20160403 Ver 2_Year 2 Monitoring Report_BUFFER_2019_20200110

ID#* 20160403 Version* 1
Select Reviewer:*
Katie Merritt
Initial Review Completed Date 01/13/2020
Mitigation Project Submittal - 1/10/2020
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Type of Mitigation Project:*
r Stream r Wetlands W Buffer r- Nutrient Offset
(Select all that apply)
Project Contact Information
Contact Name:*
LINDSAY CROCKER
Project Information
..................................................................................................................................................................
ID#:* 20160403
Existing IDY
Project Type: r DMS r Mitigation Bank
Project Name: Pen Dell
County: Johnston
Document Information
Email Address:*
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Version:
*1
Existing Version
Mitigation Document Type:*
Mitigation Monitoring Report
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4`-�r'er<4 helm-Ao

Monitoring Report- Year 2
FINAL VERSION
Pen Dell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
Calendar Year of Data Collection: 2019

NCDEQ DMS Project Identification # 97079
NCDEQ DMS Contract # 6824
Neuse River Basin (Cataloging Unit 03020201)
USACE Action ID Number: SAW-2016-00885
NCDEQ DWR Project # 2016-0403
Johnston County, NC
Contracted Under RFP # 16-006477
Data Collection Period: June-October 2019, Submission Date: December 2019

Prepared for:

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1652

Prepared by:

Table of Contents
1 Project Summary ................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Project Background ............................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Project Location, Setting, and Existing Conditions........................................................................ 1
2.2 Mitigation Project Goals and Objectives ....................................................................................... 1
2.3 Project History, Contacts, and Timeframe .................................................................................... 2
3 Project Mitigation Components ............................................................................................................ 2
3.1 Riparian Buffer Mitigation Types and Approaches ....................................................................... 2
3.1.1 Tree and Shrub Planting Approaches .................................................................................... 3
3.1.2 Temporary and Permanent Seeding Approaches ................................................................. 3
3.1.3 Invasive Species Vegetation Treatment ................................................................................ 3
4 Performance Standards ........................................................................................................................ 3
4.1 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................................... 3
5 Monitoring Year 2 Assessment and Results .......................................................................................... 4
5.1 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................................... 4
6 References ............................................................................................................................................ 5

LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A Background Tables
Table 1 Project Attributes
Table 2 Project Areas and Asset Summary
Table 3 Project Contacts

Appendix B Visual Assessment Data
Figure 1 Current Condition Plan View (CCPV)
Table 4 Vegetation Condition Assessment
Photos Vegetation Plot Photographs

Appendix C Vegetation Plot Data
Table 5 Planted and Total Stem Counts

Appendix D NC DWR Correspondence and Approvals
Water & Land Solutions

Pen Dell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
FINAL Monitoring Report Year 2 Page 1

1 Project Summary
Water and Land Solutions, LLC (WLS) completed the construction and planting of the Pen Dell Mitigation
Project (Project) full-delivery project for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
(NCDEQ), Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) in April 2018. The Project is located in Johnston County,
NC between the Community of Archer Lodge and the Town of Wendell at 35.73125ᵒ, -78.35281ᵒ. The
Project site is located in the NCDEQ Sub-basin 03-04-06, in the Lower Buffalo Creek Priority Sub-watershed
030202011504.

The Project involved the restoration, enhancement, preservation and permanent protection of five
stream reaches (R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5) and their riparian buffers, totaling 5,064 linear feet of streams
and 633,803 square feet of riparian buffers. Monitoring Year 2 (MY2) monitoring activities occurred
between June and October 2019 (Table 2). This report presents the data for the MY2. The Project meets
the MY2 success criteria for vegetation. Based on these results, the Project is expected to meet the
Monitoring Year 3 (MY3) success criteria in 2020.
2 Project Background
2.1 Project Location, Setting, and Existing Conditions
The Project site is located in the Upper Buffalo Creek Sub-watershed 030202011502 study area of the
Neuse 01 Regional Watershed Plan, in the Wake-Johnston Collaborative Local Watershed Plan, and the
Targeted Local Watershed 03020201180050.
The catchment area is 156 acres and has an impervious cover of approximately one percent. The
dominant surrounding land uses are agriculture and mixed forest. Prior to construction, livestock had
access to Reaches R3 and R4, and the riparian buffers were less than 50 feet wide on all reaches except
R5.
2.2 Mitigation Project Goals and Objectives
The following riparian buffer mitigation site -specific goals were developed:
• Restore and protect riparian buffer functions and habitat connectivity in perpetuity by recording
a permanent conservation easement,
• Implement agricultural BMPs to reduce nonpoint source inputs to receiving waters.
To accomplish these site-specific goals, the following objectives will be measured and included with the
performance standards to document overall project success:
• Increase native species riparian buffer vegetation density/composition along streambank and
floodplain areas that meet requirements of a minimum 50-foot-wide and 260 stems/acre after
monitoring year 5,
• Prevent cattle from accessing the conservation easement boundary by installing permanent
fencing and reducing fecal coliform bacteria from the pre-restoration levels.
Water & Land Solutions

