20200034 Ver 1_Post-Contract site visit notes for review_20200219 (2)

Strickland, Bev
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
IRT members,
Crocker, Lindsay
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 5:12 PM
Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Kim Browning; Davis, Erin B; Haupt, Mac;
Wilson, Travis W.; Dunn, Maria T.; Barnes, Kyle W CIV USARMY CESAW (US)
Raymond Holz ([e-mail]); Alex Baldwin; Worth Creech
Pierce Terrace Post -Contract site visit notes for review
Pierce Terrace - PostContractlRT Site Visit Notes_2-19-20_.pdf
Follow up
Flagged
Please see the attached notes developed by RS from the Pierce Terrace site visit that occurred last Monday
2/10.
Please also provide email feedback for approval and/or if there are additions or corrections.
Thanks for your time and review,
Lindsay
Lindsay Crocker
Eastern Regional Supervisor
NC DEQ Division of Mitigation Services
217 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27603
919.594.3910
[e-mail]
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties unless the content is exempt by statute or other regulation.
1

Pierce Terrace Wetland Mitigation Site
Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit: 02-19-2020
NC DMS Project # 100139 NC DMS Contract # 7907-01 RFP # 16-007907
Task 1 a.) Inter -Agency Post Contract Site Visit: Site Visit Notes
As specified within RFP #16-007907, Restoration Systems (RS) held an on -site meeting with regulatory
agencies and DMS staff to discuss the Pierce Terrace Wetland Mitigation Site (PT) on February 10, 2020.
Below is a list of attendees and general site visit notes.
Attendees:
USACE:
Kyle Barns
Todd Tugwell
Kim Browning
NC WRC:
- Travis Wilson
- Maria Dunn
Site Visit Notes:
NC DMS:
- Lindsay Crocker
- Jerimiah Dow
NC DWR:
- Mac Haupt
- Erin Davis
Restoration Systems:
- Alex Baldwin
- Raymond Holz
- Worth Creech
The PT mitigation approach includes the filling of ditches throughout existing agricultural fields,
including ditches around the Hofler Mitigation Site. In this landscape setting, ditches alter
hydrology by draining surface water from precipitation events, influencing the hydroperiod of the
seasonally high water table to a degree where historic wetland hydrology does not exist. RS is
proposing the restoration of wetland hydrology by retaining precipitation inputs on -site, which
will be achieved by filling in the ditches, eliminating the surface water outlet, and providing diffuse
flow across the soil surface.
- Early coordination between DMS, Albemarle Restoration, and the IRT will be imperative to ensure
the design and implementation of the PT project will not exasperate IRT concerns regarding the
Hofler Site. Site visit participants discussed the potential of monitoring the Hofler Site during the
PT project, but specifics were not detailed. The success of the PT Site is not dependent upon
modifications to the Hofler Site. However, RS believes the implementation of the PT Site could
allow for an improvement to the Hofer Site.
Regarding the restoration approach of the PT Site, the group had significant discussions regarding
the hydrological source of the proposed non-riverine hardwood flat and swamp wetlands. RS
elaborated that within this area of the State, hydrology for non -riparian wetlands like PT is driven
primarily by precipitation as well as secondary inputs from overland flow. The primary purpose
and effect of the existing ditch networks are to remove precipitation driven surface water from
the landscape, rather than lower the water table. This is evident at the PT site as the collector
ditches are gently graded from 0.5 — 2 ft as they approach the main collector ditches which are
deeper and move water off the land.
A review of the NOAA AHPS Precipitation Analysis website on Feb 11, 2020 shows —8-inches of
observed precipitation and precipitation is "3-inches above average at the PT site during the last
Page 1 of 2

