HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080511 Ver 2_Year 5 Monitoring Report_20170929Fifth Annual Monitoring Report
La Grange Bank Parcel
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Neuse River Umbrella Mitigation Bank
DWQ#: 08-0511v2
Year 2017
Submitted to: Katie Merritt
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources — Water Quality Programs
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1650 Phone: (919) 807-6371; Fax: (919) 8076494
Submitted by: Jeff Becker
1004 Glencastle Way
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 215-3899; Fax: (919) 859-0911
1
Fifth Annual Monitoring Report
La Grange Bank Parcel
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Neuse River Umbrella Mitigation Bank
DWQ#: 08-0511v2 Year 2017
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Background
Page 3
2. Monitoring and Results for Year 2017
Page 3
3. Overall Condition, Maintenance and Supplemental Plantings
Page 9
4.0 Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Potential
Page 10
Figures 1-8
Pages 11-18
Fifth Annual Monitoring Report
La Grange Bank Parcel
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Neuse River Umbrella Mitigation Bank
DWQ#: 08-0511v2 Year 2017
1. Introduction and Background
Greene Environmental Services, LLC (GES) of Snow Hill, North Carolina added the La Grange
site to the GES Neuse River Basin Umbrella Mitigation Bank. The La Grange 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 3.39 acres, including 0.87 acres of riparian buffer and 2.52 acres of nutrient
offset acreage (Figures 3 and 4). The Bank Parcel was established under the terms and
conditions of the GES Neuse River Basin Umbrella Mitigation Bank. The project site was in
agricultural cropland until 2009 and was first planted with character species during March of
2010. This is the fifth annual monitoring report, and, pending approval, the final annual report.
In 2015, a second mitigation bank was established immediately adjacent to the La Grange Bank
Parcel. This bank is the La Grange Mitigation Bank, Phase II and will be monitored separately
from the initial La Grange Bank Parcel and will be maintained with a separate mitigation credit
ledger.
2. Monitoring and Results for Year 2017, Fifth Year Monitoring Effort
As specified in the La Grange Bank Parcel Development Package (BPDP), this report represents
the fifth year of vegetative monitoring. The BPDP requires the submission of an annual
monitoring report each of five successive years.
The La Grange Bank 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 an estimated total of 624 seedlings per acre had been planted on the
3.39 -acre parcel.
In each of the two monitoring plots in the La Grange Parcel, tree stems were recorded by species
in September 2017. Plot locations are mapped in Figure 5. Vegetation plot photo points were
located at the northwestern corner of the plots (Figure 6).
During the 2017 monitoring effort, a total of 45 trees representing ten species were recorded in
the two monitoring plots, LAG -1 and LAG -2. The total average density was 910.9 trees per acre
(Table 2). Thirty-seven of the 45 trees within the plots were from seedlings planted by GES. The
average stem density for planted species was 749.0 tree stems per acre (Table 3). Thus eighty-
two percent of the trees were planted species; bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) accounted for
41 percent of the planted trees followed, in decreasing order by river birch (Betula nigra) at 22
percent, black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) at 19 percent, and sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis) at 11
percent) (Table 4). White oak (Quercus alba), swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii) and
cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) each accounted three percent, each, of planted species total.
Red maple (Acer rubrum), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and black oak (Quercus velutina) became
established via natural colonization. Persimmon, green ash, yellow poplar, turkey oak, live oak,
and pond cypress were planted on the La Grange Parcel but were not recorded in the monitoring
plots. Stems of river birch and sycamore had the greatest average height (over 25 feet) among the
ten species found within the plots (Table 5).
A comparison of fourth year (2016) monitoring data to the fifth year (2017) indicted an increase
in total stem density per acre in the monitoring plots from 870 stems per acre in 2016 to 911
stems per acre in 2017 (Table 6). For planted species, stem density was the same in 2017 as in
2016. For volunteer species, there was an increase of 40 stems per acre. For both total stem
density and planted stem density, the 320 trees per acre success criterion was well -exceeded.