Pen Dell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
FINAL Monitoring Report Year 2 Page 2

2.3 Project History, Contacts, and Timeframe
The Project will provide riparian buffer mitigation credits in accordance with North Carolina
Administrative Code (NCAC), “Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule”, Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295, effective
November 1, 2015. Riparian buffer mitigation site viability was confirmed by DWRs April 28, 2016 letter
entitled “Site Viability for Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset – Pen Dell Located Near 2505 Wendell Rd,
Wendell, NC, Johnston County”. The referenced viability letter specified for Reach R1 that riparian buffer
credits being only being allowed outside of 25 feet off the top of stream banks. The described site viability
confirmation included a determination by DWR that Project Reaches R2, R3 (Includes Project Reach R4)
and R5 were either intermittent or perennial. A request for Stream Origin/Buffer Applicability
Determination for Project Reach R1, as required in the referenced viability letter, was submitted to DWR
on June 10, 2016. On June 20, 2016 and June 21, 2016 DWR performed the requested determination and
Reach R1 was determined to be intermittent, as communicated in the DWR June 22, 2016 letter entitled
“Subject: Buffer Determination Letter, NBRO #16-180 Johnston County”, therefore confirming Reach R1’s
eligibility for riparian buffer mitigation. See Appendix D for DWR correspondence and approval letters.
The final mitigation plan and PCN were submitted to DMS September 29, 2017 for submission to DWR
and the NCIRT. The Section 404 General (Regional and Nationwide) Permit Verification was issued January
12, 2018. Project construction started on January 29, 2018 and mitigation site earthwork was completed
on April 1, 2018, and mitigation site planting was completed on April 6, 2018, both by RiverWorks
Construction. Trueline Surveying, PC completed the as-built survey in June 2018. WLS completed the
installation of baseline monitoring devices on April 19, 2018 and the installation of survey monumentation
and conservation easement boundary marking on June 7, 2018. Monitoring year 1 occurred between April
and November 2018. Monitoring year 2 occurred in between November 2018 and October 2019.
The project background and attribute summary are presented in Table 1. Refer to Figure 1 and Table 2 for
the project areas and buffer asset information. Relevant project contact information is presented in Table
3.
3 Project Mitigation Components
3.1 Riparian Buffer Mitigation Types and Approaches
Riparian buffer mitigation included restoring, enhancing and preserving the riparian buffer functions and
corridor habitat. The project included planting to re-establish a native species vegetation riparian buffer
corridor, which extended a minimum of 50 feet from the top of the streambanks along each of the project
reaches, as well as permanently protecting those buffers with a conservation easement. Many areas of
the conservation easement had riparian buffer widths greater than 50 feet established along one or both
streambanks to provide additional functional uplift. The only exception is at the upstream end of Reach
R2, where the width of the proposed left riparian buffer varies between 20 feet and 29 feet from the right
top of bank. This narrow area of proposed riparian buffer is due to the site constraint caused by an existing
residential driveway. For project reaches proposed for restoration and enhancement, the riparian buffers
were restored through reforestation of the entire conservation easement with native species riparian
buffer vegetation. For project reach sections proposed for preservation, the existing riparian buffers are
permanently protected via the conservation easement. A significant area of the existing northern riparian
buffer for Reach R2 was incorrectly described as “Native hardwood forest, closed canopy” in the
referenced site viability letter, as this area of the buffer was a fescue lawn. WLS proposed this area for
Water & Land Solutions
Pen Dell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
FINAL Monitoring Report Year 2 Page 3
riparian buffer restoration in the approved mitigation plan (Figure 11 Riparian Buffer Mitigation).
Additionally, permanent fencing was installed along with alternative watering systems to exclude livestock
from the restored riparian buffer and conservation easement areas. Table 1 and Figure 1 (Appendix A)
provide a summary of the project components.
3.1.1 Tree and Shrub Planting Approaches
