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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-529BB414 T", - ?B ?9y?ti North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Richard B. Hamilton, Executive Director MEMORANDUM TO: '/John Hennessy, NCDWQ Jean Manuele, USACE LeiLani Paugh, NCDOT FROM: Joe Mickey, NCWRC Stream Restoration Coordinator taw--? Jim Wasseen, Stream Restoration Technician DATE: June 27, 2005 SUBJECT: Miller Mitigation Site 2005 Monitoring Report for Meat Camp Creek We are pleased to submit the Miller et al. mitigation site monitoring report for 2005 for your review and files. This report is submitted as partial fulfillment of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and North Carolina Wildlife Resources mitigation agreement for Transportation Improvement Project R-529 BA, BB, BD, US 421 in Watauga County. This stream mitigation work was authorized under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit number 199707161 and N.C. Division of Water Quality permit number 970616. If you have questions or concerns about this monitoring report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 336/527-1547 or 1549. Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721 Telephone: (919) 733-3633 • Fax: (919) 715-7643 2005 Monitoring Report for the Miller et al. Mitigation Site on Meat Camp Creek, Watauga County Prepared for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Stream Mitigation Program Transportation Improvement Project R-529 Joseph H. Mickey, Jr. James A. Wasseen II North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Division of Inland Fisheries 2005 This 2005 monitoring report is submitted as partial fulfillment of the off-site stream mitigation agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) for the R-529 US 421 road improvement project in Watauga County. Under this agreement, a total of 14,814 linear feet of stream mitigation is required by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and 7,407 linear feet of mitigation is required by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ). The purpose of this report is to summarize the 2005 monitoring data collected from 652 linear feet of Meat Camp Creek located on the Miller et al. property, Watauga County (Figure 1). Mickey and Scott (2002) described pre-construction survey methods, site conditions, and project objectives. The 2005 monitoring data is compared with the 2003 as-built report (Mickey and Hining 2003a) and 2003 monitoring report (Mickey and Hining 2003b). Repairs Streambank stabilization work at the Miller et al. mitigation site on Meat Camp Creek was completed on September 23, 2002. Since completion of the project, an as-built survey report (Mickey and Hining 2003a) and one monitoring report (Mickey and Hining 2003b) have been submitted to the DWQ and USACE. At the time of the 2003 monitoring report, all work was reported to be stable and functioning as designed. However, following the submittal of the 2003 monitoring report, a storm event on November 19, 2003 caused major bank failure between stations 3+10 to 3+55 (45 linear feet) and containing reference cross-section 3+37. Local landowners noted that the re-constructed streambank at this location was functioning as planned as floodwaters neared the top of the bank. However, during the storm an upstream culvert became blocked. When this temporary dam broke, a "wall of water" could be heard and then seen coming down Meat Camp Creek, covering both the state maintained road and adjacent floodplain at the site. This "wall of water" caused the failure of the left streambank (Appendix 1). The flood also damaged 34 feet of the right streambank at stations 5+00 to 5+34. Repairs were made to these sites on July 13, 2004. However, they were not completed as planned due to circumstances beyond our control to have large boulders delivered to the site. We planned to return at a later date to complete the repairs. Unfortunately, before the final repairs could be made utilizing large boulders, the site experienced hurricane floods on September 8, 13, and 27, 2004. These floods caused additional damage to the site (Appendices 1 and 2). Final repairs were made to the site on November 19, 2004. These repairs included reshaping the damaged bank and adding three rock vanes and one rock cross-vane from station 3+10 to 3+55. Additional repairs requiring the repositioning or addition of large boulders also required at stations 4+15 to 4+90 (Appendices 1 and 2). Monitoring The 2005 monitoring survey was completed on March 30, 2005. The 2005 data is compared with data from the 2003 monitoring report (Mickey and Hining 2003b). A monitoring survey was not conducted in 2004 because hurricane-caused damage had not been repaired. Longitudinal Profile The 2005 longitudinal profile revealed some changes in the channel thalweg (Figure 2). The pool at station 0+22 deepened 1.12 ft and the pool at station 1+73 aggraded 1.24 ft and is now a run. There has also been some channel aggradation (0.2 ft - 0.5 ft) from stations 1+85 to 2+89. The pool at station 3+76 increased in depth by 2.78 ft and the pool at station 4+97 increased in depth by 0.32 ft from the 2003 monitoring survey. These thalweg changes are due to the three hurricane storms that occurred on September 8, 13, and 27, 2004. From stations 4+45 to 4+89, the thalweg increased in maximum depth by 0.83 ft. The increase in depth at this location is a direct result of the repair work to rock vanes that occurred in this area on November 19, 2004. Cross-sect ions Five cross-sections are monitored at the site. Cross-sections showed some adjustments following the September, 8, 13, and 27, 2004 hurricanes and November 19, 2004 repairs when compared with the 2003 monitoring survey (Figure 3). As a result of the hurricanes, cross- section 1+73 has aggraded 1.24 ft and the stream feature has changed from a pool to a run. The streambank at cross-section 3+37 received the most damage from the September 2004 hurricanes and required major repairs (Figure 3.2, Appendix 1). The thalweg at pool cross-section 3+66 increased 0.39 ft in depth. (Figure 3.3). The thalweg depth at cross-section 4+74 increased 0.83 ft (Figure 3.4). This is a direct result of repair work that occurred at this site on November 19, 2004. During repairs, the left bank point bar at cross-section 4+74 from stations 0+30 to 0+46 was lowered approximately 1.2 ft. Materials from the point bar were used to rebuild the right bank after the September 2004 hurricanes. This point bar should increase in height over a period of time following future bankfull events. Cross-section 4+97 showed slight increase in depth of, 0.32 ft compared to the depth found during the 2003 monitoring survey (Figure 3.5). Substrate The pre-construction and as-built riffle pebble counts reveled D50's of 45.0 mm and 46.6 mm (coarse gravel) (Mickey and Hining 2003a, 2003b). The 2003 monitoring pebble count D50 was 37.2 mm (Mickey and Hining 2003b whereas the 2005 weighted and riffle D50,S were 33.0 mm and 32.0 mm. While the 2005 monitoring D50 pebble size was slightly smaller than the post and as-built D50s, it is still in the coarse gravel range. Riparian Improvements A total of 177 live stakes and bare root nursery trees were planted on March 17, 2003 (Table 1). Plantings included tag alder Alnus serrulata, silky dogwood Cornus amnomum, silky willow Salix sericea, black walnut Juglans nigra, and black locust Robina pseudoacacia. Asa result of the September 2004 hurricanes and following the November 19, 2004 repairs, disturbed streambanks were replanted with 30 silky willow live stakes and 25 tag alder (Table 1). A vegetation count was not conducted for this monitoring survey report because the plants were still dormant and difficult to identify. A vegetation count will be conducted during spring 2005 the results included in the 2006 monitoring report. 2 Livestock Exclusion The livestock management program includes two water tanks and fencing to exclude them from the riparian zone. Following the September 2004 hurricanes, repairs had to be made to a section of fencing from stations 3+10 to 3+45 along Meat Camp Creek and to one watering tank outlet pipe. The fencing and watering tank are now functioning properly. Bankf ill rain events Bankfull rain events are monitored through review of the United States Geological Survey's South Fork New River gage (03161000) near Jefferson, North Carolina, and by personal observations of bankfull stage stakes placed on site. Since completion of the as-built survey (Mickey and Hining 2003a) there have been ten bankfull or greater than bankfull events at the site (Table 2). It should be noted that the period from fall 2002 through fall 2003 was an unusually wet period. Of the seven bankfull events that occurred during this time, the thunder storm on November 19, and hurricane storms on September 2, 13, and 27, 2004 were the most severe, causing damage to the site (Figure 3.2, Appendix 1). The November 19, 2003 storm dropped 6 inches of rain in less than 8 hours on the site (personal communication, landowner). Conclusion Since completion of the project on September 23, 2002, the Miller et al. mitigation site on Meat Camp Creek had remained stable until the November 19, 2003 flood and September 8, 13, 27, 2004 hurricanes. As a result of these floods, some damage occurred to streambanks, most notably at stations 3+10 to 3+55 and 4+45 to 4+89. Repairs were completed on November 19, 2004 and the 2005 monitoring survey documents the impacts of the hurricanes and repairs to this site. Streambanks have been returned to stable condition and in-stream structures are functioning as designed. The 2006 monitoring survey will determine if the repairs made to this site are stable. References Mickey, J. H. and S. S. Hining. 2003. As-built report for the Meat Camp Creek mitigation site, Watauga County. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh. Mickey, J. H. and S. S. Hining. 2003. 2003 monitoring report for the Miller et al. mitigation site on Meat Camp Creek, Watauga County. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh. Mickey, J. H. and S. Scott. 2002. Stream restoration plan, Miller site, Meat Camp Creek, Watauga County. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh. I1 U-A • • W) 0 0 N O M r? O U cd bA co u U a? O a? I I Q 0 on a? a? a? O O O U O a w w z a t I ! ' I i S a? ai i~ 0 i a? v; a? 0 a 'C3 O r? y 0 O N .b O N ? o Mc 0 r-4 A o z o? U a c? w U 0 a? 4? 4 T ? u M Q 1 .@ 0 b 8 ?y{O11 M ? OWI 'C C? 8M rvTL I P ?j T g F t , i i _ i j i i f I i r, ?r j 5 f 1 ? ! r i FIGURE 3. Comparison of the 2003 as-built, 2003, and 2005 monitoring cross-sections, Miller et al. mitigation site, Meat Camp Creek, New River basin, Watauga County. fpa = flood prone area, bkf = bankfull 98 97 96 95 °0 94 ? 93 W 92 91 90 89 88 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Width t2003 As-built t2003Monitoring 0 2005 Monitoring -fpa -bkf FIGURE 3.1. Cross-section 1+73, run. iI 6 FIGURE 3. Continued. 94 93 92 G 91 a w 90 89 88 87 FIGURE 3.2. Cross-section 3+37, riffle. Note: gi occurred on November 19, 2003 after the 2003 n was taken during high flows on March 30, 2005. line rE report damage that 1. Photograph Width t2003 As-built t2003Monitoring -+-2003 Flood damage s 2005 Monitoring -fpa -bkf FIGURE 3. Continued. 94 93 92 91 0 90 89 d u"7 88 87 86 85 84 0 20 40 60 80 100 Width -+-2003 As-built -* 2003 Monitoring 12005 Monitoring -fpa -bkf FIGURE 3. Continued. v, i j E F lUVKn J.Y. ?..1vJJ-JV?i ?lvll YT?Y, 1111M. rnmugiapa way w.ncii ummr,' nigh nvwa vii maisii 2005. FIGURE 3. Continued. 11, 92 91 90 89 88 87 d w 86 85 84 83 82 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Width 0 U 3 t? N z N U U O A O .4? N 1.. a? N 40. ?p U a wi N O w° 0 i J J J i i s z ) ) - --------------- ? 3 i I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I ? I I I I I 1 I ?z 1 I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I t I I I ? I I I I ? I I ? I I I I ? I I I I NZ I- N M O N O 0 O U N N N ? ? 0 0 a N ? ? "Cqy cd ? e ?1° ? 01 q V o 0 0 G. 3 1 A M d? 00 0 0 e o 0 0 0 0 o e o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C) 00, w 0110 o W) M C4 tmgl aaug luaolad vi o A 0 A ?:" ?p a> A 00 'T 1-t ?n V I M N M IM M M M \0 N N o ? C M M ?- y d. ?a 11 i TABLE 1. Plantings along Meat Camp Creek at the Miller et al. site, Watauga County, March 12, 2003 and November 19, 2005. Number planted Scientific name Common name 2003 2005 Salix sericea Silky willow 136 30 j Robina pseudoacacia Black locust 26 Juglans nigra Black walnut 5 Alnus serrulata Tag alder 10 25 Total 177 55 =232 Table 2. Monitoring of inner berm and bankfull events in the South Fork New River watershed from the United States Geological Survey gage number 03161000 near Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina. Date Gage height (ft) Flows (cfs) Comments 2/22-23/03 5.0 2,250 Gage quit working 3/16/03 4.4 1,725 Inner berm event 4/10/03 5.4 2,819 Bankfull event 4/18/03 5.6 3,200 Bankfull event 6/7/03 4.1 1,820 Inner berm event 6/17/03 4.7 2,000 Bankfull event 8/9/03 4.2 1,450 Inner berm event 8/10/03 4.1 1,400 Inner berm event 11/19/038 5.4 1,880 Bankfull event 2/7/04 4.8 2,080 Bankfull event 9/2/04 11.7 14,700 Bankfull event (hurricane) 9/13/04 8.6 7,550 Bankfull event (hurricane) 9/28/04 6.3 3,820 Bankfull event (hurricane) were in excess 6 inches and this event caused damage to 12 i i _a,' • Appendix 1: Photographs of damage and repairs to stations 3+10 to 3+55 at the Miller et al. mitigation site on Meat Camp Creek, New River drainage, Watauga County. November 19, 2003 -November 19, 2004. • Appendix 2: Photographs of September 8, 13, 27, 2004 hurricane damage from stations 4+15 to 4+90 at the Miller et al. mitigation site on Meat Camp Creek, New River drainage, Watauga County. This site was repaired on November 19, 2004. • 0 WETLA CSANp sT p?MK?q p hF,NCN f ?, o stem 1,11,11al-luemeTit PROGRAM October 3, 2005 Mr. Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D. Environmental Management Director Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch North Carolina Department of Transportation 1548 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1548 Dear Dr. Thorpe: Subject: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) Stream Mitigation Projects: TIP Number A-10 C/D, US 19/23 Widening, Madison County, French Broad River Basin, CU 06010105 TIP Number R-242013, University Boulevard Improvements, Mecklenburg County, Catawba River Basin, CU 03050103 TIP Number R-529 BA/BB/BD, US 421 Widening, Watauga County, New River Basin, CU 05050001 TIP Number R-2239B, US 421 Widening, Wilkes County, Yadkin River Basin, CU 03040101 TIP Number R-2123 AC/BB/CC, Charlotte Outer Loop (1-485), Mecklenburg County, Yadkin River Basin, CU 03040105 The purpose of this letter is to provide notification and confirmation that the Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) will accept responsibility for the NCWRC stream mitigation projects associated with the above listed projects. Also, EEP will agree to provide the unmet stream mitigation required to offset impacts associated with TIP Numbers A-10 C/D, R-529 BABB/DB, and R-2420B. It has not been determined at this time whether the EEP will enter into an agreement with the NCWRC to continue these projects or pursue new mitigation projects. EEP may elect to continue these projects and the additional required stream mitigation through another mitigation procurement method. Rest riC tc/... Nc6 NR North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program, 1652 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1652 / 919-715-0476 / www.nceep.net The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) entered into several Reimbursement Agreements (RAs) and supplemental RAs with the NCWRC for stream mitigation to offset the stream impacts associated with the above referenced five (5) TIP projects. As per the Memorandum of Agreement between the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), N. C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and N. C. Department of Transportation (Tri-Party MCA) executed on July 22, 2003, the NCDOT agreed to transfer all off-site mitigation projects to the EEP for management and, in some cases, continuation of various mitigation activities. Under that agreement and in a letter dated July 25, 2005, the NCDOT requested these stream mitigation projects initiated by the NCWRC be transferred from the NCDOT to EEP for continuation of the mitigation activities as well as provide the additional stream mitigation currently not completed by the NCWRC. EEP staff have reviewed the information provided by the NCDOT in the July 25, 2005 submittal and has determined that additional information is required before these stream mitigation projects can be accepted and transferred. This information is required in order to determine exactly what the stream mitigation requirements were for the above referenced TIP projects and what the additional stream mitigation requirements are, if any. Specifically, EEP requests the following information for all five agreements between the NCDOT and NCWRC: • copies of all issued 404 and 401 permits for which NCWRC was responsible for providing the stream mitigation, • copies of all executed agreements and supplemental agreements between the NCDOT and NCWRC (see below for more details), • copies of all mitigation plans associated with individual projects under each executed agreement, • copies of any monitoring report prepared for individual projects under each executed agreement, • information regarding the five potential sites included on the "NCDOT/NCWRC Project Status (August 2005)", status of property owner negotiations, and property owner contacts. The EEP has reviewed all copies of executed agreements between the NCDOT and NCWRC that were provided; however, after review, it appears that at least two supplemental agreements may be missing for TIP Numbers A-10 C/D and R-529 BA/BB/BD. According to the NCWRC summary report, the NCDOT required the NCWRC to implement a total of 26,345 feet of trout stream enhancement for TIP A-10 C/D; however, EEP has copies of executed agreements that total 25,433 feet of trout stream enhancement. Also, EEP has copies of executed agreements that total 14,814 feet of stream enhancement; however, NCWRC indicates a total of 16,651 feet of stream enhancement was required. There appear to be discrepancies related to TIP R-2420B in regards to the stream mitigation requirements and the location of the project. After review of the documentation provided, EEP is uncertain if the stream mitigation requirements were 903 linear feet of stream enhancement or 903 stream credits. Also, according to your letter dated August 24, 2005, this project is located in CU 03050103 of the Catawba River Basin; however, the executed agreement indicates that stream mitigation must be conducted in the Goose Creek watershed of the Yadkin River Basin. EEP needs clarification of exactly what are the stream mitigation requirements for this project (i.e., are the requirements 903 feet stream mitigation or 903 stream mitigation credits) and verification of the river basin and cataloging unit of the project's location. In addition, there is a discrepancy between the NCDOT letter dated August 24, 2005, and the USACE letter dated August 8, 2005 regarding the amount of stream mitigation remaining for TIP Number A-10 C/D. The USACE letter states, "A total of 11,665 linear feet of stream mitigation is still needed" and the NCDOT letter indicates 9,437 feet of stream mitigation is required. EEP will need verification from the USACE and/or NCDOT as to the remaining amount of stream mitigation required for this project, as well as for the other two TIP projects (R-529 BA/BB/BD and R-242013) that have outstanding stream mitigation needs. Also, the NCDENR-EEP and USACE need to discuss and agree upon a reasonable timeframe for which the additional stream mitigation will be required. These types of additional mitigation requests were not addressed in the Tri-Party MOA. The outstanding mitigation needs associated with the subject projects were not included in the EEP's 2005-2006 Biennial Budget that was approved by the NCDOT in June 2005. Monetary compensation will be needed for the additional stream mitigation required for these projects. Upon receipt of an accurate accounting of the outstanding stream mitigation need, EEP will determine the amount of additional funding needed and convey that information to the NCDOT. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ms. Beth Harmon at 919-715-1929. Sincerely, illiam Gilmore, P.E. EEP Director cc: Mr. Scott McLendon, USACE-Wilmington Mr. Steve Lund, USACE-Asheville Mr. John Thomas, USACE-Raleigh Mr. Eric Alsmeyer, USACE-Raleigh Mr. John Hennessy, Division of Water Quality, Wetlands/401 Unit Ms. Shannon Deaton, NCWRC-Raleigh Mr. Randy Griffin, Jr., NCDOT-PDEA File s.w STAR, _ 7 JI.4 2 u 1997 STATF OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPAPUMENT OF TRANSPORTATION JAMES B. HuNh JR. DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS GARLAND B. GARRETT JR. GuvF.RNOR P.O. BOX 25201. RALEIGIi. N.C. 27611-5201 SECRF-TARY July 22, 1997 MEMORANDUM TO: Steve Lund, COE Cyndi Bell, DWQ Ron Linville, DWQ Joe Mickey, N C W RC David Cox, NCWRC Mark Cantrell, USFWS Marshall Clawson, Hydraulics FROM: Lindsey Riddick Planning and Environmental Branch SUBJECT: Watauga County, US 421 from South Fork New River in Boone to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Deep Gap. TIP No. R-529BA/BB. There will be a field review meeting to discuss impacts resulting from construction of the subject project. We will meet at the rest area located on US 421 just West of the US 421 crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Deep Gap and Boone at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 1997. A map showing the location of the meeting site is included for your convenience. Thank you for your continued assistance with this project. If anyone has any questions, please contact me at (919) 733-7844, extension 315. ?41t oNl'` Iuisdean t ^?F,S _ PRO C. 13L r_. u BEGIN- : p%=T:CT 4 ?!1 H 1_ ^ Ifa SCALE 0 1 2 7 . mml LL, J,?- 11 :? • - ?nnK Ft. 93 ?' 1 b Glai a1n ?H` y • wmlenea terr. ??M aoa ^[(I_ :,rnndl cG,ad. H alls Mill/ ?Harsy?C ?/ ROanr * !1?`l c... x?Rbsn' . In[ Nock ?( g I II Fel[llfOn / ,?11 1 MolatUn Falls 11 lk 80oma P. 321) u R ^`` b - _."\ h+- l6 X-91 cleek Scale of Miles 0 5 10 20 30 0 10 20 30 40 48 Scale of Kilometers One Inds equals applotM t" 13 min ano applo.rnalalr 21 taornelws. ?0 N. C. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS W ATAUGA COUNTY PROJECT: 8.T750603 ( 8-0529 BA) US421 FROM WEST OF SOUTH FOR OF THE NEW RIVER TO 0.3811,[ EAST OF SR1557 SHEET A OF 7 7V1CINI Y N -.akP 1 7j?? l?A ?n2 7 Ae _2 10 4,1 0 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0 Charles K.1"ullwood, FXccutive Director MEMORANDUM TO: Cynthia Van Der Wiele, NCDWQ Jean Manuele, USCOE Lindsey Riddick, NCDOT FROM: Joe MickeY and Staci Hining, NCWRC Stream Mitigation Program DATE: January 9, 2004 SUBJECT: Miller et al. 2003 Monitoring Report for Meat Camp Creek, Watuaga County We are pleased to submit the Miller et al. mitigation site first year monitoring report for 2003 for your review and files. This report is submitted as partial fulfillment of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and North Carolina Wildlife Resources mitigation agreement for Transportation Improvement Project R-529 BA, BB, BD, US 421 in Watauga County. This stream mitigation work was authorized under U. S. Army Corps of Engineers permit number 199707161 and N.C. Division of Water Quality permit number 970616. If you have questions or concerns about this monitoring report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 336/527-1547 or 1549. Cc: Jim Borawa, NCWRC Watershed Enhancement Supervisor Enclosures: 2003 Monitoring Report for the Miller et al. Mitigation Site on Meat Camp Creek, Watauga, County Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service (;enter • K,ilci4;h, NC 27(,99-1721 'T'elephone: (919) 733-3633 est. 281 • Pax: (919) 715-7643 [ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 0 Charles K. F1111%V00d, I?;xecuMT Director MEMORANDUM TO: /Cynthia Van Der Wiele, NC Division of Water Quality DOT Coordinator Jean Manuele, US Army Corps of Engineers DOT Coordinator Lindsey Riddick, NCDOT Mitigation Coordinator, US 421 Project, R-529 FROM: Je ?ey and Staci Hining, NCWRC Stream Mitigation Program DATE: J. nary 9, 2004 SUBJECT: As-built stream restoration plans for the Miller et al. stream mitigation site, DOT R-529 US 421 Project, Watuaga County 'n/e are pleased to submit the Miller et al.as-built plans which summarizes 652 linear feet of stream enhancement on Meat Camp Creek completed on September 23, 2002. The as-built survey was completed on March 4, 2003. This site is partial fulfillment of the off-site stream mitigation agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) for the R-529 US 421 road improvement project in Watuaga County. Under this agreement, a total of 14,814 linear feet of stream mitigation is required by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and 7,407 linear feet of mitigation for the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ). Also enclosed for your records are copies of signed and recorded conservation easements from five different landowners. The DOT paid $3,460 for 0.696 acres in the conservation easement. These easements have been recorded with the Watauga County Registry. We appreciated DOT's Division 11 Location and Survey and Right-of-Way's efforts to work with the landowners and WRC to obtain these easement. Thank you for your time and consideration of this as-built plan. If I can be of any further assistance, please contact me at P. 0. Box 387, Elkin, NC 28621, phone 336/527-1547 or 1549. cc: Jim Borawa, NCWRC Watershed Enhancement Supervisor Enclosures: Miller et al. as-built plan Church of Deliverance conservation easement Baxter conservation easement Miller conservation easement Proffit conservation easement Dotty/Winebarger conservation easement Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • KaIcIgIt, N(? 2 7699-1 72 1 'Telephone: (919) 733-3633 cxt. 281 • Fax: ;919) 715-76- 3 As ]wilt Report for the Miller et al. Litigation Site on Feat Camp Creelc, `'Vatauga County Prepared for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Stream Mitigation Program Transportation Improvement Project R-529 Joseph H. Mickey, Jr. Staci S. Hining North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Division of Inland Fisheries December 2003 This as-built plan is submitted as partial fulfillment of the off-site stream mitigation agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) for the R-529 US 421 road improvement project in Watuuga County. Under this agreement, a total of 14,814 linear feet of stream mitigation is required by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and 7,407 linear feet of mitigation is required by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ). The purpose of this report is to summarize those practices used for bank stabilization and habitat enhancement along 652 linear feet of Meat Camp Creek located on the Miller et al. property, Watauga County (Figure 1). Mickey and Scott (2002) described pre-construction site conditions and project objectives. Site Improvements Conservation Easement In order to ensure long term protection of the site, conservation easements (CE) were signed by five separate landowners on July 23, August 2 and 28, and September 11, 2002. A total of 0.696 acre are in the CE's (Figure 2). Right-of-way access to the easement by WRC personnel is from SR 1335 (Meat Camp Road) and SR 1339 (Hopewell Church Road) at the northern end of the project. The CE's are perpetual and are held by the WRC. Copies of the CE and survey plat are attached to this report as a separate item for DWQ, COE and DOT files. Channel Modifications Construction was carried out through an informal contract with A&E Construction, Lansing, NC. The contractor provided a dump truck and trackhoe with hydraulic thumb. Access to the site was through a temporary construction access from SR 1335 (Meat Camp Road) and the Church of Deliverance parking lot. Work began on September 17 and was completed on September 23, 2002. Two rock weirs, 11 rock vanes, and 1 log vane were installed to prevent stream headcutting, bank erosion, and create or maintain pool habitat (Table 1). Large footer rocks support top boulders in the weirs and vanes. Holes were dug below the weir apex to accelerate and maintain pool formation by stream water velocities. Excess streambed materials were excavated at rock weirs and rock vanes and placed upstream of the structure near the bank where natural deposition would be expected. Rock vanes were used to divert water away from eroding banks and for habitat diversity. The streambank was sloped to the top of the bank and vegetated. On disturbed banks, erosion control fabric was installed to provide temporary bank protection until vegetation could be established. The post-construction as-built survey was completed on March 4, 2003 and included five channel cross-sections, a longitudinal profile, and pebble counts. The post-construction longitudinal profile shows how the project increased pool and deep-water habitat (Figure 3). Pool habitat was increased from 21% to 31%. The scour action of rock weirs and rock and log vanes can be observed from the as-built profile (Figure 3). These structures are creating deep-water aquatic habitat and sorting bed material in a way that will provide gravel required for fish spawning. The five cross-sections will be used to monitor long-term channel stability (Figure 4.1 4.5). The pre-construction and post construction riffle D 50's were 45.0 mm and 46.6 mm (coarse gravel) (Figure 5). Slope at this location is 0.016 percent and sinuosity is 1.1 (Mickey and Scott, 2001). Based on entrenchment ratios (2.5 - 3.0) and width/depth ratios (21.8 - 33.8) from two riffle cross-sections (stations 3+37 and 4+74), Meat Camp Creek at this location is classified as a Cob stream type (Rosgen 1996). The goal of stabilizing the stream channel, while maintaining a Cob stream type at this location was achieved. Riparian Improvements During construction, sod mats salvaged from the site were used to provide instant bank stability and long-term erosion control. Sod mats had the advantage of containing an established seed mix. On sites where sod mats were not used, the area was seeded with a WRC native riparian mix and cover crop of winter wheat and rye. After seeding, an eight-foot wide straw erosion control blanket was used to cover the soil. These blankets were used to stabilize the soil surface until a vegetative cover could be achieved and to contribute to soil stability after vegetation becomes established. As the straw blankets decompose over a 2-year period, permanent vegetation should be well established. A total of 177 live stakes and bare root nursery trees plant were planted on March 17, 2003 (Table 2). Plantings included tag alder Ahms serrulata, silky dogwood Corrals anlonrlnrl, silky willow Salix sericea, black walnut Juglans nigra, and black locust Robina pseudoacacia . Based on DWQ planting guidelines, a total of 224 trees should have been planted on the 0.698 acre site. However, fewer plantings were required because of existing stands of mature trees along some sections of the stream (Figures 4.1 - 4.5). One of the objectives of the project was to do a one-time treatment of multiflora rose. Multiflora rose was sprayed with roundup and/or removed by the track hoe during construction. Spot treatments of this invasive plant may be necessary at a later date. Livestock Exclusion in order for any stream restoration/enhancement project to be a success, livestock must be excluded from the recent construction area and riparian zone and an alternate watering source provided. This was accomplished by installation of two spring reservoirs and two gravity flow watering tanks. Mr. Derick Goddard, Cost Share Technician with the Watauga County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD), supervised construction of the livestock exclusion plan for the site (Figure 6). Project Costs The WRC project cost for stream enhancement work was $28,903.41 or $44.47 per linear foot of stream enhancement (Table 3). Project cost includes: administrative cost; meetings with the landowner, NCDOT and NRCS personnel; field survey work; preparation of project conceptual design; construction and as-built plans; tree purchase and planting; erosion control materials (seed, fertilizer, fabric); construction and livestock exclusion contracts; and WRC personnel costs. Taking into account NCDOT Location and Survey and Right of Way personnel expenses ($3,500) and CE costs ($3,460), the project cost a total of $35,863.41 or $55.17 per foot (Table 3). Long term monitoring and repair costs will be added to the total as needed during the five-year monitoring period. Summary Using natural stream design techniques, stream dimension and profile was improved at this site. Water quality will be improved through reduced sedimentation from eroding banks and exclusion of livestock from the riparian zone. In-stream habitat for fish and aquatic invertebrates has been increased with the installation of rock weirs, rock and log vanes, and root wads. Both aquatic and terrestrial species will benefit with the return of a functioning riparian corridor. Stream aesthetics have also been improved. References Mickey, J. H. and S. Scott. 