20200018 Ver 1_IRT Site Visit Memorandum_20200519

Strickland, Bev
From:
Eric Neuhaus <[e-mail]>
Sent:
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:58 PM
To:
Haupt, Mac; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Wiesner, Paul; Davis, Erin B;
Leslie, Andrea J; Kim Browning
Cc:
Ullman, Kirsten J; Tsomides, Harry; Haywood, Casey; Shawn Wilkerson
Subject:
RE: [External] RE: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Laurel Valley Site: Post Contract IRT Site Visit
Memorandum; DMS#100140_USAC E#SAW-2020-00053_DWR#20200018
Attachments:
Laurel -Valley Memorandum_5.19.2020.pdf
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an attachment to [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
Mac/Todd,
Thanks for reviewing the memo and sending your comments. The attached memorandum has been revised
per the comments and our responses below.
+ Wildlands understands that while no wetland crediting is proposed, discussion around existing wetlands,
their hydrology, and how associated stream restoration will affect their conditions needs to be addressed in
the mitigation plan. Additionally, it is understood that gages will need to be installed around the proposed
channel post construction to monitor hydrology and ensure minimal negative impact (and most likely positive
impact) to existing wetland hydrology.
+ Regarding UT1 Reach 2, Wildlands believes the hydrology from the spring fed, small pond downstream from
the property line will continue to provide flow downstream of the project after the channel is rerouted and we
will attempt to monitor this for the mitigation plan. We will discuss this with the downstream property owner
and ensure that any reduction in hydrology from the relocation of UT1 Reach 2 is addressed prior to project
construction.
+ Wildlands will work with the property owner to stabilize the existing driveway crossing along UT1 and
improve the aquatic organism passage by raising the bed of the channel on the downstream end to facilitate a
priority one approach. It is in the best interest of the project to include the upstream portion of UT1.
Wildlands proposes a ratio of 15:1 generating approximately 33 stream mitigation units for the work proposed
along the upstream end (invasive species treatment, establishment of a conservation easement) in lieu of the
originally proposed 10:1 ratio.
Thanks,
Eric Neuhaus
-----Original Message -----
From: Haupt, Mac <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2020 2:04 PM
To: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US)<[e-mail]>; Eric Neuhaus
<[e-mail]>; Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B

<[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Kim Browning
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [External] RE: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Laurel Valley Site: Post Contract IRT Site Visit Memorandum;
DMS#100140 USACE#SAW-2020-00053 DWR#20200018
Eric,
I looked over the site minutes and the response from WEI. I would have to agree with Todd regarding the
ratios given the responses.
Also, we realize there is not wetland credit on this site, however, there will be a lot of wetland
restored/enhanced and this should be discussed in the mitigation plan because it is an important resource.
Also, as you know, any channel building through wetlands will get gauge recommendations or requirements.
Finally, as I recall on site UT1 reach 2 will be diverted from its current path and connected to East Prong
Hunting Creek. Was there any resolution to the removal of the hydrology from the current wetland/stream
system? (as you may recall, we walked down the field to look at what may be impacted from the loss of flow,
outside the easement).
Thanks,
Mac
-----Original Message -----
From: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2020 12:36 PM
To: Eric Neuhaus <[e-mail]>; Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac
<[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J
<[e-mail]>; Kim Browning <[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] RE: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Laurel Valley Site: Post Contract IRT Site Visit Memorandum;
DMS#100140 USACE#SAW-2020-00053 DWR#20200018
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as
an attachment to [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
Eric, I looked back over the notes and the follow up memo. I would like to make sure it's understood that we
are not concurring with the proposed ratios stated in the memo at this point. Especially with regard to the
preservation reaches, the inability to replace the culvert downstream or expand the buffers is a concern. A
50-foot buffer is too narrow for preservation in my opinion, and I'm sure the IRT would like to be able to see
what time of improvements can be made to the channel to address passage before we concur with any ratio.
It seems that the landowner is not really willing to make any of the changes that were recommended, which
does raise a red flag about the property given the condition of the pipes and clearing that has been done.
Thanks,