The riparian buffer planting zones for the project included the streambanks, floodplain, riparian wetland,
and upland transitional areas. The as-built planting boundaries are shown on the as-built vegetation plans
in Appendix E and Figure 1. Proposed plantings were conducted using native species bare-root trees and
shrubs, live stakes, and seedlings. Proposed plantings predominantly consisted of bare-root vegetation
and were generally planted at a total target density of 680 stems per acre. WLS implemented a riparian
buffer planting strategy that includes a combination of overstory, or canopy, and understory species. The
site planting strategy also included early successional, as well as climax species. The vegetation selections
were mixed throughout the project planting areas so that the early successional species will give way to
climax species as they mature over time.
3.1.2 Temporary and Permanent Seeding Approaches
Permanent seed mixtures of native species herbaceous vegetation and temporary herbaceous vegetation
seed mixtures were applied to all disturbed areas of the project site. Temporary and permanent seeding
were conducted simultaneously at all disturbed areas of the site during construction utilizing mechanical
broadcast spreaders. The as-built re-vegetation plan lists the utilized species, mixtures, and application
rates for permanent seeding.
3.1.3 Invasive Species Vegetation Treatment
During the project construction, invasive species exotic vegetation was either mechanically removed or
chemically treated both to control its presence and reduce its spread within the conservation easement
areas. During MY2 vegetation assessment, no areas of concern was observed within the conservation
easement boundary. Any areas identified during MY3 monitoring will be treated and documented in the
subsequent annual report.
4 Performance Standards
The applied success criteria for the Project will follow necessary performance standards and monitoring
protocols presented in final approved mitigation plan. Annual monitoring and semi-annual site visits will
be conducted to assess the condition of the project throughout the monitoring period. Monitoring
activities will be conducted for a period of five years. Specific success criteria components and evaluation
methods are described below.
4.1 Vegetation
Measurements of the final vegetative restoration success for the project will be achieving a density of not
less than 260, five-year-old stems per acre in Year 5 of monitoring. This final performance criteria shall
include a minimum of four native hardwood tree species or four native hardwood tree and native
shrub species, where no one species is greater than 50 percent of the stems. Native hardwood tree and
native shrub volunteer species will be included to meet the final performance criteria of 260 stems per
acre. Volunteer species are only counted if they are at least 18” tall. Volunteer species will only be
Water & Land Solutions
Pen Dell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
FINAL Monitoring Report Year 2 Page 4
included if surviving for at least two years and were included in the approved planting plan. In addition,
diffuse flow of runoff shall be maintained in the riparian buffer areas.
5 Monitoring Year 2 Assessment and Results
Annual monitoring was conducted during MY2 in accordance with the monitoring plan as described in the
approved mitigation plan and was intended to document the site improvements based on restoration
potential, catchment health, ecological stressors and overall constraints. All the monitoring device
locations are depicted on CCPV (Figure 1) and MY2 monitoring data results are listed in the appendices.
The Project meets the MY2 success criteria for vegetation.
5.1 Vegetation
Vegetation monitoring for MY2 was conducted utilizing the seven vegetation monitoring plots, with
monitoring conducted in accordance with the CVS-EEP Level I & II Monitoring Protocol (CVS, 2008) and
DMS Stream and Wetland Monitoring Guidelines (DMS, 2017). See Figure 1 in Appendix B for the
vegetation monitoring plot locations. All veg plots meet the interim measure of vegetative success of at
least 260 planted stems per acre at the end of the fifth monitoring year. Summary data and photographs
of each plot can be found in Appendix 3.
The MY2 vegetation monitoring was also conducted utilizing visual assessment throughout the easement.
One area of concern adjacent to Plot 7 was found to be under the 0.1-acre threshold for low stem density.
This area will be monitored closely. No other areas of concern were identified.
Water & Land Solutions

Pen Dell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
FINAL Monitoring Report Year 2 Page 5