2002. Stream restoration plan, Miller site, Meat Camp Creek, Watuaga County. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh. Rosgen, D. L. 1996. Applied river morphology. Printed Media Companies, Minneapolis, Minnesota. w z 3 M O O N U O U cA a a eA n 43 a z w° O v U C3 U Q 0 .N 0 L3 w 1 f E i r',? 4 ??? 1 1 w r ? v 5 j Y?, >I• , ? f;? SI t - II ? d2ynV „Ja,40 , 1 t- ' k ? f t L I. ? LL ( (? t 1 I I I- 1 _ I, 1?, 1 ? ? I Y 1 % i ?..:;,;_1,_l..!-.1 ;-•-fir; ..i.,.;. j ;I ;? ?I, l G c C U n O O U M aA O c3 C3 J U U U C3 C3 U n U r~ 0 O rp .o C3 U GH r? O S 0 c. O U 4i O a cs s~ O Q O N O .b L'. CS O O U N 0 O Y N a M c? wM 0 O N 0 0 CC) C 0 'A U 7 N C O U N CL C O p U N N X c 0 0 U ` O N c 0 U IL ' ? U C Cl. O N m c c ca cr3 c 0 o 0 C) 7 N c 0 v N O D. O O O v N N N K O O r m ? o ?a CD O N O O O c O o O co co co o N O O (1 1) UOil enap O t i , c f '• I l <; I a ? I L ti CAS v r7 H / "^ U ? r 9 i a O ` 0 D G 1 ? 7 FIduRE 4.-Five cross-sections at the Miller et al. Meat Camp Creek mitigation site, Watauga County, March 2003. Figures 4.1, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 were surveyed from left to right bank looking downstream; pictures were taken looking upstream. Picture for figures 4.2 is lined up correctly with the cross-section survey. -#--Channel Bkf 98 96 '? 94 C 0 m 92 W 90 - 88 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Distance (ft) FIGuRE 4.1.-Cross-section at station 1+73, pool at rock weir. { ? t { f 8 FtauRE 4.-Continued -&-Channel 95 93 c po 91 IV IV w 89 87 viswnw ,R) Bkf I { , Ay + Y I ? f 14, ILI' IVA T 1.0 ? .n ? -.aYN' ?.Wn• ? ,o ?, ?-•yN, fk?IR'u^. ??F ^ 'N 0'?,yM « .. j h ' n„' t? FIGuRE 4.2.-Cross-section at station 3+37, riffle. FTnuRE 4.-Continued. - 0 Channel Bkf 94 92 -- 90 c 0 2 88 w - - 86 - 84 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 Distance (ft) V y 1 10 +?"""Y?I"? ` ??? i?'! ? sMY ?ir. ?'?"M?•'4?'?wt?.+. `? ? pf r? ?"?,?1 `':, '. '}° n ..?-.. '++r*?•"`? '- 0.iM?e}nwwii w Th r .. xau,?tli FIGuRE 4.3.-Cross-section at station 3+66, pool. ?I FIGURE 4.-Continued. -?-Channel Wfpa Bkf 94 92 'K 90 ----- --.-- c 0 .T 88 w 86 84 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Distance (ft) FIGuRE 4.4.-Cross-section at station 4+74, riffle. 11 FIGuRE 4.-Continued .-*--Channel WFpa Bkf 94 92 90 0 m - 88 - w 86 - 84 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Distance (ft) FIGURE 4.5.-Cross-section at station 4+97, pool. s N .i7 3 a 0 U .r w a? v w ! I 12 N ti O U e'3 a U 00 q 0 e? O w N w° 'a a 0 U k N a 13 14 TABLE 1.-Type and location of in-stream structures for the Miller et al. mitigation site on Meat Camp Creek, Watauga County, 2002. Structure type Longitudinal profile station number Rock weir 1+64 Rock vane 1+89 RB1 Rock vane 2+10 RB Rock vane 2+28 RB Rock vane 2+89 LB2 Rock vane 3+06 LB Rock vane 3+30 LB Rock vane 3+51 LB Log vane 3+97 LB Rock vane 4+15 RB Rock vane 4+38 RB Rock vane 4+57 RB Rock vane 4+70 RB Rock weir 4+89 1 RB - right bank z LB - left bank TABLE 2.-Plantings at the Miller et al. mitigation site along Meat Camp Creek, Watuaga County, March 12, 2003. Species Scientific Name Number planted Silky willow Salix sericea 136 Black locust Robina pseudoacaci 26 Black walnut Jvglans nigra 5 Ta alder Alin serrulata 10 TOTAL 177 15 TABLi: 3.- Summary project costs for the Miller et al. stream mitigation site along Meat Camp Creek as of December 31, 2003, Watuaga County. NVRC Administration S 24.96 hours S 15.54 mileage '%VRC Pre-Planning S 3,447.87 hours S 335.96 mileage WRC Construction S 1,801.88 hours S 379.62 mileage WRC As-Built S 775.23 hours $ 144.30 mileage WRC Tree Planting S 200.03 hours S 39.96 mileage WRC Monitoring S _ hours S _ mileage $ 1,766.00 Construction Contract S 70 129129. Construction Materials S .37 16, Livestock Exclusion Contract S 379.59 NRCS Administrative Cost S 32.00 Tree Purchase S _ Livestalie Purchase NVRC Overall 421 Project Administration S 1,79 { 99 hours S 140.67 mileage S 1,047.74 project equipment / office expenses / supplies $ 23,903.41 WRC Total Project Cost as of 12/03 S 44.47 NVRC Cost per foot (650(1) S 3,460.00 DOT Eascmcnt Payment S 3,500.00 DOT Location and Survey S 35,863.41 Overall Project Cost S 55.17 Overall Cost per foot I I I I I I II II I VIII III VIII IIIIII I III I (? I lil 20031125000332170 EASE Bk:BR916 P g:124 11/25/2003 03:21:49PM 1/7 FILED Wanda C. Scott Register or Deods UGA COUNTY,NC Deputy D ty /? Watauga County NC 11125/2003 State or North Carolina Real Estate Excise Tax Excise Tax: $1.00 r! TG403/ U1 GROUP Al"! 1 -) 14 2004 CONSERVATION EASEMENT and EASEMENTS OF INGRESS AND EGR S THIS INSTRUMENT DRAWN BY ?i1'• t r't? CHECKED BY RETURN T : Jimmy L. Caudle Division Right of Way Agent P.O. Box 250 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 State of North Carolina Watauga County Meat Camp Township State Project: 6.759005T F.A. Project: N/A Parcel No.: R-0529 WM (706WM)1D THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT made this 11th day of September, 2002, by and between _Bruce Miller, Johnny Greene, and William Glen Proffit Trustees for Church of Deliverance; hereinafter called the "Grantor(s)" and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Inland Fisheries, 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh; NC 27699-1721, hereinafter called the "WRC," and administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, hereinafter called the "NCDOT," provides the following: WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Grantor is the sole owner in fee simple of certain real property in Meat Camp Township of Watauga County, North Carolina, as more particularly described in Book 170, Page 428 of the Watauga County Registry, North Carolina, which land is hereinafter referred to as "the Property'; ` WHEREAS, the NCDOT is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purpose includes the construction of transportation projects for public use and who has the authority to acquire land for the purpose of mitigating environmental impacts of these transportation projects; WHEREAS, the NCDOT desires to restore 145.64 feet of stream in Watauga County on the said Property through the WRC: WHEREAS, the WRC is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purposes include the restoration and conservation of open space and streams for stream mitigation purposes; is authorized by the laws of the State of North Carolina to accept, hold and administer conservation easements; and who has the authority to accept and is willing to accept this Conservation Easement from the Grantor under the terms and conditions hereinafter described; WHEREAS, the Grantor is willing to grant a perpetual Conservation Easement over 0.030 acres of the Property (the Conservation Easement Area), thereby restricting and limiting the use of land within the Conservation Easement Area to the terms and conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth; WHEREAS, the Uniform Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act, N.C.G.S. § 121-34 et. seq., provides for the enforceability of restrictions, easements, covenants or conditions appropriate to retaining land or water areas predominantly in their natural, scenic or open condition or in agricultural, horticultural, farming or forest use; WHEREAS, the NCDOT, under a Section 404 permit granted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), must conduct certain off-site trout stream enhancement to mitigate for impacts to trout streams resulting from the construction of US 421 from South Fork New River to East of the Blue Ridge Parkwav (R-0529 BA R-0529 BB & R-0529 BD); WHEREAS, the NCDOT has entered into an agreement with the WRC to reimburse them 200311250003321r7?0 EASE for conducting the mitigation activities; 11/125/82003 0321 c 9P1 2/7 WHEREAS, the USACE has reviewed and approved the use of the Conservation Easement on the Property to mitigate for the stream impacts, and such will satisfy the said permit conditions after the completion of the stream monitoring period; WHEREAS, the purposes of this Conservation Easement are to protect the mitigation activities performed by the WRC, to preserve and protect the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, to prevent any use of the Conservation Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with these purposes, and to maintain permanently the dominant woodland, scenic and natural character of the Conservation Easement Area designated on the Property as hereinafter described. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of $400.00 (Four Hundred Dollars) and other valuable considerations to the Grantor in hand paid by the NCDOT, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in further consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and restrictions hereinafter set forth, the Grantor hereby grants and conveys unto the WRC and its successors or assigns forever and in perpetuity a Conservation Easement, pursuant to the USACE Section 404 permit requirements, of the nature and character and to the extent hereinafter set forth, in respect to the land of the grantor situated in Watauga County, North Carolina, as described in Exhibit A, and hereinafter referred to as the "Conservation Easement Area". For a plat of the above described Conservation Easement, please see plat titled "Conservation Easement' recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. The terms, conditions and restrictions of the Conservation Easement are as hereinafter set forth: ARTICLE I. DURATION OF EASEMENTS; ACCESS A. Conservation Easement. This Conservation Easement shall be perpetual. It is an easement in gross, runs with the land and is enforceable by the WRC or its successors and/or assigns against the Grantor(s), Grantor(s) heirs, devisees, successors and assigns, lessees, agents and licensees. B. Public Access. The easement rights granted herein do not include public access rights. However, the public has the right to view the Conservation Easement Area from any adjacent publicly accessible area. ARTICLE II. PROHIBITED, RESTRICTED AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Any activity on, or use of, the designated Conservation Easement Area inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement is prohibited. Unless expressly reserved as a compatible use herein, any activity in, or use of, the Conservation Easement Area by the Grantor is prohibited as inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement. The Conservation Easement Area shall be maintained in its natural, scenic and open condition and restricted from any development or alteration that would significantly impair or interfere with the conservation values of this Conservation Easement Area. Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor have been acquired by the WRC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following activities and uses are expressly prohibited, restricted or reserved as indicated hereunder: 1. Silvicultural Use and Land Clearing There may be no destruction or cutting of trees or plants in the Conservation Easement Area, except in accordance with the Conceptual Restoration Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit B, or upon written approval of the WRC. 2. Dumping or Storage. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste, abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery, or hazardous substances, or toxic or hazardous waste, or any placement of underground or aboveground storage tanks or other materials on the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 3. Mineral Use, Excavation, Dredging. There shall be no filling, excavation, dredging, mining or drilling; no removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals or other material, and no change in the topography of the land in any manner on the Conservation Easement Area nor shall there be any activities conducted on the Conservation Easement Area or on adjacent property if owned by the Grantor and their successors which would cause erosion or siltation on the Conservation Easement Area. 4. Grantor's Rights. The Grantor, for themselves, their successors, assigns, invitees and licensees, hereby reserves the right to quiet enjoyment of the Conservation Easement Area; the right of ingress and egress to the Conservation Easement Area and all adjacent property of the Grantor; and the right to sell, transfer, gift or otherwise convey the Conservation Easement Area, in whole, provided such sale, transfer or gift conveyance is subject to the terms of this Conservation Easement and written notice is provided to the WRC in accordance with the provisions herein below. 2 5. W RC's Rights. The WRC reserves the right to use the Conservation Easement Area in any way necessary, consistent with the terms herein, to undertake any activities to protect, N? W restore, manage, maintain, or enhance stream functional values, and monitor the restoration N•• -- NwN resources, as described in the Conceptual Restoration Plan Exhibit B) for the Conservation ono Easement Area, in order to mitigate for impacts to streams resulting from road construction. ©?, W These mitigation activities include, but are not limited to, construction of new stream ?MQ -4 channels; restoration/stabilization of existing stream channels; installation of natural and • •• man-made materials as needed to direct in-stream, above ground, and subterraneous water UN7) :X (D in M flow; planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; collecting live cuttings; and w utilization of heavy equipment to grade, fill, and prepare the soil. The WRC further reserves the right to monitor the results of the mitigation activities in perpetuity and to repair or restore any damage to the Conservation Easement Area occurring after initial completion of the construction associated with mitigation activities. ARTICLE III. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES Nothing contained herein shall be construed to entitle the Grantor or WRC to bring any action against the other party for any injury or change in the Property resulting from causes beyond the control of either party, including fire, flood, storm, war, acts of God or third parties, or from any prudent action taken in good faith by either parry under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to life, damage to property or harm to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from such causes, in accordance hereunder. The WRC has the right to prevent any action on or use of the Conservation Easement Area that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or features of the Conservation Easement Area that may be damaged by any inconsistent activity or use. If the WRC determines that the Grantor is in violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement or that a violation is threatened, WRC shall give written notice to Grantor of such violation and demand corrective action sufficient to cure the violation and, where the violation involves injury to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from any use or activity inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement, to restore the portion of the Conservation Easement Area so injured. If Grantor fails to cure the violation within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice thereof from WRC, or under circumstances where the violation cannot reasonably be cured within a thirty (30) day period, fails to begin curing such violation within the thirty (30) day period, or fails to continue diligently to cure such violation until finally cured, WRC may bring an action at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, to enjoin the violation, as necessary, by temporary or permanent injunction, to recover any damages to which it may be entitled for violation of.the terms: of this Easement, including damages for the loss of conservation values, and to require the restoration of the Conservation Easement Area to the condition that existed prior to any subii injury. If the WRC, in its sole discretion, determines that circumstances require immediate action to prevent or mitigate significant damage to the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, the WRC may pursue its remedies without prior notice to the Grantor. WRC shall exercise reasonable efforts to notify the Grantor and shall, in any event, notify Grantor within two business days after action is taken to explain the action undertaken. WRC's remedies shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies available to WRC at law or equity. Any cost incurred by WRC in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, and any costs of restoration necessitated by Grantor's violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement shall be borne by Grantor. No failure on the part of the WRC to enforce any covenant or provision hereof shall be a waiver to discharge or invalidate such covenant or any other covenant, condition, or provision hereof or affect the right of WRC to enforce the same in the event of a subsequent breach or default. The Grantor reserves the right to take action against the WRC for use of the Conservation Easement Area in a way that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement. Any cost incurred by Grantor in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against WRC or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, shall be borne by WRC. ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS A. Amendments. The NCDOT, WRC and Grantor may amend this Conservation Easement; only by a jointly executed written agreement, and provided that no amendment will be allowed that is inconsistent with the purposes stated herein, and provided that it is approved by the USACE. B. Exhibits. The attached Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Plat recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry are incorporated in and made a part of this instrument by reference. The parties acknowledge that the Conceptual Restoration Plan, developed by a WRC biologist and dated June 2002 (Exhibit B), a copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the WRC, and which is also attached hereto and incorporated herein, describes the plan for mitigation activities in the Conservation Easement Area. C. Title. The Grantors covenant and represent that the Grantors are the sole owner and are seized of the Property in fee simple and have good right to grant and convey the aforesaid Conservation Easement; that the Conservation Easement Area is free and clear of any and all encumbrances, except easement and leases of record or in effect by prescriptive rights as of the date hereto, and Grantors covenant that the WRC shall have the use of and enjoy all of the benefits derived from and arising out of the aforesaid easements conveyed. The easements conveyed herein shall run with the land and must be made part of any transfer of title by the Grantors. D. Notification. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notices shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties at their addresses shown above or to other addresses as either party establishes in writing upon notification to the other. E. Entire Agreement. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Conservation Easement and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or agreements relating to the said easements. If any provision is found to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Easement, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which is found to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. F. Recording. The NCDOT shall record this instrument and any amendment hereto in timely fashion with the Office of the Register or Deeds of Watauga County, North Carolina, and may re-record it at any time as may be required to preserve its right. under this Conservation Easement. G. Costs and Liabilities. The Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Property, including the payment of all taxes, assessments, fees, and charges of whatever description levied on or assessed against the property. G. Construction of Terms. This Conservation Easement shall be construed to promote the purposes of the North Carolina enabling statute set forth in N.C.G.S. § 121-34, which authorizes the creation of Conservation Easements for purposes including those set forth in the recitals herein, and the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement, including such purposes as are defined in Section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. H. Authorized Representative. All parties agree that the NCDOT is an authorized representative of the WRC for purposes of this Conservation Easement J. Conservation Pur ose. The WRC, for themselves, and their Successors and assigns agree that this Conservation Easement shall be held exclusively for conservation purposes. The parties hereto recognize and agree that the benefits of this Conservation Easement are in gross and assignable, provided, however, that the WRC hereby covenants and agrees that in the event they transfer or assign this Conservation Easement they hold under, the organization receiving the interest will be a qualified organization as that term is defined in Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor section) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which is organized or operated primarily for one of the conservation purposes specified in Section 170(h)(4)(A) and section 2301 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the WRC further covenants and agrees that the terms of the transfer or assignment will be such that the transferee or assignee will be required to continue to carry out in perpetuity the conservation purposes that the contribution was originally intended to advance, set forth in the Recitals herein. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid Conservation Easement unto the NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION, its successors and assigns, forever. The rights and obligations set forth herein shall inure to and be binding upon the Grantor and the WRC, their heirs, executors, NCDOTs, assigns and successors in title or interest. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands and seals and caused this instrument to be signed in their respective names by authority duly given, the day and year first above written. GRANTOR(S): nruce Ihlller, rustee for C ur h of Deliverance . Glic-raw - 7 c?? Johnny Gr ene Trustee for Churcy of Deliverance (Seal) gal) William Glen Proffit, rustee for Church of Deliverance' (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) 4 N 'O7© W 031 N ©cn w W j N? .o 3JD m A_ J 20031125000332170 EASE l3k :1312916 P : 128 q 11/25/2003 03:2:49PM 6/7 STATE OF ?? I,,, , COUNTY OF 1, Alilw,,4 A• 1 ??s a Notary Public of 4le- }L, fji 61er - County do hereby certify that ' m ¢, ?>! JJ ii ., -7;? , is (Z. '? ,,4, )F' Q'?,? nnc? Grantor(s), personally appeared before me this da and ac nowledged the ex cution of the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this l_ day of "'" 2(702-?. My Commission Expires: - "0- Notary-Public ?y o NCDOT: ACC T FOR TMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY: r „?'? • .•'' tetr\ ?R NOV20?? ••. name and title ASST MANAGER OF RIGHT OF WAY NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF 71K-J- a Notary Public of ?-- County do. hereby. certify fh A.o.+?.s- of the, Ndrfhl C?roliri<<f :. Department of Transportation, personally appeared before me this day, and acknowledged the execution of.L.-.: the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this'; , r;`? _,•.d y4to;4 2001.3 0' My Commission Expires: ' 9 Jr. Z'1, 2o Notary Public WRC: /ACCEPTED FOR THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION BY: name and title 1-7- 03 NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF If .a I, A240214, , j .tR? a Notary Public of 1t/ake- County do hereby d'r)ifj thgatl: r1J??'• f???M^? ?r????? ??nt?dz? , of the North Caro lina"Wildlife Resources Commission, personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the executio the', . foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp or seal this 17 da ,of p Y1?ass.t¢o 200,3. ;;; • 4: ; c lns+4Lt? CLtitr at d4out?oo MY Commission Expires: J g?+r?1-&vt? ?r ^1 p , 'may' _ C7(A. ?O?Ca :? Notary Public ;•; ..,,..• ;.r;. The foregoing Certificate(s) of , Notaries/Notary Public, is/are certified to be correct. This instrument and this certificate are duly registered at the date and time and in the Book and Page shown on the first page hereof. This the _ day of , 2002. Register of Deeds For Watauga County BY: Deputy/Assistant Register of Deeds 5 I. Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan (A copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the W RC. 20031125000332170 EgSE Bk:BR9 ?' 11/25/2003 1 p3?,,•49P0 7/7 NORTH CAROLINA - WATAUGA COUNTY The foregoing certificate(s) of Anthony A. Adams, Notary Public, Alexander County, NC, is (are) certified to be correct. This the 25 th day of November 2003. Wanda C. Scott, Register of Deeds BY: Aa" U-, Deputy ::K0'178r 182 WATAUGA COUNTY NC 12 1210212002 SNORTH $1.00 CAROLINA Real Estate E xcise Tax FILED WANDA C. SCOTT f? REGIST.":;? O DEEDS Q2 OEC -2 P 3.38 13Y: DEPUTY VIATAIIGA COUNTY. !IC CONSERVATION EASEMENT and EASEMENTS OF INGRESS AND EGRESS THIS INSTRUMENT DRAWN BY 6 9- G CHECKED d_? RETUR/Division mmy L. Caudle Right of Way Agent .O. Box 250 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 State of North Carolina Watauga County Meat Camp Township I.D. No. R-0529 WM State Project: 6.759005T F.A. Project: N/A Parcel No.: (706WM)1E THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT made this 23`d day of July , 2002, by and between Janice Bryan Baxter and husband Timothy Baxter ; hereinafter called the "Grantor(s)" and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Inland Fisheries, 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1721, hereinafter called the "WRC," and administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, hereinafter called the "NCDOT," provides the following: WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Grantor is the sole owner in fee simple of certain real property in Meat Camp Township of Watauga County, North Carolina, as more particularly described in Deed Book 261, Page 477 of the Watauga County Registry, North Carolina, which land is hereinafter referred to as "the Property"; WHEREAS, the NCDOT is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purpose includes the construction of transportation projects for public use and who has the authority to acquire land for the purpose of mitigating environmental impacts of these transportation projects; WHEREAS, the NCDOT desires to restore 109.92 feet of stream in Watauga County on the said Property through the WRC: WHEREAS, the WRC is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purposes include the restoration and conservation of open space and streams for stream mitigation purposes; is authorized by the laws of the State of North Carolina to accept, hold and administer conservation easements; and who has the authority to accept and is willing to accept this Conservation Easement from the Grantor under the terms and conditions hereinafter described; WHEREAS, the Grantor is willing to grant a perpetual Conservation Easement over 0.059 acres of the Property (the Conservation Easement Area), thereby restricting and limiting the use of land within the Conservation Easement Area to the terms and conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth; WHEREAS, the Uniform Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act, N.C.G.S. § 121-34 et. seq., provides for the enforceability of restrictions, easements, covenants or conditions appropriate to retaining land or water areas predominantly in their natural, scenic or open condition or in agricultural, horticultural, farming or forest use; WHEREAS, the NCDOT, under a Section 404 permit granted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), must conduct certain off-site trout stream enhancement to mitigate for impacts to trout streams resulting from the construction of US 421 from South Fork New River to East of the Blue Ridge Parkway (R-0529 BA, R-0529 BB & R-0529 BD); WHEREAS, the NCDOT has entered into an agreement with the WRC to reimburse them for conducting the mitigation activities; :3K 0 7 7 8 PC 18 8 WHEREAS, the USACE has reviewed and approved the use of the Conservation Easement on the Property to mitigate for the stream impacts, and such will satisfy the said permit conditions after the completion of the stream monitoring period; WHEREAS, the purposes of this Conservation Easement are to protect the mitigation activities performed by the WRC, to preserve and protect the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, to prevent any use of.the Conservation Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with these purposes, and to maintain permanently the dominant woodland, scenic and natural character of the Conservation Easement Area designated on the Property as hereinafter described. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of $295.00 (Two Hundred and Ninety Five Dollars and other valuable considerations to the Grantor in hand paid by the NCDOT, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in further consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and restrictions hereinafter set forth, the Grantor hereby grants and conveys unto the WRC and its successors or assigns forever and in perpetuity a Conservation Easement, pursuant to the USACE Section 404 permit requirements, of the nature and character and to the extent hereinafter set forth, in respect to the land of the grantor situated in Watauga County, North Carolina, as described in Exhibit A, and hereinafter referred to as the "Conservation Easement Area". For a plat of the above described Conservation Easement, please see plat titled "Conservation Easement" recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. The terms, conditions and restrictions of the Conservation Easement are as hereinafter set forth: ARTICLE I. DURATION OF EASEMENTS; ACCESS A. Conservation Easement. This Conservation Easement shall be perpetual. It is an easement in gross, runs with the land and is enforceable by the WRC or its successors and/or assigns against the Grantor(s), Grantor(s) heirs, devisees, successors and assigns, lessees, agents and licensees. B. Public Access. The easement rights granted herein do not include public access rights. However, the public has the right to view the Conservation Easement Area from any adjacent publicly accessible area. ARTICLE II. PROHIBITED, RESTRICTED AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Any activity on, or use of, the designated Conservation Easement Area inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement is prohibited. Unless expressly reserved.as a compatible use herein, any activity in, or use of, the Conservation Easement Area by the Grantor is prohibited as inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement. The Conservation Easement Area shall be maintained in its natural, scenic and open condition and restricted from any development or alteration that would significantly impair or interfere with the conservation values of this Conservation Easement Area. Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor have been acquired by the WRC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following activities and uses are expressly prohibited, restricted or reserved as indicated hereunder: 1. Silvicultural Use and Land Clearing. There may be no destruction or cutting of trees or plants in the Conservation Easement Area, except in accordance with the Conceptual Restoration Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit B, or upon written approval of the WRC. 2. Dumping or Storage. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste, abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery, or hazardous substances, or toxic or hazardous waste, or any placement of underground or aboveground storage tanks or-other materials on the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 3. Mineral Use, Excavation, Dredging. There shall be no filling, excavation, dredging, mining or drilling; no removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals or other material, and no change in the topography of the land in any manner on the Conservation Easement Area nor shall there be any activities conducted on the Conservation Easement Area or on adjacent property if owned by the Grantor and their successors which would cause erosion or siltation on the Conservation Easement Area. 4. Grantor's Rights. The Grantor, for themselves, their successors, assigns, invitees and licensees, hereby reserves the right to quiet enjoyment of the Conservation Easement Area; the right of ingress and egress to the Conservation Easement Area and all adjacent property of the Grantor; and the right to sell, transfer, gift or otherwise convey the Conservation Easement Area, in whole, provided such sale, transfer or gift conveyance is subject to the terms of this Conservation Easement and written notice is provided to the WRC in 2 ?r;o'?7no F G ' 18'1 accordance with the provisions herein below. 5. WRC's Ri hts. The WRC reserves the right to use the Conservation Easement Area in any way necessary, consistent with the terms herein, to undertake any activities to protect, restore, manage, maintain, or enhance stream functional values, and monitor the restoration resources, as described in the Conceptual Restoration Plan Exhibit B) for the Conservation Easement Area, in order to mitigate for impacts to streams resulting from road construction. These mitigation activities include, but are not limited to, construction of new stream channels; restoration/stabilization of existing stream channels; installation of natural and man-made materials as needed to direct in-stream, above ground, and subterraneous water flow; planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; collecting live cuttings; and utilization of heavy equipment to grade, fill, and prepare the soil. The WRC further reserves the right to monitor the results of the mitigation activities in perpetuity and to repair or restore any damage to the Conservation Easement Area occurring after initial completion of the construction associated with mitigation activities. ARTICLE Ill. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES Nothing contained herein shall be construed to entitle the Grantor or WRC to bring any action against the other party for any injury or change in the Property resulting from causes beyond the control of either party, including fire, flood, storm, war, acts of God or third parties, or from any prudent action taken in good faith by either parry under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to life, damage to property or harm to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from such causes, in accordance hereunder. The WRC has the right to prevent any action on or use of the Conservation Easement Area that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or features of the Conservation Easement Area that may be damaged by any inconsistent activity or use. If the WRC determines that the Grantor is in violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement or that a violation is threatened., WRC shall give written notice to Grantor of such violation and demand corrective action sufficient to cure the violation and, where the violation involves injury to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from any use or activity inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement, to restore the portion of the Conservation Easement Area so injured. If Grantor fails to cure the violation within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice thereof from WRC, or under circumstances where the violation cannot reasonably be cured within a thirty (30) day period, fails to begin curing such violation within the thirty (30) day period, or fails to continue diligently to cure such violation until finally cured, WRC may bring an action at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, to enjoin the violation, as necessary, by temporary or permanent injunction, to recover any damages to which it may be entitled for violation of the terms of this Easement, including damages for the loss of conservation values, and to require the restoration of the Conservation Easement Area to the condition that existed prior to any such injury. If the WRC, in its sole discretion, determines that circumstances require immediate action to prevent or mitigate significant damage to the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, the WRC may pursue its remedies without prior notice to the Grantor. WRC shall exercise reasonable efforts to notify the Grantor and shall, in any event, notify Grantor within two business days after action is taken to explain the action undertaken. W RC's remedies shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies available to WRC at law or equity. Any cost incurred by WRC in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, and any costs of restoration necessitated by Grantor's violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement shall be borne by Grantor. No failure on the part of the WRC to enforce any covenant or provision hereof shall be a waiver to discharge or invalidate such covenant or any other covenant, condition, or provision hereof or affect the right of WRC to enforce the same in the event of a subsequent breach or default. The Grantor reserves the right to take action against the WRC for use of the Conservation Easement Area in a way that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement. Any cost incurred by Grantor in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against WRC or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, shall be borne by WRC. ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS A. Amendments. The NCDOT, WRC and Grantor may amend this Conservation Easement; only by a jointly executed written agreement, and provided that no amendment will be allowed that is inconsistent with the purposes stated herein, and provided that it is approved by the USACE. B. Exhibits. The attached Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Plat recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry are incorporated in and made a part of this instrument by reference. 3 BK07781,c 185- The parties acknowledge that the Conceptual Restoration Plan, developed by a WRC biologist and dated June 2002 (Exhibit B), a copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the WRC, and which is also attached hereto and incorporated herein, describes the plan for mitigation activities in the Conservation Easement Area. C. Title. The Grantors covenant and represent that the Grantors are the sole owner and are seized of the Property in fee simple and have good right to grant and convey the aforesaid Conservation Easement; that the Conservation Easement Area is free and clear of any and all encumbrances, except easement and leases of record or in effect by prescriptive rights as of the date hereto, and Grantors covenant that the WRC shall have the use of and enjoy all of the benefits derived from and arising out of the aforesaid easements conveyed. The easements conveyed herein shall run with the land and must be made part of any transfer of title by the Grantors. D. Notification. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notices shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties at their addresses shown above or to other addresses as either party establishes in writing upon notification to the other. E. Entire Agreement. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Conservation Easement and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or agreements relating to the said easements. If any provision is found to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Easement, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which is found to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. F. Recording. The NCDOT shall record this instrument and any amendment hereto in timely fashion with the Office of the Register or Deeds of Watauga County, North Carolina, and may re-record it at any time as may be required to preserve its right under this Conservation Easement. G. Costs and Liabilities. The Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Property, including the payment of all taxes, assessments, fees, and charges of whatever description levied on or assessed against the property. G. Construction of Terms. This Conservation Easement shall be construed to promote the purposes of the North Carolina enabling statute set forth in N.C.G.S. § 121-34, which authorizes the creation of Conservation Easements for purposes including those set forth in the recitals herein, and the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement, including such purposes as are defined in Section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. H. Authorized Representative. All parties agree that the NCDOT is an authorized representative of the WRC for purposes of this Conservation Easement J. Conservation Purpose. The WRC, for themselves, and their successors and assigns agree that this Conservation Easement shall be held exclusively for conservation purposes. The parties hereto recognize and agree that the benefits of this Conservation Easement are in gross and assignable, provided, however, that the WRC. hereby covenants and agrees that in the event they transfer or assign this Conservation Easement they hold under, the organization receiving the interest will be a qualified organization as that term is defined in Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor section) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which is organized or operated primarily for one of the conservation purposes specified in Section 170(h)(4)(A) and section 2301 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the WRC further covenants and agrees that the terms of the transfer or assignment will be such that the transferee or assignee will be required to continue to carry out in perpetuity the conservation purposes that the contribution was originally intended to advance, set forth in the Recitals herein. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid Conservation Easement unto the NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION, its successors and assigns, forever. The rights and obligations set forth herein shall inure to and be binding upon the Grantor and the W,RC, their heirs, executors, NCDOTs, assigns and successors in title or interest. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands and seals and caused this instrument to be signed in their respective names by authority duly given, the day and year first above written. :70R,S): (Seal) (Sea ) Janice Bryan Baxter Timothy Baxter (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) 4 ar,07701'UL STATEOF A1,41, COUNTYOF (J? ?ctti?,?? a Notary Public of County do hereby certify _ that Grantor(s), personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the ution of the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this ?.z day of :3= , 2002. t, U'Ntut,•,,j???? eaL r ?- My Commission Expires: Z- 20- ZC'nS tary Public ' • ; ?"t QO NCDOT: to •;{,?1.?{jr°,+?'r:_: ACCEP E F R THE tLEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY: ?" ' `•- `' 4 X?s NOV 0 2002 tur.u;tt', name and title ASST MANAGER OF RIGHT OF WAY NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF W ATd:6 c ?- I, 0/\i. 2a;(-f:2 a Notary Public of l Pe County do hereby certify that 'd /?-l 1 c rcyh . jEf is (bw7 oAc-,m. S... !Ra ?(Tq1 , of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, personally appeared before iirie this day an acknowledged the executio0,pf it(.,;;,• the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this day?ot?-.•',{;' :; I-1(jv-ewi 4+ )02. G=-,,.r? stt? orit el? ito 5o cn 4,(iCoO IVC&7- My Commission Expires: Gyt ? l9, 1 oo'j ' O ":V' Ai rNotary Public ` WRC: ACCEPTED FOR THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION BY: name and title NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF W&ke' I,-BeUnda,) Carroll Lfoti a Notary Public of Wok'Y-e County do hereby certify tf a 00 ''.Ma6m R. ELtiluloo . ExecuAArtuc 'L1rrer4br , of the North Caroll'dWildlife;' '; Resources Commission, personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the execution?,of, e??s,''',+` ` foregoing instrument.-Witness m hand and offic al stam or seal, this Ice- day of OC40be?? 2002. g??wy a dYi u? z? do •Sp oc? lA'1foF I-JR? • tip ? '?'r t '?^, l?A• ?t?t nda> ??V1,tQf.( ??j(cQku?u/ My Commission Expires: ,Bi l&mtihL4.? 460 RO0 Notary Public 170?11l'J? NORTH CAROLINA WATAUGA COUNTY " • , ;"' Anthony A. Adams, Alexander County, NC, D. M. Bailey, Lee Co., The foregoing Certificate(s) of NC, and Belirda C2rr011 , Wake Go.MNotaries/Notary Public, is/are certified to be correct. This instrument and this certificate are duly registere at the date and time and in the Book and Page shown on the first page hereof. This the 2r*d day of , 2002. Vhnda C. Scott Register of Deeds For Watauga County BY: 0"A&? 4 Deputy tSi?tdfif Regi &r of Deeds 5 ;3 K 0 7 7 8 i'c 1 8 7 "EXHIBIT A" Parcel (706WM)1 E-Janice Bryan The conservation easement area shown as Parcel ##(706WM)1 E of Janice Bryan, being more particularly shown and described on a plat entitled Survey of Conservation Easement and being recorded in Plat Book 016 Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. "EXHIBIT B" 1. Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan (A copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the W RC. 6 20030303000160140 11111111111111111111111111111111 01c:BR807 P9:301 E 03/03/2003 02:51:23PM 1/7 FILED Wanda C. Scott Reelstar of Deeds WSco DY; A COUNTY,NC Deputy Da2? Watausa County NC 03/03/2pp3 State of North Caerolina Real Estate Exols Tax Exolse Tax: 1,00 CONSERVATION EASEMENT and EASEMENTS OF INGRESS AND EGRESS THIS INSTRUMENT DRAWN BY CHECKED B JRETURN TO: Jimmy L. Caudle Division Right of Way Agent P.O. Box 250 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 State of North Carolina Watauga County Meat Camp Township I.D. No. R-0529 WM State Project: 6.759005T F.A. Project: N/A Parcel No.: 706WM 1C THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT made this 23rd day of Jam, 2002, by and between Joe M. Do and wife Sarah H. Do and Burl Winebar er and wife Cora Winebar er • Life Tenants; hereinafter called the "Grantor(s)" and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Inland Fisheries, 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1721, hereinafter called the "WRC," and administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, hereinafter called the "NCDOT," provides the following: WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Grantor is the sole owner in fee simple of certain real property in Meat Camp Township of Watauga County, North Carolina, as more particularly described in Deed Book 310, Page 490 of the Watauga County Registry, North Carolina, which land is hereinafter referred to as "the Property"; WHEREAS, the NCDOT is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purpose includes the construction of transportation projects for public use and who has the authority to acquire land for the purpose of mitigating environmental impacts of these transportation projects; WHEREAS, the NCDOT desires to restore 164.27 feet of stream in Watauga County on the said Property through the WRC: WHEREAS, the WRC is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purposes include the restoration and conservation of open space and streams for stream mitigation purposes; is authorized by the laws of the State of North Carolina to accept, hold and administer conservation easements; and who has the authority to accept and is willing to accept this Conservation Easement from the Grantor under the terms and conditions hereinafter described; WHEREAS, the Grantor is willing to grant a perpetual Conservation Easement over 0.090 acres of the Property (the Conservation Easement Area), thereby restricting and limiting the use of land within the Conservation Easement Area to the terms and conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth; WHEREAS, the Uniform Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act, N.C.G.S. § 121-34 et. seq., provides for the enforceability of restrictions, easements, covenants or conditions appropriate to retaining land or water areas predominantly in their natural, scenic or open condition or in agricultural, horticultural, farming or forest use; WHEREAS, the NCDOT, under a Section 404 permit granted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), must conduct certain off-site trout stream enhancement to mitigate for impacts to trout streams resulting from the construction of US 421 from South Fork New River to East of the Blue Ridae Parkway (R-0529 BA R-0529 BB & R-0529 BD); WHEREAS, the NCDOT has entered into an agreement with the WRC to reimburse them 20030303000160140 EASE for conducting the mitigation activities 131(:13111307 Pr?y:302 r 03/03/2003 02:6 MPM 2/7 WHEREAS, the USACE has reviewed and approved the use of the Conservation Easement on the Property to mitigate for the stream impacts, and such will satisfy the said permit conditions after the completion of the stream monitoring period; WHEREAS, the purposes of this Conservation Easement are to protect the mitigation activities performed by the WRC, to preserve and protect the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, to prevent any use of the Conservation Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with these purposes, and to maintain permanently the dominant woodland, scenic and natural character of the Conservation Easement Area designated on the Property as hereinafter described. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of $450.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars and other valuable considerations to the Grantor in hand paid by the NCDOT, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in further consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and restrictions hereinafter set forth, the Grantor hereby grants and conveys unto the WRC and its successors or assigns forever and in perpetuity a Conservation Easement, pursuant to the USACE Section 404 permit requirements, of the nature and character and to the extent hereinafter set forth, in respect to the land of the grantor situated in Watauga County, North Carolina, as described in Exhibit A, and hereinafter referred to as the "Conservation Easement Area". For a plat of the above described Conservation Easement, please see plat titled Conservation Easement" recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. The terms, conditions and restrictions of the Conservation Easement are as hereinafter set forth: ARTICLE I. DURATION OF EASEMENTS; ACCESS A. Conservation Easement. This Conservation Easement shall be perpetual. It is an easement in gross, runs with the land and is enforceable by the WRC or its successors and/or assigns against the Grantor(s), Grantor(s) heirs, devisees, successors and assigns, lessees, agents and licensees. B. Public Access. The easement rights granted herein do not include public access rights. However, the public has the right to view the Conservation Easement Area from any adjacent publicly accessible area. . ARTICLE II. PROHIBITED, RESTRICTED AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Any activity on, or use of, the designated Conservation Easement Area inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement is prohibited. Unless expressly reserved as a compatible use herein, any activity in, or use of, the Conservation Easement Area by the Grantor is prohibited as inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement. The Conservation Easement Area shall be maintained in its natural, scenic and open condition and restricted from any development or alteration that would significantly impair or interfere with the conservation values of this Conservation Easement Area. Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor have been acquired by the WRC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following activities and uses are expressly prohibited, restricted or reserved as indicated hereunder: 1. Silvicultural Use and Land Clearing There may be no destruction or cutting of trees or plants in the Conservation Easement Area, except in accordance with the Conceptual Restoration Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit B, or upon written approval of the WRC. 2. Dumping or Storage. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste, abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery, or hazardous substances, or toxic' or hazardous waste, or any placement of underground or aboveground storage tanks or other materials on the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 3. Mineral Use, Excavation, D_ redwing. There shall be no filling, excavation, dredging, mi ning or drilling; no removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals or other material, and no change in the topography of the land in any manner on the Conservation Easement Area nor shall there be any activities conducted on the Conservation Easement Area or on adjacent property if owned by the Grantor and their successors which would cause erosion or siltation on the Conservation Easement Area. 4. Grantor's Rights. The Grantor, for themselves, their successors, assigns, invitees and licensees, hereby reserves the right to quiet enjoyment of the Conservation Easement Area; the right of ingress and egress to the Conservation Easement Area and all adjacent property of the Grantor; and the right to sell, transfer, gift or otherwise convey the Conservation Easement Area, in whole, provided such sale, transfer or gift conveyance is subject to the terms of this Conservation Easement and written notice is provided to the WRC in 2 20030303000160140 EASE accordance with the provisions herein below. Bl(:BR807 P :303 03/03/2003 02:6?:23PM 3/7 5. WRC's Rights. The WRC reserves the right to use the Conservation Easement Area in any way necessary, consistent with the terms herein, to undertake any activities to protect, restore, manage, maintain, or enhance stream functional values, and monitor the restoration resources, as described in the Conceptual Restoration Plan Exhibit B) for the Conservation Easement Area, in order to mitigate for impacts to streams resulting from road construction. These mitigation activities include, but are not limited to, construction of new stream channels; restoration/stabilization of existing stream channels; installation of natural and man-made materials as needed to direct in-stream, above ground, and subterraneous water flow; planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; collecting live cuttings; and utilization of heavy equipment to grade, fill, and prepare the soil. The WRC further reserves the right to monitor the results of the mitigation activities in perpetuity and to repair or restore any damage to the Conservation Easement Area occurring after initial completion of the construction associated with mitigation activities. ARTICLE III. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES Nothing contained herein shall be construed to entitle the Grantor or WRC to bring any action against the other party for any injury or change in the Property resulting from causes beyond the control of either party, including fire, flood, storm, war, acts of God or third parties, or from any prudent action taken in good faith by either party under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to life, damage to property or harm to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from such causes, in accordance hereunder. The WRC has the right to prevent any action on or use of the Conservation Easement Area that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or features of the Conservation Easement Area that may be damaged by any inconsistent activity or use. If the WRC determines that the Grantor is in violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement or that a violation is threatened, WRC shall give written notice to Grantor of such violation and demand corrective action sufficient to cure the violation and; where the violation involves injury to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from any use or activity inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement, to restore the portion of the Conservation Easement Area so injured. If Grantor fails to cure the violation within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice thereof from WRC, or under circumstances where the violation cannot reasonably be cured within a thirty (30) day period, fails to begin curing such violation within the thirty (30) day period, or fails to continue diligently to cure such violation until finally cured, WRC may bring an action at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, to enjoin the violation, as necessary, by temporary or permanent injunction, to recover any damages to which it may be entitled for violation of the terms of this Easement, including damages for the loss of conservation values, and to require the restoration of? the Conservation Easement Area to the condition that existed prior to any such injury. If the WRC, In its sole discretion, determines that circumstances require immediate action to prevent or mitigate significant damage to the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, the WRC may pursue its remedies without prior notice to the Grantor. WRC shall exercise reasonable efforts to notify the Grantor and shall, in any event, notify Grantor within two business days after action is taken to explain the action undertaken. WRC's remedies shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies available to WRC at law or equity. Any cost incurred by WRC in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor or its successors. or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, and any costs of restoration necessitated by Grantor's violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement shall be borne by Grantor. No failure on the part of the WRC to enforce any covenant or provision hereof shall be a waiver to discharge or invalidate such covenant or any other covenant, condition, or provision hereof or affect the right of WRC to enforce the same in the event of a subsequent breach or default. The Grantor reserves the right to take action against the WRC for use of the Conservation Easement Area in a way that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement. Any cost incurred by Grantor in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against WRC or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, shall be borne by WRC. ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS A. Amendments. The NCDOT, WRC and Grantor may amend this Conservation Easement; only by a jointly executed written agreement, and provided that no amendment will be allowed that is inconsistent with the purposes stated herein, and provided that it is approved by the USACE. B. Exhibits. The attached Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Plat recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry are incorporated in and made a part of this instrument by reference. 3 The parties acknowledge that the Conceptual Restoration Plan, developed by a WRC biologist and dated June 2002 (Exhibit B), a copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the WRC, and which is also attached hereto and incorporated herein, describes the plan for mitigation activities in the Conservation Easement Area. C. Title. The Grantors covenant and represent that the Grantors are the sole owner and are seized of the Property in fee simple and have good right to grant and convey the aforesaid Conservation Easement; that the Conservation Easement Area is free and clear of any and all i encumbrances, except easement and leases of record or in effect by prescriptive rights as of the date hereto, and Grantors covenant that the WRC shall have the use of and enjoy all of the benefits derived from and arising out of the aforesaid easements conveyed. The easements conveyed herein shall run with the land and must be made part of any transfer of title by the Grantors. D. Notification. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notices shall be sent by registered . or certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties at their addresses shown above or to other addresses as either party establishes in writing upon notification to the other. E. Entire Agreement. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Conservation Easement and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or agreements relating to the said easements. If any provision is found to be Invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Easement, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which is found to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. F. Recording. The NCDOT shall record this instrument and any amendment hereto in timely fashion with the Office of the Register or Deeds of Watauga County, North Carolina, and may re-record it at any time as may be required to preserve its right under this Conservation Easement. G. Costs and Liabilities. The Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Property, including the payment of all taxes, assessments, fees, and charges of whatever description-levied on or assessed against the property. G. Construction of Terms. This Conservation Easement shall be construed to promote the purposes of the North Carolina enabling statute set forth in N.C.G.S. § 121-34, which authorizes the creation of Conservation Easements for purposes including those set forth in the recitals herein, and the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement, including such purposes as are defined in Section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. H. Authorized Representative. All parties agree that the NCDOT is an authorized representative of the WRC for purposes of this Conservation Easement J. Conservation Pur ose. The WRC, for themselves, and their successors and assigns agree that this Conservation Easement shall be held exclusively for conservation purposes. The parties hereto recognize and agree that the benefits of this Conservation Easement are in gross and assignable, provided, however, that the WRC hereby covenants and agrees that in the event they transfer or assign this Conservation Easement they hold under, the organization receiving the interest will be a qualified organization as that term is defined in Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor section) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which is organized or operated primarily for one of the conservation purposes specified in Section 170(h)(4)(A) and section 2301 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the WRC further covenants and agrees that the terms of the transfer or assignment will be such that the transferee or assignee will be required to continue to carry out in perpetuity the conservation purposes that the contribution was originally intended to advance, set forth in the Recitals herein. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid Conservation Easement unto the NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION, its successors and assigns, forever. The rights and obligations set forth herein shall inure to and be binding upon the Grantor and the WRC, their heirs, executors, NCDOTs, assigns and successors in title or interest. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands and seals and caused this instrument to be signed in their respective names by authority duly given, the day and year first above written. GRANTOR(S): (Seal) (Seal) Sarah H. Doty Joe M. Doty (Seal) (Seal) ora inebar9er 1?.n.4;,?11 (Seal) eal) ?} wine ar er n ?N °.. ?m own mae° ° N O 4 20030303000160140 EASE 81(:0113011 Pr : 305 0310312003 02:6:23PM 517 STATE OF __A&L4,L ,r.n line, , COUNTY OF j I' --a4h-?T-fi? ?????r ?s a Notary Public of hereby certify ,, x,.,.LIX County do R ,. , I f:) <'•? . h ... , .. _ I .. ,?_ , ., , _ that z ,.;. ..- <T ? rj? p t•.•t1 By. FZ .1 9 V(j 1 hereby ovally appeared before me this day and acknow edged the execution of the foregoing less my hand and official stamp or seal, this Z3_ day of •-s r1 t ti , 2002. i ? otaq ablic ?'?•i,(??0ivi COUNTY OF J-r rr? My Commission Expires: Z- zee- 7f,v5' Notary Public of 1%k County do that - rr ?-• ?? ?• ,,,? L, IIJ uay anu dcrcnuwleugea-me execution of the foregoing y hand and official stamp or seal, this -*OL- day of P6L e 2002. My Commission Expires• ? NCDOT: ACCEPT ENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY: cop/' tt=.. FEB 1 1 2005 name and title ASST MANAGER OF RIGHT OF WAY NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF I, f %4_ a Notary Public of ;?• -- ..Sd6J _zX .11SecY /)"?L . "_. e- , /e'• , ._Fly Department of Transportation, personally appeare before met is day and the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp // Obehalf of the Department of J' My Commission Expires: _ N Y ?. J Iy ,?r? Notary Public 010ahoma S c 1 1 OFFICIAL SEAL DARIN C. ADAMS TULSA COUNTY C01.1MISSION 001012021 Comm. Ex . 07.19-2005 - County do hereby certify that of the North Carolina acknowledged the exequtlon of or seal, this -I--/ day of. .. , Transportation >. ,]'r` ;1111It1NfJ 4°li ' ••r ryr .Q 1 Zz- ••!'/r///lllllllilt11lt1`, otary Public WRC: ACCEPTED FOR THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION BY: name and,title:... NOR AAGQNA; COUNTY OF W :]r eLlnc?? ?Li`•r,011 .CeQtcir a Notary Public of Wakes mR00v. r E1??lwno ?_. County do:fiRt?b??erlf fixer a lv mtr eAnr J,1. of the NQr{h,Z;1'6116s,:? f1dIIPe , F4e0 ryesofn,rnssion, personally appeared before me this day and acknowledgedhexecla?11`Af fare olhg instrv cnt -Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this ( day of 200"' on behalf of the North Carolina Wildlife .,• -, Q,,?q.; ?• Resources Commission - My Commission Expires: jje4t& 1dA A,..y,Pbblic The foregoing Certificate(s) of , Notaries/Notary Public, Is/are certified to be correct. This instrument and this certificate are duly registered at the date and time and in the Book and Page shown on the first page hereof. This the _ day of 2002. Register of Deeds For Watauga County BY: Deputy/Assistant Register of Deeds 5 Notary Public 200303030C0160140 EASE 11k : U307 P : 306 "EXHIBIT A" 03/03/2003 02:51:23PM 6/7 Parcel (706WM)1C-Sarah Doty The conservation easement area shown as Parcel f>(706WM)1C of Sarah Doty, being more particularly shown and described on a plat entitled Survey of Conservation Easement and being recorded in Plat Book 016 Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. "EXHIBIT B" 1. Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan (A copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the WRC. 6 20030303000160140 EASE Bic : BR807 P< : 307 03103/2003 02:6i:23PM 717 NORTH CAROLINA - WATAUGA COUNTY The foregoing certificate(s) of Anthony A. Adams, Notary Public, Alexander County, NC, BeLinda Carroll LeQuire, Notary Public, Wake County, NC, Darin C. Adams, Notary Public, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, James A. West, Notary Public, Wake County, NC, is (are) certified to be correct. This the 3 rd day of March 2003. Wanda C. Scott, Register of Deeds BY: Deputy ,L . 1;K07781'G1.88 WATAUGA COUNTY NC 12/02/2002 $5.00 STATE nF N OLINA Real Estate CP'S Excise .Tax FILEQ 1V/?IID,1 C. SCOTT REGIS"l:i? OF' DEEDS 02 DEC" 2 P11 3: 40 Q DEPUTY WAIAUGA C TY. NC CONSERVATION EASEMENT and EASEMENTS OF INGRESS AND EGRESS THIS INSTRUMENT DRAWN BY Q. Q• CHECKED BY QA 0^.. 110 A RETURN T , : Jimmy L. Caudle Division Right of Way Agent P.O. Box 250 X7:1 r1 y North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 G? State of North Carolina I.D. No. R-0529 WM Watauga County State Project: 6.759005T Meat Camp Township F.A. Project: N/A Parcel No.: (706WM)1A THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT and EASEMENTS OF INGRESS AND EGRESS, made this 28 h day of August, 2002 by and between Dale Miller. Single, 4290 Meat Camp Rd. Todd. NC 28684, hereinafter called the "Grantor(s)" and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Inland Fisheries, 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1721, hereinafter called the "WRC," and administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, hereinafter called the "NCDOT," provides the following: WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Grantor is the sole owner in fee simple of certain real property in Meat Camp Township of Watauga County, North Carolina, as more particularly described in Deed Book 493, Page 269 and Book , Page of the Watauga County Registry, North Carolina, which land is hereinafter referred to as "the Property'; WHEREAS, the NCDOT is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purpose includes the construction of transportation projects for public use and who has the authority to acquire land for the purpose of mitigating environmental impacts of these transportation projects; WHEREAS, the NCDOT desires to restore approximately 652 linear feet of stream in Watauga County on the said Property through the WRC: WHEREAS, the WRC is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purposes include the restoration and conservation of open space and streams for stream mitigation purposes; is authorized by the laws of the State of North Carolina to accept, hold and administer conservation easements; and who has the authority to accept and is willing to accept this Conservation Easement from the Grantor under the terms and conditions hereinafter described; WHEREAS, the Grantor is willing to grant a perpetual Conservation Easement over 0.414 acres of the Property (the Conservation Easement Area), thereby restricting and limiting the use of land within the Conservation Easement Area to the terms and conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth; WHEREAS, the Uniform Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act, N.C.G.S. § 121-34 et. seq., provides for the enforceability of restrictions, easements, covenants or conditions appropriate to retaining land or water areas predominantly in their natural, scenic or open condition or in agricultural, horticultural, farming or forest use; WHEREAS, the NCDOT, under a Section 404 permit granted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), must conduct certain off-site trout stream enhancement to mitigate for impacts to trout streams resulting from the construction of US-421 from South Fork New River to East of the Blue Ridge Parkway (R-0529BA, BB & BD); WHEREAS, the NCDOT has entered into an agreement witl?khbWR? u ?gjmpibsgthem for conducting the mitigation activities; WHEREAS, the USACE has reviewed and approved the use of the Conservation Easement on the Property to mitigate for the stream impacts, and such will satisfy the said permit conditions after the completion of the stream monitoring period; WHEREAS, the purposes of this Conservation Easement are to protect the mitigation activities performed by the WRC, to preserve and protect the conservation value$ of the Conservation Easement Area, to prevent any use of the Conservation Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with these purposes, and to maintain permanently the dominant woodland, scenic and natural character of the Conservation Easement Area designated on the Property as hereinafter described. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of $2,050.00 (Two Thousand and Fifty Dollars and other valuable considerations to the Grantor in hand paid by the NCDOT, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in further consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and restrictions hereinafter set forth, the Grantor hereby grants and conveys unto the WRC and its successors or assigns forever and.in perpetuity a Conservation Easement, pursuant to the USACE Section 404 permit requirements, of the nature and character and to the extent hereinafter set forth, in respect to the land of the grantor situated in Watauga County, North Carolina, as described in Exhibit A, and hereinafter referred to as the "Conservation Easement Area", as described in Book 493, Page 269, and Book ,Page of the Watauga County Registry. For a plat of the above described Conservation Easement and Easements of Ingress and Egress, please see plat titled "Conservation Easement' recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. The terms, conditions and restrictions of the Conservation Easement are as hereinafter set forth: ARTICLE I. DURATION OF EASEMENTS; ACCESS A. Conservation Easement. This Conservation Easement shall be perpetual. It is an easement in gross, runs with the land and is enforceable by the WRC or its successors and/or assigns against the Grantor(s), Grantor(s) heirs, devisees, successors and assigns, lessees, agents and licensees. B. Temporary Access Easement. No Temporary Access Easement applies to this property. C. Permanent Access Easement. No Permanent Access Easement applies to this property. D. Public Access. The easement rights granted herein do not include public access rights. However, the public has the right to view the Conservation Easement Area from any adjacent publicly accessible area. ARTICLE II. PROHIBITED, RESTRICTED AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Any activity on, or use of, the designated Conservation Easement Area inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement is prohibited. Unless expressly reserved as a compatible use herein, any activity in, or use of, the Conservation Easement Area by the Grantor is prohibited as inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement. The Conservation Easement Area shall be maintained in its natural, scenic and open condition and restricted from any development that would significantly impair or interfere with the conservation values of this Conservation Easement Area. Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor have been acquired by the WRC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following activities and uses are expressly prohibited, restricted or reserved as indicated hereunder: 1. Disturbance of Natural Features. Any changes, disturbance, alteration or impairment of the natural, scenic and aesthetic features of the Conservation Easement Area or any introduction of non-native plants and/or animal species is prohibited unless the WRC shall give its prior written consent or unless otherwise expressly permitted herein. 2. Agricultural. Grazing and Horticultural Use. Agricultural, grazing and horticultural use, including landscaping, of the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. Livestock shall only cross or access water at areas appointed and agreed upon in the Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan, attached as Exhibit B, and shown on the plat entitled "Conservation Easement" recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220, of the Watauga County Registry. Grantors may have limited (area size should approved by the WRC in order to limit riparian zone disturbance) access to the Conservation Easement Area for the purpose of operating irrigation pumps. In an emergency situation, in which no other water source is available, 2 livestock may accesQ & s9eam 10 Ater at areas designated on the plat entitled "Conservation Easement recorded in Plat Book 016. Page 220, of the Watuaga County Registry. Such emergency access is limited to one side of the stream for a length not to exceed 30 linear feet and the Grantor shall notify the WRC in writing at the address shown above within 3 business days of such access. 3. Silvicultural Use and Land Clearing. There may be no destruction or cutting of trees or plants in the Conservation Easement Area, except in accordance with the Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit B, or upon written approval of the WRC. The gathering of firewood in the Conservation Easement Area shall be limited to dead trees, such that the gathering is consistent with purposes of this Conservation Easement. Removal of large live trees may be allowed in some cases provided that any such request is consistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement and the Grantor obtains prior written approval from the WRC. 4. Huntinq and Fishing. Grantor expressly reserves the right to hunt and fish on the Conservation Easement Area and to control access of all persons for the purpose of hunting and fishing; provided that these activities do not impact the protection and conservation of any wildlife habitat or other conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area. 5. Dumpinq or Storage. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste, abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery, or hazardous substances, or toxic or hazardous waste, or any placement of underground or aboveground storage tanks or other materials on the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 6. Mineral Use, Excavation, Dredging. There shall be no filling, excavation, dredging, mining or drilling; no removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals or other material, and no change in the topography of the land in any manner on the Conservation Easement Area nor shall there be any activities conducted on the Conservation Easement Area or on adjacent property if owned by the Grantor and his successors which would cause erosion or siltation on the Conservation Easement Area. 7. Industrial Use. Industrial activities in the Conservation Easement Area are prohibited. 