20040325 Ver 1_Mitigation Information_19990426

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
4
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
February 25, 1998
MEMORANDUM
To: Mr. Dicky Harmon
Environmental Services, Inc.
Through: John Dorne- !' J
From: Cyndi Bell
Subject: Mitigation Bank
Reference is made to the Stream and Wetland Mitigation Plan (December 1997)
for the Barra Farms Cape Fear Regional Mitigation Bank, and to the Mitigation Banking
Review Team meeting of January 8, 1998. The Division of Water Quality, Wetland
Restoration Program, provided comments on the Mitigation Plan on February 13, 1998.
Comments provided herein by the Environmental Sciences Branch, Water Quality
Certification Program, relate specifically to the use of this mitigation bank in future
permit decisions:
We concur with the Geographic Service Area agreed upon by the Mitigation Banking
Review Team, as illustrated on Figure 15 in the Mitigation Plan. Included within this
service area are Cape Fear River sub-basins #0303004, #0303005, and #0303006.
Use of Barra Farms will be limited to projects located within this service area. This
service area is not to be expanded at a later date to include any NCDOT projects
outside this service area.
We agree with the WRP opinion that the stream work proposed thus far should be
identified as enhancement, not as restoration. As such, stream' work to be conducted
onsite will not provide stream restoration credits required in the 401 Water Quality
Certification process. WRP has indicated their willingness to review your further
studies prior to making a final recommendation regarding stream credits. Our final
determination regarding the use of these credits for NCDOT projects will be made in
accordance with this resolution.
Environmental Sciences Branch 4401 Reedy Creels Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Telephone [phone] FAX # [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post consumer paper
Mr. Dicky Harmon
February 25, 1998
Page 2 of 2
• In accordance with decisions made at the January 8, 1998 meeting, the credit release
schedule will be as follows:
Up Front 30%
1" Year 10%
TA Year 15%
3'° Year 15%
4'h Year 10%
5'n Year 20%
Notes - 1) Release of credits is contingent upon demonstration of success
in accordance with provisions of the Mitigation Banking
Instrument.
2) NCDOT should be fully informed of this credit release
schedule, so that upcoming highway projects can be planned in
tandem with the availability of credits. No advances will be
allowed once the allotted credits for any given year are debited.
• The Water Quality Certification Program must be consulted with respect to final
dispensation of the property.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on this mitigation plan.
Questions regarding the 401 Water Quality Certification Program should be directed to
John Dorney or Cyndi Bell in the Environmental Sciences Branch. We can be contacted
_I3cl..l@h?o.ennstatemc.us
at [phone]. You may also reach us by e-mail at Cvnd
or John [e-mail].
Cc: Scott McLendon, COE, Wilmington
Howard Hall, FWS, Raleigh
Bennett Wynne, WRC, Kinston
Mac Haupt, DWQ, WRP
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

4WM-WCWQG/KM
REGION 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 - 8960
APR 1 9 IM .
Colonel Terry R. Youngbluth
District Engineer
ATTN: Mr. Scott McLendon
Wilmington District, Corps of Engineer

P.O. Box 1890
Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-1890
SUBJ: Barra Farms Cape Fear Regional Mitigation Bank; First Annual Monitoring Report
Dear Colonel Youngbluth:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed the Wetland Monitoring
Report: Year 1 ("monitoring report"), dated November 1998, for the Barra Farms Cape Fear
Regional Mitigation Bank. We regret that we will be unable to attend the May 5, 1999 field
meeting, but we would like to submit the following comments:
EPA is concerned that the vegetation monitoring data for individual plots was not
reported, and that the data for all plots was averaged to provide the information in Tables 2 and 3.
EPA is curious as to the density of tree stems in plots where only one species was planted, such as
Atlantic White Cedar (AWC). If there are only 11 AWC stems per acre present, is this particular
area practically bare of vegetation, or are there other species in the same plot? Without such
information, it is difficult for EPA to determine our position on success of the site. If certain plots
in the restoration areas have less than 320 stems per acre, then EPA is of the opinion that those
plots are not successful. We trust that the resource agencies will be able to receive such
information or view these areas during the May 5 site visit.
Further, Table 2 of the monitoring report indicates that Salix nigra (Black willow), a
softwood species, represents more than 10% of the total number of trees per acre in the former
cropland area. Table 3 indicates that Acer rubrum (Red maple) exceeds 20% of the total trees in
the supplemental planting area. Although EPA recognizes that more than the required 320 stems
per acre (averaged over plots) have been documented in both areas (even without including the
two species mentioned above), we are concerned that almost half of the tree species planted on
the former cropland contribute less than 10 trees per acre each. Eleven desirable planted and
volunteer species cumulatively contribute only 7% of the total tree species. Although we are
uncertain as to how many of each species were planted, it appears that the majority of certain
species of planted trees were almost completely decimated this year, and that the remainder may
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not survive the required five years. EPA recommends that the sponsor closely monitor the
mitioation areas to ensure that the softwood and volunteer species do not overpower the other
desirable species. Further, thinning of softwood and over-dominant volunteer species, and
planting of additional desirable trees may be warranted at this time.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this project. If you have any questions
concerning our comments, please contact Kathy Matthews at [phone].
Sincerel ,
illiam L. Cox, Chief
Wetlands Section
cc: USACE, Wilmington
USFWS, Raleigh
NCDWQ, Raleigh
NCWRC, Raleigh