6 References
Lee, M., Peet R., Roberts, S., Wentworth, T. CVS-NCEEP Protocol for Recording Vegetation, Version 4.1,
2007.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Mitigation Services, Wildlands
Engineering, Inc. 2015. Neuse 01 Regional Watershed Plan Phase II. Raleigh, NC.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Mitigation Services, 2017. Annual
Monitoring Report Format, Data and Content Requirement. Raleigh, NC.
Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina,
third approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. NCDENR Division of Parks and
Recreation. Raleigh, NC.
United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual.
Technical Report Y-87-1. Environmental Laboratory. US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment
Station. Vicksburg, MS.
___. 1997. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Research Program. Technical Note VN-RS-4.1. Environmental
Laboratory. U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Vicksburg, MS.
___. 2003. Stream Mitigation Guidelines, April 2003, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Wilmington District.
Water and Land Solutions, LLC (2017). Pen Dell Stream and Riparian Buffer Mitigation Plan. NCDMS,
Raleigh, NC.

Lake Wendell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
Appendices

Lake Wendell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
Appendix A – Background Tables

Table 1. Buffer Project Attributes
Project Name Pen Dell Mitigation Project
Hydrologic Unit Code 03020201
River Basin Neuse
Geographic Location (Lat, Long) 35˚43’ 52.51’’ N 78˚21’ 10.12’’ W
Site Protection Instrument (DB, PG) 85, 148
Total Credits (BMU)371,215
Types of Credits Riparian Buffer
Mitigation Plan Date Nov‐18
Initial Planting Date Mar‐18
Baseline Report Date Nov‐18
MY1 Report Date Dec‐18
MY2 Report Date Dec‐19
MY3 Report Date
MY4 Report Date
MY5 Report Date
Table 2. Buffer Project Areas and Assets
RIPARIAN BUFFER (15A NCAC 02B.0295)
Location Jurisdictional Streams Restoration Type Reach
ID/Component
Buffer Width
(ft)Total Area (sf)Creditable
Area (sf)*
Initial
Credit
Ratio (x:1)
% Full
Credit
Final Credit
Ratio (x:1)
Riparian
Buffer
Credits
Convertible to
Nutrient Offset
(Yes or No)
Nutrient
Offset: N
(lbs)
Nutrient
Offset: P
(lbs)
Rural or Urban Subject or Nonsubject Restoration 20-29 1 75%1.33333 0.000 - 0.000
Rural or Urban Subject or Nonsubject Restoration Restoration 0-100 286,888 286,888 1 100%1.00000 286,888.000 Yes 14,970.199 --
Rural or Urban Subject or Nonsubject Restoration 101-200 1 33%3.03030 0.000 - 0.000
Rural or Urban Subject or Nonsubject Enhancement 20-29 2 75%2.66667 0.000 - 0.000
Rural or Urban Subject or Nonsubject Enhancement Cattle Exc. Enh 0-100 124,088 124,088 2 100%2.00000 62,044.000 No - 0.000
Rural or Urban Subject or Nonsubject Enhancement 101-200 2 33%6.06061 0.000 - 0.000
410,976 348,932.000 14,970.199 0.000
136,992
Location Jurisdictional Streams Restoration Type Reach
ID/Component
Buffer Width
(ft)Total Area (sf)Creditable
Area (sf)*
Initial
Credit
Ratio (x:1)
% Full
Credit
Final Credit
Ratio (x:1)
Riparian
Buffer
Credits
Rural Subject Preservation 20-29 10 75%13.33333 0.000
Rural Subject Preservation Preservation 0-100 222,827 136,992 10 100%10.00000 13,699.200
Rural Subject Preservation 101-200 10 33%30.30303 0.000
Rural Nonsubject Preservation 20-29 5 75%6.66667 0.000
Rural Nonsubject Preservation 0-100 5 100%5.00000 0.000
Rural Nonsubject Preservation 101-200 5 33%15.15152 0.000
Urban Subject or Nonsubject Preservation 20-29 3 75%4.00000 0.000
Urban Subject or Nonsubject Preservation 0-100 3 100%3.00000 0.000
Urban Subject or Nonsubject Preservation 101-200 3 33%9.09091 0.000
136,992 13,699.200
547,968 362,631.200
*Buffers must be at minimum 20' wide for riparian buffer credit, buffers must be 50' wide for nutrient offset credit
*When preservation areas exceed the total eligible preservation area, select the areas with the best credit ratios as the creditable areas.
Regulatory direction for Riparian Buffer in this table follows NCAC rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295, effective November 1, 2015.
Regulatory direction for Nutrient Offset in this table follows Nutrient Offsets Payments Rule 15A NCAC 02B. 0240, amended effective September 1, 2010 and
DWR – 1998. Methodology and Calculations for determining Nutrient Reductions associated with Riparian Buffer Establishment.
N.O. calculation based on effectiveness in 30 years, with DWR's 146.40 lb/ac P; and 2,273.02 lb/ac N. The N credit ratio used is 19.16394 sf per pound. The P credit ratio used is 297.54097 sf per pound.
If Converted to Nutrient
Offset
*Area eligible for preservation may be no more than 25% of total area, where total area is back-calculated with the equation R+E/0.75.
SUBTOTALS
TOTALS
SUBTOTALS
ELIGIBLE PRESERVATION AREA
Mitigation Provider Water & Land Solutions, LLC7721 Six Forks Road, Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27615Primary Project POC Catherine Manner Phone: [phone]
Construction Contractor RiverWorks Construction114 W. Main Street, Suite 106, Clayton, NC 27520Primary Project POC Bill Wright Phone: [phone]
Survey Contractor (Existing
Condition Surveys)
WithersRavenel
115 MacKenan Drive, Cary, NC 27511Primary Project POC Marshall Wight, PLS Phone: [phone]
Survey Contractor (Conservation
Easement, Construction and As-
Builts Surveys)
True Line Surveying, PC
205 West Main Street, Clayton, NC 27520Primary Project POC Curk T. Lane, PLS 919-359-0427
Planting Contractor RiverWorks Construction114 W. Main Street, Suite 106, Clayton, NC 27520Primary Project POC Bill Wright Phone: [phone]
Seeding Contractor RiverWorks Construction114 W. Main Street, Suite 106, Clayton, NC 27520Primary Project POC Bill Wright Phone: [phone]
Seed Mix Sources Green Resource5204 Highgreen Ct., Colfax, NC 27235Rodney Montgomery Phone: [phone]
Nursery Stock Suppliers Foggy Mountain Nursery (Live Stakes)797 Helton Creek Rd, Lansing, NC 28643Glenn Sullivan Phone: [phone]Dykes & Son Nursery (Bare Root Stock)825 Maude Etter Rd, Mcminnville, Tn 37110Jeff Dykes Phone: [phone]
Monitoring Performers Water & Land Solutions, LLC7721 Six Forks Road, Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27615Stream Monitoring POC Emily Dunnigan Phone: [phone]Vegetation Monitoring POC Emily Dunnigan Phone: [phone]
Table 3. Project Contacts
Pen Dell Mitigation Project (NCDEQ DMS Project ID# 97079)