M
Table 1. Approximate number of seedlings planted 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 on 3.39 acre tract
prior to the first annual monitoring effort. Fifth Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services,
LLC. September 2017.
*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 nigra
River birch
50
50
400
450
Diospyros
Persimmon
0
25
0
25
virginiana
Fraxinusenns
Green ash
0
0
200
200
lvanica
Liriodendron
yellow poplar
0
20
0
20
tuli ifera
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
0
30
200
230
Platanus
Sycamore
0
120
0
120
occidentalis
Quercus alba
White oak
0
25
0
25
Quercus laevis
Turkey oak
0
25
0
25
Quercus
Swamp
0
0
100
100*
michauxii
chestnut oak
Quercus pagoda
Ch rrybark
0
0
100
100*
oak
Quercus
Live oak
0
45
0
45
virniana
Taxodium
Bald cypress
100
25
400
425
distichum
Taxodium
Pond cypress
200
0
0
200
ascendes
Total Seedlings Planted
350
365
1400
2115
Average Number Seedlings
103
108
413
624
Planted per Acre
*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 La Grange Parcel. Fifth
Year Annual Report, 2017, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. September 2017.
Plot LAG -1
Plot LAG -2
Tract Avera es
Common
Species
Number
Stems
Number
Stems
Num.
Stems per
Name
Stems
per acre
Stems
per acre
Stems
acre
Acer rubrum
Red maple
3
121
1
40
2.0+1.4
81.0+_57.3
Betula nigra
River birch
2
81
6
243
4.0+2.8
161.9+114.5
Nyssa
sylvatica
Black gum
1
41
6
243
3.5+3.5
-
141.7+143.1
Pinus taeda
Loblolly
0
0
2
81
1.0+1.4
40.5+57.3
pine
-
-
Platanus
occidentalis
Sycamore
y
2
81
2
81
2.0+0.0
81.0+0.0
Quercus
alba
White oak
1
41
0
0
0.5+0.7
20.2+28.6
Quercus
Swamp
michauxii
chestnut
0
0
1
40
0.5+0.7
20.2+_28.6
oak
Quercus
Cherrybark
pagoda
oak
1
41
0
0.0
0.5+0.7
-
20.2+28.6
-
Quercus
velutina
Black oak
1
41
1
40
1.0+0.0
-
40.5+0.0
Taxodium
Bald
distichum
10
405
5
202
7.5+2.1
303.6+143.1
cypress
All Species Totals
21
850
24
972
22.5+2.1
910.9+85.9
Table 3. Stem density for planted tree species in 100 m2 monitoring plots at La Grange Parcel.
Year 2017 Fifth Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. September 2017.
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
Betula nigra
River birch
2
81
6
243
4.0+2.8
161.9+114.5
Nyssa
sylvatica
Black gum
1
40.5
6
242.9
3.5+3.5
-
141.7+145.1
Platanus
occidentalis
Sycamore
y
2
81
2
81
2.0+0.0
-
81.0+0.0
Quercus
alba
White oak
1
40.5
0
0.0
0.5+0.7
20.2+28.6
Quercus
Swamp
michauxii
chestnut
0
0.0
1
40.5
0.5+0.7
20.2+28.6
oak
Quercus
Cherrybark
pagoda
oak
1
40.5
0
0.0
0.5+0.7
-
20.2+28.6
-
Taxodium
Bald
distichum
10
404.9
5
202.4
7.5+3.5
-
303.6+143.1
-
cypress
Planted Species: Total
Stems and Stems Per
17
688.3
20
809.7
18.5+2.1
749.0+85.9
Acre
Table 4. Relative density of species in 100 m2 monitoring plots in La Grange Parcel. Fifth
Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. September 2017.
Table 5. Stem heights for naturally colonizing tree species in 100 m2 monitoring plots at
LaGrange Parcel. Fifth Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. September 2017.
