HomeMy WebLinkAbout20110645 Ver 1_Year 1 Monitoring Report_2014_20150414Annual Monitoring Report
1110/:,11
Project Name: East Fork Pigeon River Wetland
Monitoring Year 1
EEP Contract No.: 006035
EEP Project No.: 94203
Haywood County, North Carolina
Data Collected: 08/27/2014 - 10/28/2014
Date Submitted: 11/24/2014
Submitted to:
ass stem
En i'a eMeht
PROGRAM
NCDENR -EEP, 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699 -1652
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Prepared by:
EQUINOX
balance through proper plonning
37 Haywood Street, Suite 100
Asheville, NC 28801
Project Contact: Hunter Terrell
Email: hunter @equinoxenvironmental.com
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Table of Contents
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..............................i
1.0 Project Summary ................................................................................................
............................... 1
1.1. Project History and Background ....................................................................
............................... 1
1.2. Project Goals and Objectives ..........................................................................
..............................2
1.3. Project Success Criteria .................................................................................. ..............................2
1.4. Annual Monitoring Results ............................................................................
............................... 2
2.0 Methodology ......................................................................................................
............................... 3
3.0 References ........................................................................................................... ..............................3
AppendixA .....................................................................................................................
..............................4
AppendixB ....................................................................................................................
............................... 8
AppendixC .................................................................................................................... .............................15
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1.0 PROJECT SUMMARY
1.1. Project History and Background
The East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project Site (project site) is located in the French Broad River
Basin (HUC8- 06010106) near Cruso in Haywood County, NC. The site is situated between the right -
descending bank of the East Fork of the Pigeon River and Old Micheal Road, off of Highway 276.
On November 3, 2010, the USACE approved a wetland Jurisdictional Determination on the project site.
The mitigation plan for the project was completed by Mactec Engineering and Consulting, Inc (Currently
AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc.) in March 2011.
The established mitigation goals for the Site were to enhance and protect existing wetlands and wildlife
habitat along the East Fork Pigeon River. Specifically, the target goal was the vegetative enhancement of
the existing wetland community on the site. The project objectives included:
• Enhance existing wetlands by removing identified invasive plant species through manual and/or
chemical methods and by planting native species within the site.
• Protecting the wetlands on the site with a permanent Conservation Easement.
The project did not require Clean Water Act Section 404 / Section 401 permits as no ground disturbing
activities within jurisdictional wetlands were anticipated or completed on the site. Additionally, the
project was instituted prior to July 28, 2010 and did not require a mandatory IRT mitigation plan review.
The control of nuisance plant species within the bottomland hardwood forest and shrub /groundstory open
areas on the Site entailed the treatment of the seven invasive nuisance plant species: Bamboo
(Phyllostachys sp.), common cattail (Typha latifolia), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Japanese
knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), kudzu (Pueraria montana),
and Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense).
A majority of the invasive species were mapped in the 2011 mitigation plan; however Chinese privet and
multiflora rose were essentially scattered throughout the entire bottomland hardwood forest. The control
methods entailed the treatment of small -sized plants with foliar spray and larger stems by hack and squirt.
The chemical `aquatic glyphosate' was used for the herbicide applications. The cut bamboo was placed in
a slash pile and burned on the site. New shoots of bamboo, which developed after the initial treatment,
were treated with aquatic glyphosate. All invasive control treatments and planting efforts were conducted
by Habitat Assessment & Restoration Professionals (HARP) (Charlotte, NC). The nuisance plant species
were treated for two growing seasons prior to the planting of the site. EEP postponed the planting of the
site to allow for an additional growing season of nuisance species control prior to planting. Additionally,
EEP will be completing follow up invasive treatments through the 5 year monitoring term.