Lake Wendell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
Appendix B – Visual Assessment Data

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Wendell RdLake Wend
ell
R
d
566/323
890/768
607/5263
485/364
31+3032+0033+0034+0035+0036+0037+0038+0039+0040+0041+0042+0043+0044+0046+00
47+00
49+00
51+00
53+00
54+92 10+0011+0012+0013+0014+0015+0016+0017+0018+0019+0020+0021+0022+0023+0024+0025+0026+0027+0028+00
30+00
45+00
48+00
50+00
52+00
54+00
29+00
31+00
12
5
7
6
4
323/283
566/364
849/526
FIGURE1Pen Dell Mitigation ProjectJohnston County, North Carolina NAD 1983 2011 State PlaneNorth Carolina FIPS 3200 FT US
Riparian Buffer & Nutrient Offset BufferMitigation Plan View
Legend
Conservation Easement30ft Utility EasementStreamTop of BankCVS Plot OriginCVS Plots
Success Criteria MetSuccess Criteria Not MetBuffer Mitigation Types
Preservation
Enhancement
Restoration
0 175 350Feet ±
NCDMS Contract No. 6824 NCDMS Project No. 97079
December 2019MY2
Access point:35.731075°,-78.351133°
Access point:35.727314°,-78.357994°
Access point:35.732578°,-78.350461°
Aerial: Google Earth Winter 2019
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
Vegetation Condition AssessmentPen Dell Mitigation Project (NCDEQ DMS Project ID# 97079) Table 4. ProjectPlanted Acreage110.11. Bare AreasVery limited cover of both woody and herbaceous material.1 acrePattern and Color00.000.0%2. Low Stem Density AreasWoody stem densities clearly below target levels based on MY3, 4, or 5 stem count criteria.0.1 acresPattern and Color00.000.0%00.000.0%3. Areas of Poor Growth Rates or VigorAreas with woody stems of a size class that are obviously small given the monitoring year.0.25 acresPattern and Color00.000.0%00.000.0%Easement Acreage215.954. Invasive Areas of Concern4Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map scale).1000 SFPattern and Color00.000.0%5. Easement Encroachment Areas3Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map scale).nonePattern and Color00.000.0%CCPV DepictionNumber of PolygonsCombined Acreage% of Easement AcreageVegetation CategoryDefinitionsMapping Threshold% of Planted AcreageTotalCumulative TotalVegetation CategoryDefinitionsNumber of PolygonsMapping ThresholdCCPV DepictionCombined Acreage
Veg Plot 1 (MY-0 )
Veg Plot 2 (MY-0 )
Veg Plot 1 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)
Veg Plot 2 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)
Veg Plot 3 (MY-0 )
Veg Plot 4 MY-0 )
Veg Plot 3 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)
Veg Plot 4 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)
Veg Plot 5 (MY-0 )
Veg Plot 6 (MY-0 )
Veg Plot 5 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)
Veg Plot 6 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)
Veg Plot 7 MY-0 )Veg Plot 7 April 12, 2018 (MY-00)

