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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
MICHAEL F. EASLEY
GOVERNOR
12 June 2002
To: John Hendrix, COE
Cynthia Van der Wiele, NCDWQ
Alan Ratzlaff, USFWS
Chris McGrath, NCWRC
From: Ed Hajnos, PDEA
RE: Franklin Bog 29 May 2002 Site Meeting
LYNDo TIPPETT
SECRETARY
Please find attached the minutes from our meeting at Franklin Bog in Henderson County.
PDEA is currently investigating historical aerial photography, availability of the adjacent
parcels, and vegetation clearing options.
The bridge (B-227) on Brickyard Rd (SR 1325) that crosses Blythe Mill Creek is not
scheduled for replacement at this time.
Enclosure .
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1548
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WEBSITE: WWW.DOH.DOT.STATE.NC.US
LOCATION:
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH NC
. Franklin Bog Vegetation Management Proposal
Resource and Regulatory Agency On-Site Meeting Minutes
May 29, 2002
Attendees:
NCDOT - Mary Frazer, Ed Hajnos, Randy Griffin, Byron Moore, Jeff Wait
NCWRC - Chris McGrath
USFWS - Alan Ratzlaff
NCDWQ - Cynthia Van der Wiele
USACE - John Hendrix
Introductions
Handout
Ed and Mary provided a handout covering history of site, mitigation potential, and vegetation management
option. Ed emphasized this was a draft. Randy expressed concern with the logistics of the vegetation removal.
Discussion
*Mary and Chris briefly described the history of the site. The site was formerly grazed, cattle were removed
roughly 10 years ago and it is now developing into a maple swamp.
*Randy explained the logistics associated with clearing the woody vegetation - appropriate herbicides, sources of
labor, budgetary constraints, property boundary constraints, where to stage the operation, where to stockpile debris,
etc.
*Byron pointed out the SR 1323 (Brickyard Rd.) bridge will likely be replaced soon, this needs to be determined
before any work is conducted on the site (survey stakes were later observed, perhaps centerline of road-bridge re-
alignment).
*Chris suggested visit to adjacent parcel to demonstrate how the bog should look.
*John and Cynthia both questioned how DOT planned to maintain property. Randy explained the site is too wet for
mechanical (heavy equipment) methods of clearing and maintenance. Hand labor and herbicide application would
be the most practical approach for clearing the current vegetation and long-term management of the site. Livestock
grazing of the site will not be considered by NCDOT.
*It was agreed perpetual maintenance would be a condition imposed upon the ultimate owner of the property.
Livestock grazing could be a long-term management strategy once NCDOT has transferred ownership to an
appropriate land stewardship/conservation organization. ..
*Randy raised issue of mitigation credits and ratios. John and Cynthia agreed property would be considered as
wetland enhancement (with stream buffer preservation) with an emphasis on endangered species habitat
enhancement. Both encouraged NCDOT to pursue purchase of adjacent wetland parcels; vegetation management of
the adjacent parcel (15 acre tract with -5 acres of wetland owned by the widow of Emerson Franklin ) would also be
considered wetland enhancement with an emphasis on endangered species habitat enhancement; an easement on the
Boyd parcel would likely be considered preservation (less than 1 ac.).
*Return to NCDOT parcel.
*Chris emphasized habitat still good for bog turtles however years down the road evapo-transpiration will dry out
the site.
*Randy and Byron mentioned a need for property boundary marking - will pursue this with NCDOT Location and
Survey. Randy mentioned the property was purchased with federal funds therefore prison labor is not an option.
*John and Cynthia agreed that Chris' suggestion of phased vegetation clearing is the best approach - it would
demonstrate enhancement success incrementally. Cynthia questioned whether botanical survey had been conducted
or whether rare plants were known from the site. Mary stated no survey had been done and Chris was unaware of
any occurrences; suggested asking Dennis Herman (NCMNS) who is most familiar with the site.
*Alan explained USFWS considers mountain bogs extremely rare habitat and most deserving of protection.