Todd Tugwell
Mitigation Project Manager
Wilmington District, US Army Corps of Engineers
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587
[phone] ext. 58
-Original Message -----
From: Eric Neuhaus [ma ilto:eneuhaus@wild landseng.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2020 1:01 PM
To: Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B
<[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Laurel Valley Site: Post Contract IRT Site Visit Memorandum;
DMS#100140 USACE#SAW-2020-00053 DWR#20200018
MR
Wanted to follow-up on Paul's email below and ensure that everyone received the memorandum regarding
Laurel Valley and see if anyone had any questions or comments regarding the items in the memo. I
understand everyone is probably very busy given the unique times but wanted to double check these items
before we get too far along with the project.
Thanks,
Eric Neuhaus, PE I Water Resources Engineer
0:828.774.5547 x105 M:865.207.8835
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
167-B Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806
-----Original Message -----
From: Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 2:35 PM
To: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac
<[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J
<[e-mail]>; Kim Browning <[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Eric Neuhaus <eneuhaus@wild landseng.com>; Shawn
Wilkerson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Laurel Valley Site: Post Contract IRT Site Visit Memorandum; DMS#100140_USACE#SAW-2020-
00053_DWR#20200018

Good afternoon;
There were some comments/items that Wildlands proposed to follow up on based on the post contract IRT
visit at the Laurel Valley site in Burke County.
The attached memorandum outlines those requests/items and Wildland's responses
The final (revised) IRT post contract meeting minutes document is also attached for reference.
Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Thanks
Paul Wiesner
Western Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Mitigation Services
828-273-1673 Mobile
[e-mail]
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Drive
Suite 102
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may
be disclosed to third parties.
-----Original Message -----
From: Wiesner, Paul
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2020 10:36 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson
<swilkerson@wild landseng.com>; Haupt, Mac <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B
<[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Kim Browning
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Eric Neuhaus <eneuhaus@wild landseng.com>
Subject: RE: [External] RE: Laurel Valley Site_DMS# 100140: Post Contract IRT Site Visit (1-14-2020) Meeting
Minutes
FTV
The REVISED Laurel Valley Post Contract IRT meeting minutes are attached based on the IRT comments
received via email. Updates are in red.
Thanks
4

Paul Wiesner
Western Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Mitigation Services
828-273-1673 Mobile
[e-mail]
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Drive
Suite 102
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may
be disclosed to third parties.
-----Original Message -----
From: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2020 10:09 AM
To: Shawn Wilkerson <[e-mail]>; Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Haupt,
Mac <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J
<[e-mail]>; Kim Browning <[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Eric Neuhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] RE: Laurel Valley Site_DMS# 100140: Post Contract IRT Site Visit (1-14-2020) Meeting
Minutes
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as
an attachment to [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
Shawn, sorry for any confusion. What I was referring to was the discussions we had about the level of
intervention on Reach 2, and also the possibility of some minor work on Reach 1(the preservation reach), to
include expanding the buffer if possible. The notes say that Wildlands will consider enhancement -style
approaches if feasible, and I just wanted to make sure it was clear that the credit ratio should be based on
what the final approach is. If the approach doesn't change, the ratios shown on the initial proposal may have
to be reconsidered.
Thanks,
Todd
-----Original Message -----
From: Shawn Wilkerson [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2020 8:45 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US)<[e-mail]>; Wiesner, Paul
<[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>;
Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>

Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Eric Neuhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] RE: Laurel Valley Site_DMS# 100140: Post Contract IRT Site Visit (1-14-2020)
Meeting Minutes
Todd
The only change that the IRT discussed was on approximately 200 feet just downstream of the driveway
crossing going to enhancement (that I remember). Was there other things that I missed - I can't tell from your
comment.
Shawn
-----Original Message -----
From: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2020 2:36 PM
To: Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B
<[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Cc: Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson <[e-mail]>; Eric
Neuhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Laurel Valley Site_DMS# 100140: Post Contract IRT Site Visit (1-14-2020) Meeting Minutes
Paul, the notes look good in general. Number 11 relates to the potential that the stream may drop out
sediment in the floodplain and lose its bed and banks, and there is discussion about maintaining the channel,
however, it needs to be noted that we would not want to see maintenance except possible in the first couple
years of monitoring only.
Also the discussion regarding some of the changes to the approaches we discussed, particularly on Reach 2
should note that what was originally proposed may not be acceptable, so if the changes cannot be made as we
discussed, I think we would need to reassess the proposed ratios.
Thanks,
Todd
-----Original Message -----
From: Wiesner, Paul [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2020 2:03 PM
To: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US)<[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac
<[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J
<[e-mail]>; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Ullman, Kirsten J <[e-mail]>; Tsomides,
Harry <[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson
<[e-mail]>; Eric Neuhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] Laurel Valley Site_DMS# 100140: Post Contract IRT Site Visit (1-14-2020) Meeting
Minutes

