20031134 Ver 1_Monitoring Report Review_20090225

A,4
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins
Governor Director
February 25, 2009
Ms. Barbara S. Wiggins
Fish and Wildlife Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 241
Whittier, NC 28789
Re: BannerLowes Restoration Project
2008 Post-Construction Monitoring Report
Avery County
DWQ #03-1134
Dear Ms. Wiggins:
Dee Freeman
Secretary
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) 401 Oversight and Express Review Permitting Unit has
reviewed the Monitoring Report for the above-referenced site, and have reviewed your request
for closeout of the monitoring period for the restored wetlands. In addition, Eric Kulz with this
Office conducted a site visit in the summer of 2008. Our comments on the project and
monitoring report are as follows:
Streams
The morphological data presented in the monitoring report appear to show that the streams are
stable. Both relocated streams (UTA and UTB) appeared to be low-flow streams; UTA had
water only in the lower portion of the channel, and UTB was dry during the site visit.
With respect to the vegetation, the method of presentation of the data in the report make
evaluating success of the project difficult. Tree data are normally presented with raw data
extrapolated to stems per acre for each monitoring plot. According to the interagency Stream
Mitigation Guidelines (April 2003), survival of woody species planted at mitigation sites should
be at least 320 stems per acre through year 3. It is unclear if this criteria is being met, based on
the data in the monitoring report.
However, during the site visit, vegetation appears to be a problem for the riparian zones of all the
streams. Survival and vigor appeared poor on both of the UTs, and diversity appeared low,
likely due to drought conditions. Buffer width is an issue on both UTA and the Elk River.
Encroachment by groundskeeping activities and proximity of UTA to the parking lot are
concerns.
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Location: 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Internet: http://h2o.enr.state. nc.uslncwetlands/
NorthCarolina
Vaturally
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
Ms. Wiggins
Fish and Wildlife Associates, Inc.
Page 2 of 3
2/25/2009
Based on the Project History presented on Page 4 of the report, construction of the stream
restoration portions of the project was completed in October 2005. Planting was done in
December 2005, with supplemental planting events in 2006 and 2007. 2008 represents the third
growing season, based on the initial planting.
With respect to the buffers at this site, the success of this mitigation project is not at all assured.
Continued poor survival, encroachment and vandalism may result in additional monitoring past
the five-year mark.
Wetlands
As noted above, the method of presentation of the tree data make comparison of data from the
site to success criteria difficult. However, due to poor woody vegetation survival and multiple
repair and replanting events during the last 3 years, we recommend that monitoring continue
until it is clear that the targeted community has become established in the restored wetlands.
In regards to vegetation monitoring, we suggest that stem counts continue for planted and
volunteer woody species. Vegetation plots should not all include live stakes, as these tend to
skew the stem counts. Denisty data should be representative of the wetland are as a whole.
Results should be presented as described above, and compared with the success criteria for
wetland mitigation (320 stems per acre in year 3, 288 stems per acre in year 4, and 260 stems per
acre in year 5). However, it is not necessary to count stems of herbaceous vegetation; estimates
of percent cover will be adequate in future monitoring reports.
Based on the Project History presented on Page 4 of the monitoring report, construction of the
wetland cells was completed in May 2006, and planting was completed in June 2006. Therefore,
the first full growing season for the wetlands was 2007. 2008 only represents the second
growing season for the wetland portion of the site.
Wetland mitigation projects generally require monitoring for five years or until success criteria
are met, whichever is longer.
DWQ would be happy to meet on the site with USACE personnel to discuss the progress of the
stream and wetland mitigation, but we feel that monitoring of this site should, at a minimum,
continue through the five growing seasons outlined in applicable mitigation guidance.
Ms. Wiggins
Fish and Wildlife Associates, Inc.
Page 3 of 3
2/25/2009
Please feel free to contact Eric Kulz or Tammy Hill at [phone] if you have any questions
regarding this project or our comments.
Sincerely,
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Eric Kulz)
Matt Matthews - DWQ Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
Kevin Barnett - DWQ Asheville Regional Office
Amanda Jones - USACE Rakig f-Regulatory Field Office
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