20080229 Ver 1_Year 2 Monitoring Report Review_20091102

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins
Governor Director
November 2, 2009
Mr. Monte Matthews
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Re: Forrest Creek Stream Mitigation Bank
Orange County
Year 2 Monitoring Report Comments-
DWQ #08-0229
Dear. Mr. Matthews:
Dee Freeman
Secretary
We have reviewed the Year 2 Monitoring Report for the above-referenced site. Our review of
the report has generated the following comments:
The stream stability data appear to indicate that the stream continues to perform well.
This should improve as woody vegetation along the banks gets larger. The report
documents the presence of Commelina (presumably the invasive Asiatic dayflower,
Commelina communis) in the riffles in both Forrest Creek and the tributary. Thick
growth of such invasive species can result in the accumulation of sediment and formation
of mid-channel bars, which can result in stream flows being diverted toward the stream
banks. The channel should be closely monitored for indications of bank scour due to
diversion. Some control of this species may be warranted.
• The Year 2 monitoring report indicatgs that while planted stem counts along the main
channel of Forrest Creek averaged 566 stems per acre (one plot below 320 stems per
acre), the average along the tributary was 376 stems per acre. Furthermore, three plots
along the tributary were below the five-year target of 320 stems per acre, and two
additional plots had 324 stems per acre. The report states that supplemental planting is
planned sometime this winter.
DWQ has done a partial release of Neuse riparian buffer credits for this site, with the
balance of the credits to be released fallowing the replanting effort.
• The report states that kudzu is present in monitoring plot VQT2, and a photograph of
XST5 appears to show kudzu. This invasive species should be treated aggressively to
prevent it from becoming a problem later on.
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit One
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 NorthCarolina
Location: 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] awally
Internet: http:llh2o.enr.state,nc,us/ncwetlands/
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
Mr. Matthews
Forrest Creek Mitigation Bank - Year 2 Monitoring Report
Page 2 of 2
11/2/2009
Despite the mitigative activities needed at this site, DWQ feels that the site has performed
adequately during it's second year, and DWQ supports the release of mitigation credits per the
credit release schedule outlined in the MBI.
Please feel free to contact Eric Kulz at [phone] if you have any questions regarding this
project.
Sincerely,
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Eric Kulz)
Rich Mogensen - Mid-Atlantic Mitigation, LLC, 1960 Derita Road, Concord, NC 28027