HomeMy WebLinkAbout20140090 Ver 7_Stream Relocation Plan for Smith Creek and UT U-2579B_20191204
Wanucha, Dave
From:Euliss, Amy
Sent:Wednesday, December 4, 2019 2:47 PM
To:Braspennickx, Nicholle M CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Wanucha, Dave
Cc:Moore, Byron G; Dagnino, Carla S; Turchy, Michael A; Abernathy, Brett; Puckett, Lester
L; Earley, Jessica S
Subject:Stream Relocation Plan for Smith Creek and UT U-2579B
Attachments:Stream Relocation Plan Smith Creek and UT U2579B 12.4.19.pdf
Nicholle and Dave,
Per your requests, I have attached the stream relocation plan for Smith Creek and the Unnamed Tributary. Please add it
to the previously submitted permit modification for U-2579B. The 90%plans will be provided when they are ready. Let
us know if you have any questions.
Dave,
We have addressed the water intake concerns as part of the plan.
Amy Euliss
Division 9 Environmental Officer
North Carolina Department of Transportation
336 747 7802 office
aeuliss@ncdot.gov
375 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston Salem, NC 27127-7167
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
1
Smith Creek Stream Relocation Plan: U2579B
Site Summary
Smith Creek runs parallel to existing west bound Business 40 just east of the interchange
with the Winston Salem Northern Beltway in Forsyth County. There are two active fish
hatchery ponds on the north side of Smith Creek. Construction of the deceleration lane
from Business 40 onto the Winston Salem Northern Beltway resulted in a need to widen
the highway toward Smith Creek. In the 2014 permit application, the plans called for
armoring Smith Creek with a series of retaining walls and rip rap bank stabilization.
Following the initial survey work in 2008, high stormwater flows have accelerated erosion
along Smith Creek between Business 40 and the two fish hatchery ponds. The stream
bank erosion was further accelerated when the area received several large rain events
in 2018. As a result, Smith Creek has migrated closer to existing Business 40, making
it impossible to construct the series of retaining walls and rip rap bank stabilization
without jeopardizing the fish hatchery ponds. NCDOT has explored a culvert running the
distance of Smith Creek. However due to cost, constructability and long-term
maintenance concerns, NCDOT has opted to drain the two fish hatchery ponds and
relocate Smith Creek and an Unnamed Tributary to Smith Creek into new channels. The
relocated channels have been designed using natural channel techniques, maximizing
floodplain width for long term stability. A riparian buffer will be planted utilizing native
riparian vegetation, including herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. A monitoring plan
for the stream relocation and vegetation success is detailed below (see sections titled
"Stream Assessment Success Criteria" and "Vegetation Success"). The area will be held
under NCDOT Right of Way and a Control of Access fence will be erected around the
site.
Water Access for Existing Fish Hatchery
The two fish hatchery ponds that will be drained for the stream relocation are part of a
larger fish hatchery operation. Currently, the property owner utilizes an existing dam in
Smith Creek, just downstream of the existing culvert under Business 40, to keep his
ponds at full capacity for aquaculture operations. There is currently an 8-inch pipe that
runs from the dam to fill the series of three ponds. Two of the three ponds will be
removed to relocate the stream. Since the NCDOT project will remove the inline dam
and impact the 8-inch pipe, we needed to provide the property owner a means to access
water to fill his remaining pond that is equivalent to his existing operation. NCDOT has
reviewed a couple of different methods to maintain water access. One method included
an installation of a stream bypass structure which sends water into a pipe that runs the
length of the stream relocation. This method was determined infeasible due to
maintenance concerns associated with the long flat slope of the proposed pipe. Instead,
NCDOT has decided to install an instream vault downstream of the project area where
the property owner can place a pump as needed to fill the ponds.
NCDOT has investigated the amount of water that is currently being taken from Smith
Creek to determine if the property owner's existing methods are in compliance with North
Carolina General Statute §143-215.22H(b1). This statute requires 'any person who with
draws or transfers 1,000,000 gallons per day' to register and report their withdrawal with
the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). If the property owner
took two weeks to fill the ponds utilizing the 8" pipe he currently has, then he would
remove 230,037 gallons per day. In conversations with the property owner, he fills the
pond over a five-week period. The property owner is not currently registered, nor is does
NCDOT believe he is required to be registered with the NCDEQ. Since NCDOT's project
is going to decrease the amount of water the property owner needs by decreasing the
number of ponds, the amount of water being removed from Smith Creek will decrease,
and not change his need to register with NCDEQ. If his operations change in the future,
it will be the property owner's responsibility to coordinate with NCDEQ.
Stream Assessment Success Criteria
The stream relocation site shall be monitored for five years or until success criteria are
satisfied. Monitoring protocols shall follow the Monitoring Level I outlined in the Stream
Mitigation Guidelines, April 2003. NCDOT will evaluate the success of the stream
relocation project based on guidance provided by the Stream Mitigation Guidelines
disseminated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers-Wilmington District. The
survey of channel dimension will consist of permanent cross sections placed at six (6)
cross sections (three riffles and three pools). Annual photographs showing both banks
and upstream and downstream views will be taken from permanent, mapped photo
points. The survey of the longitudinal profile will cover a cumulative total of
approximately 2,471 linear feet of channel (2,127' for Smith Creek and 344' for the
unnamed tributary. The entire restored length of stream will be investigated for channel
stability and in-stream structure functionality. Any evidence of channel instability will be
identified, mapped and photographed. Pebble counts shall not be conducted. In the
event that success criteria are not being met, remedial measures will be coordinated with
resource agencies. The monitoring shall be conducted annually for a minimum of five
(5) years after final planting. The monitoring results shall be submitted to resource
agencies in a final report within sixty(60)days after completing monitoring. After 5 years,
the NCDOT shall contact resource agencies to schedule a site visit to "close out" the
mitigation site if the site has met success criteria. If success is not met, NCDOT will
make necessary adjustments to the site or pay mitigation fees to cover the impacts.
Vegetation Success
The success of vegetation and plantings will be measured through stem counts.
Permanent quadrants will be used to sample the riparian buffer and restoration wetlands.
Survival of the live stakes will be determined by visual observation throughout the five-
year monitoring period.
Bare root vegetation will be evaluated using three (3) staked survival plots. Plots will be
50ft. by 50ft. If site conditions prevent a 50ft. by 50ft. plot, then the plot will have varying
dimensions to encompass an area of 2,500 ft2. All flagged stems will be counted in those
plots. Success will be defined as 320 stems per acre after three years and 260 stems
per acre after five years. All vegetation monitoring will be conducted during the growing
season.
Appropriate measures will be taken to control nuisance vegetation during the monitoring
period if it affects the success of the planted vegetation.
Functional Assessment: Pre and Post construction
A NCSAM form was completed for Smith Creek and the UT to Smith Creek. The forms
have been attached to this Stream Relocation plan and are labeled Appendix 1. Smith
Creek was divided into 3 sections, labeled SA-1, SA-2 and SA-3. SA-1 and 3 received
an overall score of low, while SA-2 received a score of medium. The UT-1 to Smith
Creek was assessed in its entirety within the project footprint and received an overall
score of low.
