20141149 Ver 9_DWR Yr2 report comments_20200211

Strickland, Bev
From: Merritt, Katie
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 3:47 PM
To: Ray Holz
Subject: Benton Branch Mon Report Review
Hey Raymond,
I have finalized my review of the Benton Branch Monitoring Report. My comments on the report are as follows:
• No stem height data is provided. This is required for all vegetation data under 0295 and is part of the
Qualitative data expected by DWR. Please provide the height data if you have it, and make sure this is
included in all future monitoring reports. If you don't have it, please justify why this data wasn't recorded.
• 20% of plots failed. However, there is no reasoning provided as to why the plots had poor survivorship. Last
year's data suggests that plot 12 had 14 volunteer sycamores and 4 volunteer winged elms. However, all of
those are gone when comparing the plot data for this report. Additionally, Plot 14 had 4 black walnut
volunteers last year, and now all those are gone. Explain what may have happened for such a large amount
of stems to be missing.
• Is the data for the failed plots representative of the areas around them?
• Based on the information provided in the report, DWR will not require a supplemental planting at this
time. However, RS intends to establish 4 transects around the failed plots (3, 12-15). Depending on the
transect data you collect and provide in the 2020 monitoring report for Year 3, additional planting may be
required by DWR.
• Bond for this site expired January 2020. Since no replanting is required at this time and no major issues
were noted in the report, DWR will authorize a 20% bond reduction in the current bond amount for the
Benton Branch site. However, in order to receive bond reduction approvals in the future, DWR will require
the height data be submitted in the report for all planted stems in the plots.
Once I have received a response to Items above and the bond has been secured for the next monitoring year, DWR will
issue your credit release for the site. Since no replanting is required at this time, DWR expects to issue a full credit
release.
Thank you,
Katie
Katie Merritt
Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: 919-707-3637
Work Cell: 919-500-0683
Website: http://Portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/401bufferpermitting
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