20171157 Ver 1_Initial Credit Release SAW-2017-01570_20200527

Strickland, Bev
From:
Jake McLean <[e-mail]>
Sent:
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 4:51 PM
To:
Kim Browning; Baumgartner, Tim
Cc:
Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Haupt, Mac; Davis, Erin B; Bowers, Todd;
Merritt, Katie; Byron Hamstead ([e-mail]); Steve Kichefski; Brown,
David W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Jones, M Scott (Scott) CIV USARMY CESAW
(USA); McLendon, C S CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Crumbley, Tyler A CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA); Wiesner, Paul; Reid, Matthew; Shawn Wilkerson
Subject:
[External] Re: Notice of Initial Credit Release/ NCDMS Shake Rag Branch Mitigation
Site/ SAW-2017-01570/ Madison Co.
External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
[e-mail]
Thanks Kim. We will include these in the MY1 report, but wanted to also provide a more timely response to
the comments:
Todd, For the random veg plots and choosing between circular or rectangular, it came down simply to the
easement width and some areas only the rectangular plots would fit in the easement. The percentages of each
species sourced (5 out of 6 species listed) are on the plans indicating those species that were used in a higher
percentage. If supplemental livestaking is required at a later date, we can try to source Elderberry for the
wildlife value it provides.
Erin, We understand these concerns and Shawn and I will share with the team. I know it is a good reminder
for me- to look at decisions to substitute (even) native stone for wood not just through the lens of general
environmental sensitivity, such as reducing how many trees we cut, but also from the standpoint of stated
approaches to uplift and mitigation goals and objectives.
Also, we certainly agree that changes shouldn't be made that influence project values for convenience alone.
We are encouraged from leadership and personally committed to look for opportunities in construction to
make the projects better, convenient or not, but these do not always show up explicitly on the as -built.
Likewise, we agree that it is important to strive to improve our consideration of constructability to avoid
unnecessary changes stemming from that - it can be a complex thing to predict on the front end. To help with
that, we have started to engage our in-house construction staff during design to assist with constructability
reviews in order to improve our designs in this regard.
We'll continue to keep this input in mind, as it presents some things we can always stand to remember and
consider during design, internal reviews and construction of future projects.

Thanks again for your review and feedback, and I hope you all are doing well!
Jake
Jape McLean I Water Resource Engineer, Project Manager
0: 828.774.5547 M: 828.545.3865
Wildlands Engineering, Inc. fwildlandseng.coml
167-B Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806
From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2020 8:30 AM
To: Baumgartner, Tim <[e-mail]>
Cc: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac
<[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; 'Bowers, Todd ([e-mail])'
<[e-mail]>; Merritt, Katie <[e-mail]>; Byron Hamstead ([e-mail])
<[e-mail]>; Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>;
Brown, David W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Jones, M Scott (Scott) CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; McLendon, C S CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Crumbley, Tyler A CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Reid, Matthew
<[e-mail]>; Jake McLean <[e-mail]>; Shawn Wilkerson
<swiIkerson@wild landseng.com>
Subject: Notice of Initial Credit Release/ NCDMS Shake Rag Branch Mitigation Site/ SAW-2017-01570/ Madison Co.
Good morning,
The 15-Day Record Drawing review for the Shake Rag Branch Mitigation Site (SAW-2017-01570) ended May 21, 2020.
Per Section 332.8(o)(9) of the 2008 Mitigation Rule, this review followed the streamlined review process. All comments
received from the NCIRT are incorporated in this email. Please address IRT concerns in the MY1 Report. There were no
objections to issuing the initial credit release. Please find attached the current signed ledger.
EPA Comments, Todd Bowers:
I have done an extensive overview of the Shake Rag Branch As -Built report (MYO) and at this time I have no serious
concerns or comments but a few inquiries. I noted the differences in approach for the various reaches and shifts in work
performed based on actual site conditions encountered and they seem mostly very minor. The planting plan was
adjusted satisfactorily with the inclusion of proper species to replace those unavailable. I appreciated the statement
"Supplemental plantings and volunteer plants must be present for at least two growing seasons before counting toward
performance standards for monitoring years five and seven" in order to remove any ambiguity in later MY reports. As far
as random veg plots are concerned, I am curious how Wildlands determines which to use between the rectangular and
circular plots. I am also wondering what species was used to replace elderberry live stakes that were not planted in the
riparian corridor.
DWR Comments, Erin Davis:
DWR appreciates the inclusion of the construction field adjustments explanations. However, DWR doesn't believe that
"lack of material" is a valid justification to not install structures that were included in the approved mitigation plan
design. There is the option to bring in material from an offsite source to complete construction as designed to provide

in -stream habitat and bank stabilization. And while it's understood that field changes may occur once under
construction, a concerted effort should be made to evaluate whether or not to disturb bank sections to install
stabilization or habitat structures during the design stage, since these improvements are considered when evaluating
the functional uplift in support of appropriate approaches and credit ratios.
Please contact the mitigation office if you have any questions.
Thanks and Happy Memorial Day,
Kim
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
3331 Heritage Trade Dr, Ste. 105 1 Wake Forest, NC 27587 1 919.554.4884 x60
BUILDING STRONG