A NCSAM form will be completed after the monitoring period in order to compare the
potential functional uplift to pre-project conditions. It was decided with input from
NCDOT, USACE, NCDWR, and NCWRC that the form will not be used to determine
success of the site, but rather it will be used for comparison of pre and post project
functions.
APPENDIX ONE: NCSAM Forms for Smith Creek and UT1 to Smith Creek
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FIGURE 1: NCSAM MAP
NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
USACE AID#: NCDWR#:
INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle,
and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and
number all reaches on the attached map,and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions
and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch"section if supplementary measurements were performed. See the
NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant.
NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA(do not need to be within the assessment area).
PROJECT/SITE INFORMATION:
1. Project name(if any): U-2579B(SA-1) 2. Date of evaluation: 11/07/2019
3.Applicant/owner name: NCDOT 4.Assessor name/organization: H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
5. County: Forsyth 6. Nearest named water body
7. River basin: Yadkin-PeeDee on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Smith Creek
8. Site coordinates(decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 36.112393,-80.115401
STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations)
9. Site number(show on attached map): SA-1 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated(feet): 150
11. Channel depth from bed(in riffle, if present)to top of bank(feet): 1.0-3.0 ❑Unable to assess channel depth.
12. Channel width at top of bank(feet): 20-30 13. Is assessment reach a swamp steam? ['Yes ❑No
14. Feature type: ®Perennial flow ❑Intermittent flow ❑Tidal Marsh Stream
STREAM CATEGORY INFORMATION:
15. NC SAM Zone: ❑ Mountains(M) ® Piedmont(P) ❑ Inner Coastal Plain (I) ❑ Outer Coastal Plain (0)
16. Estimated geomorphic ❑A���
valley shape(skip for ®B
Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream,flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream,steeper valley slope)
17.Watershed size: (skip ❑Size 1 (<0.1 mi2) ❑Size 2(0.1 to<0.5 mi2) ®Size 3(0.5 to<5 mi2) ['Size 4(>_5 mi2)
for Tidal Marsh Stream)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
18.Were regulatory considerations evaluated? EYes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area.
['Section 10 water ❑Classified Trout Waters ®Water Supply Watershed (❑I ❑II ®III ❑IV ❑V)
['Essential Fish Habitat ['Primary Nursery Area ❑ High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters
®Publicly owned property ❑NCDWR Riparian buffer rule in effect ❑Nutrient Sensitive Waters
❑Anadromous fish ❑303(d)List ❑CAMA Area of Environmental Concern(AEC)
['Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area.
List species:
['Designated Critical Habitat(list species)
19.Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in"Notes/Sketch"section or attached? EYes ['No
1. Channel Water-assessment reach metric(skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Water throughout assessment reach.
❑B No flow,water in pools only.
❑C No water in assessment reach.
2. Evidence of Flow Restriction-assessment reach metric
®A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is severely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the
point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impoundment on flood or ebb within
the assessment reach(examples: undersized or perched culverts,causeways that constrict the channel,tidal gates,debris jams,
beaver dams).
❑B Not A
3. Feature Pattern-assessment reach metric
®A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples:straightening, modification above or below culvert).
❑B Not A
4. Feature Longitudinal Profile-assessment reach metric
®A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile(examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over
widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these
disturbances).
❑B Not A
5. Signs of Active Instability-assessment reach metric
Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include
active bank failure, active channel down-cutting(head-cut), active widening,and artificial hardening(such as concrete,gabion, rip-rap).
®A < 10%of channel unstable
DB 10 to 25%of channel unstable
❑C >25%of channel unstable
6. Streamside Area Interaction—streamside area metric
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB).
LB RB
❑A ❑A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction
▪ ®B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging)that adversely affect
reference interaction(examples: limited streamside area access,disruption of flood flows through streamside area,leaky
or intermittent bulkheads,causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching[including mosquito ditching])
❑C ❑C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access
[examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction,bulkheads,retaining walls,fill,stream incision,disruption
of flood flows through streamside area]or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access[examples:impoundments,intensive
mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an
interstream divide
7. Water Quality Stressors—assessment reach/intertidal zone metric
Check all that apply.
❑A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone(milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam)
❑B Excessive sedimentation(burying of stream features or intertidal zone)
❑C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem
❑D Odor(not including natural sulfide odors)
❑E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in "Notes/Sketch"
section.
OF Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone
❑G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone
❑H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone(removal, burning, regular mowing,destruction, etc)
❑I Other: (explain in"Notes/Sketch"section)
®J Little to no stressors
8. Recent Weather—watershed metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought;for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought.
❑A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
❑B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
No drought conditions
9. Large or Dangerous Stream—assessment reach metric
❑Yes ®No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes,skip to Metric 13(Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition).
10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types—assessment reach metric
10a. ❑Yes ❑No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive
sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging)
(evaluate for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams only,then skip to Metric 12)
10b. Check all that occur(occurs if>5%coverage of assessment reach)(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams)
❑A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses ❑F 5%oysters or other natural hard bottoms
(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) @ ❑G Submerged aquatic vegetation
❑B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent o ❑H Low-tide refugia(pools)
vegetation Y r ❑I Sand bottom
❑C Multiple snags and logs(including lap trees) . m ❑J 5%vertical bank along the marsh
®D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots ° ❑K Little or no habitat
in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter
❑E Little or no habitat
*********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS****************************
11. Bedform and Substrate—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
11a. ❑Yes ®No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream?(skip for Coastal Plain streams)
11 b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es).
❑A Riffle-run section(evaluate 11c)
❑B Pool-glide section(evaluate 11d)
®C Natural bedform absent(skip to Metric 12,Aquatic Life)
11 c. In riffle sections,check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach—whether or not submerged. Check
at least one box in each row(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present(NP)=absent, Rare
(R)= present but < 10%, Common (C)_ > 10-40%, Abundant(A) = >40-70%, Predominant(P)= > 70%. Cumulative percentages
should not exceed 100%for each assessment reach.
NP R C A P
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Bedrock/saprolite
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Boulder(256—4096 mm)
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Cobble(64—256 mm)
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Gravel (2—64 mm)
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Sand (.062—2 mm)
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Silt/clay(<0.062 mm)
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Detritus
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Artificial (rip-rap, concrete,etc.)
11d. ❑Yes ❑No Are pools filled with sediment?(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
12. Aquatic Life—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
12a. ®Yes ['No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual?
If No,select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. ❑No Water DOther:
12b. ®Yes ❑No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that
apply. If No, skip to Metric 13.
1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to"individuals"for Size 1 and 2 streams and"taxa"for Size 3 and 4 streams.
