20041198 Ver 1_Mitigation Information_20030401

I X.
UT to Barnes Creek Stream and Wetland
Mitigation Feasibility Study
Mitigation Strategy Package
April 2003
Prepared for:
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
OF iR
1347 Harding Place
Char
Suite 100
Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
BUCKG
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.buckengineering.com
Shawn D. Wilkerson
Project Manager
Karen Missell
Project Scientist

UT to Barnes Creek Stream and Wetland
Mitigation Project
Montgomery County,
North Carolina
Mitigation Strategy Package
TIP Project No. R-2911 WM
Consulting Project No. 02-BU-05
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
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April 2003

1 Introduction
1.1 Project Description
Buck Engineering PC (Buck) is performing a stream and wetland restoration feasibility study for
an Unnamed Tributary (UT) to Barnes Creek and its adjacent floodplain in Montgomery County,
North Carolina (Figure 1.1). As part of this study, Buck has prepared this mitigation strategy
package to explore alternatives for mitigation.
1.2 General Site Description
The UT and adjacent riparian zone are located about 8 miles north of Troy, NC near Flint Hill,
NC. The southern parcel is owned by Philip and Brenda Hurley and it is bounded by Lovejoy
Road to the west, Flint Hill Road to the south and Hurley Farm Road to the north. The Harris
property is owned by Frank Mitchell Harris and is bounded by Lovejoy Road to the west, Hurley
Farm Road to the north and the Hurley Property to the south and east. A UT to Barnes Creek
currently flows for approximately 1,900 feet from the southern end of the Hurley property to the
northern end, enters the Harris property and flows for approximately 700 feet before entering a
culvert at Lovejoy Road. Two small tributaries enter the UT. An intermittent tributary flows east
on the Hurley property for 220 feet before entering the UT and a perennial tributary flows west
for 450 feet on the Harris property. Small, active wetlands are located on both sides of the
intermittent tributary but generally the entire floodplain is made up of disturbed, historical
wetland areas. The Hurley site is being used for cattle grazing. The Harris property is largely
overgrown with privet.
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1
Figure 1.1 Site Location Map
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5 0 5 10 Mies
900 0 900 1800 Feet
2 Overview of Stream Channel and Wetland Areas
2.1 Wetlands
Although no wetlands were identified on the NWI Inventory maps, Buck identified
approximately 8.0 acres of existing or potential wetland areas on a January 29, 2003 site visit and
a later visit on March 11, 2003 (Figure 2.1). An earlier report by Ecoscience identified only 1.5
acres of wetlands on the Hurley property. This determination was based solely on the presence of
wetland soils and vegetation. Although a comprehensive US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
delineation was not performed, much of the area was mapped as having Chenneby soils, a
potentially hydric soil (figure 2.2). This was confirmed on a later site visit where soils were
classified as 10YR2/3 with manganese inclusion and substantial mottles. Wetland hydrology
was observed to be still present in most areas.
Figure 2.1 shows areas that either are USACE jurisdictional wetlands which could be enhanced
or are not jurisdictional wetland areas but could be easily restored to a forested wetland area with
restoration of the drainage pattern. This report assumes all wetland areas identified could at a
minimum be enhanced.
Areas identified as wetlands are still actively being used for cattle grazing on the Hurley
property, lowering the relative overall quality. A small active wetland (1.5 acres) on the Hurley
site is seasonally flooded and contains hydrophytic vegetation such as Soft Rush (Juncus
effusus). None of the other areas identified as wetland on the Hurley property have significant
hydrophytic vegetation and were largely covered with fescue. These areas still support wetland
hydrology and have potential for wetland enhancement.
Wetland areas on the Harris property are along the existing UT stream banks where soils were
hydric and support some wetland hydrology. This area is densely overgrown with privet and is
most likely not a USACE jurisdictional wetland. There may be restoration potential at these sites.
Buck Engineering PC 3 Hurley Site Feasibility Study
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Existim, Wetland Arca,,!
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5.1 Acres HurleN Pmperti
2.9 Acres Harris Propem
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Figure 2.1 Existing or Potential Wetland Locations (All boundaries appro 6niatc)
Buck Engineering PC 4 Hurley Site Feasibility Study
Figure 2.2 Soil Survey
2.2 Stream Characterization
Hurley Property Reach
The UT classifies as an incised E5 (modified) in the Rosgen classification system. An E5 stream
type is characterized by slight entrenchment with very low width/depth ratios, high sinuosity and
has sandy bed material. The overall sinuosity for the stream was low due to past channelization.
All three sections had high entrenchment ratios (>2.2), indicating frequent access to a large
floodplain. Throughout the reach, there are localized abandoned cattle crossings where the
channel was over-widened but has stabilized.
As of our January 29, 2003 visit, the landowner was removing streamside vegetation, thus
eliminating the root structure holding the banks and allowing cattle to cross the stream from all
locations. In a subsequent March 10, 2003 visit, more vegetation removal had occurred such that
stream banks were bare loose soil and no longer exhibit the form from the survey data presented
in this report. This removal of vegetation will result in the stream moving towards instability. If
the vegetation is allowed to re-colonize the banks unhindered, widening may only occur in
localized sections. This appears to be the pattern for this reach: a continuous cycle of disturbance
from the land owner and the cattle grazing and, then, re-stabilization due to re-vegetation. As the
vegetation re-establishes, the stream also stabilizes until the next occurrence of disturbance. This
cycle appears to be from 5-8 years in length. Currently a 72" culvert crossing bisects the UT,
allowing the farmer and cows to cross the stream.
Buck Engineering PC 5 Hurley Site Feasibility Study

