HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080511 Ver 2_Year 2 Monitoring Report 2014_20140822To: Katie Merritt and Eric Kulz, NC DENR Water Resources
From: David Knowles, GES consultant
Date: 20 August 2014
Re: LaGrange Parcel (Phase I) Second Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Ms Merritt-
Included is the Second Annual Report for the LaGrange Phase I Bank Parcel, Year 2014, Neuse
River Mitigation Bank. Based on two, 100 m2 monitoring plots, seedling density for planted
species exceeded success the success criterion of 320 seedlings per acre.
Thank you,
David Knowles, Consultant for GES
252.757 -1978, juncusl @yahoo.com
Jeff Becker
919.215 -3899, jrbecker @bellsouth.net
RECEIVED
AUG 2 2 2014
DENR -LAND QUALITY
STORMWATER PERMITTING
Second Annual Monitoring Report
LaGrange Bank Parcel
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Neuse River Umbrella Mitigation Bank
DWQ #: 08- 0511v2
Year 2014
RECEIVED
AUG 2 2 2014
DENR -LAND QUALITY
STORMWATER PERMITTING
Submitted to: Katie Merritt
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources — Water Quality Programs
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650 Phone: (919) 807 -6371; Fax: (919) 8076494
GE�
6r.r�N anrr.ny!«LLm LLC
Submitted by: Jeff Becker
1004 Glencastle Way
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 215 -3899; Fax: (919) 859 -0911
Second Annual Monitoring Report
LaGrange Bank Parcel
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Neuse River Umbrella Mitigation Bank
DWQ #: 08- 0511v2 Year 2014
Table of Contents
Introduction and Background
Page 3
Monitoring and Results for Year 2014
Page 3
Overall Condition, Maintenance and Supplemental Plantings
Page 4
Tables 1 -6
Pages 5 -8
Figures 1 -8
Pages 9 -16
Second Annual Monitoring Report
LaGrange Bank Parcel
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Neuse River Umbrella Mitigation Bank
DWQ #: 08- 0511v2 Year 2014
Introduction and Background
Greene Environmental Services, LLC (GES) of Snow Hill, North Carolina added the LaGrange
site to the GES Neuse River Basin Umbrella Mitigation Bank. The LaGrange site (bank parcel)
is located at the southwest intersection of NC 903 and Old Jason Road (SR 1501), north of
LaGrange, in Lenoir County, North Carolina (Figures 1 and 2). The latitude /longitude
coordinates of the site are approximately 77° 44.315 W and 35° 20.588N. The purpose of the
nutrient mitigation bank is to improve water quality within the Neuse River Basin by reducing
nutrient and sediment inputs to the watershed and provide off -site mitigation for development
requiring nutrient offsets.
The bank parcel is located within the Middle Neuse Watershed (HUC: 03020202). The site
drains to Meeting House Branch (Stream Index # 27- 72 -3), which drains into Bear Creek
(Stream Index # 27- 72- (0.1)), a major tributary to the Neuse River. According to the NC
Division of Water Quality Basinwide Information Management System, Meeting House Branch
is classified as C; Sw, NSW.
The bank parcel is approximately 3.39 acres, including 0.87 acres of riparian buffer and 2.52
acres of nutrient offset buffer restoration (Figures 3 and 4). This bank parcel was established
under the terms and conditions of the GES Neuse River Basin Umbrella Mitigation Bank made
and entered into by Mr. Bobby Ham of Greene Environmental Services, LLC, acting as the Bank
Sponsor and the North Carolina Department of Environment and•Natural Resources — Division
of Water Quality which was signed by the Division Director on October 3, 2008.
The bank parcel was previous agricultural cropland and was planted with character species
during March of 2010. During the planting process, Eric Kulz and Lia Gilleski of DWQ visited
the site and determined that it was suitable for nutrient offset mitigation.
Monitoring and Results for Year 2014
As specified in the LaGrange Bank Parcel Development Package (BPDP), this report represents
the second year of vegetative monitoring. The BPDP requires the submission of an annual
monitoring report each of five successive years.
The LaGrange parcel was initially planted with character trees in 2010 and 2011 at a rate of 413
seedlings per acre (Table 1). Supplemental plantings were done in 2012 and 2013 at a rate of
108 and 103 seedlings per acre, respectively. Thus prior to the submission of this first annual
monitoring report a total of 624 seedlings per acre had been planted on the 3.39 -acre parcel.
In each of the two monitoring plots in the LaGrange Parcel, tree stems were recorded by species
in August 2014 according to Carolina Vegetation Survey sampling protocols. Plot locations are
mapped in Figure 5. Vegetation plot photo points were located at the northwestern corner of the
plots (Figure 6).
