20040243 Ver 1_Mitigation Information_20091130

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PROGRAM
October 26, 2009
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To: John Dorney—DWQ 0
NOV 3 0 2009
FROM: Marc Recktenwald—EEP DENR•WATER WAL;ry
WETLANDS AND STORMWATER BRANCH
RE: Riparian Buffer Verification for
Whitelace Creek- Lenior County (Meuse 02)
DWQ #04-0243
By memo dated April 27, 2009 (attached), Cyndi Karoly-NCDENR-DWQ - 401
Oversight and Express Permitting Unit, requested that the Ecosystem Enhancement Program
(EEP) clarify the amount(s) of Riparian Buffer Mitigation and/or Nutrient Offset Credit the
subject site would be able to provide. The memo identified the primary areas of concern as
follows:
1. Need to address tree survival. This site will likely require supplemental planting to
ensure that the riparian buffer success criteria of 320 stems per acre is met.
Response: EEP acknowledges that a supplemental replanting is necessary at the Whitelace Creek
site. EEP plans a supplemental replanting by March 2010.
2. Please clarify that both wetland and riparian buffer credit are not being sold for the
same footprint of the site ("double dipping"). Please provide a graphic showing the
property/easement boundaries, surface water features, planted wooded buffers, and a
delineation of the areas of the site to be used for riparian buffer credits vs. nutrient offset
credit.
Response: EEP has checked our asset tracking system and verified that no wetland and riparian
buffer credit are being sold for the same footprint. The attached figure delineates the easement
boundary, surface water and wetland features, and the areas eligible for riparian buffer credit.
Based on this information, the Debit Ledger will list this site with 6.4 Riparian
Buffer Mitigation Units.
Cc: Cyndi Karoly—NCDENR-DWQ -401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit
A
NCDENR
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program, 1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh,NC 27699-1652 / 919-715-0476 / www.nceep.net

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H,Sullins Dee Freeman
Govemor Director Secretary
April 27,2009
TO: Suzanne Klimek—NCEEP
Jeff Jurek-NCEEP
FROM: Cyndi Karoly-401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit �,k_�
RE: Buffer Mitigation Site Evaluations
Whitelace Creek Site—Lenoir County(Neuse 02)
DWQ#04-0243
Site Visit: 4/21/09 EWK
Contact Person;Eric Kulx
The Whitelace Creek site(NCEEP Design-Bid-Build site)includes stream enhancement,wetland restoration and
enhancement,and Neuse buffer restoration and enhancement. According to the monitoring report,27.1 acres of buffer were
restored and 7.2 acres were enhanced along a UT to the Neuse River. Buffer width was variable but was greater than 50 feet
in all areas evaluated. This site is"grand fathered"for generating riparian buffer mitigation credit out to 200 feet along
streams subject to the buffer rule.
The monitoring report includes figures showing stream and wetland mitigation units(Figure 3)and Neuse River riparian
buffer mitigation units(Figure 4),and the buffer units overlay the wetland units throughout the site. It is unclear if credits
generated in the riparian areas at the site have been partitioned into wetland credits and riparian buffer credit, or if the same
square footage of riparian area is being used for both wetland credit and riparian buffer credit.
The site is in its third year of monitoring. The monitoring report stated that only three of the nine vegetation plots met the
success criteria of 320 stems per acre. The report states that flooding was an issue on plots I through 5 (lower portion of
site), and drought was an issue for the remainder of the plots in higher areas. Significant growth of volunteers, including
river birch 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.
ITEMS TO ADDRESS: Need to address tree survival. This site will likely require supplemental planting to ensure
that the riparian buffer success criteria of 320 stems per acre is met.
Please clarify that both wetland and riparian buffer credit are not being sold for the same footprint of the site
("double-dipping"). Please provide a graphic showing the property/easement boundaries,surface water features,
planted wooded buffers,and a delineation of the areas of the site to be used for riparian buffer credit vs. nutrient
offset credit.
cc: Matt Matthews
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1650 OnrthCarolina
Location:2321 Crabtree Blvd.,Raleigh,North Carolina 27604 �atllt'alhf
Phone:[phone] FAX:[phone]
Internet:hnp://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands/
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer

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