20170887 Ver 1_USACE 2019 AMR Comments_20200224

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF:
CESAW-RG/Dailey February 24, 2020
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Wildlands Annual Monitoring Report Comment Memo for: Cane Creek
UMBI, Bethel Branch Mitigation Site, South Fork Mitigation Site, and UT to Pine Hill
Branch Mitigation Site; and Falling Creek UMBI, Grantham Branch Mitigation Site, and
Falling Creek Mitigation Site
*General request for future Wildlands monitoring reports — Please include a paragraph
in the beginning of the monitoring report that summarizes visual assessments of the site
boundary (and crossings) and confirmation of no encroachments. Please also ensure
this paragraph outlines any problem areas associated with the monitoring period/report.
SAW-2016-02365 / Wildlands Engineering, Inc. / Cane Creek UMBI / Bethel Branch
Mitigation Site / Year 1 Monitoring Report Comments:
1. UT3 having only 3 days of consecutive flow and 19 days of flow total is
concerning. Wildlands started data recording in May, so next year may be a
different story but definitely something we will want to monitor closely;
2. Wildlands reported low density and invasive areas, but have plans to supplement
plant and conduct treatments;
3. Regarding as -built comments, Wildlands reseeded bare areas and plan to install
another wetland gauge before MY2 starts; and
4. There was no mention in the report regarding flow issues in the perennial
reaches. But when we did the as -built walk UT2 Reach 2 was dry. It would have
been nice to have this observation recorded in the report, even if it's explained
away by low monthly rainfall data.
SAW-2016-02364 / Wildlands Engineering, Inc. / Cane Creek UMBI / South Fork
Mitigation Site / Year 1 Monitoring Report Comments:
1. Scour areas from 2018 hurricanes on SF4A Reaches 2 and 4 were identified as
stabilized in Section 2.4, but then only Reach 4 is mentioned in Section 2.6 and
only Reach 2 is mentioned in Section 2.7. It's a bit confusing;
2. Overall veg appears ok with 8 of 9 plots meeting criteria. One patch of Chinese
privet is being monitored. 30-day flows and bankfull events were recorded; and
3. A few observations from the photo log:

a. Photo point 10 (SF4A R4) downstream — left bank veg appears patchy for
over one year growth. Something to check;
b. Photo points 13 (UT1 R2) and 19 (UT4 R2) - log sills appear to possibly
be piping. Something to check; and
c. Multiple photo points along SF4 R2 and UT2 - veg appears to be within
the channel. Something to watch/manage in MY2.
SAW-2016-00219 / Wildlands Engineering, Inc. / Cane Creek UMBI / UT to Pine Hill
Branch Mitigation Site / Year 1 Monitoring Report Comments:
1. Overall it appears the site is off to a good start. Wildlands plan to treat the small
amount of Tree of Heaven onsite and assess/remediate 1 piping in -stream
structure in 2020. 30-day flows and bankfull events were recorded;
2. Veg was noted in the channel at cross-section 4 and the July photo log shows
veg in the several enhancement reach channels (UTC, UT1 Ca, UT1 Da, UT1 Fa).
It's early but this is something we'll want to watch and possibly ask Wildlands
about proposed maintenance activities (if any); and
3. In Section 2.5, please identify the number of installed flow gauges and crest
gauges.
SAW-2015-00940 / Wildlands Engineering, Inc. / Falling Creek UMBI / Falling Creek
Mitigation Site / Year 2 Monitoring Report Comments:
1. The map legend for figures provided in the report are a little confusing. For
example, the map legend for Figures 2a & 2b, under Wetland Approach, have
wetland re-establishment in a bolder, red color, while Figures 3.1-3.5 show
wetland re-establishment as a pinkish color. The problem is, the Vegetation Plot
Condition, Criteria Not Met is shown as red also. It looks as though the majority
of the site is "not meeting the criteria", rather than what it is supposed to be,
which is wetland re-establishment. Please correct the legend with the Year 3
monitoring report; and
2. Considering there was a significant amount of the project that required vegetative
removal (approximately 13,004 linear feet of in -stream vegetation removed; and
approximately 6 acres of invasive species removed), please anticipate the
request for a more detailed adaptive management plan if the Year 3 monitoring
report also demonstrates this level of vegetative removal;
a. In the future, please provide (before and after) representative photographs
for the stream channels, demonstrating the vegetation has been removed,
and the channel is continuing to function as intended. The July 2019
photographs make it very difficult to decipher where the actual channels
are.

SAW-2017-00549 / Wildlands Engineering, Inc. / Falling Creek UMBI / Grantham
Branch Mitigation Site / Year 2 Monitoring Report Comments:
1. Overall, based on the data results and photos the site looks like its establishing
well;
2. Multiple photos showed herbaceous veg in the channels in April. Was veg
management later performed as a maintenance task; and
3. For determining the March 4th growing season start date, what species was used
for the soil temperature bud burst correlation? Can this information please be
included in future monitoring reports.
Digitally signed by
DAILEY.SAMANT DAILEY.SAMANTHA.J.1387567
948
HAII 387567948 Date: 2020.02.2414:27:02
-05,00,
Samantha Dailey
Project Manager
Raleigh Field Office