During the 2014 monitoring effort, a total of 43 seedlings representing eight tree species were
recorded in the two monitoring plots. The total average density was 870.4 trees per acre (Table
2). Thirty of the 43 trees within the plots were from seedlings planted by GES; thus average
planted seedling density was 607.3 trees per acre (Table 3). Thus seventy percent of the trees
were planted species; bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) accounted for 43.3 percent of the
planted seedlings followed, in decreasing order by river birch (Betula nigra), sycamore
( Plantangs occidentalis), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
and cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) (Table 4). Red maple (Acer rubrum) and loblolly pine
(Pinus taeda) became established via natural colonization and met the CVS protocol height
requirement of 10 cm, minimum (Table 5). Persimmon, green ash, yellow poplar, white oak,
turkey oak, live oak, and pond cypress were planted on the LaGrange Parcel but were not
recorded in the monitoring plots.
A comparison of second year (2014) monitoring data to the first year (2013) indicted a six
percent decrease in planted seedlings; from 647.8 to 607.3 seedlings per acre (Table 6).
Combining planted and colonizing species there was only a two percent decline. Though there
was a slight decrease in planted seedlings, the 320 trees per acre success criterion was well
exceeded.
Overall Condition, Maintenance and Supplemental Plantings
Vegetation establishment and growth has been good at the LaGrange parcel. Growing
conditions, e.g, adequate rainfall, length of growing season and fertile soils, have been
advantageous since the initial plantings were undertaken. The height of some seedlings,
especially river birch, planted in 2010, now exceeds 3 m with diameters (dbh) of 8 -10 cm. Other
species exhibit slower growth but are performing as expected. Browsing by deer has been
moderately problematic for seedlings in exposed areas and especially problematic for green ash
seedlings. There has been some evidence of depredation by rabbits and possibly beavers and
other rodents. Annual, herbaceous weed growth has been excessive; this would expectedly result
in above - ground and below - ground competition with planted seedlings. However, the weeds
likely afford the seedlings some greater advantage by protecting them from browsing deer. In an
effort to control rabbit and rodent populations, two 15 -foot tall hawk perches were installed on
the site. Signage has been installed at key access locations identifying the Parcel as a
conservation area, contact information and listing activities that are not allowed as per the
conservation easement.
in
No remedial or supplemental planting is required for the 2015 growing season. The next
monitoring effort will be conducted between late August and October 2015.
Table 1. Approximate number of seedlings planted 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 on 3.39 acre tract
prior to the first annual monitoring effort. Year 2014 Annual Report, Greene Environmental
Services, LLC. August 2014.
*An error was made in the First Annual (2013) Report; planted seedlings of Quercus michauxii was unreported and
Q pagoda was overestimated; the data in the above table reflects the correction.
Planted April
Planted
Species
Common
2013
Planted
February/
Totals
Name
January 2012
March 2010
and 2011
Betula ni ra
River birch
50
50
400
450
Diospyros
Persimmon
0
25
0
25
vir iniana
Fraxinus
enns lvan i ca
Green ash
0
0
200
200
Liriodendron
tuli i era
Yellow poplar
0
20
0
20
N ssa sylvatica
Blackgum
0
30
200
230
Platanus
occidentalis
Sycamore
0
120
0
120
Quercus alba
White oak
0
25
0
25
Quercus laevis
Turkey oak
0
25
0
25
Quercus
Swamp
michauxii
chestnut oak
0
0
100
100*
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark
0
0
100
100*
oak
Quercus
Live oak
0
45
0
45
vir iniana
Taxodium
distichum
Bald cypress
100
25
400
425
Taxodium
ascendes
pond cypress
200
0
0
200
Total Seedlings Planted
350
365 1
1400
2115
Average Number Seedlings
Planted per Acre
103
108
413
624
*An error was made in the First Annual (2013) Report; planted seedlings of Quercus michauxii was unreported and
Q pagoda was overestimated; the data in the above table reflects the correction.
Table 2. Stem density for all tree species in 100 m2 monitoring plots at LaGrange Parcel. Second
Year Annual Report, 2014, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
M
Plot LAG -1
Plot LAG -2
Tract Averages
Common
Species
Number
Stems
Number
Stems
Num.