BE
The meeting minutes from the January 14, 2020 IRT post contract site visit are attached for your review.
Please let us know if you have any additional comments, questions or concerns.
Thanks
Paul Wiesner
Western Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
828-273-1673 Mobile
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Drive
Suite 102
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

kt�
WILDLANDS
ENGINEERING
MEMORANDUM
MEETING: Post Contract IRT Site Visit Memorandum
LAUREL VALLEY Mitigation Site
Catawba River Basin 03050101: Burke County, NC
NCDMS Project No. 100140
USACE ID: SAW-2020-00053
NCDEQ Contract No. 7875-02
Wildlands Project No. 005-02187
DATE: On -site IRT Meeting: Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 1:00 pm
IRT Meeting Notes Revised and Redistributed: Tuesday, January 28, 2020.
Memorandum Distributed: Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Memorandum Revised and Redistributed, May 19, 2020
The following items were discussed at the Post Contract IRT Site Visit and required further investigation from
Wildlands Engineering. Original comments are shown in black while Wildlands responses are shown in blue.
1. The property owner had cleared approximately 7.5-acres beyond the left floodplain of UT1 Reach 1.
Wildlands noted that they would discuss best management practices with the property owner and have
them install erosion and sediment control measures (likely check dams) to minimize sediment induction
into existing UT1.
Wildlands discussed this with the property owner. Check dams were placed in the drainage ditch just
upstream of the driveway crossing and the property owner has sewn hay to stabilize the cleared area.
2. The walk began at the upstream end of East Prong Hunting Creek at the outlet from Laurelwood Rd. The
current culvert is perched and undersized based on initial observation. Wildlands will discuss the
possibility of removing and replacing the existing culvert to improve its current condition and facilitate
the transition to a priority 1 restoration approach with the property owner.
Wildlands discussed this with the property owner, but the adjacent property owner recently replaced
the road crossing and is not interested in allowing Wildlands to replace the crossing. Wildlands will
confirm that the culvert is not on our landowner's property once survey data is received. As much is
possible without hydrologic trespass, Wildlands will attempt to raise the baseflow water surface at the
crossing to improve aquatic organism passage and facilitate transition to a priority 1 approach.
3. The IRT also commented that if wetlands were needed by DMS, they would like to see a larger scale
stream and wetland project at this site. Soil borings taken within the floodplain of East Prong Hunting
Creek by the IRT (Mac Haupt) indicated hydric soil indicators.
WWildlands Engineering, Inc. page 1
LAUREL VALLEY mitigation site
Post -Contract IRT Site Walk Memorandum

Wildlands inquired if there was a wetland need in this basin but NCDMS does not currently have a
wetland need within the basin. Wildlands will not pursue wetland crediting for the project. Groundwater
gages will be installed within existing jurisdictionally delineated wetlands to monitor project effect on
wetland hydrology. Locations of the gages will be shown within the mitigation plan.
4. It was noted by Wildlife Resources Commission that the existing driveway culvert at the upstream end of
UT1 Reach 2 would need to be replaced to eliminate the current aquatic organism blockage (perching).
Additionally, it was requested that the existing plastic pipe be replaced with a different material culvert
which will mimic a more natural stream bed, allowing for easier upstream passage of aquatics.
Wildlands agreed to these requests regarding the replaced culvert.
Wildlands inquired about replacing the culvert with the property owner. The property owner recently
replaced the culvert. Additionally, the property owner noted that there is an existing underground
electric utility line that runs along the crossing. Due to these issues, Wildlands will not be able to replace
the crossing. However, Wildlands will raise the stream grade, backing water up the culvert to help with
culvert perching and aquatic organism passage. Wildlands will also add rock material to create
roughness within the bed of the culvert to give aquatic species some refuge within the culvert.
5. The IRT requested that Wildlands explore options to expand the buffer along UT1 Reach 1, specifically in
the right floodplain. Wildlands will follow up with the property owner and provide a memorandum
outlining the potential expansion of the buffer and any associated requested changes to the proposed
credit ratio.
Wildlands asked the property owner if he would consider a wider buffer along UT1 Reach 1 and he
declined. Wildlands still intends to place the required minimum buffer along each side of UT1 Reach 1
and has revised the proposed credit ratio to 15:1 along the reach based on proposed work (invasive
species, implementation of a conservation easement).
6. The IRT expressed concern that hydrology of UT1 Reach 2 downstream of the project limits would be
completely removed based on the realignment of the proposed channel.
Wildlands will attempt to monitor UT1 Reach 2 as best possible to ensure stream relocation does not
result in a complete loss of hydrology downstream of the project.
WWildlands Engineering, Inc. page 2
LAUREL VALLEY mitigation site
Post -Contract IRT Site Walk Memorandum