NCDOT 133-95 Mitigation Bridge #3 SR 1300 Back Creek

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Bogue Sound Mit.Plan Ratios TIP DEBIT TIP DEBIT TIP DEBIT TIP DEBIT TIP TI DEBIT, TIP,
et Co. (near Cedar Point)
Habitat Acres at Startcres Remaining R-2105 AB B-1098 Bridge No.86'Bridge No.3 R-2105 Z
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Low Marsh 1.64 0 0.00 0.36 0.24 1.04 _) 111
High Marsh 1.92 0 0.00 0.68 1.24
Total 3.56 0 0.00 (proposed)
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Project Description
The Bogue Sound Mitigation Site (Weeks Property) is located in Cedar Point, Carteret
County, NC (Figure 1). Following extensive review and comment, the Final Plan for the
Bogue Sound Mitigation Site was submitted and approved by the regulatory agencies in
February 1998. The plan provides details for the establishment of 3.56 acres of
estuarine wetland types including low intertidal marsh dominated by smooth cordgrass
(Spartina alterniflora) and high intertidal marsh dominated by black needlerush (Juncus
roemerianus) and saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens). An "as-built"topographic
survey of the project was completed following remediation of damage caused by
hurricane Bonnie in August 1998.
The mitigation project was intended to offset permitted estuarine wetland impacts
associated with several NCDOT projects (Table 1). The permitted impacts include 0.96
acre of high marsh dominated by black needlerush and 0.82 acre of low marsh
dominated by smooth cordgrass.
Table 1: Summary of Permitted Estuarine Wetland Impacts to be Compensated for
by the Bogue Sound Mitigation Site (Weeks Property), Carteret Co., NC
Project Wetland Type Wetland Required Mitigation
Impact (ac) Mitigation Area & Type
Ratio Required (ac)
TIP No. R-2105 AA Low marsh 0.58 2:1 1.16— low marsh
TIP No. R-2105 AB High marsh 0.34 2:1 0.68— high marsh
TIP No. B-1098 1 High marsh 0.62 1:14 0.62 — high marsh
Bridge No. 86 over Low marsh 0.18 1:14 0.18— low marsh
Culley Creek on
SR1316 2
Bridge No. 3 over Back Low marsh 0.06 1:14 0.06 — low marsh
Creek on SR1300 3
Total required Low/high 1.78 1:1 - 2:1 1.30— high marsh
compensatory marsh 1.40— low marsh
mitigation
' See 1998 annual monitoring report Appendix A for documentation
2 CAMA permit no. 38-95
3 CAMA permit no. 133-95
4 NCDOT mitigated at a ratio of 2:1 for these projects although this was not required by the permits
2

SR 1300 CAMA Permit No. 133-95
Executive Summary
NCDOT - Division 2 performed a roadway improvement project located at Bridge
No. 3 on Back Creek south of Merrimon, in Carteret County, North Carolina. Coastal
wetland impacts associated with this project totaled 2,800 square feet. The Bogue
Sound (Weeks Property) Mitigation Site 2001 Monitoring Report (fourth year)
documents 0.06 ac of low marsh debited for Bridge No. 3 over Back Creek and
recommends seeking final regulatory release of project. NCDOT should clarify the
number of mitigation credits debited for SR 1300 and adjust the number listed in the
monitoring report and/or debit ledger as necessary. In addition, NCDOT should verify
that the remedial work performed in 1999 did not extend the monitoring period an
additional year. Documentation for the regulatory release of the Bogue Sound Mitigation
Site should be acquired before discontinuing monitoring on the site. NCDOT should
assure that monitoring reports and debit ledger information have been forwarded to
DCM. As of April 29, 2002, DCM did not have any documentation of mitigation
completed for this project.
Protect Description
NCDOT - Division 2 performed a roadway improvement project located south of
Merrimon, in Carteret County, North Carolina. The project involved upgrading and
shifting alignment of SR 1300 at Bridge No. 3 located at Back Creek. Coastal wetland
impacts associated with this project totaled 2,800 square feet. Compensatory mitigation
for these impacts occurred at the Bogue Sound (Weeks Property) Mitigation Site located
in Carteret County, North Carolina.
Project Timeline
• September 15, 1995: WQC No. 3030 issued.
• November 2, 1995: CAMA Permit No. 133-95 issued.
• June 1998: Construction and planting of Bogue Sound (Weeks Property) Mitigation
Site completed.
• April 1999: Remedial work to repair erosion damage resulting from Hurricane
Bonnie conducted and areas of Bogue Sound (Weeks Property) Mitigation Site
replanted.
• July 1999: As-built survey of Bogue Sound (Weeks Property) Mitigation Site
completed.
• April 27, 2001: Representatives from DCM, COE and WRC agreed that hydrologic
monitoring was no longer necessary. Monitoring gauges subsequently removed.
1