Stems per
Name
Stems
per acre
Stems
per acre
Stems
acre
Acer rubrum
Red maple
3
121.5
8
323.9
5.5 +3.5
222.7 ±143.1
Betula nigra
River birch
2
81
4
161.9
3.0 +1.4
121.5 +57.3
Nyssa
sylssa
Black gum
0
0
4
161.9
2.0 +2.8
81.0 +114.5
Loblolly
Pinus taeda
pine
0
0
2
81
1.0 +1.4
-
40.5 +57.3
-
Platanus
occidentalis
Sycamore
2
81
3
121.5
2.5 +0.7
-
101.2 +28.6
-
Swamp
Quercus
chestnut
0
0
1
40.5
0.5 +0.7
20.2 +28.6
michauxii
oak
Quercus
Cherrybark
pagoda
oak
1
40.5
0
0
0.5 +0.7
-
20.2 +28.6
-
Taxodium
Bald
distichum
cypress
g
323.9
5
202.4
6.5 +2.1
-
263.2 +85.9
-
All Species Totals
16
647.8
27
1093.1
21.5 +7.8
870.4 +314.9
M
Table 3. Stem density for planted tree species in 100 m2 monitoring plots at LaGrange Parcel.
Year 2014 Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
Table 4. Relative density of species in 100 m2 monitoring plots in LaGrange Parcel. 2014 Annual
Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
Plot LAG -1
Plot LAG -2
Tract
Averages
Number
Stems
Number
Stems
Num.
Stems per
Species
Common
25.6
Name
Stems
per acre
Stems
per acre
Stems
acre
Betula nigra
River birch
2
81.0
4
1 61.9
3.0
121.5 +57.3
Nyssa
Black gum
0
0.0
4
161.9
2.0
81.0 +114.5
sylvatica
michauxii
oak
2.3
3.3
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
Platanus
Sycamore
y
2
81.0
3
121.5
2.5
101.2 +28.6
occidentalis
43.3
Percent of
planted stems
70% of Stems are of Planted Species
to total stems
Swamp
Quercus
chestnut
0
0.0
1
40.5
0.5
20.2 +28.6
michauxii
oak
Quercus
Cherrybark
pagoda
oak
1
40.5
0
0.0
0.5
20.2 +28.6
Taxodium
Bald
distichum
cypress
8
323.9
5
202.4
6.5
263.2 +85.9
Planted Species, Total
Stems and Stems per
13
526.3
17
688.3
15.0
607.3 +114.5
Acre
Table 4. Relative density of species in 100 m2 monitoring plots in LaGrange Parcel. 2014 Annual
Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
Percent of
Percent of
Species
Common name
Total Stems
Planted Stems
by S ecies
by Species
Acer rubrum
Red maple
25.6
NA
Betula nigra
River birch
14.0
20.0
Nyssa sylvatica
Black gum
9.3
13.3
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
4.7
NA
Platanus
Sycamore
occidentalis
11.6
16.7
Quercus
Swamp chestnut
michauxii
oak
2.3
3.3
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
2.3
3.3
Taxodium
Bald cypress
d istichum
30.2
43.3
Percent of
planted stems
70% of Stems are of Planted Species
to total stems
Table 5. Stem heights for naturally colonizing tree species in 100 m2 monitoring plots at LaGrange
Parcel. Year 2014, Second Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
Table 6. Comparison of seedling density per acre between the first (YR2013) and second
(YR2014) growing seasons based on seedling counts in 10 m by 10 m (0.0247- acre). Negative
number represents a decline in seedling density. Year 2014, Second Annual Report, Greene
Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
Seedling Species
Common
Number of
Second Year (2014)
Monitoring,
Seedlings Per Acre
Number of
Approx.
Species
Betula nigra
River birch
Stem heights
121.5
Nyssa sylvatica
Name
Stems
81.0
Stems
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
81.0
101.2
m
Quercus michauxii
heights m
40.5
20.2
LAG -1
LAG -2
Cherrybark oak
40.5
20.2
-20.2 ( -50 %)
Taxodium distichum
0.5
1 222.7
263.2
40.5 ( +15 %)
1.0
0.5
607.3
-40.5 -6%
Colonizing
1.5
Acer rubrum
0.5
Acer rubrum
Red maple
3
2.0.
8
0.5
40.5
0(0%)
Colonizing totals
1
242.9
1.0
20.3(+9%)
Planted and Colonizing Seedlings
Combine planted and
colonizing totals
890.7
1.0
20.3(-2%)
1.0
1.0
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
0
0
2
1.5
2.0
Table 6. Comparison of seedling density per acre between the first (YR2013) and second
(YR2014) growing seasons based on seedling counts in 10 m by 10 m (0.0247- acre). Negative
number represents a decline in seedling density. Year 2014, Second Annual Report, Greene
Environmental Services, LLC. August 2014.
