20021883 Ver 1_Mitigation Information_20091130

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PROGRAM NO V 3 0 2009
October 26, 2009
To: John Dorney - DWQ
FROM: Marc Recktenwald - EEP
RE: Buffer Mitigation Credit Recalculation for
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Prestonwood Golf Course (Hatchet's Grove) - Wake County (Meuse 01)
DWQ# 2002-1883
EEP ID 289
By memo dated May 28, 2009 (attached), Cyndi Karoly - NCDENR-DWQ - 401
Oversight and Express Permitting Unit, requested that the Ecosystem Enhancement Program
(EEP) verify the amount(s) of Riparian Buffer Mitigation and/or Nutrient Offset Credit the
subject site would be able to provide.
Response: The amount originally inputted into the EEP database around the time of construction
approximated the easement acreage minus areas believed to be the limits of sanctioned golf
course maintenance, which equated to -5.3 acres. GIS analysis using the 50 foot boundary,
vegetated edge and other buffer criteria as well as a preliminary re-build of the project easement
shapefile, and delineated maintenance zones coupled with recent aerials enabled the
identification of various candidate buffer pieces or segments, which were inspected on site by
DWQ and EEP. Some of those polygons were determined on-site to be currently ineligible due
to low tree stem densities and others observed to be within the final delineated maintenance
zones were eliminated back on the desktop, because of the sanctioned, fixed height pruning that
would be permitted as part of the agreement (see yellow zones on attached figure). The attached
figure depicts these polygons as well as one additional polygon at the very top of the project
(eastern edge of the figure), which was not inspected during the site visit, because EEPs
contractor inadvertently omitted that easement segment in the preliminary shapefile re-build. A
subsequent shapefile contained this piece and enabled the delineation of one additional polygon
of planted buffer that meets the criteria (above upper bridge on the North side of the main
channel). The net effect of the re-analysis provides for 0.4 acres that are currently viable buffer,
with an additional 0.76 acres potentially available from planned supplemental planting to achieve
the requisite 320 stems per acre (see figure). Databases and debit ledgers have been modified
to reflect the total riparian buffer credit of 1.16 acres for Prestonwood. The following
provides specific responses to the observations in the May 28, 2009 memorandum (attached).
The DWQ item observations below began with the third polygon from the top of the project
(east) and moved down valley towards the west.
AdA
NCDENR
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program, 1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1652 / 919-715-0476 / www.nceep.net
Item 1. The buffer in this polygon was > 50 feet from the top of bank. Planted oaks and
willows were surviving. Buffer restoration credit is appropriate for this polygon.
Response: This polygon was part of the currently eligible tally (see attached figure)
Items 2 & 3. The buffer was > 50 feet from the top of bank. Very few trees were present,
and there had been topping of some shrubs. Supplemental planting and subsequent
survival of plantings would be necessary for buffer credit.
Response: The polygon referred to in item 2 was removed entirely due to the impact to the 50
foot width that the sanctioned pruning zone (see second yellow area from the top/east) will have.
The polygon referred to in item 3 is classified as eligible with supplemental planting (see figure).
Item 4. This polygon, just upstream from the middle bridge, provided a small pie-shaped
area with adequate width and tree density to provide buffer credit.
Response: The drawing to the map provided by DWQ in the field was approximated and
included.
Item 5. This long polygon was not 50 feet wide in the middle, but the ends could yield
buffer credit. The wetland area near the bridge would need supplemental planting for
buffer credit.
Response: The item identified as item 5 on the attached figure was split as instructed given the
middle section did not have woody stems at the 50 foot mark. The eastern polygon was viable.
The western polygon in the wetland area was classified as potentially eligible with supplemental
planting.
Item 6. Downstream from the bridge were several polygons in series, one at each meander
bend of the restored stream. We measured several of them adjacent to the cart path. Most
were 50 feet wide through a pie shaped area within the meander bend, but smaller than the
polygons on the EEP map. Tree density was low. Supplemental planting and subsequent
survival of plantings to meet the 320 TPA requirements would be necessary for buffer
credit.
Response: There were originally 9 polygons in the string referenced by this item. Four were
eliminated on the desktop as candidates entirely due to their inclusion in sanctioned, fixed height
pruning areas that would be permitted as part of the agreement with the golf course. The other
polygons were checked using 50 foot perpendicular station lines in GIS at 5 foot station intervals
along the alignment and adjusted in size if necessary. The 5 remaining polygons were classified
as eligible with supplemental planting.
Item 7. Two polygons on the opposite side of the stream were also measured. One was a
small pie shaped area with adequate width and young trees; restoration credit would be
appropriate. The other was <50 feet wide and the trees had been extensively pruned;
buffer credit would not be appropriate in this polygon.
