20090049 Ver 2_IRT Site Visit (11-5-19) Meeting Minutes_20191113

Strickland, Bev
From: Wiesner, Paul
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 11:55 AM
To: Kim Browning; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Davis, Erin B; Haupt, Mac
Cc: Tsomides, Harry; Allen, Melonie; Phillips, Kelly D
Subject: Glade Cr. II_DMS# 92343: IRT Site Visit (11-5-19) Meeting Minutes
Attachments: Glade Cr II_92343_IRT Site Visit Memo -Nov 2019.pdf
The meeting minutes from the November 5, 2019 Glade II site visit are attached for your review.
Please let us know if you have any additional comments, questions or concerns.
Harry will include the final meeting minutes (including any additional IRT comments) in the MY4 report as an Appendix.
Thanks
Paul Wiesner
Western Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
828-273-1673 Mobile
Pau l.wiesnera-ncdenr.gov
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Drive
Suite 102
Asheville, N.C. 28801
D,EQ
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

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ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
TIM BAUMGARTNER
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
PROJECT SITE MEETING MINUTES
Glade Creek II Stream and Wetland Restoration Site, Alleghany County
Meeting Date: 11/5/2019
DMS Project ID 92343
USACE ACTION ID: SAW 2009-00589
I]TIiT/:id<11011LRl
11/13/2019
In attendance:
Kim Browning (USACE), Erin Davis (NCDWR) Mac Haupt (NCDWR), Paul Wiesner (NCDMS),
Harry Tsomides (NCDMS), Melonie Allen (NCDMS), Kelly Phillips (NCDMS)
Meeting Summary
The field review meeting was held at the request of DMS in order to explain the history and
introduce the site to IRT members, view and discuss specific areas of concern that have
developed thus far during the monitoring period, and identify any required action items ahead
of project close out (Project Closeout proposed in 2021).
This Design -Bid -Build project is a 5-year monitoring project instituted in 2007 and is not subject
to a credit release schedule. The project is currently undergoing Monitoring Year 4 (MY04)
mitigation success monitoring. The following is a summary of the field review and items discussed
during the meeting:
• The group met at the downstream crossing around STA 27+00, and walked to the
downstream end of the project (STA 33+00); the group then walked upstream observing
stream and riparian condition; nothing was noted as a concern initially.
• Walking upstream, some erosion was observed along the left stream bank (facing
downstream) around STA 24+50. In addition, slightly farther upstream the group noted a
section of scour underneath the brush mattress installed from STA 22+70 to STA 23+30
(60 linear feet) during construction. DMS noted that their staff had placed several
hundred live stakes along this section during the past dormant season in an effort to
arrest the instability, however the live staking has had limited success. The IRT noted their
preference would be to conduct limited repair work to address the scoured left bank at
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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Mitigation Services
217 W. Jones Street 1 1652 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
919.707.8976

the toe of the steep hillslope and the undercut brush mattress segment. In the absence
of repair work, IRT noted that close out credits could be affected (estimated at approx.
150 If covering the brush mattress and erosional reach). It was noted that this section is
currently being tracked as Enhancement Level 1 at a credit ratio of 1:5 to 1. It was noted
that this left bank area is the portion of the project where the stream flows at the toe of
a steep hillslope, which would make repair access difficult. DMS agreed with the concerns
noted; discussion ensued on whether the issues are considered localized, and the biggest
concern for IRT in this area was the undercut brush mattress that Mac felt could migrate
upstream if left unrepaired. There was brief discussion on the trade-off between the
financial burdens of DMS repairs versus recouping potentially lost credits. DMS noted the
financial burdens and time constraints of hiring design firms and implementing even
simple repairs under the State contracting structure and requirements, in order to get a
contractor to ultimately address the instability issues noted.
• The group moved farther upstream where DMS noted a head cut that has formed at the
perimeter / downgradient drainage point of preservation Wetland B. The approx. 2-foot
head cut is 15-20 feet away from Glade Creek nearest STA 22+60. This outlet drainage
point for the wetland was packed with rock during construction as indicated in the
designer record drawings and as built photos; however, since construction the rock has
been undercutting slowly, and the boulder and cobble have shifted around, leading to
instability at that location. The IRT felt strongly that this head cut would need to be
repaired prior to project close out. DMS indicated that access to that particular area may
not be as difficult as accessing the steep hillslope area. The group agreed that this would
be an action item prior to close out. The IRT noted a strong preference that since the head
cut repair would be implemented, that the hillslope segment and undercut brush
mattress should also be addressed as part of the repair action. While no decisions were
made in the field, DMS indicated a general willingness to address the erosional hillslope
areas and undercut mattress along with the head cut.
• The group moved farther upstream and the next area discussed at length was the UT to
Glade Creek reach, a restored channel starting with a 129-LF preservation segment and
into a 319-LF restoration segment traveling through restoration Wetland D for
approximately 75 LF. As noted in the MY3 monitoring report, parts of this section (approx.
50 LF) have been experiencing increases in fine sediments since construction, due to
wetland vegetation establishment and trapping of sediments transported into this section.
It was noted that there is abundant sediment supply due to upstream unprotected off -
site reach impacted by cattle. DWR pointed out the beginning and end of where they felt
the siltation has resulted in a loss of adequate channel features (approx. 80 LF), and DMS
flagged the areas for tracking purposes. It was noted that farther down this channel
towards Glade Creek, there were flow conditions indicating a stream channel, but that
hydrology conditions at project close out would determine the ultimate credit yield for all
of the UT to Glade Creek.
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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Mitigation Services
217 W. Jones Street 1 1652 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
919.707.8976

• The preservation reach was discussed and portions of Wetland A were called into
question where field conditions did not reflect some small pocket streamside
jurisdictional preserved wetlands that had been identified during project development.
DMS acknowledged the lack of apparent pocket wetlands at the top of UT to Glade
(approx. 0.03 acres), and it was discussed as a possibility that if DMS staff could
substantiate wetland acreage surrounding the larger preservation wetland B onsite, that
the 0.03 acres diminished/lost wetland could be offset by additional preservation acreage
agreed upon at close out.
• Streamside vegetation was not a major concern as vegetation seems dense throughout;
however, it was noted that some streamside areas have been heavily recruited by tag
alders (Alnus serrulata). The site is very conducive to tag alder growth, which helps to
stabilize the streams and floodplain. A potentially concerning cucumber vine occurrence
was noted by IRT that was later determined by DMS to be Sicyos angulatus (One -seed
burr cucumber). DMS indicated that the occurrence would be treated at the next
contracted invasive treatment scheduled for early 2020. It was noted that the site is under
an active contract for invasive vegetation treatment, that a small kudzu infestation had
just been treated, and that remaining scattered rose, bittersweet vine, and other
occurrences would be addressed under the current contract in advance of project close
out.
• The meeting concluded with DMS indicating their intention to determine next steps and
develop a plan for addressing the wetland head cut and nearby areas of instability noted
along Glade Creek, and catalog other concerns accordingly.
Meeting notes compiled by-
Harry Tsomides, Project Manager
Division of Mitigation Services
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Tel. [phone]
[e-mail]
NORTHCAROLINAD_E Q�/ I
Department at Emkoomental 0w111Y
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Mitigation Services
217 W. Jones Street 1 1652 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
919.707.8976