HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090565 Ver 1_Year 3 Credit release_20170224Regulatory Division
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
Action ID. SAW -2009-00832
Weyerhaeuser NR Company
Attn: Mr. Scott Dahlquist
33663 Weyerhaeuser Way S.
Federal Way, Washington 98003
Dear Mr. Dahlquist:
May 5, 2016
This letter serves to confirm our evaluation of the March 2016 Year 2 monitoring report for
the Bachelors Delight Stream Mitigation Bank located on the east side of Gum Branch Road (SR
1308), within Bachelors Delight Swamp watershed, north of Jacksonville, Onslow County, North
Carolina. Please reference the July 9, 2012 executed Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) and
the Amended MBI executed on January 21, 2015; and our April 12, 2016 onsite inspection with
Messrs. Christian Preziosi and Wes Fryar of Land Management Group (LMG). Also, please
reference our August 18, 2015 response letter to the first year monitoring report and release of
credits.
Based upon review of the second year monitoring report and the onsite inspection, our
office agrees, after coordination with the Interagency Review Team (IRT), that the bank has met
the success criteria for both the vegetation and hydrology parameters. However, there are a few
concerns our office observed and desire to bring to your attention. First, the grade control
structures located at the outfall of Stream Segment HM are showing signs of degradation. There
is a significant elevation difference, or fall, within this stretch of stream restoration where it
intersects into an approximate 6.0 -foot deep property boundary ditch. The six or seven grade
control structures showing degradation at this intersection have a high potential to cause head
cutting, resulting in instability within the stream channel. If this occurs, it is expected to
compromise the integrity of Stream Segment HM. As discussed onsite with LMG, it is strongly
recommended that the in -stream structures be reevaluated, and corrective measures be developed
immediately. All proposed corrective measures must be provided to our office and the IRT for
review and confirmation.
Secondly, there is some concern with vegetation plots HF 1, HF9, and HF 10 not meeting
the success criteria and the high concentration and height of the loblolly pines (Pinus taeda)
volunteering within several of the HF plots. During the onsite inspection, we discussed several
steps to suppress these loblolly pine volunteers and it was recommended that measure be taken at
the earliest and most appropriate time. The suppression of this species will help promote the
growth of the planted species stems and support the achievement of the targeted plant
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community. For the hydrology parameter, there remains concern with some of the BD ground
wells. Our office acknowledges that the success criteria was met, however, it is also
acknowledged that rainfall averages were above normal during the time performance was being
met.
Our office, in coordination with the IRT, concurs that Task 4.0 in Tables 4A and 4B of the
MBI has been fulfilled. Using the As -Built survey adjusted totals (as disclosed in our December
17, 2013 letter), the completion of this task results in the mitigation credit release of 10% of
riparian, non-riverine wetland credits (or 8.36 credits), 10% of non -riparian wetland credits (or
8.7 credits), and 10% of stream credits (or 2,653.5 linear feet of credits). To date, this brings the
total release to 85.36 credits of riparian, non-riverine and non -riparian wetlands and 13,260.5
linear feet of stream credits.
Please be reminded of your obligations pursuant to the July 9, 2012 MBI and January 21,
2015 Amended MBI; and to continue maintenance inspections of the Bank in order to evaluate
the condition and stability of all streams, ford crossings, and plug structures in perpetuity.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Mickey Sugg at the
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, telephone (910) 251-4811.
Copy Furnished:
Messrs. Christian Preziosi and
Wes Fiyar
Land Management Group, Inc.
3805 Wrightsville Avenue, Suite 15
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
Mr. David Ashcraft
NC State Natural Resources Foundation,
Inc.
Campus Box 8010
Room 3060, Biltmore Hall
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
Sincerely,
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Dale E. Beter, Chief
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
Mr. Glenn Catts
Hofmann Forest Liaison
College of Natural Resources
NCSU
2023 Biltmore Hall, PO Box 8002
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
Weyerhaeuser NR Company
Attn: Mr. Doug Hughes
211 Armstrong Road
Columbia, Mississippi 39429
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Weyerhaeuser NR Company
Attn: Mr. Taylor Downey
Post Office Box 12768
New Bern, North Carolina 28561
Mr. Todd Bowers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wetland Section- Region 4
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960
Ms. Joanne Steenhuis
Wilmington Regional Office
NC Division of Water Resources
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
Ms. Cyndi Karoly
NC Division of Water Resources
Program Development Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Mr. Mac Haupt
NC Division of Water Resources
Stream and Wetland Mitigation Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Ms. Maria Dunn
North Carolina Wildlife Resource
Commission
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, North Carolina 27889
Ms. Debbie Wilson, Manager
Wilmington Regional Office
NC Division of Coastal Management
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
Mr. Roy Brownlow
Morehead City Regional Office
NC Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Avenue
Morehead City, NC 28557-3421
Ms. Kathy Matthews
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh North Carolina 27636-3726
Mr. Ken Riley
National Marine Fisheries Service
Pivers Island
Beaufort, North Carolina 28516
Mr. Daniel Govoni
Morehead City Regional Office
NC Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Avenue
Morehead City, NC 28557-3421
Mr. Ryan Davenport
Morehead City Regional Office
NC Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Avenue
Morehead City, NC 28557-3421