Species Common Name
Plot: LAG -1 Stem
Heights
Feet (Meters)
Percent of
Percent of
Species
Common name
Total Stems
Planted Stems
24+7 (7+2)
Nyssa sylvatica Black gum
by S ecies
by Species
Acer rubrum
Red maple
9
NA
Betula nigra
River birch
18
22
Nyssa sylvatica
Black gum
16
19
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
4
NA
Platanus
Sycamore
9
11
occidentalis
Quercus alba
White oak
2
3
Quercus
Swamp chestnut
2
3
michauxii
oak
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
2
3
Quercus
Black oak
4
NA
velutina
Taxodium
Bald cypress
33
41
distichum
Percent of
planted stems
82% 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. Fifth Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC. September 2017.
Species Common Name
Plot: LAG -1 Stem
Heights
Feet (Meters)
Plot: LAG -2
Stem Heights
Feet (Meters)
Acer rubrum Red maple
23+3 (7+1)
10+0 (3+0)
Betula nigra River birch
25+5 (8+1)
24+7 (7+2)
Nyssa sylvatica Black gum
10+0 (3+0)
11+5 (4+2)
Pinus taeda Loblolly pine
NA
18+2 (6+1)
Platanus occidentalis Sycamore
28+5 (9+1)
30+0 (9+0)
Quercus alba White oak
10+0 (3+0)
NA
Quercus michauxii Swamp chestnut oak
NA
13+0 (4±0)
Quercus pagoda Cherrybark oak
20+0 (6+0)
NA
Quercus velutina Black oak
13+0 (4+0)
7+0 (2+0)
Taxodium distichum Bald cypress
20+8 (6+2)
9+2 (3+1)
M
Table 6. Comparison of stem density per acre between the fourth (Year 2016) and fifth (Year
2017) growing seasons based on stem counts in 10 m by 10 m (0.0247 -acre). Negative number
represents a decline in stem density. Fifth Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC.
September 2017.
Seedling Species
Common Name
Fourth Year
(2016)
Monitoring,
Tree Stems Per
Acre
Fifth Year
(2017)
Monitoring,
Tree Stems Per
Acre
Change in Stem
Density Per
Acre
All Stems Planted and Volunteer
Acer rubrum
Red maple
61
81
20
Betula nigra
River birch
142
162
20
Nyssa sylvatica
Black gum
142
142
0
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
40
40
0
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
81
81
0
Quercus alba
White oak
20
20
0
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut oak
20
20
0
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
40
20
-20
Quercus velutina
Black oak
20
40
20
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
304
304
0
All Stems Totals
870
911
40
Planted Stems Onl
Betula nigra
River birch
142
162
20
Nyssa sylvatica
Black gum
142
142
0
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
81
81
0
Quercus alba
White oak
20
20
0
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut oak
20
20
0
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
40
20
-20
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
304
304
0
Planted Stems Only
749
749
0
3. Overall Condition, Maintenance and Supplemental Plantings
Vegetation establishment and growth during the 2017 growing season has been good at the La
Grange Bank 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 trees, especially sycamore and river birch, planted in 2010, now exceed 25 feet with
diameters (dbh) of 8-15 cm. The majority of the Bank acreage is now under closed canopy and
most grasses and herbaceous species have been shaded out or, expectedly will be within the next
few growing seasons. Signage has been installed at key access locations identifying the Bank
Parcel as a conservation area, contact information and listing activities that are not allowable as
per a conservation easement.
CI
4.0 Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Potential
The 3.39 -acre, La Grange Bank Parcel consists of 0.0.87 acres of potential Neuse riparian buffer
credits and 2.52 acres of nutrient (nitrogen) credits (Table 7). A separate ledger of credit releases
and transactions is kept by Greene Environmental Services, LLC.