A small tributary from an 18" CMP flows from Lovejoy Road through the property for
approximately 220 feet before it enters into the UT from the west. This tributary is relatively
small, intermittent and has had major impacts from cattle crossing.
Harris Property Reach
As the UT enters the Harris property, the stream is still classified as an E5. However,
this section of the UT is not actively being grazed. A thick stand of privet currently
covers both banks, offering cover but low habitat value. The southern section of this
reach flows close to Lovejoy Road, with a steep embankment separating the two.
A small unnamed tributary flows into the UT from the east. This channel is also an E
channel but it is not covered by a dense stand of privet and does have some active
bank erosion.
Buck Engineering PC
6 Hurley Site Feasibility Study
` . , '1 . 11 Table 2.1: Reachwide Natural Channel Parameters

Stream Parameter UT to Barnes Creek
(Hurley Property) UT to Barnes Creek
Harris Property)
Drainage Area (Sq. Mi.) 1.64 1.99
Reach Length (ft) 1,900 661
Valley Slope (ft/ft) 0.0064 0.0071
Average Bankfull Width (ft) 9.3 8.7
Average Mean Depth (ft) 1.7 2.2
Average Bankfull Width/Depth Ratio 5.5 4.0
Average Max Depth (ft) 2.6 3.0
Average Entrenchment Ratio 24 12.6
Average Bank Height Ratio 1.5 1.3
WS slope (ft/ft) 0.0058 0.0064
Stream Classification E5 E5
2.2 Vegetation
The existing stream buffer on the Hurley property is limited to a narrow corridor of 5 to 10 feet
wide on each bank. Mature vegetation has recently been removed by the property owner. The
remaining vegetation is primarily multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), Chinese Privet (Ligustrum
sinense), Tag Alder (Alnus serrulata), Black Willow (Salix nigra), Red Maple (Acer rubrum),
Goldenrod (Solidago spp) and Aster (Aster spp.). Vegetation surrounding the stream has been
grazed by cattle. The existing wetland area is limited to a stand of Soft Rush (Juncus effusus).
Vegetation on the Harris property is limited to a thick stand of Chinese Privet (Ligustrum
sinense). A few mature Beech (Fagus grandifolia) and White Oak (Quercus alba) trees are
present slightly upstream from the culvert at Lovejoy Road. The tributary has slightly more
diverse vegetation including Tag Alder (Alnus serrulata), Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), and
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) as well as some privet and honeysuckle (Lonicera
japonica). The left bank of the tributary had a fairly mature forest with Sweet Gum
(Liquidambar styraciflua), Beech, White Oak (Quercus alba), and American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Buck Engineering PC 7 Hurley Site Feasibility Study
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3 Preferred Mitigation Concept
Table 3.1 Potential Restoration Summary
Preferred Mitigation
Concept
Existing Stream Length (UT) 2600 LF
Existing Stream Length (Harris tributary) 450 LF
Priority One Stream Restoration 3700 LF
Enhanced Stream 450 LF
Enhanced Wetland 8.0 Acres
Hurley Easement 10.5 Acres
Harris Easement 4.4 Acres
Total Expected Stream Mitigation Credit 3850 LF
Total Expected Wetland Mitigation Credit 4 Acres
3.1 Preferred Mitigation Concept
The preferred mitigation concept (Figure 3.1) involves a complete priority one restoration for the
entire length of the UT and enhancement of all wetland areas. Enhancement of the existing
tributary on the Harris Parcel would also be included. This restoration option would maximize
the restored stream length and would move the existing stream away from the existing hillside on
the Hurley property and away from the road as it enters the Harris property. Fencing would be
installed around the entire easement. A stream crossing would be constructed within the southern
third of the reach. Enhancement of the existing wetland areas would include planting forested
wetland vegetation and possibly altering hydrology for some restoration credit. Enhancement of
the existing Harris tributary would include removal of invasive species such as privet and
honeysuckle and re-vegetating the banks with more desirable native species.
Buck Engineering PC
8 Hurley Site Feasibility Study

Existing Condition Photos

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Existing active we-llanc on the Hurley Property.

Bank erosion on the tributary to the UT on the
Harris property.
Buck Engineering PC

9 Hurley Site Feasibility Study
An example of cattle impacts to the UT on the
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Condition of tributary to UT on Hurley Property.
Massive privet growth along the UT on the Harris
Property.
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2600 LF Existing Stream (UT)
3700 LF Restored Stream
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a I; f i 4-0 LF Enhanced Stream (Harris UT}
8 Acres Wetland
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• : tl / :' 8 Acres Enhanced Wetlands
10.5 Acre Easement (Hurley Parcel)
110,
4.4 Acre Easmenet (Harris Parcel)
34. X00 feet
200 ' New Channel Alignment Figure 3A
Existing Wetlands (Wetland Enhancement Areas) Mitigation Concept A
Easement
Stream Enhancement BUCK 347 Harcns Place
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"arotte, Mxh CarOmz 2820.1
Phone. 7)4.33L4454
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