Seedling Species
Common Name
First Year (2013)
Monitoring,
Seedlings Per Acre
Second Year (2014)
Monitoring,
Seedlings Per Acre
Change in
Seedling
Density Per
Acre and
Percent
Planted
Seedlings
Betula nigra
River birch
141.7
121.5
-20.2 ( -14 %)
Nyssa sylvatica
Black gum
121.5
81.0
-40.5 ( -33 %)
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
81.0
101.2
20.2(+20%)
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut
40.5
20.2
-20.2 ( -50 %)
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
40.5
20.2
-20.2 ( -50 %)
Taxodium distichum
I Bald cypress
1 222.7
263.2
40.5 ( +15 %)
Planted totals
1 647.8
607.3
-40.5 -6%
Colonizing
Seedlings
Acer rubrum
Red maple
202.4
222.7
20.3(+9%)-
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
40.5
40.5
0(0%)
Colonizing totals
1
242.9
263.3
20.3(+9%)
Planted and Colonizing Seedlings
Combine planted and
colonizing totals
890.7
870.4
20.3(-2%)
w
CTE
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28580
RECEIVED
AUG Z 4 LUN
DENR-LAND QUALITY
STORMWATER PERMITTINal,
LaGrange Site
R99ional
J*tpod At
i lings F1#Id
Klnvlt�
W%,
E, s 133
Figure 1— Vicinity Map
3.5 mi
I
� �IIII�'V2
Ch
Bank Parcel
Location
rl
F
l r
F
Corn
CTE Figure 2 — USGS Topographic Map
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Ham Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28580
10
•
33.0
r
f,
N.T.S
I
GEFigure 3 — Aerial Map
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Ham Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28580
it
CANAL NPS
S D526'37*W 38.42'
-'N
_1,! , 3 -T
U
7.939.70 sq. ft.
TOTAL AC RES
acres
by computer
HAM S70RAGE, LLC
D.B. 1597, Pg. 114
P.C. 12, Pg. 99
of M
rn
109,5
Nutrient Offset Area
N 7542'31? 174.73'
N 5522*41'E 58.15'
N 5115'42"E 42.8"
N 7530'29*W 130,57',,,;p -.S 6049*06'W 138.24'
N 6936'55W 124,01'
N 6619'06*W 38.54'
N.T.S.
Neuse Buffer Area: 37,939.70 sq. ft. (0.87 acres)
Nutrient Offset Area: 109,581.98 sq. ft. (2.52 acres)
(3E Figure 4 — Survey Excerpt
Green* Environmental Services. LLC
90 Ham Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28580
.12
GE
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Ham Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28580
Figure 5. Monitoring Plot Locations
3
GE
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Ham Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28580
Monitoring Plot LAG -1
Monitoring Plot LAG -2
Figure 6. Monitoring Plot Photographs
14
NW SW
Seedling
Number
Monitoring Plot Map: LAG -1
Common Name
NE
1
Taxodium distichum
SE
10
__ _
e 11 -- 0 -1 -0 -;
Sycamore
9
ff -
-
o r IT
8
—
-
River birch
Live
O
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
6
_ _ 0'4
O 7 .
Bald cypress
Live
7
9
Bald cypress
0 5
8
o 14
t
Live
9
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
10
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
11
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
2
_ 0.2
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
1
_ 0 1
Quercus alba
0
14
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
0 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10
IOM
NW SW
Seedling
Number
Species
Common Name
Status in 2014
1
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
2
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
3
uercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
Live
4
Betula ni ra
River birch
Live
5
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
6
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
7
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
8
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
9
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
10
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
11
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
12
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
13
Quercus alba
White oak
Live
14
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
Figure 7. Monitoring plot map for plot LAG -1; 100 mZ monitoring plot at LaGrange Parcel. Year 2014
Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC.
15
Monitoring Plot Map: LAG -2
NE SE
10I O 7 pq — - -- i
i r {
9 - - - -�- - - ;- — -
6 5 O'_6
8 - -- I
i 7
6 1 —
E9 13 0 5 -- pt-2—
4 1---0 ,l
2
1 - - O- 3 —0-
16
- -- - - ,
0 _ O�17� _! _.. -�__ - -_ O! 14
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ,
10 m
NW SW
Seedling
Number
Species
Common Name
Status in 2014
I
Betula ni ra
River birch
Live
2
Betula ni ra
River birch
Live
3
Taxodium distichum
Bald cy ress
Live
4
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
5
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
6
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut oak
Live
7
N ssa s lvatica
Black gum
Live
8
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
9
N ssa s lvatica
Black gum
Live
10
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
11
Taxodium distichum
Bald cy ress
Live
12
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypr ess
Live
13
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
14
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
15
N ssa sylvatica
Black gum
Live
16
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
17
N ssa s lvatica
Black gu m
Live
Figure 8. Monitoring plot map for plot LAG -2; 100 m2 monitoring plot at LaGrange Parcel. Year 2014
Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC.
16