Permit Commitments
CAMA Permit No. 133-95 issued 11/2/95
1) Prior to construction, a Mitigation Plan, or letter of commitment to prepare such a
plan, will be submitted to the Division describing mitigation for 1:1 replacement of the
approximately 2,800 square feet of coastal wetlands impacted. This mitigation must
be approved and in place prior to the expiration of this permit.
Mitigation Status
The Bogue Sound (Weeks Property) Mitigation Site 2001 Monitoring Report
represents the fourth year of monitoring and documents 0.06 ac of low marsh debited for
Bridge No. 3 over Back Creek. The NCDOT "master" debit ledger documents 0.24 ac of
low marsh debited from the Bogue Sound mitigation site. The 2001 monitoring report
states that it was determined at an April 2001 on-site agency meeting that this project
required mitigation for 0.06 ac impacts at a 1:1 ratio, while NCDOT provided mitigation at
a 2:1 ratio. NCDOT claims that additional mitigation credits are therefore available from
the Bogue Sound Site. This could be partially responsible for the 0.18 ac discrepancy
between debits listed in the 2001 monitoring report and the NCDOT "master" debit
ledger.
According to the 2001 Monitoring Report, NCDOT conducted hydrologic
monitoring between 1998 and 2000. Representatives from DCM, COE and WRC
attended a field meeting on April 27, 2001 and agreed that hydrologic monitoring was no
longer necessary and NCDOT subsequently removed gauges.
The 2001 monitoring report states that NCDOT planted portions of the marsh and
the adjacent dune in 1999 in response to damage from Hurricane Bonnie. NCDOT
should verify that this remedial work did not extend the monitoring period an additional
year. Success, as stated in the final plan, required that the planted salt marsh
vegetation be 85% of that recorded in the reference marsh ecosystem and required
three years minimum of annual monitoring. Vegetation monitoring in the 2001
monitoring report documents 64% coverage in the restored marsh and 70% coverage in
the reference marsh. Vegetation therefore met success criteria. DOT subtracted areas
with vegetation that did not meet initial low marsh and high marsh community criteria.
The fourth year monitoring report (2001) recommends seeking final regulatory release of
the project.
Recommendations
NCDOT should clarify the number of mitigation credits debited for SR 1300 and
adjust the number listed in the monitoring report and/or debit ledger as necessary.
NCDOT should verify that the remedial work performed in 1999 did not extend
the monitoring period an additional year, as this would reduce the 2001 monitoring year
from the fourth to third year of successful monitoring. NCDOT should acquire
documentation for the regulatory release of the Bogue Sound Mitigation Site before
discontinuing monitoring on the site.
2

NCDOT should assure that monitoring reports and debit ledger information have
been forwarded to DCM. As of April 29, 2002, DCM did not have any documentation of
completed mitigation for this project.
3

CAMA Permit No. 133-95 issued 11/2/95
Division 2 Project (Tip No. N/A)
Carteret County
Project Name: Bridge No. 3 on SR 1300 over Back Creek
Project Description: Project involved upgrading and shifting alignment of SR 1300 at
Bridge No. 3 over Back Creek, south of Merrimon.
Recommendations: NCDOT should clarify the number of mitigation credits debited for
SR 1300 and adjust the number listed in the monitoring report and/or debit ledger as
necessary.
NCDOT should verify that the remedial work performed in 1999 did not extend the
monitoring period an additional year, as this would reduce the 2001 monitoring year from
the fourth to third year of successful monitoring. NCDOT should acquire documentation
for the regulatory release of the Bogue Sound Mitigation Site before discontinuing
monitoring on the site.
NCDOT should assure that monitoring reports and debit ledger information have been
forwarded to DCM. As of April 29, 2002, DCM did not have any documentation of
completed mitigation for this project.
CAMA Permit No. 50-96 issued 4/11/96
TIP No. U-2226
Carteret County
Project Name: Bridges Street Extension
Project Description: Constructed a two-lane roadway by extending Bridges Street
located in Morehead City, north of US 70.
Recommendations: NCDOT has satisfied all mitigation requirements for this site. The
"master" debit ledger should be revised to note 2.4 credits, rather than 5.9 credits
debited for U-2226 under the Sand Shoals Mitigation Site.
10