Table 7. Potential riparian buffer and nutrient offset credits initially available at the 3.39 -acre, La
Grange Bank. Greene Environmental Services, Fifth Annual Report, September 2017.
Riparian Buffer Credits
Nutrient Offset Credits
Square feet
Acres
Square feet
Acres
Nitrogen
credits
5728.01 lbs
37,939.7
0.87
109,581.98
2.52
@2273.02
lbs/ac
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CTE,
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
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90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
Figure 1— Vicinity Map
C7EC Figure 2 — USGS Topographic Map
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
N.T.S
La Grange Bank
Figure 3 — Aerial Map
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
1 : 1 UUU Feet , 9
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by computer
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D.B. 1597, Pg. 114,
ko
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s 6049'46"1' i
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124.01'
IN 881 9'S'W 36,5.4'
N.T.S.
Neuse Buffer Area: 37,939.70 sq. ft. (0.87 acres)
FNutrient Offset Area: 109,581.98 sq. ft. (2.52 acres)
(3E Figure 4 — Survey Excerpt
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
Figure 5. Monitoring Plot Locations
Greene Environmental Services. LLC
90 Hain Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
CTE
Greene Environmental Services, LLC
90 Ham Produce Rd.
Snow Hill. NC 28530
�y
Monitoring Plot LAG -1
Monitoring Plot LAG -2
Figure 6. Monitoring Plot Photographs
[kilt,
E
0
I
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
60
6 7
•
9 10
Bald cypress
Live
2
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
15
—
0
NW
Monitoring Plot Stem Map: LAG -1
1 2 3 4 5
10 m
•
10
•
12
SE
J7 •
• 14 21
•' •
• 119
18
SW
Seedling Number
Species
60
6 7
8
9 10
SW
Seedling Number
Species
Common Name
Status in 2017
1
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
2
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
3
Quercus pagoda
Cherrybark oak
Live
4
Betula nigra
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
15
Acer rubrum
Red maple
Live
16
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
17
Acer rubrum
Red maple
Live
18
Acer rubrum
Red maple
Live
19
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
20
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
21
Quercus velutina
Black oak
Live
Figure 7. Monitoring plot map for plot LAG -1; 100 m` monitoring plot at LaGrange Parcel. Year 2017
Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC
Monitoring Plot Stem Map: LAG -2
NE SE
10
Species
'
•
•
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
2
18
9
Live
9
Taxodium distichum
S
06
4
Betula nigra
8
Live
5
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
7
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut oak
Live
7
• 19
6
Live
8
Taxodium distichum
Q
•
9
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
•
15
•
0 5
•
11
Taxodium distichum
�� •
13
12
2
Bald cypress
Live
13
Platanus occidentalis
4
•
14
Platanus occidentalis
20
Live
3
1
Blackgum
• •
16
•
Sycamore
Live
17
25 •
10 •
11
2
Quercus velutina
•
Live
22 •
Pinus taeda
1
•
4
• 24
Blackgurn
12
21
Pinus taeda
•
16
22
• •
0
0
1
17 2
3 4 5
6 7
'8' 9 14 10
24
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
10m
25
Betula nigra
NW SW
Seedling Number
Species
Common Name
Status in 2017
1
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
2
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
3
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
4
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
5
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
6
Quercus michauxii
Swamp chestnut oak
Live
7
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
8
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
9
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
10
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
11
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
12
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
Live
13
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
14
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
15
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
16
Platanus occidentalis
Sycamore
Live
17
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
18
Quercus velutina
Black oak
Live
19
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
Live
20
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgurn
Live
21
Pinus taeda
Loblolly pine
Live
22
Acer rubrum
Red maple
Live
23
Betula nigra
River birch
Live
24
Nyssa sylvatica
Blackgum
Live
25
Betula nigra
River birch
Dead
Figure 8. Monitoring plot map for plot LAG -2; 100 m` monitoring plot at LaGrange Parcel. Year 2017
Annual Report, Greene Environmental Services, LLC.