•Randy again raised credit ratios, John agreed 3:1 would be appropriate for wetland enhancement and consistent
with regulations. The full 2 acres would be recognized because of endangered species component.
•Chris suggested diversion of flow from roadside ditch to enhance hydrologic input across the bog. Mary pointed
out this would require purchase or easement from adjacent landowner (Mr. Bovd).
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*Chris, John, and Alan entered multiflora rose portion of site and discovered Blythe Mill Creek appears to have
migrated across the bog. Further study is warranted to better understand on-site hydrology and microtopography.
*Randy and Byron feel NCDOT does need to workout logistics and costs to determine whether costs make project
worth the expenditure for 2 acres enhancement credit (20.67 ac. @ 3:1 ratio).
*All agreed the site is a worthy project.
Meeting adjourned.
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FRANKLIN BOG WETLAND AND STREAM MITIGATION PLAN
Henderson County, North Carolina
R-512
The Franklin Bog Mitigation Site is a two-acre site located west of Etowah-at Turnpike Road and
Blythe Mill Creek. The site was formerly a bog but in recent years has become overgrown with
woody vegetation. The intended purpose for the Franklin Bog Site is to provide mitigation in the
form of wetland enhancement, endangered species habitat and stream preservation. The wetland
enhancement will be offered to make up for the one-acre portion of the Mud Creek Mitigation
Site that is failing. Although the site is located in a Wetlands Restoration Program basin (the
French Broad), NCDOT had identified the site and was negotiating with the former property
owner before WRP took over that basin.
Site History
NCDOT purchased a 2-acre parcel of Franklin Bog in the winter of 2002. Up until ten years ago,
the site was used for pasture. It was allowed to go fallow and has since overgrown with red
maple (Acer rubrum), tag alder (Alnus serrulata) and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). At one
time Franklin Bog was home to the largest known population of bog turtles (Clemmys
muhlenbergii) in North Carolina (over 100 individuals). It is believed many turtles were
collected from the site in the late 1980's and only a few turtles have been found there since. As
the site has become overgrown with woody vegetation, it has become less suitable for the turtles,
which prefer more open habitat. A bog turtle survey conducted on the site on May 14, 2002
failed to produce any turtles. The unusually cold weather in early May has likely inhibited bog
turtle activity.
Endangered Species
Bog turtles were not found on-site during a recent survey. The portion of Franklin Bog across
Brickyard Road (not owned by NCDOT) has remained in pasture longer and thus has maintained
better habitat. It was a known nesting site for bog turtles as recently as 1996. There is another
site on Blythe Mill Creek roughly one mile downstream on which the turtles have been known to
occur (Costa Bog). These nearby sites should allow bog turtles to re-colonize the NCDOT
portion of Franklin Bog once habitat has been restored, if there are in fact no turtles at present.
Restoration Proposal
Current plans involve the conversion of the site, which is now a scrub/shrub wetland, back to
open bog. Red maples and multiflora rose will be removed, while tag alders will be allowed to
remain. The stream and riparian buffer along Blythe Mill Creek will be preserved. This will
maintain a forested connection between the existing wetlands up and downstream, provide a
wildlife corridor, and stabilize the stream bank. There are areas both up and downstream of the
site that may be suitable for wetland restoration or preservation in the future, including existing
and potential bog turtle habitat. The width of the wooded stream buffers will be determined so
as to optimize by to -tle habitat and stream s b'liR,ed maples will be cut and removed and
the stumps l _ painted with:WlVlultiflora rose will likely be removed with
equipment operated from the side of the road. A maintenance plan will be implemented to help
monitor the site and maintain preferred bog turtle habitat.
Proposed Mitigation Credit
• 2 acres of wetland enhancement
• 475 linear feet stream preservation
• 2 acres bog turtle habitat enhancement/preservation
The wetland enhancement is proposed to make up for one acre of wetland creation that is failing
at the Mud Creek Mitigation site, which was originally intended to mitigate for impacts from R-
512.

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