Lake Wendell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
Appendix C – Vegetation Plot Data

EEP Project Code 2.  Project Name: Pen‐DelTable 5PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all T PnoLS P‐all TAcer rubrum Tree 22114112113 1331444122333Alnus serrulata Tag Alder, Smooth AldeShrub Tree 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 333333333Betula nigra River Birch, Red Birch Tree 2 2 2111222111333 999111111141414Carpinus caroliniana Shrub Tree 1 1 1111333 5559910101010Carya Hickory Tree1Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Shrub Tree 3 3 3111444666666Diospyros virginiana American Persimmon, Tree111 111222222Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash, Red Ash Tree 1 1 1111222222222222101010101010101010Ilex verticillata Winterberry Shrub Tree 3 3 3333333333Lindera benzoin Northern Spicebush Shrub Tree 2 2 2222333131313Liquidambar styraciflua Sweet Gum, Red Gum Tree 1 2 2 5 3Liriodendron tulipifera Tree111111222555131313Magnolia virginiana Shrub Tree111111222 222666888141414Platanus occidentalis Sycamore, Plane‐tree Tree 2 2 2444444111111111141414141414Populus deltoides Tree1Quercus michauxii Basket Oak, Swamp ChTree 1 1 1333222 333 999111111999Quercus nigra Water Oak, Paddle OakTree 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 444333999Quercus phellos Willow Oak Tree111222 111 111111666888888Rhus copallinum Shrub Tree3Rosa palustris Swamp Rose Shrub Vine22 439Salix nigra Black Willow Tree 117Sambucus canadensis Common Elderberry Shrub Tree 553Ulmus rubra Slippery Elm, Red Elm Tree1123Viburnum nudum Southern Wild Raisin, PShrub Tree1118 8 14 9 9 12 13 13 15 13 13 21 9 9 14 19 19 22 7 7 8 78 78 106 100 100 279 132 132 13277955788988115579910556151520151523161616323.7 323.7 566.6 364.2 364.2 485.6 526.1 526.1 607 526.1 526.1 849.8 364.2 364.2 566.6 768.9 768.9 890.3 283.3 283.3 323.7 450.9 450.9 612.8 578.1 578.1 1613 763.1 763.1 763.1Stem countCurrent Plot Data (MY2 2019)Scientific Name Common Name Species Type002‐01‐0001 002‐01‐0002 002‐01‐0003 002‐01‐0004 002‐01‐0005 002‐01‐0006 002‐01‐0007Annual MeansMY2 (2019) MY1 (2018) MY0 (2018)size (ares)size (ACRES)Species countStems per ACRE10.0210.0210.0210.0210.0210.0210.0270.1770.1770.17

Lake Wendell Mitigation Project (Riparian Buffer Mitigation)
Appendix D – NC DWR Correspondence and Approvals