Pierce Terrace Wetland Mitigation Site
Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit: 02-19-2020
NC DMS Project # 100139 NC DMS Contract # 7907-01 RFP # 16-007907
30-days. Considering the recent weather conditions and the soil conditions at the time of the site
visit, it was evident the ditches are effectively removing surface water from the PT site.
The western edge of the proposed wetland restoration line includes portions of soils mapped in
the NRCS Soil Survey as Hydric B. A discussion regarding whether or not these areas are drained
hydric soils. RS maintained that these edges exhibited soil redox concentrations at depths that
would be considered the outer margins of the historic wetland. There were concerns expressed
bythe IRTthat the redox concentrations were faint and possibly at a depth lowerthan what would
constitute a drained hydric soil. Also, there were comments that the soil matrix chroma was
brighter than what is typically classified as a drained hydric soil. RS offered that initial land clearing
coupled with prolonged landuse in agriculture and silviculture (1955 historic imagery attached,
min. 65 years in current state, 1906 USGS Map shows unpaved roads adjacent and into the
project, indicating some level of altered landuse — both attached) impacted the outer boundary
of the historic wetland resulting in distorted relic hydric soil indicators.
The IRT stated the Mitigation Plan should include a map showing the locations of soil borings along
with representative soil profile descriptions of the soil borings. Also, a transect of soil borings
along the western edge extending from the Hydric A soil map units into the Hydric B soil map units
of the proposed wetland restoration will further assist in identifying the drained hydric soil
boundary. In addition, (if possible due to current agricultural activities) some monitoring wells
should be installed in this area pre -restoration and left in place post -restoration to document
hydrology. The IRT discussed the potential of a soil specific success criteria for the restoration of
Hydric B soils, but specifics were not detailed.
Also, a topographic survey will be performed to identify elevations of critical features including
adjacent uplands, drained hydric soils, the Hofler Mitigation site (berm and wetland restoration
components), Silver Springs Road and associated roadside ditches. This information will be used
along with another investigation to ensure the project does not flood Silver Springs Road and
provide supplemental data regarding the extent of historic wetland hydrology.
- RS plans to use areas outside of the delineated drained hydric soil boundary as fill material for the
existing ditches. In these areas, RS will create habitat depressions ranging in depth from
approximately 6 — 18". These areas will be detailed in the Mitigation Plan and proposed for
Wetland Creation at a 3:1 ratio.
The IRT asked, and RS confirmed that early coordination with the NC DOT would occur regarding
roadside ditches within the DOT's Right of Way, including the removal of clogged and dilapidated
culverts crossing those ditches. Roadside ditches will not be filled as a part of the project and road
drainage is expected to improve with the removal of the existing culverts. IRT commented that
future DOT road -side ditch maintenance should be considered and credit backed off any
hydrologic zone of influence.
The IRT stressed that any areas of soil cut (habitat areas or elsewhere) should have the topsoil
removed, stockpiled, and reused to minimize long-term effects to plant vigor. Likewise, tree
selection should be careful to select hydrophytic species and hardwood wetland species.
Site features, and permitting requirements, will be based on the signed preliminary jurisdictional
determination.
Page 2 of 2

Pierce Terrace Wetland Mitigation Site: Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit Notes,
Attachment 1: 1906 USGS Map (blue pin marks site)
a x
Po-Y 41 x '�i © About t X 1 0 fJore— x W Get Maf x [-r Gates L x Q North E. x Q Soif Sur x I G 5 l& Vs X r, Nlerchai x+
ngmdh.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/014/36.43O8/-76.6689 O Q,}
APFs Acounts Maps & Weather Blos' & Websites Resources Restoration Systems Temp. Saves Prints to Purchase Q DIAS TLW Ul date » Other bookmarks
Ip
38
t�
:• �o=k �1. 37 n • �'�-'dg�" �8 • � � �
o,' ,
l
M i}5bYl r •"S ? w ¢f7 ...
ecro, 0 EL Cis
jy] , 0T I
T.
a
r. 7 tippx 1 i
\�^ a S.
��3� •P3 mil'{ ', 4 i .3 i
at inch 3z ,
d6 a
34
i bps �-` "�4r3�g r -_�, '�' • . � � ..
s9 %
• ■ w rr r
LedA{t®M1lep st* khoi.33,o,e• 'G. Miff �L l •��., 8
NC_Seckford_1617... ty ; NC_Seckford 1617....zip show nll
•
https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#14/36.4308/-76.6689