20081540 Ver 1_Buffer and nutrient offset audit_20091130

To: John Dorney - DWQ
FROM: Marc Recktenwald - EEP
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PROGRAM
October 26, 2009 99@Rflr920
No V 3 0 2009
TIANOSANO STORMWATER BRANCH
RE: Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Mitigation Verification for
Little Buffalo Buffer Mitigation Site - Johnston County (Meuse 01)
DWQ# 2008-1540
By memo dated May 21, 2009 (attached), Cyndi Karoly - NCDENR-DWQ - 401
Oversight and Express Permitting Unit, requested that the Ecosystem Enhancement Program
(EEP) determine the amount(s) of Riparian Buffer Mitigation and/or Nutrient Offset Credit that
would be available from the subject site. As noted in the memo, the principal concern was that
mowing had occurred within the conservation easement (adjacent the ditch along Bay Valley
Road). As documented in the attached letters from Restoration Systems, dated June 18, 2009
and August 18, 2009, this issue has been addressed. Although Restoration Systems indicates in
their August 18, 2009 letter that the planted vegetation is recovering, the affected area will
continue to be monitored through Monitoring Year 5 (currently in year 3) to ensure that the
minimum woody stem count of 320 stems per acre is satisfied. All buffered areas are adjacent to
agricultural drainage ditches and therefore will only be used for Nutrient Offset Credit.
In addition, as shown on the attached plat, there is an area of existing mature vegetation in the
upper northeast portion of the site that has been excluded from the Nutrient Offset Credit
calculation.
Based on this information, the Debit Ledger will list 17.94 Nutrient Offset Credits
for this site.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact me at any time.
Cc: Cyndi Karoly - NCDENR-DWQ - 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit
? 5
NCDENR
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program, 1652 Mail Service (enter, Raleigh, N( 27699-1652 / 919-715-0476 / www.nceep.net
r
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins Dee Freeman
Governor Director
Secretary
11L AV
May 21, 2009 COPY
TO: Suzanne Klimek - NCEEP
Jeff Jurek - NCEEP (? 1
FROM: Cyndi Karoly - 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit ?L 1(
RE: Buffer Mitigation Site Evaluations
Little Buffalo Buffer Mitigation Site - Johnston County (Meuse 01)
DWQ # 2008-1540
Site Visit: 4/23/09 JRD
Contact Person: John Dorsey
The Little Buffalo Buffer Mitigation Site (NCEEP Full Delivery site) only contains nutrient offset credit. According to the
monitoring report, 18.5 acres of nutrient offset credits were created by planting a wooded buffer along ditches in an
interstream flat which are tributary to Little Buffalo Creek. Buffer width was greater than 50 feet in all areas evaluated. Guy
Pearce from EEP and Dave Schiller from Restoration Systems were also present on site.
The site is in its second year of monitoring. The monitoring report stated that all monitoring plots met vegetation success
criteria. Significant growth of volunteers, including loblolly pine, sweet gum and groundsel tree, was observed on the site.
In areas where trees were growing, adequate tree growth and diversity was observed. The conservation easement was not
marked at the time of the site visit. There was some mowing along the DOT ditch and the mowing is apparently fairly
frequent.
I see no issue with the nutrient offset credits once the mowing along the DOT ditch is resolved.
ITEMS TO ADDRESS: The mowing alongside the DOT roadside ditch will need to be controlled with possible
replanting to ensure that trees will grow in this area. In order to facilitate this, a gate may need to be installed to
restrict access. DOT will need to be contacted to ensure that their crews are not mowing the area and to determine
where the easement is located. Dave Schiller from Restoration Systems agreed to make those contacts and ensure that
the mowing ends. EEP needs to send DWQ a letter once this issue has been resolved.
The June 3, 2009 EEP ledger states that this site only contains nutrient offset credit. DWQ concurs with this
determination.
cc: Matt Matthews
401 Cversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Location, 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Internet: httpJ/h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands/
NorthCarohna
;Vat=a4
An Equal Opportunity l Affirmative Action Employer

T.,
Nate tal Resource
Restoration & Conservation
August 18, 2009
Mr. Guy Pearce
DENR-Ecosystem Enhancement Program
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina
27699-1652
CoPxr
Subject: Little Buffalo Buffer Mitigation Site, Contract Number D05015-1
Dear Mr. Pearce:
As you requested, I made a follow-up visit to the Little Buffalo Buffer Mitigation Site in
Johnston County on August 14, 2009. The purpose of the visit was to verify that mowing by
NCDOT along SR 2159 (Bay Valley Road) had ceased. As I noted in my previous letter to you
dated June 18, 2009, I had spoken to Mr. Jimmy Hawley, the County Maintenance Engineer, and he
had verified that a contract mowing company had mistakenly mowed on the site side of the roadside
ditch. He assured me that in the future, mowing would be confined to the area between the road and
the ditch.
The visit confirmed his assurances; there has been no mowing in the ditch or on the site side
of it. The previously mowed zone along the edge of the site has grown up in assorted herbaceous
vegetation and the trees in this zone have recovered nicely. It appears that all have resprouted and
grown profusely to an estimated average height of about four feet. There was profuse sprouting of
hardwood trees within the ditch as well (mostly red maple and sweetgum). The edge of the road
right of way (measured 30 feet from the center line) appears to be at the approximate center of the
roadside ditch. Mr. Hawley stated that No Mow signs have been established around the Site and any
fixture mowing there would be confined to areas outside of the Conservation Easement.
In summary, mowing activities at the site have ceased and the previously mowed area has
recovered, including the previously mowed trees. I trust this information is satisfactory to you and
the Division of Water Quality. Feel free to contact me at 755-9490 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Q ? ? 5-c?j
David H. Schiller, Manager
Contract Affairs
cc: Mr. Jimmy Hawley, NCDOT
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E1VHAtVCcfv)ENT pROGRA&I
Pilot Mill • 1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
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Nutt iral Resoui-ce
Restoration &Cornservation
June 18, 2009
Mr. Guy Pearce
DENR-Ecosystem Enhancement Program
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina
27699-1652
Subject: Response to Little Buffalo Buffer Mitigation Site Visit
Dear Mr. Pearce:

uOrii
Reference is made to the memorandum dated May 21, 2001, from Ms. Cyndi Karoly of
the Division of Water Quality to Ms. Suzanne Klimek and Mr. Jeff Jurek of the Ecosystem
Enhancement Program following up the site visit of April 23, 2009. That memorandum
questioned the apparent mowing along the site side of the roadside ditch adjacent to SR 2159
(Bay Valley Road).
After returning to the office, I called the office of the Johnston County Highway
Maintenance Engineer (919-934-6176) and spoke to Mr. Jimmy Hawley, the County
Maintenance Engineer to explain the situation. After he made some telephone calls, he called
me back and confirmed that one of the private mowing companies under contract to NCDOT had
indeed mowed the site side of the ditch, apparently thinking they were doing an extra good job.
He stated that he would have white "no mow" stakes placed in the area and had informed the
contractor to only mow on the road side of the ditch in the future.
We will continue to monitor the situation and take add;+:ional measures, if needed, to
prevent future mowing on the site. I trust this response is satisfactory. Feel free to contact me at
919-755-9490 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
`? ,r ? S
David H. Schiller, Manager
Contract Affairs
cc: Mr. Jimmy Hawley, NCDOT
Pilot Mill • 1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]

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