Response: One of thee polygons was eliminated entirely on the desktop due to their inclusion in
sanctioned, fixed height pruning areas that would be permitted as part of the agreement with the
golf course. The other is depicted as item 7 on the attached figure.
2
General Responses: In concert with the field verification performed with DWQ the buffer
features in the attached map were re-checked using 50 foot perpendicular station lines from the
top of bank in GIS at 5 foot station intervals along the alignment out the vegetated edge and
polygons were adjusted in size if necessary. EEP acknowledges the site has exhibited some bank
instability and plans to install additional livestakes directly into the project banks and provide
supplemental tree planting of a sufficient size to provide both stability and to increase the stem
counts in the riparian buffer.
Based on the above information, the Debit Ledger will list this site with 1.16
Riparian Buffer Mitigation Units.
Cc: Cyndi Karoly - NCDENR-DWQ - 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit
-AZA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins
Governor Director
May 28, 2009
TO: Suzanne Klimek - NCEEP
Jeff Jurek - NCEEP
FROM: Cyndi Karoly - 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit ?, 6K
RE: Buffer Mitigation Site Evaluations
Prestonwood Golf Course (Hatchet's Grove) - Wake County (Neuse 01)
DWQ # 2002-1883
Site Visit: 4/22/09 TLH/JRD
DWQ Contact Person: Tammy Hill
Dee Freeman
Secretary
The Prestonwood Golf Course (Hatchet's Grove) Site consists of 4,123 linear feet of stream restoration with
associated riparian zone plantings projected to generate 5.3 acres of buffer mitigation credit. Prior to the site visit,
EEP staff had developed a site map indicating buffer areas that could be at least 50' wide and thus provide buffer
credit. DWQ and EEP staff inspected all of these areas together. Jeff Jurek and Greg Melia from EEP were present
on site.
The site is in its fifth year post-construction. The 2007 monitoring report indicated that woody vegetation density
exceeded the 320 stems/acre criterion on average across the site, but 2 of 6 vegetation plots demonstrated low .
counts. Problems areas identified in the report involved mowing and pruning by golf course personnel and sparse
vegetation on portions of the floodplain.
Beginning with the uppermost polygon on the EEP map, and working downstream, our observations of the buffers
were:
I ) The buffer in this polygon was > 50 feet from top of bank. Planted oaks and willows were surviving.
Buffer restoration credit is appropriate for this polygon.
2) The buffer was > 50 feet from top of bank. Very few trees were present, and there had been topping of
some shrubs. Supplemental planting and subsequent survival of plantings would be necessary for buffer
credit.
3) Same as #2.
4) This polygon, just upstream from the bridge, provided a small pie-shaped area with adequate width and tree
density to provide buffer credit.
5) This long polygon was not 50' wide in the middle, but the ends could yield buffer credit. The wetland area
near the bridge would need supplemental tree planting.
6) Downstream from the bridge were several polygons in series, one at each meander bend of the restored
stream. We measured several of them adjacent to the cart path. Most were 50' wide through a pie-shaped
area within the meander bend, but smaller than the polygons on the EEP map. Tree density was low.
Supplemental planting and subsequent survival of plantings to meet the 320 TPA requirements would be
necessary for buffer credit.
7) Two polygons on the opposite side of the stream were also measured. One was a small pie-shaped area
with adequate width and young trees; restoration credit would be appropriate. The other was < 50' wide
and the trees had been extensively pruned; buffer credit would not be appropriate in this polygon.
401 OversghttExpress 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 http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetands/
NorthCarolina
,aturallrr
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
Several areas of unstable stream banks were noted at the site visit. DWQ's Buffer Interpretation/Clarification #004
Memorandum (January 2, 2007) notes that riparian buffers associated with a stream restoration project are required
to provide streambank stability for the new stream. Continued instability of the banks may result in reduction of
both stream and buffer mitigation credit associated with the project.
The conservation easement is marked with small red posts. Areas abutting the cart path have a 5' allowable moving
swath within the easement.
ITEMS TO ADDRESS: All areas slated to yield buffer credits need to be inspected in regards to width
(measured perpendicular to stream bank), tree density, impacts due to mowing and pruning, and streambank
stability. Plans for supplemental planting, monitoring, and protection from cutting will need to be developed
for many of the areas that could yield buffer credit. When this analysis is completed, a letter describing
buffer credits generated by the site and a map detailing the buffer areas must be submitted to DWQ. Upon
concurrence by DWQ, the EEP ledger will need to be updated accordingly with the buffer credits for the site.
cc: Matt Matthews
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