The 2011 mitigation plan estimated an approximately 5.64 acre wetland planting area. Based on 2013 site
conditions and the implemented invasive plant treatment areas, approximately 2.26 acres of the total area
of USACE jurisdictional wetlands on the site (13.95 acres) were planted in December 2013. The wetland
areas that were excluded from the planting operation encompassed: (1) a deepwater wetland drainageway
which occurred along the southern shoulder of Old Michael Road and was determined to be an historic
channel of the East Fork Pigeon River; (2) the stream banks of East Fork Pigeon River (bankfull bench
and spoil areas); and (3) the heavily forested portions of the bottomland hardwood forest. Therefore, the
planting operation primarily encompassed the areas of the bottomland hardwood forest that were open
and lacking an overstory of trees or a dense shrub component. The planting of trees (seedlings) within
these open areas will essentially restore the hardwood overstory of the wetlands.
East Fork Pigeon River Site 1 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
The 2011 Mitigation plan and project implementation did not include any enhancement activities for the
East Fork Pigeon River or the unnamed perennial stream that occurs within the western portion of the
Site. These surface waters are essentially unimpaired and provide suitable habitat for fish and benthic
macro - invertebrates. The proposed stream preservation assets have a minimum 30 -foot buffer from edge
of bank on each side of the channel.
1.2. Project Goals and Objectives
The established mitigation goals for the Site were to enhance and protect existing wetlands and wildlife
habitat along the East Fork Pigeon River. Specifically, the target goal was the vegetative enhancement of
the existing wetland community on the Site. The project objectives included:
• Enhance existing wetlands by removing identified invasive plant species through manual and/or
chemical methods and by planting native species within the Site.
• Protecting the wetlands on the Site with a permanent Conservation Easement.
1.3. Project Success Criteria
The project success criteria are as follows:
Vegetation success within the wetland areas that were planted and proposed for Wetland
Enhancement (2.26- acres) will be based on the criteria established in the USACE Stream
Mitigation Guidelines (2003). This document states that vegetation monitoring results indicate the
following planted stem density minimums in the corresponding monitoring years: 320 stems /acre
through year three, 288 stems /acre in year four, and 260 stems /acre in year five.
Vegetation monitoring will not be conducted in the wetland preservation areas; however, the
entire site will be monitored via yearly photo points. Invasive plant species and beaver
colonization will be suppressed on the entire site until project closeout; however, there will be no
success criteria linked to treatment of the invasive plant species or beaver removal.
1.4. Annual Monitoring Results
MY vegetation monitoring consisted of establishing three vegetation plots in three of the four newly
planted areas and collecting initial vegetation data. Results from vegetation monitoring indicate that all
plots are currently meeting the interim success criteria of 320 planted stems per acre (Table 6). Planted
stem density averaged 796 stems per acre across all plots. Stem density ranged from 526 stems per acre to
1,133 stems per acre. A total of six woody species were documented in the vegetation plots.
Visual assessment, performed on 10/28/2014, focused on planted stems outside of the permanent
vegetation plots and the status of invasive exotic vegetation. Although no quantifiable data related to
planted stems were collected during the visual assessment, observations suggest that the planted stems are
surviving throughout the easement. Dead stems were noted; however, these were limited to isolated
stems and not large areas. Several small areas of dense dodder vine (Cuscuta pentagona) growth within
the bamboo treatment area were noted and could potentially affect planted stems.
In addition to planted stems, an inventory of invasive exotic vegetation was performed as well as an
assessment of previous treatment efficacy. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Oriental
bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), and Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) were documented throughout
drier, upland areas of the easement and scattered in low densities throughout the easement (Figure 2).
Previous treatments have greatly reduced densities of these species; however, regrowth is occurring
throughout the easement. The main bamboo area has shown good efficacy, but re- sprouting is beginning
to occur throughout the treatment area. One small patch of Kudzu persists along Old Michael Road at the
edge of the easement. Treatment of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) appears to have been
successful; no evidence of populations were observed during the visual assessment. Although not an
East Fork Pigeon River Site 2 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
invasive - exotic, cattails (Typha latifolia) can be aggressive and create a monoculture in some wetlands.
Initial treatment efforts appear to have greatly reduced the density of cattails within the easement;
however, stems still persist in very low densities in some areas (Figure 2).
Summary information/data related to the occurrence of items such as beaver or easement encroachment
and statistics related to performance of various project and monitoring elements can be found in the tables
and figures in the report appendices. Narrative background and supporting information formerly found in
these reports can be found in the restoration plan on EEP's website ( NCEEP 2014). All raw data
supporting tables and figures in the appendices are available from EEP upon request.
2.0 METHODOLOGY
Vegetation plot monitoring data were collected following the standard CVS -EEP Protocol for Recording
Vegetation, Level II, Version 4.2 (Lee et al. 2008). A total of three plots were monitored for this project.
3.0 REFERENCES
Lee, Michael T., R.K. Peet, S.D. Roberts, and T.R. Wentworth. 2008. CVS -EEP Protocol for Recording
Vegetation, Version 4.2 ( http : / /cvs.bio.unc.edu /methods.htm)
NCEEP (North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program). 2014. Final Wetland Mitigation Report-
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project. Haywood County, North Carolina. Raleigh.
East Fork Pigeon River Site 3 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
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Appendix A
General Tables and Figures
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Appendix A
Figure 1. Vicinity Map of the East Fork of the Pigeon River Wetland Site
2S I )til l �( _ /fit f 110
• "� 215
-� - C nton
�r �,+►- �� r � l 3 i 1
1
Jy
rr
J
.r E�
4
!J
Figure 1: Vicinity Map
East Fork Pigeon
Project No. 94203
Haywood County, North Carolina
East Fork Pigean River
17
1
� t
r
/'wli•
�f
Directions: rrom Asheville, take 1 -40 West for spprnximately 18 miles.
Take exit 3I for Carolina 215 toward Cancon. Follow 215 co Pisgah
Drive and tum right, Go approximately a 0.5 miles and
rum right omo NC -110_ Fallow NC 110 far approximately 5 rum left left onto 4S -276 and follow for 2.3 miles. Slight right onto Old
Micheal Road. In approximately 0.7 miles easement is on right.
The sulnect project site is an environmental restoration site of the
N DENR Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) and is
—passed by a recorded conservation easement, but is
bordered by land under private ownership. Accessing the site may
require traversing areas Dear or along the easement boundary and
therefore access by the general public is not permitted. Access by
author d p onnel f late and lied —I agenci r their
designees cons sctn v I ed in the development. oversight and
s[owmdshtp -f the r t u'cm siu; s permitted w thm the terms and
timefcames of their defined roles. Any intended site vistration or
activity by any person outside of these previously — ctiuncd roles
and aetwiti. requires prior coordination with E &P
Date: September 2034 1 sheet: l of 1
Notes:
0 0.5 1 2
Miles
East Fork Pigeon River Site 5 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
110
2S I )til l �( _ /fit f 110
• "� 215
-� - C nton
�r �,+►- �� r � l 3 i 1
1
Jy
rr
J
.r E�
4
!J
Figure 1: Vicinity Map
East Fork Pigeon
Project No. 94203
Haywood County, North Carolina
East Fork Pigean River
17
1
� t
r
/'wli•
�f
Directions: rrom Asheville, take 1 -40 West for spprnximately 18 miles.
Take exit 3I for Carolina 215 toward Cancon. Follow 215 co Pisgah
Drive and tum right, Go approximately a 0.5 miles and
rum right omo NC -110_ Fallow NC 110 far approximately 5 rum left left onto 4S -276 and follow for 2.3 miles. Slight right onto Old
Micheal Road. In approximately 0.7 miles easement is on right.
The sulnect project site is an environmental restoration site of the
N DENR Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) and is
—passed by a recorded conservation easement, but is
bordered by land under private ownership. Accessing the site may
require traversing areas Dear or along the easement boundary and
therefore access by the general public is not permitted. Access by
author d p onnel f late and lied —I agenci r their
designees cons sctn v I ed in the development. oversight and
s[owmdshtp -f the r t u'cm siu; s permitted w thm the terms and
timefcames of their defined roles. Any intended site vistration or
activity by any person outside of these previously — ctiuncd roles
and aetwiti. requires prior coordination with E &P
Date: September 2034 1 sheet: l of 1
Notes:
0 0.5 1 2
Miles
East Fork Pigeon River Site 5 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
Appendix A
Table 1. Project Components and Summation
East Fork of Pigeon Wetland / Project No. 94203
Feature
Mitigation
Quantity (Linear
Ratio
Mitigation Units
Environmental Resource Technical Report
Approach
Footage /Acreage)
Restoration Plan
(SMU/WMU)
Stream
Permit Date
N/A
N/A
Initial Wetland Delineation
Perennial Stream
P
664
5:1
133
East Fork of the
p
1,411
5:1
282
Pigeon River
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
June 2012
Invasive Exotic Treatment
Total:
2,075
Total:
415
Wetland
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
Nov 2013
Invasive Exotic Treatment
Bottomland
E
2.26
2:1
1.13
Hardwood Forest
-
March 2014
Year 1 Monitoring
Oct 2014
Bottomland
p
11.69
5:1
2.34
Hardwood Forest
Year 4 Monitoring
Total
13.95
Total
3.47
Table 2. Project Activity & Reporting History
East Fork of Pigeon Wetland / Project No. 94203
Activity or Report
Data Collection
Complete
Actual Completion
or Delivery
Land Acquisition
-
Dec 2010
Environmental Resource Technical Report
N/A
N/A
Restoration Plan
N/A
N/A
Permit Date
N/A
N/A
Initial Wetland Delineation
-
Oct 2010
Initial Invasive Exotic Reconnaissance
-
Oct 2010
Topographic Survey
-
Nov 2010
Initial Mitigation Plan / As -built
-
March 2011
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
June 2012
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
Nov 2012
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
July 2013
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
Nov 2013
Invasive Exotic Treatment
-
Dec 2013
Wetland Planting
-
Dec 2013
Final Mitigation Plan (Year 0 Monitoring - Baseline)
-
March 2014
Year 1 Monitoring
Oct 2014
Nov -14
Year 2 Monitoring
Year 3 Monitoring
Year 4 Monitoring
Year 5 Monitoring
N/A - Item does not apply.
- Information Unavailable
East Fork Pigeon River Site 6 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
Appendix A
Table 3. Project Contacts
East Fork of the Pigeon Wetland / Project No. 94203
Designer
Primary Project Design POC
AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, INC.
4021 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 100
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Richard Harmon (919) 381 -9909
Construction Contractor
Construction Contractor POC
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Planting Contractor
Planting Contractor POC
Habitat Assessment and Restoration Professionals
301 McCullough Drive, 4th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
(704) 841 -2841
Seeding Contractor
Seeding Contractor POC
Habitat Assessment and Restoration Professionals
301 McCullough Drive, 4th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
(704) 841 -2841
Seed Mix Sources
-
Nursery Stock Suppliers
-
Monitoring Performers (YO) - 2013
AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, INC.
4021 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 100
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Monitoring POC
Richard Harmon (919) 381 -9909
Monitoring Performers (Yl) - 2014
Equinox
37 Haywood Street, Suite 100
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
Monitoring POC
Hunter Terrell (828) 253 -6856
N/A - Item does not apply.
- Information Unavailable
East Fork Pigeon River Site 7 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
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Appendix B
Appendix B
Visual Assessment Data
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w VV
�s
125 250
500
M Feet
PPII
.4.
r —i
r
F - WT--,q hL -- - —
Prepared for:
�.-
Figure 2. Current Condition Plan View
� Photo Point Vegetation Vegetation Plot
.— . —1 Problem Areas Criteria
®t � � I � O ` ,
,�(!
-���
. Easement
L
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands
.
r N I - Dense criteria Met
ti Planted Areas
Date: 10/28/2014
Sheet: 1 of 1
-
Eko (stem e1
Monitoring Year 1
NCEEP Project No. 94203
J
I._,.
Cattails (Typha latifolia)- Present -Criteria Unmet
Very Low Density
Notes:
aMMM
®Treated
PROGRAM
Haywood County, North Carolina
3Iugla l3a'I x1luuoijualul a2lud Slq L
Appendix B
Table 4. Vegetation Condition Assessment
East Fork of the Pigeon Wetland / Project No. 94203
Planted Acreage: 2.29
Number
Combined
% of
Vegetation Category
Definitions
CCPV Depiction
of
Planted
Polygons
Acreage
Acreage
1. Bare Areas
Very limited cover of both woody and herbaceous material.
N/A
0
0.00
0%
2. Low Stem Density Areas
Woody stem densities clearly below target levels based on
Stipple
Orange Dots White
0
0.00
o
0%
MY3, 4, or 5 stem count criteria.
Background
Totals
0
0.00
0%
3. Areas of Poor Growth Rates or Vigor
Areas with woody stems of a size class that are obviously
N/A
0
0.00
0%
small given the monitoring year.
Cumulative Totals
0
0.00
0%
Easement Acreage: 16.53
Number
% of
Vegetation Category
Definitions
CCPV Depiction
of
Combined
Easement
Polygons
Acreage
Acreage
Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map
Cross Hatch
4. Invasive Areas of Concern
scale).
(Red - Dense/Yellow -
9
1.60
u
10%
Present)
5. Easement Encroachment Areas
Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map
Stipple
Purple Dots White
0
0.00
o
0%
scale).
Background
N/A - Item does not apply.
East Fork Pigeon River Site 10 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
Appendix B
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 1
East /Southeast
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 2
West
East Fork Pigeon River- Permanent Photo Station 3
North
East Fork Pigeon River Site
NCEEP Project No. 94203
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 4
North
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 5
Upstream
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 6
Southwest
11 Equinox
Annual Monitoring Report
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 7
East
East Fork Pigeon River- Permanent Photo Station 8
South/Southeast
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 9
Southwest
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 10
South/Southwest
East Fork Pigeon River- Permanent Photo Station 11
Southeast
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 12
Northwest
East Fork Pigeon River Site 12 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 12
East
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 13
Upstream
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 13
Downstream
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 14
East/Southeast
East Fork Pigeon River- Permanent Photo Station 15
North
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 16
West
East Fork Pigeon River Site 13 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 17 East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 20
Northwest North
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 18
North/Northeast
East Fork Pigeon River - Permanent Photo Station 19
South/Southwest
East Fork Pigeon River Site 14 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
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Appendix C
Vegetation Data
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Appendix C
Table 5. Vegetation Plot Criteria Attainment
East Fork Pi eon River Wetland / Project No. 94203
Vegetation Plot
Vegetation
Scientific Name
Common Name
Survival
Tract Mean
ID
Threshold Met?
MYO (2014)
1
Yes
100%
2
Yes
3
Yes
Table 6. Planted and Total Stem Counts (Species by Plot with Annual Means)
East Fork Pigeon River Wetland / Project No. 94203
Current Plot Data (MYO 2014)
Annual Means
Scientific Name
Common Name
Species
Type
Plot 1
Plot 2
Plot 3
MYO (2014)
PnoLS
P -all
T
PnoLS
P -all
T
PnoLS
P -all
T
PnoLS
P -all
T
Cornus amomum
Silky dogwood
Shrub
1
1
1
3
3
3
4
4
4
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Green ash
Tree
3
3
3
6
6
6
3
3
3
12
12
12
Liriodendron tulipifera var.
tulipifera
Tulip -tree, Yellow Poplar,
Whitewood
Tree
6
6
6
6
6
6
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Tree
6
6
6
6
6
6
12
12
12
Platanus occidentalis var.
occidentalis
Sycamore, Plane -tree
Tree
13
13
13
6
6
6
5
5
5
24
24
24
Sambucus canadensis
Common elderberry
Shrub
1
1
1
1
1
1
Stem count
size (ares)
size (ACRES)
Species count
Stems per ACRE
28
1 28
28
13
1 13
13
1 18
18
18
59
1 59
59
1
1
1
3
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.07
4
4
4
3
3
3
5
5
5
6
6
6
1133
1133
1133
526.1
526.1
526.1
728.4
728.4
728.4
795.9
795.9
795.
9
East Fork Pigeon River Site 16 Equinox
WEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
Appendix C
Vegetation Monitoring Plot 1
Monitoring Year 1 — August 27, 2014
Vegetation Monitoring Plot 2
Monitoring Year 1 — Aug 27, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Site 17 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5
Appendix C'
Vegetation Monitoring Plot 3
Monitoring Year 1 —Aug 27, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Site 18 Equinox
NCEEP Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report
Monitoring Year 1 of 5