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
April 28, 2016
Scott Hunt
Water & Land Solutions, LLC
11030 Raven Ridge Rd, Suite 119
Raleigh, NC 27614
(via electronic mail)
PAT MCCRORY
Governor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretary
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Director
DWR Project #: 2016-0403
Re: Site Viability for Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset — Pen Dell
Located near 2505 Wendell Rd, Wendell, NC
Johnston County
Dear Mr. Hunt,
On April 8, 2016, Katie Merritt, with the Division of Water Resources (DWR), assisted you and
others from Water & Land Solutions, LLC at the proposed Pen Dell Mitigation Site (Site) in
Wendell, NC. The Site is located in the Neuse River Basin within the 8-digit Hydrologic Unit
Code 03020201. The Site is being proposed as part of a full -delivery stream restoration project
for the Division of Mitigation Services (RFP #16-006477). The Interagency Review Team (IRT)
was also present onsite. At your request, Ms. Merritt performed a site assessment of features onsite
to determine suitability for buffer and nutrient offset mitigation. Features are more accurately shown
in the attached maps signed by Ms. Merritt on April 25, 2016. If approved, mitigating this site could
provide stream mitigation credits, riparian buffer credits and/or nutrient offset credits.
Ms. Merritt's evaluation of the features from Top of Bank (TOB) out to 200' for buffer and nutrient
offset mitigation pursuant to Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (effective November 1, 2015) and Rule
15A NCAC 02B .0240 is provided in the table below:
Feature
Classification
15ubiect
Adiacent Land uses
Buffer
2Nutrient
Mitigation Type/Comments
to Buffer
credit
Offset Viable
Rule
Viable
at 2,273
Ibs acre
R1 (wood
Undetermined
n/a
Active and pre-existing
n/a
Yes
Restoration for nutrient offset outside
line to road)
conveyance
row crop;
of 25' on both sides of conveyance w/
Land use along the
plantings and easement starting at TOB
conveyance consisted
back max 200';
of a +/- 25' narrow
Need stream determination by DWR if
forested fringe w/
pursuing buffer credit; if feature is a
canopy from 1999-
stream, feature is viable for buffer
2010
restoration per 15A NCAC 02B .0295
(o)(3) outside of 25' on both sides of
conveyance.
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300

Pen Dell Mitigation Site
April 28, 2016
Page 2 of 2
R2 (Wendell
Rd to below
pond)
stream
Yes
Native hardwood
forest, closed canopy
Yes
No
Preservation per 15A NCAC 02B .0295
(o)(5)
R3 (dirt path
stream
Yes
All pasture actively
Yes
Yes
entire 50' from TOB and within all
crossing to
grazed by cattle with
clusters of closed canopy hardwoods=
Lake
mix of Native
Enhancement per 15A NCAC 02B .0295
Wendell Rd
hardwood forest
(6); outside of forested areas (pine tree
canopy
clustered areas are not viable for credit)
=Restoration
R5
Stream
Yes
Native hardwood
Yes
No
Preservation per 15A NCAC 02B .0295
forest, closed canopy
(o)(5)
'Subjectivity calls were determined using the 1:24,000 scale quadrangle topographic map prepared by USGS and the most
recent printed version of the soil survey map prepared by the NRCS
2For nutrient offset viability to be determined, the landowner must provide proof in writing that the land is being used for
agriculture or has been used for agriculture previously (prior to rule baseline). Dates, supported by photos or other
written records, must be included to confirm that the uses of the open fields onsite are/were for hay crop cultivation/row
crop/cattle.
Maps showing the project site and the features are provided and are signed by Ms. Merritt on
April 25, 2016. This letter should be provided in all future mitigation plans for this Site. In
addition, all vegetative plantings, performance criteria and other mitigation requirements for
riparian restoration, enhancement and preservation must follow the requirements in 15A NCAC
02B .0295 to be eligible for buffer and/or nutrient offset credits. Where buffer and nutrient
offset credits are viable in the same area, only one credit type is allowed to be generated for
credit, not both.
For any areas depicted as not being viable for nutrient offset credit, one could propose a different
measure other than riparian restoration/enhancement, along with supporting calculations and
sufficient detail to support estimates of load reduction, for review by the DWR to determine
viability for nutrient offset according to 15A NCAC 02B .0240.
Please contact Katie Merritt at (919)-807-6371 if you have any questions regarding this
correspondence.
Sincerely,
Karen Higgins, Supervisor J
401 and Buffer Permitting Branch
KAH/km
Attachments: Site Aerial Map, USGS Topographic Map, 1999 Aerial Photo, 2010 Aerial Photo
cc:File Copy (Katie Merritt)
DMS — Jeff Schaffer (via electronic mail)

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