❑ ['Adult frogs
❑ ['Aquatic reptiles
❑ ['Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)
❑ ['Beetles
❑ ❑Caddisfly larvae(T)
❑ ['Asian clam (Corbicula)
❑ ['Crustacean(isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp)
❑ ®Damselfly and dragonfly larvae
❑ ❑Dipterans
❑ ['Mayfly larvae(E)
❑ ❑Megaloptera(alderfly,fishfly, dobsonfly larvae)
❑ ®Midges/mosquito larvae
❑ ®Mosquito fish(Gambusia)or mud minnows(Umbra pygmaea)
❑ ❑Mussels/Clams(not Corbicula)
❑ ®Other fish
❑ ❑Salamanders/tadpoles
❑ ®Snails
❑ ❑Stonefly larvae(P)
❑ ❑Tipulid larvae
❑ ®Worms/leeches
13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
❑B ❑B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
ZC ®C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area(examples: ditches,fill,soil compaction,
livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees,drainage pipes)
14. Streamside Area Water Storage—streamside area metric(skip for Size 1 streams,Tidal Marsh Streams,and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB)of the streamside area.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water>6 inches deep
❑B ❑B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep
®C ®C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water<3 inches deep
15. Wetland Presence—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal
wetted perimeter of assessment reach.
LB RB
❑Y ❑Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area?
• ®N
16. Baseflow Contributors—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach.
• Streams and/or springs(jurisdictional discharges)
❑B Ponds(include wet detention basins;do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins)
DC Obstruction passing flow during low-flow periods within the assessment area(beaver dam, leaky dam, bottom-release dam,weir)
❑D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating(iron in water indicates seepage)
▪ Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present)
❑F None of the above
17. Baseflow Detractors—assessment area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all that apply.
❑A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach(includes areas excavated for pump installation)
▪ Obstruction not passing flow during low-flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex:watertight dam,sediment deposit)
❑C Urban stream(>_24%impervious surface for watershed)
®D Evidence that the streamside area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach
❑E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge
❑F None of the above
18. Shading—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider aspect. Consider"leaf-on"condition.
❑A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category(may include gaps associated with natural processes)
❑B Degraded (example: scattered trees)
DC Stream shading is gone or largely absent
19. Buffer Width—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider"vegetated buffer"and "wooded buffer"separately for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)starting at the top of bank out
to the first break.
Vegetated Wooded
LB RB LB RB
❑A ®A ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed
❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B From 50 to< 100 feet wide
❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C From 30 to<50 feet wide
®D ❑D ❑D ®D From 10 to<30 feet wide
❑E ❑E ®E ❑E < 10 feet wide or no trees
20. Buffer Structure—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Vegetated" Buffer Width).
LB RB
❑A ❑A Mature forest
• ®B Non-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure
❑C ❑C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees< 10 feet wide
❑D ❑D Maintained shrubs
❑E ❑E Little or no vegetation
21. Buffer Stressors—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all appropriate boxes for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream(Abuts),does not abut but is
within 30 feet of stream(<30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet).
If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank,check here and skip to Metric 22: ❑
Abuts <30 feet 30-50 feet
LB RB LB RB LB RB
❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A Row crops
❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B ®B Maintained turf
❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C Pasture(no livestock)/commercial horticulture
❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D Pasture(active livestock use)
22. Stem Density—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Wooded" Buffer Width).
LB RB
ZA ®A Medium to high stem density
❑B LIB Low stem density
❑C ❑C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground
23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation> 10 feet wide.
LB RB
❑A ®A The total length of buffer breaks is<25 percent.
®B ❑B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent.
❑C ❑C The total length of buffer breaks is>50 percent.
24. Vegetative Composition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first)as it contributes to
assessment reach habitat.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species,
with non-native invasive species absent or sparse.
®B ®B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native
species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or
communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or
communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees.
❑C ❑C Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities
with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted
stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation.
25. Conductivity—assessment reach metric(skip for all Coastal Plain streams)
25a. EYes ❑No Was conductivity measurement recorded?
If No,select one of the following reasons. ❑No Water ❑Other:
25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement(units of microsiemens per centimeter).
❑A <46 ❑B 46 to<67 DC 67 to<79 ®D 79 to<230 ❑E >_230
Notes/Sketch:
Reach is from Culvert to towhead dam
Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
Stream Site Name U-2579B(SA-1) Date of Assessment 11/07/2019
Stream Category Pb3 Assessor Name/Organization H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) YES
Presence of regulatory considerations(Y/N) YES
Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) YES
NC SAM feature type(perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) Perennial
USACE/ NCDWR
Function Class Rating Summary All Streams Intermittent
(1) Hydrology LOW
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2) Flood Flow LOW
(3)Streamside Area Attenuation LOW
(4) Floodplain Access MEDIUM
(4)Wooded Riparian Buffer LOW
(4)Microtopography NA
(3)Stream Stability LOW
(4)Channel Stability HIGH
(4)Sediment Transport LOW
(4)Stream Geomorphology LOW
(2)Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction NA
(2)Longitudinal Tidal Flow NA
(2)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(1)Water Quality MEDIUM
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2)Streamside Area Vegetation MEDIUM
(3) Upland Pollutant Filtration MEDIUM
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2) Indicators of Stressors NO
(2)Aquatic Life Tolerance MEDIUM
(2) Intertidal Zone Filtration NA
(1) Habitat LOW
(2) In-stream Habitat LOW
(3)Baseflow HIGH
(3)Substrate LOW
(3)Stream Stability MEDIUM
(3) In-stream Habitat LOW
(2)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(3)Flow Restriction NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(3)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(2) Intertidal Zone NA
Overall LOW
NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
USACE AID#: NCDWR#:
INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle,
and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and
number all reaches on the attached map,and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions
and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch"section if supplementary measurements were performed. See the
NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant.
NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA(do not need to be within the assessment area).
PROJECT/SITE INFORMATION:
1. Project name(if any): U-2579B(SA-2) 2. Date of evaluation: 11/07/2019
3.Applicant/owner name: NCDOT 4.Assessor name/organization: H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
5. County: Forsyth 6. Nearest named water body
7. River basin: Yadkin-PeeDee on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Smith Creek
8. Site coordinates(decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 36.112396,-80.116455
STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations)
9. Site number(show on attached map): SA-2 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated(feet): 350
11. Channel depth from bed(in riffle, if present)to top of bank(feet): 0.5-2.0 ❑Unable to assess channel depth.
12. Channel width at top of bank(feet): 3-15 13. Is assessment reach a swamp steam? ['Yes ❑No
14. Feature type: ®Perennial flow ❑Intermittent flow ❑Tidal Marsh Stream
STREAM CATEGORY INFORMATION:
15. NC SAM Zone: ❑ Mountains(M) ® Piedmont(P) ❑ Inner Coastal Plain (I) ❑ Outer Coastal Plain (0)
16. Estimated geomorphic ❑A���
valley shape(skip for ®B
Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream,flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream,steeper valley slope)
17.Watershed size: (skip ❑Size 1 (<0.1 mi2) ❑Size 2(0.1 to<0.5 mi2) ®Size 3(0.5 to<5 mi2) ['Size 4(>_5 mi2)
for Tidal Marsh Stream)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
18.Were regulatory considerations evaluated? EYes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area.
['Section 10 water ❑Classified Trout Waters ®Water Supply Watershed (❑I ❑II ®III ❑IV ❑V)
['Essential Fish Habitat ['Primary Nursery Area ❑ High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters
®Publicly owned property ❑NCDWR Riparian buffer rule in effect ❑Nutrient Sensitive Waters
❑Anadromous fish ❑303(d)List ❑CAMA Area of Environmental Concern(AEC)
['Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area.
List species:
['Designated Critical Habitat(list species)
19.Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in"Notes/Sketch"section or attached? EYes ['No
1. Channel Water-assessment reach metric(skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Water throughout assessment reach.
❑B No flow,water in pools only.
❑C No water in assessment reach.
2. Evidence of Flow Restriction-assessment reach metric
❑A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is severely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the
point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impoundment on flood or ebb within
the assessment reach(examples: undersized or perched culverts,causeways that constrict the channel,tidal gates,debris jams,
beaver dams).
• Not A
3. Feature Pattern-assessment reach metric
®A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples:straightening, modification above or below culvert).
❑B Not A
4. Feature Longitudinal Profile-assessment reach metric
❑A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile(examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over
widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these
disturbances).
®B Not A
5. Signs of Active Instability-assessment reach metric
Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include
active bank failure, active channel down-cutting(head-cut), active widening,and artificial hardening(such as concrete,gabion, rip-rap).
®A < 10%of channel unstable
DB 10 to 25%of channel unstable
❑C >25%of channel unstable
6. Streamside Area Interaction—streamside area metric
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB).
LB RB
❑A ❑A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction
▪ ®B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging)that adversely affect
reference interaction(examples: limited streamside area access,disruption of flood flows through streamside area,leaky
or intermittent bulkheads,causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching[including mosquito ditching])
❑C ❑C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access
[examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction,bulkheads,retaining walls,fill,stream incision,disruption
of flood flows through streamside area]or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access[examples:impoundments,intensive
mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an
interstream divide
7. Water Quality Stressors—assessment reach/intertidal zone metric
Check all that apply.
❑A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone(milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam)
❑B Excessive sedimentation(burying of stream features or intertidal zone)
❑C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem
❑D Odor(not including natural sulfide odors)
❑E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in "Notes/Sketch"
section.
OF Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone
❑G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone
❑H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone(removal, burning, regular mowing,destruction, etc)
❑I Other: (explain in"Notes/Sketch"section)
®J Little to no stressors
8. Recent Weather—watershed metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought;for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought.
❑A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
❑B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
No drought conditions
9. Large or Dangerous Stream—assessment reach metric
❑Yes No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes,skip to Metric 13(Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition).
10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types—assessment reach metric
10a. ❑Yes ❑No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive
sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging)
(evaluate for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams only,then skip to Metric 12)
10b. Check all that occur(occurs if>5%coverage of assessment reach)(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams)
®A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses ❑F 5%oysters or other natural hard bottoms
(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) @ ❑G Submerged aquatic vegetation
®B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent o ❑H Low-tide refugia(pools)
vegetation Y r ❑I Sand bottom
❑C Multiple snags and logs(including lap trees) . m ❑J 5%vertical bank along the marsh
5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots ° ❑K Little or no habitat
in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter
❑E Little or no habitat
*********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS****************************
11. Bedform and Substrate—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
11a. ❑Yes No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream?(skip for Coastal Plain streams)
11 b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es).
®A Riffle-run section(evaluate 11c)
®B Pool-glide section(evaluate 11d)
DC Natural bedform absent(skip to Metric 12,Aquatic Life)
11 c. In riffle sections,check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach—whether or not submerged. Check
at least one box in each row(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present(NP)=absent, Rare
(R)= present but < 10%, Common (C)_ > 10-40%, Abundant(A) = >40-70%, Predominant(P)= > 70%. Cumulative percentages
should not exceed 100%for each assessment reach.
NP R C A P
❑ ❑ ❑ ® ❑ Bedrock/saprolite
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Boulder(256—4096 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Cobble(64—256 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Gravel (2—64 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Sand (.062—2 mm)
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Silt/clay(<0.062 mm)
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Detritus
• ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Artificial (rip-rap, concrete,etc.)
11d. ❑Yes No Are pools filled with sediment?(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
12. Aquatic Life—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
12a. ®Yes ❑No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual?
If No,select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. ❑No Water DOther:
12b. ®Yes ❑No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that
apply. If No, skip to Metric 13.
1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to"individuals"for Size 1 and 2 streams and"taxa"for Size 3 and 4 streams.
❑ ['Adult frogs
❑ ['Aquatic reptiles
❑ ®Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)
❑ ['Beetles
❑ ®Caddisfly larvae(T)
❑ ['Asian clam (Corbicula)
❑ ['Crustacean(isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp)
❑ ®Damselfly and dragonfly larvae
❑ ❑Dipterans
❑ ®Mayfly larvae(E)
• ❑Megaloptera(alderfly,fishfly, dobsonfly larvae)
❑ ®Midges/mosquito larvae
❑ ®Mosquito fish(Gambusia)or mud minnows(Umbra pygmaea)
❑ ❑Mussels/Clams(not Corbicula)
❑ ®Other fish
❑ ❑Salamanders/tadpoles
❑ ®Snails
❑ ❑Stonefly larvae(P)
❑ ❑Tipulid larvae
❑ ❑Worms/leeches
13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
❑B ❑B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
❑C ❑C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area(examples: ditches,fill,soil compaction,
livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees,drainage pipes)
14. Streamside Area Water Storage—streamside area metric(skip for Size 1 streams,Tidal Marsh Streams,and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB)of the streamside area.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water>6 inches deep
❑B ❑B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep
❑C ❑C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water<3 inches deep
15. Wetland Presence—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal
wetted perimeter of assessment reach.
LB RB
DY ❑Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area?
• ®N
16. Baseflow Contributors—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach.
• Streams and/or springs(jurisdictional discharges)
DB Ponds(include wet detention basins;do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins)
DC Obstruction passing flow during low-flow periods within the assessment area(beaver dam, leaky dam, bottom-release dam,weir)
®D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating(iron in water indicates seepage)
▪E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present)
❑F None of the above
17. Baseflow Detractors—assessment area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all that apply.
❑A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach(includes areas excavated for pump installation)
❑B Obstruction not passing flow during low-flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex:watertight dam,sediment deposit)
❑C Urban stream(>_24%impervious surface for watershed)
®D Evidence that the streamside area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach
®E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge
OF None of the above
18. Shading—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider aspect. Consider"leaf-on"condition.
❑A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category(may include gaps associated with natural processes)
❑B Degraded (example: scattered trees)
DC Stream shading is gone or largely absent
19. Buffer Width—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider"vegetated buffer"and "wooded buffer"separately for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)starting at the top of bank out
to the first break.
Vegetated Wooded
LB RB LB RB
❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed
❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B From 50 to< 100 feet wide
®C ❑C ❑C ❑C From 30 to<50 feet wide
❑D ®D ®D ❑D From 10 to<30 feet wide
❑E ❑E ❑E EE < 10 feet wide or no trees
20. Buffer Structure—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Vegetated" Buffer Width).
LB RB
❑A Mature forest
❑B LIB Non-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure
❑C ®C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees< 10 feet wide
❑D ❑D Maintained shrubs
❑E ❑E Little or no vegetation
21. Buffer Stressors—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all appropriate boxes for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream(Abuts),does not abut but is
within 30 feet of stream(<30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet).
If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank,check here and skip to Metric 22: ❑
Abuts <30 feet 30-50 feet
LB RB LB RB LB RB
❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A Row crops
❑B ❑B ❑B ®B ❑B ❑B Maintained turf
❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C Pasture(no livestock)/commercial horticulture
❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D Pasture(active livestock use)
22. Stem Density—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Wooded" Buffer Width).
LB RB
®A ®A Medium to high stem density
❑B LIB Low stem density
❑C ❑C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground
23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation> 10 feet wide.
LB RB
®A ®A The total length of buffer breaks is<25 percent.
❑B ❑B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent.
❑C ❑C The total length of buffer breaks is>50 percent.
24. Vegetative Composition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first)as it contributes to
assessment reach habitat.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species,
with non-native invasive species absent or sparse.
®B ❑B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native
species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or
communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or
communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees.
❑C ®C Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities
with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted
stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation.
25. Conductivity—assessment reach metric(skip for all Coastal Plain streams)
25a. EYes ❑No Was conductivity measurement recorded?
If No,select one of the following reasons. ❑No Water ❑Other:
25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement(units of microsiemens per centimeter).
❑A <46 ❑B 46 to<67 DC 67 to<79 ®D 79 to<230 ❑E >_230
Notes/Sketch:
Reach is from lowhead dam to substrate change.
Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
Stream Site Name U-2579B(SA-2) Date of Assessment 11/07/2019
Stream Category Pb3 Assessor Name/Organization H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) YES
Presence of regulatory considerations(Y/N) YES
Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) YES
NC SAM feature type(perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) Perennial
USACE/ NCDWR
Function Class Rating Summary All Streams Intermittent
(1) Hydrology MEDIUM
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2) Flood Flow MEDIUM
(3)Streamside Area Attenuation LOW
(4) Floodplain Access MEDIUM
(4)Wooded Riparian Buffer LOW
(4)Microtopography NA
(3)Stream Stability HIGH
(4)Channel Stability HIGH
(4)Sediment Transport HIGH
(4)Stream Geomorphology MEDIUM
(2)Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction NA
(2)Longitudinal Tidal Flow NA
(2)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(1)Water Quality HIGH
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2)Streamside Area Vegetation MEDIUM
(3) Upland Pollutant Filtration MEDIUM
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2) Indicators of Stressors NO
(2)Aquatic Life Tolerance HIGH
(2) Intertidal Zone Filtration NA
(1) Habitat MEDIUM
(2) In-stream Habitat HIGH
(3)Baseflow HIGH
(3)Substrate HIGH
(3)Stream Stability HIGH
(3) In-stream Habitat HIGH
(2)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(3)Flow Restriction NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(3)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(2) Intertidal Zone NA
Overall MEDIUM
NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
USACE AID#: NCDWR#:
INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle,
and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and
number all reaches on the attached map,and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions
and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch"section if supplementary measurements were performed. See the
NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant.
NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA(do not need to be within the assessment area).
PROJECT/SITE INFORMATION:
1. Project name(if any): U-2579B(SA-3) 2. Date of evaluation: 11/07/2019
3.Applicant/owner name: NCDOT 4.Assessor name/organization: H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
5. County: Forsyth 6. Nearest named water body
7. River basin: Yadkin-PeeDee on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Smith Creek
8. Site coordinates(decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 36.113886,-80.122150
STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations)
9. Site number(show on attached map): SA-3 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated(feet): 1000
11. Channel depth from bed(in riffle, if present)to top of bank(feet): 1.0-3.0 ❑Unable to assess channel depth.
12. Channel width at top of bank(feet): 6.0-12.0 13. Is assessment reach a swamp steam? ['Yes ❑No
14. Feature type: ®Perennial flow ❑Intermittent flow ❑Tidal Marsh Stream
STREAM CATEGORY INFORMATION:
15. NC SAM Zone: ❑ Mountains(M) ® Piedmont(P) ❑ Inner Coastal Plain (I) ❑ Outer Coastal Plain (0)
16. Estimated geomorphic ®A���
valley shape(skip for ❑B
Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream,flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream,steeper valley slope)
17.Watershed size: (skip ❑Size 1 (<0.1 mi2) ❑Size 2(0.1 to<0.5 mi2) ®Size 3(0.5 to<5 mi2) ['Size 4(>_5 mi2)
for Tidal Marsh Stream)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
18.Were regulatory considerations evaluated? EYes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area.
['Section 10 water ❑Classified Trout Waters ®Water Supply Watershed (❑I ❑II ®III ❑IV ❑V)
['Essential Fish Habitat ['Primary Nursery Area ❑ High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters
®Publicly owned property ❑NCDWR Riparian buffer rule in effect ❑Nutrient Sensitive Waters
❑Anadromous fish ❑303(d)List ❑CAMA Area of Environmental Concern(AEC)
['Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area.
List species:
['Designated Critical Habitat(list species)
19.Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in"Notes/Sketch"section or attached? EYes ❑No
1. Channel Water-assessment reach metric(skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Water throughout assessment reach.
❑B No flow,water in pools only.
❑C No water in assessment reach.
2. Evidence of Flow Restriction-assessment reach metric
❑A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is severely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the
point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impoundment on flood or ebb within
the assessment reach(examples: undersized or perched culverts,causeways that constrict the channel,tidal gates,debris jams,
beaver dams).
• Not A
3. Feature Pattern-assessment reach metric
®A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples:straightening, modification above or below culvert).
❑B Not A
4. Feature Longitudinal Profile-assessment reach metric
®A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile(examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over
widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these
disturbances).
❑B Not A
5. Signs of Active Instability-assessment reach metric
Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include
active bank failure, active channel down-cutting(head-cut), active widening,and artificial hardening(such as concrete,gabion, rip-rap).
❑A < 10%of channel unstable
®B 10 to 25%of channel unstable
❑C >25%of channel unstable
6. Streamside Area Interaction—streamside area metric
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB).
LB RB
❑A DA Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction
❑B ❑B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging)that adversely affect
reference interaction(examples: limited streamside area access,disruption of flood flows through streamside area,leaky
or intermittent bulkheads,causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching[including mosquito ditching])
®C ®C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access
[examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction,bulkheads,retaining walls,fill,stream incision,disruption
of flood flows through streamside area]or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access[examples:impoundments,intensive
mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an
interstream divide
7. Water Quality Stressors—assessment reach/intertidal zone metric
Check all that apply.
❑A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone(milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam)
®B Excessive sedimentation(burying of stream features or intertidal zone)
❑C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem
❑D Odor(not including natural sulfide odors)
❑E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in "Notes/Sketch"
section.
OF Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone
❑G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone
❑H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone(removal, burning, regular mowing,destruction, etc)
❑I Other: (explain in"Notes/Sketch"section)
❑J Little to no stressors
8. Recent Weather—watershed metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought;for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought.
❑A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
❑B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
No drought conditions
9. Large or Dangerous Stream—assessment reach metric
❑Yes No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes,skip to Metric 13(Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition).
10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types—assessment reach metric
10a. ['Yes ❑No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive
sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging)
(evaluate for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams only,then skip to Metric 12)
10b. Check all that occur(occurs if>5%coverage of assessment reach)(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams)
❑A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses ❑F 5%oysters or other natural hard bottoms
(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) @ ❑G Submerged aquatic vegetation
®B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent o ❑H Low-tide refugia(pools)
vegetation Y r ❑I Sand bottom
❑C Multiple snags and logs(including lap trees) . m ❑J 5%vertical bank along the marsh
®D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots ° ❑K Little or no habitat
in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter
❑E Little or no habitat
*********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS****************************
11. Bedform and Substrate—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
11a. DYes No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream?(skip for Coastal Plain streams)
11 b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es).
®A Riffle-run section(evaluate 11c)
®B Pool-glide section(evaluate 11d)
DC Natural bedform absent(skip to Metric 12,Aquatic Life)
11 c. In riffle sections,check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach—whether or not submerged. Check
at least one box in each row(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present(NP)=absent, Rare
(R)= present but < 10%, Common (C)_ > 10-40%, Abundant(A) = >40-70%, Predominant(P)= > 70%. Cumulative percentages
should not exceed 100%for each assessment reach.
NP R C A P
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Bedrock/saprolite
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Boulder(256—4096 mm)
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Cobble(64—256 mm)
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Gravel (2—64 mm)
❑ ❑ ❑ ® ❑ Sand (.062—2 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Silt/clay(<0.062 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Detritus
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Artificial (rip-rap, concrete,etc.)
11d. ❑Yes No Are pools filled with sediment?(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
12. Aquatic Life—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
12a. ®Yes ❑No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual?
If No,select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. ❑No Water DOther:
12b. ®Yes ❑No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that
apply. If No, skip to Metric 13.
1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to"individuals"for Size 1 and 2 streams and"taxa"for Size 3 and 4 streams.
❑ ['Adult frogs
❑ ['Aquatic reptiles
❑ ['Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)
❑ ['Beetles
❑ ®Caddisfly larvae(T)
❑ ['Asian clam (Corbicula)
❑ ®Crustacean(isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp)
❑ ['Damselfly and dragonfly larvae
❑ ❑Dipterans
❑ ®Mayfly larvae(E)
❑ ❑Megaloptera(alderfly,fishfly, dobsonfly larvae)
❑ ❑Midges/mosquito larvae
❑ ['Mosquito fish(Gambusia)or mud minnows(Umbra pygmaea)
❑ ❑Mussels/Clams(not Corbicula)
❑ ®Other fish
❑ ❑Salamanders/tadpoles
❑ ®Snails
❑ ❑Stonefly larvae(P)
❑ ❑Tipulid larvae
❑ ®Worms/leeches
13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
❑B ❑B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
ZC ®C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area(examples: ditches,fill,soil compaction,
livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees,drainage pipes)
14. Streamside Area Water Storage—streamside area metric(skip for Size 1 streams,Tidal Marsh Streams,and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB)of the streamside area.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water>6 inches deep
El ❑B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep
®C ®C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water<3 inches deep
15. Wetland Presence—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal
wetted perimeter of assessment reach.
LB RB
❑Y ❑Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area?
• ®N
16. Baseflow Contributors—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach.
• Streams and/or springs(jurisdictional discharges)
• Ponds(include wet detention basins;do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins)
DC Obstruction passing flow during low-flow periods within the assessment area(beaver dam, leaky dam, bottom-release dam,weir)
®D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating(iron in water indicates seepage)
▪ Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present)
❑F None of the above
17. Baseflow Detractors—assessment area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all that apply.
❑A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach(includes areas excavated for pump installation)
❑B Obstruction not passing flow during low-flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex:watertight dam,sediment deposit)
❑C Urban stream(>_24%impervious surface for watershed)
®D Evidence that the streamside area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach
®E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge
OF None of the above
18. Shading—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider aspect. Consider"leaf-on"condition.
❑A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category(may include gaps associated with natural processes)
❑B Degraded (example: scattered trees)
DC Stream shading is gone or largely absent
19. Buffer Width—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider"vegetated buffer"and "wooded buffer"separately for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)starting at the top of bank out
to the first break.
Vegetated Wooded
LB RB LB RB
❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed
❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B From 50 to< 100 feet wide
®C ❑C ❑C ❑C From 30 to<50 feet wide
❑D ®D ®D ❑D From 10 to<30 feet wide
❑E ❑E ❑E EE < 10 feet wide or no trees
20. Buffer Structure—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Vegetated" Buffer Width).
LB RB
❑A Mature forest
❑B LIB Non-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure
❑C ®C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees< 10 feet wide
❑D ❑D Maintained shrubs
❑E ❑E Little or no vegetation
21. Buffer Stressors—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all appropriate boxes for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream(Abuts),does not abut but is
within 30 feet of stream(<30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet).
If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank,check here and skip to Metric 22: ❑
Abuts <30 feet 30-50 feet
LB RB LB RB LB RB
❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A Row crops
❑B ❑B ❑B ®B ❑B ❑B Maintained turf
❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C Pasture(no livestock)/commercial horticulture
❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D Pasture(active livestock use)
22. Stem Density—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Wooded" Buffer Width).
LB RB
®A ❑A Medium to high stem density
❑B ®B Low stem density
❑C ❑C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground
23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation> 10 feet wide.
LB RB
®A ®A The total length of buffer breaks is<25 percent.
❑B ❑B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent.
❑C ❑C The total length of buffer breaks is>50 percent.
24. Vegetative Composition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first)as it contributes to
assessment reach habitat.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species,
with non-native invasive species absent or sparse.
®B ❑B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native
species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or
communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or
communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees.
❑C ®C Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities
with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted
stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation.
25. Conductivity—assessment reach metric(skip for all Coastal Plain streams)
25a. EYes ❑No Was conductivity measurement recorded?
If No,select one of the following reasons. ❑No Water ❑Other:
25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement(units of microsiemens per centimeter).
❑A <46 ❑B 46 to<67 DC 67 to<79 ®D 79 to<230 ❑E >_230
Notes/Sketch:
Reach is from substrate change to end of study area.
Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
Stream Site Name U-2579B(SA-3) Date of Assessment 11/07/2019
Stream Category Pa3 Assessor Name/Organization H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) YES
Presence of regulatory considerations(Y/N) YES
Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) YES
NC SAM feature type(perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) Perennial
USACE/ NCDWR
Function Class Rating Summary All Streams Intermittent
(1) Hydrology LOW
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2) Flood Flow LOW
(3)Streamside Area Attenuation LOW
(4) Floodplain Access LOW
(4)Wooded Riparian Buffer LOW
(4)Microtopography LOW
(3)Stream Stability LOW
(4)Channel Stability MEDIUM
(4)Sediment Transport LOW
(4)Stream Geomorphology LOW
(2)Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction NA
(2)Longitudinal Tidal Flow NA
(2)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(1)Water Quality HIGH
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2)Streamside Area Vegetation MEDIUM
(3) Upland Pollutant Filtration MEDIUM
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2) Indicators of Stressors NO
(2)Aquatic Life Tolerance HIGH
(2) Intertidal Zone Filtration NA
(1) Habitat LOW
(2) In-stream Habitat LOW
(3)Baseflow HIGH
(3)Substrate LOW
(3)Stream Stability MEDIUM
(3) In-stream Habitat MEDIUM
(2)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(3)Flow Restriction NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(3)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(2) Intertidal Zone NA
Overall LOW
NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
USACE AID#: NCDWR#:
INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle,
and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and
number all reaches on the attached map,and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions
and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch"section if supplementary measurements were performed. See the
NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant.
NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA(do not need to be within the assessment area).
PROJECT/SITE INFORMATION:
1. Project name(if any): U-2579B(UT-1) 2. Date of evaluation: 11/07/2019
3.Applicant/owner name: NCDOT 4.Assessor name/organization: H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
5. County: Forsyth 6. Nearest named water body
7. River basin: Yadkin-PeeDee on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Smith Creek
8. Site coordinates(decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 36.112630,-81.115104
STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations)
9. Site number(show on attached map): UT-1 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated(feet): 200
11. Channel depth from bed(in riffle, if present)to top of bank(feet): 1.0-1.5 ❑Unable to assess channel depth.
12. Channel width at top of bank(feet): 1.0-3.0 13. Is assessment reach a swamp steam? ['Yes ❑No
14. Feature type: ®Perennial flow ❑Intermittent flow ❑Tidal Marsh Stream
STREAM CATEGORY INFORMATION:
15. NC SAM Zone: ❑ Mountains(M) ® Piedmont(P) ❑ Inner Coastal Plain (I) ❑ Outer Coastal Plain (0)
16. Estimated geomorphic ❑A���
valley shape(skip for ®B
Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream,flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream,steeper valley slope)
17.Watershed size: (skip ❑Size 1 (<0.1 mi2) ®Size 2(0.1 to<0.5 mi2) ❑Size 3(0.5 to<5 mi2) ['Size 4(>_5 mi2)
for Tidal Marsh Stream)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
18.Were regulatory considerations evaluated? EYes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area.
['Section 10 water ❑Classified Trout Waters ®Water Supply Watershed (❑I ❑II ®III ❑IV ❑V)
['Essential Fish Habitat ['Primary Nursery Area ❑ High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters
®Publicly owned property ❑NCDWR Riparian buffer rule in effect ❑Nutrient Sensitive Waters
❑Anadromous fish ❑303(d)List ❑CAMA Area of Environmental Concern(AEC)
['Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area.
List species:
['Designated Critical Habitat(list species)
19.Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in"Notes/Sketch"section or attached? EYes ['No
1. Channel Water-assessment reach metric(skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Water throughout assessment reach.
❑B No flow,water in pools only.
❑C No water in assessment reach.
2. Evidence of Flow Restriction-assessment reach metric
❑A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is severely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the
point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impoundment on flood or ebb within
the assessment reach(examples: undersized or perched culverts,causeways that constrict the channel,tidal gates,debris jams,
beaver dams).
• Not A
3. Feature Pattern-assessment reach metric
®A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples:straightening, modification above or below culvert).
❑B Not A
4. Feature Longitudinal Profile-assessment reach metric
❑A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile(examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over
widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these
disturbances).
®B Not A
5. Signs of Active Instability-assessment reach metric
Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include
active bank failure, active channel down-cutting(head-cut), active widening,and artificial hardening(such as concrete,gabion, rip-rap).
®A < 10%of channel unstable
DB 10 to 25%of channel unstable
❑C >25%of channel unstable
6. Streamside Area Interaction—streamside area metric
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB).
LB RB
❑A ®A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction
▪ ❑B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging)that adversely affect
reference interaction(examples: limited streamside area access,disruption of flood flows through streamside area,leaky
or intermittent bulkheads,causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching[including mosquito ditching])
❑C ❑C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access
[examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction,bulkheads,retaining walls,fill,stream incision,disruption
of flood flows through streamside area]or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access[examples:impoundments,intensive
mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an
interstream divide
7. Water Quality Stressors—assessment reach/intertidal zone metric
Check all that apply.
❑A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone(milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam)
❑B Excessive sedimentation(burying of stream features or intertidal zone)
❑C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem
❑D Odor(not including natural sulfide odors)
❑E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in "Notes/Sketch"
section.
OF Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone
❑G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone
❑H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone(removal, burning, regular mowing,destruction, etc)
❑I Other: (explain in"Notes/Sketch"section)
• Little to no stressors
8. Recent Weather—watershed metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought;for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought.
❑A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
❑B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours
• No drought conditions
9. Large or Dangerous Stream—assessment reach metric
❑Yes No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes,skip to Metric 13(Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition).
10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types—assessment reach metric
10a. ['Yes ❑No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive
sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging)
(evaluate for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams only,then skip to Metric 12)
10b. Check all that occur(occurs if>5%coverage of assessment reach)(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams)
❑A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses ❑F 5%oysters or other natural hard bottoms
(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) @ ❑G Submerged aquatic vegetation
®B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent o ❑H Low-tide refugia(pools)
vegetation Y r ❑I Sand bottom
❑C Multiple snags and logs(including lap trees) . m ❑J 5%vertical bank along the marsh
®D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots ° ❑K Little or no habitat
in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter
❑E Little or no habitat
*********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS****************************
11. Bedform and Substrate—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
11a. DYes No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream?(skip for Coastal Plain streams)
11 b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es).
Riffle-run section(evaluate 11c)
®B Pool-glide section(evaluate 11d)
DC Natural bedform absent(skip to Metric 12,Aquatic Life)
11 c. In riffle sections,check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach—whether or not submerged. Check
at least one box in each row(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present(NP)=absent, Rare
(R)= present but < 10%, Common (C)_ > 10-40%, Abundant(A) = >40-70%, Predominant(P)= > 70%. Cumulative percentages
should not exceed 100%for each assessment reach.
NP R C A P
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Bedrock/saprolite
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Boulder(256—4096 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Cobble(64—256 mm)
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Gravel (2—64 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Sand (.062—2 mm)
❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Silt/clay(<0.062 mm)
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Detritus
❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Artificial (rip-rap, concrete,etc.)
11d. ❑Yes No Are pools filled with sediment?(skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
12. Aquatic Life—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
12a. ®Yes ❑No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual?
If No,select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. ❑No Water DOther:
12b. ®Yes ❑No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that
apply. If No, skip to Metric 13.
1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to"individuals"for Size 1 and 2 streams and"taxa"for Size 3 and 4 streams.
❑ ['Adult frogs
❑ ['Aquatic reptiles
❑ ['Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses(include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)
❑ ['Beetles
❑ ®Caddisfly larvae(T)
❑ ['Asian clam (Corbicula)
❑ ®Crustacean(isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp)
❑ ['Damselfly and dragonfly larvae
❑ ❑Dipterans
❑ ®Mayfly larvae(E)
❑ ❑Megaloptera(alderfly,fishfly, dobsonfly larvae)
❑ ❑Midges/mosquito larvae
❑ ['Mosquito fish(Gambusia)or mud minnows(Umbra pygmaea)
❑ ❑Mussels/Clams(not Corbicula)
❑ ®Other fish
❑ ❑Salamanders/tadpoles
❑ ®Snails
❑ ❑Stonefly larvae(P)
❑ ❑Tipulid larvae
❑ ❑Worms/leeches
13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
❑B ❑B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area
❑C ❑C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area(examples: ditches,fill,soil compaction,
livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees,drainage pipes)
14. Streamside Area Water Storage—streamside area metric(skip for Size 1 streams,Tidal Marsh Streams,and B valley types)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB)of the streamside area.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water>6 inches deep
❑B ❑B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep
❑C DC Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water<3 inches deep
15. Wetland Presence—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for the Left Bank(LB)and the Right Bank(RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal
wetted perimeter of assessment reach.
LB RB
DY ❑Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area?
• ®N
16. Baseflow Contributors—assessment reach metric(skip for Size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach.
• Streams and/or springs(jurisdictional discharges)
• Ponds(include wet detention basins;do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins)
DC Obstruction passing flow during low-flow periods within the assessment area(beaver dam, leaky dam, bottom-release dam,weir)
❑D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating(iron in water indicates seepage)
▪E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present)
❑F None of the above
17. Baseflow Detractors—assessment area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all that apply.
❑A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach(includes areas excavated for pump installation)
❑B Obstruction not passing flow during low-flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex:watertight dam,sediment deposit)
❑C Urban stream(>_24%impervious surface for watershed)
®D Evidence that the streamside area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach
®E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge
O F None of the above
18. Shading—assessment reach metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider aspect. Consider"leaf-on"condition.
DA Stream shading is appropriate for stream category(may include gaps associated with natural processes)
®B Degraded (example: scattered trees)
DC Stream shading is gone or largely absent
19. Buffer Width—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider"vegetated buffer"and "wooded buffer"separately for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)starting at the top of bank out
to the first break.
Vegetated Wooded
LB RB LB RB
®A ®A ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed
❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B From 50 to< 100 feet wide
❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C From 30 to<50 feet wide
❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D From 10 to<30 feet wide
❑E ❑E EE EE < 10 feet wide or no trees
20. Buffer Structure—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Vegetated" Buffer Width).
LB RB
❑A ❑A Mature forest
❑B LIB Non-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure
®C ®C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees< 10 feet wide
❑D ❑D Maintained shrubs
❑E ❑E Little or no vegetation
21. Buffer Stressors—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Check all appropriate boxes for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream(Abuts),does not abut but is
within 30 feet of stream(<30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet).
If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank,check here and skip to Metric 22: ❑
Abuts <30 feet 30-50 feet
LB RB LB RB LB RB
❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A Row crops
• ®B ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B Maintained turf
DC ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C Pasture(no livestock)/commercial horticulture
❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D Pasture(active livestock use)
22. Stem Density—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider for left bank(LB)and right bank(RB)for Metric 19("Wooded" Buffer Width).
LB RB
❑A ❑A Medium to high stem density
• ®B Low stem density
❑C ❑C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground
23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation> 10 feet wide.
LB RB
®A ®A The total length of buffer breaks is<25 percent.
❑B ❑B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent.
❑C ❑C The total length of buffer breaks is>50 percent.
24. Vegetative Composition—streamside area metric(skip for Tidal Marsh Streams)
Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first)as it contributes to
assessment reach habitat.
LB RB
❑A ❑A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species,
with non-native invasive species absent or sparse.
®B ®B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native
species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or
communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or
communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees.
❑C ❑C Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities
with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted
stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation.
25. Conductivity—assessment reach metric(skip for all Coastal Plain streams)
25a. EYes ❑No Was conductivity measurement recorded?
If No,select one of the following reasons. ❑No Water ❑Other:
25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement(units of microsiemens per centimeter).
❑A <46 ❑B 46 to<67 ®C 67 to<79 ❑D 79 to<230 ❑E >_230
Notes/Sketch:
Small Stream bounded by lawn with few trees presnt, large macroinvertebrate assemblage, habitat in stream appears diverse.
Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1
Stream Site Name U-2579B(UT-1) Date of Assessment 11/07/2019
Stream Category Pb2 Assessor Name/Organization H. Bain, M. Martin/RK&K
Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) YES
Presence of regulatory considerations(Y/N) YES
Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) YES
NC SAM feature type(perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) Perennial
USACE/ NCDWR
Function Class Rating Summary All Streams Intermittent
(1) Hydrology LOW
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2) Flood Flow LOW
(3)Streamside Area Attenuation LOW
(4) Floodplain Access HIGH
(4)Wooded Riparian Buffer LOW
(4)Microtopography NA
(3)Stream Stability MEDIUM
(4)Channel Stability HIGH
(4)Sediment Transport MEDIUM
(4)Stream Geomorphology MEDIUM
(2)Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction NA
(2)Longitudinal Tidal Flow NA
(2)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(1)Water Quality HIGH
(2)Baseflow HIGH
(2)Streamside Area Vegetation LOW
(3) Upland Pollutant Filtration LOW
(3)Thermoregulation MEDIUM
(2) Indicators of Stressors NO
(2)Aquatic Life Tolerance HIGH
(2) Intertidal Zone Filtration NA
(1) Habitat LOW
(2) In-stream Habitat MEDIUM
(3)Baseflow HIGH
(3)Substrate MEDIUM
(3)Stream Stability HIGH
(3) In-stream Habitat MEDIUM
(2)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Stream-side Habitat LOW
(3)Thermoregulation LOW
(2)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(3)Flow Restriction NA
(3)Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA
(4)Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA
(3)Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat NA
(2) Intertidal Zone NA
Overall LOW