20021356 Ver 1_Mitigation Plans_20110224

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STATE OF NORTFI CAROLINA SANOSTq~gAt7y
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION '~R„
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
February 1, 2011
Ms. Liz Hair
Asheville Regulatory Office ALOE
15 ] Patton Avenue Rm. 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006
EUGENE A. CONTI, JR.
$ECREI'ARV
Re: Indian Creek Mitigation Site, Lincoln County, State Project No. 8.1830402; TIP No.
R-0617BA, Action ID No. 20023 1 3 3 0; DWQ Project No. 021356
Ms. Hair:
As you are aware, the Department has monitored the Indian Creek Mitigation Site since its
construction in winter of 2004. The site is located in Lincoln County, adjacent to Indian Creek
on Pleasant Union Church Road, south of Lincolnton and just north of the town of Crouse. This
20.0-acre site provided the following types of mitigation: 0.6-acre of wetland creation, 1.7 acres
of wetland enhancement, 4.5 acres of wetland preservation, 480 linear feet of stream
enhancement, 2,080 linear feet of stream preservation, 6.5 acres of upland enhancement and 5.2
acres of upland preservation.
In a letter dated December 18, 2008 NCDOT recommended discontinuing monitoring of the
wetland creation portion of the Indian Creek mitigation site. The wetland creation failed to meet
the optimum wetland hydraulic monitoring requirements during the four years of monitoring.
The elevations on the site have been verified and matched the adjacent wetland elevations. It
was determined by NCDOT NEU staff that the incision of Indian Creek created a drawdown of
the groundwater in the creation area.
The 2008 monitoring report stated that the creation area would be abandoned, however photo
monitoring of the buffer area would continue throughout the remainder of the five year
monitoring period. The amount and types of credit available to offset the 0.64 acres of wetland
impacts associated with R-0617BA were stated in the 2008 monitoring report. After each
b owing season, annual monitoring reports were submitted to the appropriate regulatory agencies
via the Natural Environment Unit's (NEU) website:
htrn: /ii~nrir. iacda. ol~~/doh/nl eco~islruc[/nehzc~u/A4onitori~~e/Moni[nrin~Renorts. h1m(
MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: [phone] LOCATION:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FAX: [phone] ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTER
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ANp ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 4701 ATLANTIC AVENUE
1598 MAIL SERVICE CENTER WEBSITE: WWW NCDOT.ORG RALEIGH, NC 27604
RALEIGH NC 27699-1598

,. .
After five years of photographic vegetation monitoring in the buffer areas, it appears that the
trees in the Riparian Buffer Restoration and Upland Buffer Enhancement are surviving along
with other volunteer species. Individual annual monitoring data is provided within the
monitoring reports available on NEU's website between 2005 and 2009.
Based on the monitoring results, NCDOT requests that the resource agencies consider close-out
of this site. Upon approval, please provide NCDOT with written documentation stating that no
further monitoring is required. [f you have any questions about this project, please contact Mr.
Randy Griffin at (9 ] 9) 431-6529.

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Philip S. Harris, III, P.E., Unit Head
PDEA-Natura] Environment Unit
cc: Ms. Pol]yLespinasse, DWQ
Ms. Marla Chambers, WRC
Mr. Chris Militscher, EPA
Ms. Marella Buncick, USFWS
Mr. Scott McLendon, USACE
Mr. Brian Wrenn, DWQ
Mr. David Hams, P.E., NCDOT-REU
Ms. Trish Simon, NCDOT-DEO12
Mr. Randy Griffin, NCDOT-NEU