20081743 Ver 1_Year 3 Buffer Monitoring Report_20090420

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Ballance Site Riparian Buffer Restoration Project
Monitoring Report (Year 3)
Wayne County, North Carolina
Monitoring Firm: Michael Baker Engineering, Inc
Monitoring Firm POC: Kevin Tweedy, PE
EEP Project Manager: Guy Pearce
Prepared for: NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program
Date Submitted: November 2008

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Ballance Site Riparian Buffer Restoration Project was designed by Baker Engineering, formerly
Buck Engineering, and constructed by River Works, Inc. The goals and objectives of this project were as
follows:
¦ Restore 52 acres of riparian buffer along Nahunta Swamp and eleven of its tributaries
• Enhance 4 acres of riparian buffer
¦ Restore riparian buffers at least 50 feet in width to areas that historically supported hardwood
forest, bottomland ecosystems
¦ Restore a "Coastal Plain, Bottomland Hardwood Forest" vegetation community, as described by
Schafale and Weakley (1990).
This report is being submitted to document completion of the Year 3 (2008) monitoring period.
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC. BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION .....................................................................................................1
1.1 Project Goals and Objectives .........................................................................................................1
1.2 Project Location .............................................................................................................................2
1.3 Project Description .........................................................................................................................2
1.4 Construction ..................................................................................................................................5
2.0 MONITORING RESULTS - YEAR 3 (2008) DATA ........................................................................7
2.1 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................................7
2.2 Areas of Concern ............................................................................................................................7
3.0 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................................8
Tables and Figures
Table 1 Background Information ..........................................................................................................1
Table 2 Summary of As-built Lengths and Restoration Approaches ....................................................5
Table 3 Planting Species for Ballance Buffer Restoration ....................................................................6
Table 4 Density of Vegetation Sampling Plots (Initial, Years 1, 2 and 3) ............................................7
Figure 1 Project Vicinity Map ................................................................................................................3
Figure 2 Hydrography and Restoration Plan ..........................................................................................4
Appendices
Appendix 1 As-built Plan Sheets
Appendix 2 Photo Log
Appendix 3 Individual Quadrant Data
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3) 11
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Ballance properties border approximately 5,000 linear feet (LF) of the northern bank of Nahunta
Swamp. Nahunta Swamp flows in a general west-to-east direction along and through the property
boundaries. There are approximately 11,826 LF of streams and ditches within the 56 acres of the
conservation easement. The properties are bounded to the south by Nahunta Swamp and to the west, east,
and north by adjacent landowners.
The Ballance Site Riparian Buffer Restoration Project ("Site") is part of a privately-owned farm that is
used primarily for row crop agricultural, hog production, and pasture. The streams on the Site were
channelized, and riparian vegetation had been cleared in the field areas such that cattle grazing pastures
and row crops extended up to the top of the stream banks. Drainage ditches were excavated in parts of
the Site to provide additional drainage for agricultural production.
A summary of the project background information is provided in Table 1.
Table 1.
Background Information
Project Ballance Site Riparian Buffer Restoration Project
Designer Michael Baker Engineering, Inc.
8000 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC, 27518
[phone]
Contractor River Works, Inc.
Project County Wayne County
Directions to Project Site Travel on US-64 E / US-264 E. toward Wilson / Rocky Mount. Merge onto US-264
E toward NC-97 / Wilson / Greenville. Merge onto US-301 N. Turn Right onto US-
117. Travel US-222 East. Turn right onto Benton Pond Road. Site is on the right.
USGS Hydro Unit 03020203-060020'
NCDWQ Sub-basin 03-04-07
Project Length/Acres N/A 56 Acres
Restoration Approach Enhance riparian functions to 4 acres along Nahunta Swamp
Restore riparian functions to 52 acres along Nahunta Swamp
Date of Completion Planting completed on February 15, 2006; Fencing completed on March 10, 2006.
Monitoring Dates Seasonally through each growing season for 5 years
1.1 Project Goals and Objectives
This riparian buffer restoration project provides numerous ecological benefits within the Neuse River
basin. While many of these benefits are limited to the project area, others, such as pollutant removal and
improved aquatic and terrestrial habitat, have more far-reaching effects. Expected improvements to water
quality, hydrology, and habitat are as follows:
• Nutrient removal
• Increased dissolved oxygen concentrations
• Improved stream bank stability
• Reduced water temperature by increasing shading
• Restoration of terrestrial habitat
• Improved aesthetics.
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC. BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
1.2 Project Location
The Ballance site is located in northeast Wayne County, near the Wayne-Greene-Wilson county lines.
