Fish and Wildlife Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 241
Whittier, NC 28789
Re: BannerLowes Restoration Project
Post-Construction Report
Avery County
D`~VQ #03-1134
Dear. Ms. Wiggins:
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Coleen H. Sullins, Director
Division of Water Quality
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) 401 Oversight and Express Review Permitting Unit has reviewed
the Post-Construction Report for the above-referenced site. Our comments on the report are as follows:
• Page 3 of the report discusses activities involving wetlands at the site. However, the acreages of
both wetlands are shown as "x" in the report at a number of locations, so the acreage of wetlands
on the project site is unclear.
• Based on Page 3 of the report, two wetland areas were restored on the east side of the Elk River.
However, Figure 1 labels these as "created wetlands". They are similarly termed on page 10 of
the report. Please clarify if these wetlands are restored natural wetlands or created wetlands.
• It is not clear from the report whether the wetland restoration activities have been completed.
Page 7 of the report appears to give contradicting reports of whether or not wetland planting has
been completed.
• Please provide an overall as-built site plan showing the developed portions of the site,
constructed roads and stream crossings, streams, wetlands, and stormwater BMPs.
• As noted in prior correspondence to your firm regarding monitoring reports, your reporting
format makes it difficult to track project vegetative progress due to the lack of data on specific
tree species present and changes in diversity over time. Please provide revised tables showing
the species of trees planted; the number of each species planted; and the diversity and density
within each vegetation plot post-construction, and, in future reports, for each year of monitoring,
Please also distinguish between planted species and volunteer species.
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevazd, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Internet: htta://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
Nye Carolina
~tura!!y
An Equal OpportunitylAffirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycledl10% Post Consumer Paper

Ms. Higgins
Fish and Wildlife Associates, Inc.
BannerLowes Mitigation -Post-Construction Report
Page 2 of 2
Please note that according to the interagency Stream Mitigation Guidelines (Apri12003),
survival of woody species planted at mitigation sites should be at least 320 stems per acre
through year 3.
• According to the guidelines, the width of the planted riparian buffer should be at least 30 feet on
each side of the restored streams if mitigation credit is desired. Please verify buffer widths along
all project streams.
Please submit a written response addressing the items listed above within 30 days of your receipt of this
letter..
Please feel free to contact Eric Kulz at [phone] if you have any questions regarding this project
or our comments.

Sincerely,
~~~,~a
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Eric Kulz)
Central Files
Kevin Barnett -Asheville Regional Office
Amanda Jones - USACE, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
N °ChCarolina
~atura!!y
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Cazolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Internet: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
An Equal OpportunitylAffirmative Action Employer- 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper