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Home My WebLink About20110645 Ver 1_Year 3 Monitoring Report_2016_20170119Annual Monitoring Report FINAL Project Name: East Fork Pigeon River Wetland Monitoring Year 3 NCDMS Contract No.: 006035 NCDMS Project No.: 94203 Haywood County, North Carolina Data Collected: 6/2/2016-10/26/2016 Date Submitted: 11/23/2016 Submitted to: North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC This Page Intentionally Blank Prepared by: EQUINOX balance through proper planning 37 Haywood Street, Suite 100 Asheville, NC 28801 Project Contact: Drew Alderman Email: drewgequinoxenvironmental.com This Page Intentionally Left Blank Table of Contents 1.0 Project Summary.................................................................................................................. 1.1. Project History and Background...................................................................................... 1.2. Project Goals and Objectives........................................................................................... 1.3. Project Success Criteria................................................................................................... 1.4. Annual Monitoring Results.............................................................................................. 2.0 Methodology........................................................................................................................ 3.0 References............................................................................................................................ Appendix A General Tables and Figures......................................................................................... Appendix B Visual Assessment Data.............................................................................................. AppendixC Vegetation Data........................................................................................................... 2 2 3 3 5 9 .......18 This Page Intentionally Left Blank 1.0 PROJECT SUMMARY 1.1. Project History and Background The East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project (EFPR) restoration site is located in the French Broad River Basin (HUC8- 06010106) near Cruso in Haywood County, NC. It is a North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) site whose purpose is to provide wetland mitigation for unavoidable losses at other locations within the basin. The site is situated between the right -descending bank of the East Fork of the Pigeon River and Old Micheal Road, off of Highway US 276. The established goals for the EFPR site were as follows: Enhance and protect existing wetlands and wildlife habitat along the East Fork Pigeon River. Specifically, the target goal was to enhance the vegetative community of the wetlands by removing identified invasive plant species through manual and/or chemical methods and by replanting the site with native species. Protect the wetlands on the site with a permanent Conservation Easement. Preserve approximately 1,411 feet of the East Fork of the Pigeon River and approximately 664 feet of Perennial Stream 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 occurred on the site. Additionally, the project was instituted prior to July 28, 2010 and did not require a mandatory IRT mitigation plan review. On November 3, 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a wetland Jurisdictional Determination (JD) on the project site. The JD was used to prepare a mitigation plan that would result in enhanced wetland function. The mitigation plan for the project was completed by Mactec Engineering and Consulting, Inc (Currently AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc.) in March 2011 The control of nuisance plant species within the bottomland hardwood forest and shrub/understory 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 infestations 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. Upon review, however, DMS postponed the planting of the site for a third growing season to allow for additional nuisance species control before replanting. Spot treatments of invasive species will continue through the scheduled 5 -year monitoring term. The 2011 mitigation plan estimated the wetland planting area to be approximately 5.64 acres. Based on 2013 site conditions and the extent of the invasive plant treatment areas, approximately 2.26 acres of the project's 13.95 acres were planted in December 2013. The wetland areas that were excluded from the planting operation encompassed: (1) a deepwater wetland drainageway that occurred along the southern shoulder of Old Michael Road and was determined to be an historical channel of the East Fork Pigeon River; (2) the stream banks of East Fork Pigeon River (bankfull bench and spoil areas); and (3) the East Fork Pigeon River Site 1 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 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. 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 both sides of the channel. 1.2. Project Goals and Objectives The established mitigation goals for the EFPR 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. The project objectives included: • Enhance existing wetlands by removing identified invasive plant species through manual and/or chemical methods and by replanting the site with native species. • Protecting the wetlands with a permanent Conservation Easement. • Preservation of 2,075 feet of perennial stream. 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 Monitoring Year 3 (MY3) data collection consisted of monitoring previously established vegetation plots in three of the four planted areas. 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 513 stems per acre across all plots. Stem density ranged from 324 stems per acre to 850 stems per acre. When naturally recruited stems are included, densities ranged from 607 to 1,214 stems per acre with an MY3 mean of 917 stems per acre across all plots. Ten woody species were documented in the vegetation plots. Visual assessments performed on June 2, 2016 and October 26, 2016 focused on planted stems outside of the permanent vegetation monitoring 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. In addition to planted stems, an inventory of invasive exotic vegetation was performed. Japanese honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, Multiflora rose, and Chinese privet were documented throughout drier, upland areas of the easement and scattered in low densities throughout the easement (Figure 2). Along East Fork Pigeon River Site 2 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 the southeastern portion of the easement, a large swath of Japanese knotweed was noted in the floodplain of the Pigeon River. Along the road in the northwestern portion of the easement, a patch of Kudzu was documented. Bamboo was also noted in the wetter, more central portions of the easement. Treatments of invasive exotic vegetation during MY3 occurred in May and September 2016. During the May treatments, Chinese privet, Japanese Knotweed, Oriental bittersweet, multiflora rose, and bamboo were treated with foliar spray of Element 3a and glyphosate. During the September site visit, Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese privet, Multiflora rose, Oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, and kudzu were treated. Larger vines of kudzu were treated using cut and stump spray of Garlon 3a, while matted infestations were sprayed with a foliar spay of Garlon 3a. The remaining invasive exotic species were treated using a foliar spray of glyphosate. Treatments showed good efficacy; however, populations of invasive -exotic vegetation still persist throughout the easement (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 Final Wetland Mitigation Report on NCDMS's website (NCEEP 2014). All raw data, supporting tables, and figures in the appendices are available from NCDMS 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 NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 This Page Intentionally Left Blank East Fork Pigeon River Site 4 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix A General Tables and Figures Appendix A Figure 1. Vicinity Map of the East Fork of the Pigeon River Wetland Site s rife{ G ��♦ ��` / Figure 1: Vicinity Map East Fork Pigeon Project No. 94203 Haywood County, North Carolina i East Fork Pigeon River 40 Directions: From Asheville, take 140 West for approximately 18 miles, Take exit 31 for Carolina 215 toward Canton_ Follow 215 to Pisgah Drive mid true right. Go approximately a 0.5 miles and turn right onto NC -110. Fallow NC 110 for approximately 5 miles. Turn lett onto US -276 and follow for 2.3 miles, Slight right auto Old Micheal Road. in approximately 0.3 miles easement is on right. The subjectpmica site is mi environmental restoration site orthe NCDEQ Division of MitipsTinn Services (DMS) and is encompassed by a recorded conservation easement, but is bordered by land under private ownership. Accesshhg the site may require travemmg areas near or along the easement boundary and therefore access by the g titers] public is not permitted. Access by authorized personnel of state and federal agencies or their designees /contractors involved in the development, oversight and stewardship of the restoration site is permitted within the terms mid timeframes of their defined roles. Any intended site visitation or activity by any person outside of these previously sanctioned roles and activities requires prior coordination with DMS. "� FQ U [ N OX Date: October 2016 Sheet: 1 of 1 Notes: 1 11 a 0.5 1 2 Miles East Fork Pigeon River Site 6 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 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 Dec 2010 Approach Footage/Acreage) N/A (SMU/WMU) Stream March 2011 Permit Date N/A N/A Perennial Stream P 664 5:1 133 East Fork of the p 1,411 5:1 282 Pigeon River March 2011 Invasive Exotic Treatment - June 2012 Total: 2,075 Total: 415 Wetland July 2013 Invasive Exotic Treatment - Nov 2013 Bottomland E 2.26 2:1 1.13 Hardwood Forest Final Mitigation Plan (Year 0 Monitoring - Baseline) - March 2014 Invasive Exotic Treatment Bottomland p 11.69 5:1 2.34 Hardwood Forest Dec 2015 Dec 2015 Invasive Exotic Treatment - 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 orDelivery Land Acquisition - Dec 2010 Environmental Resource Technical Report N/A N/A Restoration Plan N/A March 2011 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 Invasive Exotic Treatment - July 2014 Year 1 Monitoring Oct 2014 Nov 2014 Year 2 Monitoring Dec 2015 Dec 2015 Invasive Exotic Treatment - Sep 2016 Invasive Exotic Treatment - Oct 2016 Year 3 Monitoring Oct 2016 Nov 2016 Year 4 Monitoring Year 5 Monitoring N/A - Item does not apply. - Information Unavailable East Fork Pigeon River Site 7 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix A Table 3. Project Contacts East Fork of the Pigeon Wetland / Project No. 94203 Designer AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, INC. 4021 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 100 Durham, North Carolina 27701 Primary Project Design POC Richard Harmon (919)381-9909 Construction Contractor N/A N/A N/A Construction Contractor POC N/A Planting Contractor Habitat Assessment and Restoration Professionals 301 McCullough Drive, 4th Floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28262 Planting Contractor POC (704) 841-2841 Seeding Contractor Habitat Assessment and Restoration Professionals 301 M cCullough Drive, 4th Floor Charlotte, North Carolina 28262 Seeding Contractor POC (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 Equinox (Yl -Y3) - 2015- 2016 37 Haywood Street, Suite 100 Asheville, North Carolina 28801 Monitoring POC Drew Alderman (828) 253-6856 Invasive Control Contractor Carolina Silvics (Y2 -Y3) - 2015-2016 908 Indian Trail Road Edenton, NC 27932 Invasive Contractor POC (252) 482-8491 N/A - Item does not apply. - Information Unavailable East Fork Pigeon River Site 8 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix B Appendix B Visual Assessment Data Appendix B This Page Intentionally Left Blank East Fork Pigeon River Site 10 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 w �E 0 1 2 500 M Feet Wo rr • 71!. �k.. PP I 1 s , 3 t �+ �rarr�� Lff,';,J?A%M Prepared for: NCDM S Fi 2. Current CditiPlan Vi Figure Condition View g East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Monitoring Year 3 NCDMS Project No. 94203 Haywood County, North Carolina � Photo PointF7Criteria Met Cattails (Typha latifolia)- Vegetation Plot Success very Low Density •••-••-• - UT -Preservation Invasive Status E. Fork Pigeon_ Preservation Present _ �••7 Easement Dense ti Treated . Planted Areas M U I N OX �:� ��' Date: October 2016 Sheet: 1 of 1 Notes: -This figure is not a survey and should not be construed as such. -NCOnemap Aerial Imagery (2010). -Planting Areas digitized/georeferenced from AMEC Mitigation Report (2014) 4 • s, _ _ ♦ n' S, PPS ��• >1�� ° '; PP6 �� ►®�� PP3 i. IPP2 PP5 t w �E 0 1 2 500 M Feet Wo rr • 71!. �k.. PP I 1 s , 3 t �+ �rarr�� Lff,';,J?A%M Prepared for: NCDM S Fi 2. Current CditiPlan Vi Figure Condition View g East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Monitoring Year 3 NCDMS Project No. 94203 Haywood County, North Carolina � Photo PointF7Criteria Met Cattails (Typha latifolia)- Vegetation Plot Success very Low Density •••-••-• - UT -Preservation Invasive Status E. Fork Pigeon_ Preservation Present _ �••7 Easement Dense ti Treated . Planted Areas M U I N OX �:� ��' Date: October 2016 Sheet: 1 of 1 Notes: -This figure is not a survey and should not be construed as such. -NCOnemap Aerial Imagery (2010). -Planting Areas digitized/georeferenced from AMEC Mitigation Report (2014) Appendix B This Page Intentionally Left Blank East Fork Pigeon River Site 12 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix B N/A - Item does not apply. East Fork Pigeon River Site 13 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Table 4. Vegetation Condition Assessment East Fork of the Pigeon Wetland / Project No. 94203 Planted Acreage: 2.29 Number of Combined % Of Vegetation Category Definitions CCPV Depiction Planted polygons Acreage Acreage 1. Bare Areas Very limited cover of both woody and herbaceous material. N/A 0 0.00 0% Woody stem densities clearly below target levels based on MY3, Stipple 2. Low Stem Density Areas 4, or 5 stem count criteria. Orange Dots White Background 0 0.00 o 0% Totals 0 0.00 0% Areas with woody stems of a size class that are obviously small 3. Areas of Poor Growth Rates or Vigor N/A 0 0.00 o 0% given the monitoring year. Cumulative Totals 0 0.00 0% Easement Acreage: 16.53 Of Number of Combined Vegetation Category Definitions CCPV Depiction Easement Polygons Acreage Acreage 4. Invasive Areas of Concern Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map scale). Cross Hatch 18 1.71 10% (Red - Dense/Yellow - Present) Stipple 5. Easement Encroachment Areas Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map scale). 0 0.00 0" Purple Dots White Background N/A - Item does not apply. East Fork Pigeon River Site 13 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 x lot v *�{ - lit Appendix B Permanent Photo Station 7 East Permanent Photo Station 8 South/Southeast Permanent Photo Station 9 Southwest Permanent Photo Station 10 South/Southwest Permanent Photo Station 11 Southeast Permanent Photo Station 12 East East Fork Pigeon River Site 15 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Permanent Photo Station 13 Upstream Permanent Photo Station 13 Downstream East Fork Pigeon River -Permanent Photo Station 14 East/Southeast Permanent Photo Station 15 North Permanent Photo Station 16 West East Fork Pigeon River Site 16 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix B Permanent Photo Station 17 Northwest Permanent Photo Station 18 North/Northeast Permanent Photo Station 19 South/Southwest Permanent Photo Station 20 North East Fork Pigeon River Site 17 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix C Vegetation Data Appendix C Table 5. Vegetation Plot Criteria Attainment East Fork Pi eon River Wetland / Project No. 94203 Vegetation Vegetation Plot Survival Tract Mean ID Threshold Met? 1 Yes 100% 2 Yes 3 Yes Color for Density Exceeds requirements by 10% Exceeds requirements, but by less than 10% Fails to meet requirements, by less than 10% Fails to meet requirements by more than 10% Recruit Stems 1PnoLS: No livestakes included in tally; P -all: All planted stems included in tally; T: Total stems including recruitment. East Fork Pigeon River Site 19 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Table 6. Planted and Total Stem Counts (Species by Plot with Annual Means) East Fork Pigeon River Wetland /Project No. 64203 Current Plot Data (MY3 2016) Annual Means Scientific Name Common Name Species Type 94203-EQX-0001 94203-EQX-0002 94203-EQX-0003 MY3 (2016) PnoL P -all T PnoL P -all T PnoL P -all T PnoL P -all T MY2 (2015) PnoL P -all T MYl (2014) PnoL P -all T MYO (2014) PnoL P -all T Acer rubrum Red maple Tree 2 2 1 Acer rubrum var. rubrum Red maple Tree 1 Aesculus Buckeye 2 2 Aesculus flava Yellow Buckeye Tree 2 2 Alnus serrulata Hazel Alder Shrub I I 1 I Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Shrub 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 41 4 4 4 4 4 41 4 Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash Tree 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 8 13 13 17 14 141 14 14 14 14 12 12 12 Lindera benzoin Northern Spicebush Shrub I Lindera benzoin var. benzoin Northern Spicebush Shrub 1 Liriodendron tulipifera var. tulipifera Tulip -tree, Yellow Poplar, Whitewood Tree 6 6 6 Morus rubra Red Mulberry Tree 1 4 4 11 1 Nyssa sylvatica Blackgum Tree 5 5 5 1 1 1 61 61 6 10 10 10 10 101 10 121 12 12 Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore Tree I I I I 1 Platanus occidentalis var. occidentalis Sycamore, Plane -tree Tree 12 12 12 3 3 3 3 3 3 18 18 181 22 221 22 22 22 23 24 24 24 Salix caroliniana Coastal Plain Willow Tree 3 3 Salix nigra Black Willow Tree 1 3 14 18 22 22 Sambucus Elderberry Shrub 2 2 Sambucus canadensis Common Elderberry Shrub 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Stem count 21 21 27 9 9 15 8 8 30 38 38 72 51 51 82 51 51 82 59 59 59 size (ares) 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 size (ACRES) 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.07 1 0.07 0.07 0.07 Species count 31 31 6 3 31 6 31 31 5 41 41 101 51 51 13 51 51 121 6 6 Stems per ACRE 8501 8501 1,093 364 364 607 324 1,214 5131 5131 9711 6881 6881 1,106 6881 6881 1,106 7961 796 Color for Density Exceeds requirements by 10% Exceeds requirements, but by less than 10% Fails to meet requirements, by less than 10% Fails to meet requirements by more than 10% Recruit Stems 1PnoLS: No livestakes included in tally; P -all: All planted stems included in tally; T: Total stems including recruitment. East Fork Pigeon River Site 19 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix C Vegetation Monitoring Plot 1 Monitoring Year 3 — June 2, 2016 Vegetation Monitoring Plot 2 Monitoring Year 3 — June 2, 2016 East Fork Pigeon River Site 20 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5 Appendix C Vegetation Monitoring Plot 3 Monitoring Year 3 — June 2, 2016 East Fork Pigeon River Site 21 Equinox NCDMS Project No. 94203 Annual Monitoring Report Monitoring Year 3 of 5