The site is approximately 3.0 miles east of the Town of Fremont, and 9.0 miles northeast of the City of
Goldsboro, and west of the intersection of NC 222 and NC 111 in Wayne County, North Carolina (Figure
1).
1.3 Project Description
Prior to restoration, land use within the Site consisted of pastureland for cattle grazing, hog production,
and row crop agricultural production. The majority of the floodplain vegetation had been removed and
fields had been created for crop production and pastureland. The landowner currently has an active hog
operation on the Site. Prior to restoration, the landowner used these fields for the spray application of
swine lagoon effluent. Effluent was spread across the field areas in close proximity to the ditches and
streams on the site. The landowner has now discontinued the use of these fields for application of
effluent and the buffer areas have been placed under a conservation easement.
For analysis and design purposes, the on-site streams were divided into eleven reaches. The reach
locations are shown in Figure 2. The reaches were numbered sequentially, moving from west to east,
with unnamed tributaries carrying a "UT" designation.
Eleven UTs to Nahunta Swamp (UT1 through UT11) drain the majority of the Site. Nahunta Swamp lies
along the southern boundary of the Site and flows in a general west-to-east direction along the property
boundaries. In most areas, only herbaceous species were present along the stream and ditch banks, and
fields were maintained to the top of the streambanks. The lack of riparian vegetation left the channelized
systems open to sunlight and without adequate filtration of agricultural runoff and nutrient loading.
Along reaches that were not regularly maintained, woody riparian vegetation was sparse, existing only in
narrow buffer widths adjacent-to -the -channels. As a result, filamentous algae and other_ aquatiV plants=-=-?-
were common in the channels.
Nahunta Swamp and the smaller channels throughout the Site originate in rural and agricultural areas.
These areas are considered to be at least intermittent channels. The stream lengths of Nahunta Swamp
and the UTs, with restoration approaches are provided in Table 2. The primary objective of the restoration
was to enhance areas of existing riparian buffer vegetation and to reforest the cleared floodplain with
native species along Nahunta Swamp and eleven UTs within the conservation easement. Primary
activities within the Site are designed to preserve plant community assemblages and to enhance and
restore native floodplain vegetation through site preparation and subsequent plantings.
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC - BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
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Figure 1. Project Vicinity Map
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Buffer Restoration
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Table 2.
Summary of As-built Lengths and Restoration Approaches
Stream Designation Project Stream Length (LF) Restoration Approach
Nahunta Swamp 5,070 Riparian planting
UT1 550 Riparian planting
UT2 1,053 Riparian planting
UT3 1,339 Riparian planting
UT4 591 Riparian planting
UT5 1,077 Riparian planting
UT6 47 Riparian planting
UT7 402 Riparian planting
UT8 814 Riparian planting
UT9 107 Riparian planting
UT10 410 Riparian planting
UT11 366 Riparian planting
1.4 Construction
Prior land use and clearing had already removed the majority of the native floodplain vegetative
communities along Nahunta Swamp and within the associated floodplain. However, prior to plant
community restoration, remaining invasive vegetation such as privet (Ligustrum sinense), which existed
in small quantities along the stream banks, was cleared by bush-hogging, mowing and cutting with bush
axes and saws:-Cleared-areas were then disked to further prepare the soil` 6r pp1Vtmg. Care was taken to
avoid exposure of surficial soils.
Bare-root seedlings of tree species were planted at a density of 680 stems per acre on 8-foot centers for
buffer restoration areas. To ensure meeting vegetation success criteria, enhancement areas were also
planted at 680 stems per acre. Table 3 depicts the total number of stems and percent of species planted.
Planting was performed in February 2006 to allow plants to stabilize during the dormant period and
establish root systems during the spring season. A total number of 36,950 tree seedlings were planted
during restoration activities. One substitution from the proposed species took place because Hackberry
(Celtis laevigata) seedlings were not available. Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata) was planted as a
substitute. This species is appropriate for the locale, site conditions, and target community. Overcup Oak
comprised 10 percent of the overall planting. This further necessitated a reduction in laurel oak (Quercus
laurifolia) from the originally proposed 10 percent composition to a 5 percent composition.
Certain opportunistic species that may dominate the early successional forests within bottomland
hardwood forests have been excluded from riparian buffer restoration efforts with the anticipation that
natural regeneration will occur from existing local species. Opportunistic species consist primarily of red
maple (Acer rubrum), box elder (Acer negundo), and sweet-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua).
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING. INC BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
Table 3.
Planting Species for Ballance Buffer Restoration
Nyssa sylvatica var Mora Swamp Black Gum 159% 5,550
Quercusphellos Willow oak 10% 3,700
Morus rubra Red mulberry 5% 1,850
Platanus occidentalis Sycamore 15% 5,550
Quercus laurii loia Laurel oak 5% 1,850
Quercus michauxii Swamp Chestnut oak 5% 1,850
Quercus falcata var. pogodifolia Cherrybark oak 5% 1,850
Quercus lyrata Overcup oak 10% 3,700
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash 20% 7,350
Asimina triloba Paw Paw 10% 3,700
TOTAL 100% 36,950
Notes: 1. Planting density for restoration, as well as enhancement, was 680 trees per acre.

MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC. BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
2.0 MONITORING RESULTS - YEAR 3 (2008) DATA
The five-year monitoring plan for the Site includes criteria to evaluate the success of the vegetation
components of the project. The specific locations of vegetation plots are shown on the As-built drawing
sheets included in Appendix 1. Two photo point stations are located at each of the six vegetation plots.
The first photo point is for the entire vegetation plot and the second photo point is for the herbaceous plot
at the corner of each quadrant. Site photographs of all photo points are included in Appendix 2.
2.1 Vegetation
The success of this buffer restoration project is dependent upon active planting of preferred canopy
species and volunteer regeneration of the native plant community. In order to determine if the success
criteria have been met, vegetation monitoring quadrants were installed across the Site, as directed by
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) monitoring guidance. Six vegetation
monitoring plots were installed on the Site. The number of quadrants required was based on the
species/area curve method, as per NCEEP guidelines. The sizes of individual quadrants are 100 square
meters for woody tree species and 1 square meter for herbaceous vegetation. No plots were established
for shrubs since all planted species were considered tree species. At the end of the growing season,
species composition, density, and survival are evaluated each year.
The density within each of the vegetation monitoring plots for Year 3 is given in Table 4. The initial
density of planted bare root stems, based on the data from the six monitoring plots, was 561 stems per
acre. The average density of bare root stems for monitoring Year 3 is 452 stems per acre. The locations
of the vegetation plots are shown on the as-built plan sheets. Individual quadrant data that includes
diameter, height, density and herbaceous coverage quantities are provided in Appendix 3.
Table 4.
Densitv of VegetationSam5`iW6s (Initial, Years 1.2 and 3)

1 13 13 13 13 526 526 526 526
2 16 15 15 14 640 607 607 567
3 15 11 11 11 600 445 445 445
4 13 10 7 5 520 405 283 202
5 16 16 15 15 640 647 607 607
6 11 10 10 9 440 405 405 364
Total 84 75 71 67 561 506 479 452
2.2 Areas of Concern
Maintenance requirements vary from site to site and are generally driven by the following conditions:
• Trees planted during wet weather may have difficulty rooting
• Extreme hot, cold, wet, or dry weather during and after construction can limit vegetation growth,
particularly temporary and permanent seed
• The presence and aggressiveness of invasive species can affect the extent to which a native buffer can
be established
• The larvae of herbivorous insects can destroy the trees; so infestations can be extremely damaging.
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC. BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
Monitoring plot 4 had a lower than expected survivability rate for Year 3. The density for Plot 4 was 202
stems per acre, which is below the survivability rate of 320 stems per acre after Year 3. The area has
been inspected and it has been determined that approximately 2 acres surrounding Plot 4 would benefit
from supplemental planting. Supplemental planting in this area will be completed with approximately
200 stems per acre during December 2008 and February 2009, using species that were approved as part of
the restoration plan.
During the monitoring event, morning glory was observed within plots 1 and 3. The morning glory was
not profuse within these plots and was not exhibiting stress on the planted stems at the time of the Site
visit.
Privet was also observed within plots 1 and 2. Only one privet stem on each plot was noted at the time of
the Site visit. However, there is a significant amount of privet established along the banks of Nahunta
Swamp within the project area. To avoid future impacts to planted vegetation from privet, the areas of
privet on the site will be treated during December 2008 and February 2009 to knock the stands back and
provide more time for the planted species to reach heights that will overtop any future privet.
In the future, privet may become a concern due to its former presence along lengths of stream channel
adjacent to the restoration areas. Rivercane and morning glory may also prove problematic as they may
hinder growth of some of the trees due to competition. These potential concerns will be monitored as the
project progresses and matures.
3.0 REFERENCES
Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina:
Third Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and
u_ ?.,__Recreation, N.C. Department of Environment, Health, an?LXatprall-Resources. Raleigh, North
Carolina.
MICHAEL BAKER ENGINEERING, INC. ,. BALLANCE SITE BUFFER, 2008 MONITORING REPORT (YEAR 3)
APPENDIX I
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APPENDIX 2
PHOTO LOG
APPENDIX 3
INDIVIDUAL,QUADRANT. DATA
YEAR 3 Monitoring Ballance Site Baker Project # 108353
Date: Oct. 13, 2008 Monitored By: D. Huneycutt
Veg Plot 1 Herbaceous Plot
% Coverage 80 /o
Tree # Species Height (cm) Diameter
(mm)
1-1 NS 159 10
1-2 NS 112 15
1-3 QL 254 35
1-4 QL 232 37
1-5 0L 282 26
1-6 QL 89 8
1-7 QL 285 35
1-8 QH 186 14
1-9 QH >300 26
1-10 QP 228 25
1-11 QL >300 32
1-12 QL 274 34
1-13 QL 294 34
Total Surviving Stems 13
Density (Stems per Acre) 526

Veg Plot 2 Herbaceous
Plot %
Coverage
90%
Tree # Species Height (cm) Diameter
(mm)
2-1 PO >300 54
2-2 QF 93 9
2-3 QP 82 3
2-4 QP 227 21
2-5 QH 84 9
2-6 QP 274 11
2-7 NS Missing --
2-8 NS 199 17
2-9 NS 150 10
2-10 NS 83 6
2-11 NS 124 11
2-12 QL 219 22
2-13 PO --
2-14 QH 209 12
2-15 QH 139 12
2-16 QF 171 11
Total Surviving Stems 14
Density (Stems per Acre) 567
Veg Plot 3 Herbaceous Plot
% Coverage 80%
Tree # Species Height (cm) Diameter
mm)
3-1 NS 41 8
3-2 NS 26 3
3-3 PO >300 29
3-4 NS
3-5 PO >300 27
3-6 QF 20 3
3-7 QL --
3-8 NS 64 6
3-9 QF 41 6
3-10 PO >300 35
3-11 QF 33 4
3-12 QP --
3-13 AT 50 7
3-14 PO >300 32
3-15 QP -
Total Survivin Stems 11
Density (Stems per Acre) 445

Veg Plot 4 Herbaceous
Plot %
Coverage
95%
Tree # Species Height (cm) Diameter
(mm)
4-1 NS 58 13
4-2 QF Missing --
4-3 PO >300 44
4-4 NS 29 16
4-5 NS --
4-6 MR 39 6
4-7 Q L --
4-8 NS Missing
4-9 Q L --
4-10 QF 63 8
4-11 QF --
4-12 QP --
4-13 QP --
Total Surviving Stems 5
Density (Stems per Acre)
Veg Plot 5 Herbaceous Plot
% Coverage 85%
Tree # Species Height (cm) Diameter
mm
5-1 FP 100 23
5-2 FP 78 15
5-3 FP 117 20
5-4 FP 151 24
5-5 PO >300 19
5-6 PO >300 27
5-7 PO --
5-8 PO >300 20
5-9 PO >300 20
5-10 MR 71 11
5-11 MR 56 9
5-12 MR 74 15
5-13 MR 47 11
5-14 FP 123 20
5-15 FP 120 17
5-16 PO >300 21
Total Surviving Stems 15
Density (Stems per Acre) 607
Average Stems Per Acre = 452

Veg Plot 6 Herbaceous
Plot %
Coverage
80%
Tree # Species Height (cm) Diameter
mm
6-1
6-2 59 10
6-3 r 62 9
6-4 71 8
6-5 NS 70 8
6-6 NS 61 9
6-7 FP 37 4
6-8 QL 91 6
6-9 QM --
6-10 FP 45 4
6-11 NS 61 7
Total Surviving Stems 9
Density (Stems per Acre) 364
Plot density criteria not meet or stem dead
Species Code Common Name Scientific Name
NS Swamp Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica varbiflora
QP Willow Oak Quercus phellos
MR Red Mulberry Morus rubra
PO Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
QH Laurel Oak Quercus laurifolia
QM Swamp Chestnut Oak Quercus michauxii
QF Cherrybark Oak Quercus falcata var. pogodifolia
QL Overcup Oak Quercus lyrata
FP Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica
AT Paw Paw Asimina triloba