8. Residential Use. Residential use of the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 9. Commercial Use. Commercial activities in the Conservation Easement Area are prohibited 10. New Construction. There shall be no building, shed, facility, mobile home, or other structure constructed or placed in the Conservation Easement Area; provided, however, that the WRC expressly reserves the right to install, operate and maintain structures for the purpose of reestablishing, protecting, and enhancing stream functional values, including those described in the Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan, Exhibit B, for the Conservation Easement Area. 11. Si ns. No signs shall be permitted in the Conservation Easement Area except interpretive signs describing restoration activities and the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, signs identifying the owner of the Protected Property and the holder of the Conservation Easement, and signs giving directions or proscribing rules and regulations for the use of the Conservation Easement Area. 12. Subdivision. Subdivision, partitioning, or dividing the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 13. Development Rights. No development rights which- have been encumbered or extinguished by this Conservation Easement shall be transferred pursuant to a transferable development rights scheme or cluster development arrangement or otherwise. 14. Utilities. The installation of utility systems, including, without limitation, water, sewer, power, fuel, and communication lines and related facilities, is prohibited. If there are existing utility easements (rights of way) located in the Conservation Easement Area or affecting the Conservation Easement, Grantor shall notify the WRC if right of way clearing or other work in the Conservation Easement Area is scheduled by the utility. 15. Water Quality and Drainage Pattern. Grantor shall conduct no activities conducted in the Conservation Easement Area that would be detrimental to water purity or to any of the plants or habitats within the Conservation Easement Area, or that would alter natural water levels, drainage, sedimentation and/or flow in or over the Conservation Easement Area, or cause soil degradation or erosion. Diking, dredging, alteration, draining, filling or removal of wetlands or stream by the Grantor is prohibited. In addition, Grantor is prohibited from diverting or causing or permitting the diversion of surface or underground water into, within 3 iK0778n'19]. or out of the Conservation Easement Area by any means; polluting or discharging into waters, springs, seeps, or wetlands; or using pesticides or biocides in the Conservation Easement Area unless agreed to in writing by the WRC. 16. Grantor's Rights. The Grantor, for himself, his successors, assigns, invitees and licensees, hereby reserves the right to quiet enjoyment of the Conservation Easement Area; the right of ingress and egress to the Conservation Easement Area and all adjacent property of the Grantor; the right to continue such uses as exist as of the date of this grant not inconsistent with this Conservation Easement; and the right to sell, transfer, gift or otherwise convey the Conservation Easement Area, in whole, provided such sale, transfer or gift conveyance is subject to the terms of this Conservation Easement and written notice is provided to the WRC in accordance with the provisions herein below. 17. W RC's Rights. The WRC reserves the right to use the Conservation Easement Area in any way necessary, consistent with the terms herein, to undertake any activities to protect, restore, manage, maintain, or enhance stream functional values, and monitor the restoration resources, as described in the Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan Exhibit B) for the Conservation Easement Area, in order to mitigate for impacts to streams resulting from road construction. These mitigation activities include, but are not limited to, construction of new stream channels; restoration/stabilization of existing stream channels; installation of natural and manmade materials as needed to direct in-stream, above ground, and subterraneous water flow; planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; and utilization of heavy equipment to grade, fill, and prepare the soil. The WRC further reserves the right to monitor the results of the mitigation activities in perpetuity and to repair or restore any damage to the Conservation Easement Area occurring after initial completion of the construction associated with mitigation activities. ARTICLE Ill. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES Nothing contained herein shall be construed to entitle the Grantor or WRC to bring any action against the other party for any injury or change in the Property resulting from causes beyond the control of either party, including fire, flood, storm, war, acts of God or third parties, or from any prudent action taken in good faith by either party under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to life, damage to property or harm to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from such causes, in accordance hereunder. The WRC has the right to prevent any action on or use of the Conservation Easement Area that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or features of the Conservation Easement Area that may be damaged by any inconsistent activity or use. If the WRC determines that the Grantor is in violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement or that a violation is threatened, WRC shall give written notice to Grantor of such violation and demand corrective action sufficient to cure the violation and, where the violation involves injury to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from any use or activity inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement, to restore the portion of the Conservation Easement Area so injured. If Grantor fails to cure the violation within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice thereof from WRC, or under circumstances where the violation cannot reasonably be cured within a thirty (30) day period, fails to begin curing such violation within the thirty (30) day period, or fails to continue diligently to cure,such violation until finally cured, WRC may bring an action at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, to enjoin the violation, as necessary, by temporary or permanent injunction, to recover any damages to which it may be entitled for violation of the terms of this Easement, including damages for the loss of conservation values, and to require the restoration of the Conservation Easement Area to the condition that existed prior to any such injury. If the WRC, in its sole discretion, determines that circumstances require immediate action to prevent or mitigate significant damage to the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, the WRC may pursue its remedies without prior notice to the Grantor. WRC shall exercise reasonable efforts to notify the Grantor and shall, in any event, notify Grantor within two business days after action is taken to explain the action undertaken. WRC's remedies shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies available to WRC at law or equity. Any cost incurred by WRC in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, and any costs of restoration necessitated by Grantor's violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement shall be borne by Grantor. No failure on the part of the WRC to enforce any covenant or provision hereof shall be a waiver to discharge or invalidate such covenant or any other covenant, condition, or provision hereof or affect the right of WRC to enforce the same in the event of a subsequent breach or default. The Grantor reserves the right to take action against the WRC for use of the Conservation Easement Area in a way that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement. Any cost incurred by Grantor in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against WRC or its 4 DK0778""192 successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, shall be borne by WRC. . ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS A. Amendments. The NCDOT, WRC and Grantor may amend this Conservation Easement, Temporary Access Easement, or Permanent Access Easement only by a jointly executed written agreement, and provided that no amendment will be allowed that is inconsistent with the purposes stated herein, and provided that it is approved by the USACE. , B. Exhibits. The attached Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Plat recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry are incorporated in and made a part of this instrument by reference. The parties acknowledge that the Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan, developed by a WRC biologist and dated June 2002 (Exhibit B)= a copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the WRC, and which is also attached hereto and incorporated herein, describes the plan for mitigation activities in the Conservation Easement Area. C. Title. The Grantors covenant and represent that the Grantors are the sole owner and are seized of the Property in fee simple and have good right to grant and convey the aforesaid Conservation Easement and Temporary and Permanent Access Easements of Ingress and Egress; that the Conservation Easement Area and Temporary and Permanent Access Easements are free and clear of any and all encumbrances, except easement and leases of record or in effect by prescriptive rights as of the date hereto, and Grantors covenant that the WRC shall have the use of and enjoy all of the benefits derived from and arising out of the aforesaid easements conveyed. The easements conveyed herein shall run with the land and must be made part of any transfer of title by the Grantors. D. Notification. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notices shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties at their addresses shown above or to other address(es) as either party establishes in writing upon notification to the other. E. Entire Agreement. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Conservation Easement and Easements of Ingress and Egress and supersedes all. prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or agreements relating to the said easements. If any provision is found to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Easement, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which is found to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. F. Recording. The NCDOT shall record this instrument and any amendment hereto in timely fashion with the Office of the Register or Deeds of Watauga County, North Carolina, and may re-record it at any time as may be required to preserve its right under this Conservation Easement. G-. Costs and Liabilities. The Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Property, including the payment of all taxes, assessments, fees, and charges of whatever description levied on or assessed against the property. H. Construction of Terms. This Conservation Easement shall be construed to promote the purposes of the North Carolina enabling statute set forth in N.C.G.S. ? 121-34, which authorizes the creation of Conservation Easements for purposes including those set forth in the recitals herein, and the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement, including such purposes as are defined in Section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. 1. Authorized Representative. All parties agree that the NCDOT is an authorized representative of the WRC for purposes of this Conservation Easement and Easements of Ingress and Egress. J. Conservation Purpose. The WRC, for themselves, and their successors and assigns agree that this Conservation Easement shall be held exclusively for conservation purposes. The parties hereto recognize and agree that the benefits of this Conservation Easement are in gross and assignable, provided, however, that the WRC hereby covenants and agrees that in the event they transfer or assign this Conservation Easement they hold under, the organization receiving the interest will be a qualified organization as that term is defined in Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor section) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which is organized or operated primarily for one of the conservation purposes specified in Section 170(h)(4)(A) and section 2301 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the WRC further covenants and agrees that the terms of the transfer or assignment will be such that the transferee or assignee will be required to continue to carry out in perpetuity the conservation purposes that the contribution was originally intended to advance, set forth in the Recitals herein. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid Conservation Easement and Easement of Ingress and Egress unto the NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION, its successors 5 3K07781,c.193 and assigns, forever. The rights and obligations set forth herein shall inure to and be binding upon the Grantor, WRC, and NCDOT, their heirs, executors, assigns and successors in title or interest. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands and seals and caused this instrument to be signed in their respective names by authority duly given, the day and year first above written. GRANTOR(S): -? (Seal) Dale Miller (Seal) (Seal) STATE OF,i?oi" Ca rd Iin q , COUNTY OF Wctlimu1 n (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) l+ S a Notary Public of __ Me County do hereby certify that ?' - (? Grantor(s), personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official,sfamp or seal, this Z! day of? us ?- 2002, • .i;sst ,rl ;,v ; , Notary Publ' %?',,.I,..?y. ?S,. J,?a.. f My Commission Expires: -7-7- 0 - Zooms' NCD ? wt,?•. ; ? ?h,?;r 1.f , . ACC OR HE RTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY: ,? NOV 0 7 2002 .; x.'94.. sea, name and title , ?frrutnt,'?? ASST MANAGFR OF RIGHT OF WAY NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF _ G ?G ck I, ,1. A- y a Notary Public of A w dj I A_--. 'T - .A Department of Transportation, personally appeare before me this day ani the foregoing instrument. )6 Witness my hand and official stamp ??1 ? P !, a? , 2002. 9.z.;,.? u?K, j;; r.Io 'So on ro . / Notary Public My Commission Expires: d , -a ou? WRC: ' ACCEPTED FOR THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION BY: name and title _ County do hereby certify that of the. North Carolina ' R I acknowledged the execution of or seal, this '7 day of 6t,?wl? of NGpDT NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF I,?eL? ? Cn rrn 11 LeC,? , u t) a Notary Public of Wa k e- County do hgi6& C6nYlt" R Full Weo , ?cttiV,ve- TD%rc1- mv, , of the North:, ar-J Resources Commission, personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the exec' foregoing instrument:xWitness my hand jlnd official stamp or seal, this I (P day of ?c o r 2002. a?rsl Qal?,orl?,e? ,?o 5Z5 ch bcWic Notary Public SAS r r ?' lYl„p?th 711tff11??F ? yt J? Yl'e '? •' tJ,r .,,t , .' irfa?W Idlife. ate,''' or?lhe My Commission Expires: ??? a?_ coot, arrr No4ary :$eal NORTH CAROLINA And-cry A. ?, ? Canty, NC, D. M. Bailey, Lee City ,. NC2 fhl'W? r???Le gicate(s) of and 1 nja ll LeWim, Wake Canty t, ;Notaries/NWaiy Public, is/are certified to be correct. This instrument and this certificate are duly registered at the date'and time and in the Book and Page shown on the first page hereof. This the 21L day of npr,, - , 2002. Wanda C. Scott Regist r f Deeds For Watauga County BY: I,I h I r Deputy/A Nn%1iU gister of Deeds 6 3K0'?78PG.194 "EXHIBIT A" PARCEL (706WM)1 A-DALE MILLER The conservation easement area shown as Parcel #(706WM)1A of Dalo Miller, being more particularly shown and described on a plat entitled Survey of Conservation Easement and being recorded in Plat Book 016 Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. "EXHIBIT B" 1. Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan (A copy of Which is on file at office of the NCDOT and the W RC.) 7 :;:;0778F'?176 WATAUGA COUNTY NC 12/02/2002 io $1.00 STATE igOOTH OA gOLINA E Real xci eSTax rI LED SCO f?t:GlSf ! ;? OF D EEDS 0 E -2 PH 3: 37 IYAMUGA !1!d Y. NC 1 I? 3a CONSERVATION EASEMENT and EASEMENTS OF INGRESS AND EGRE S t THIS INSTRUMENT DRAWN BY Q. Q• 6 --c? CHECKED BY Y17 Ail RETURN /D immy L. Caudle ivision Right of Way Agent P.O. Box 250 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 State of North Carolina Watauga County Meat Camp Township I.D. No. R-0529 WM State Project: 6.759005T F.A. Project: N/A Parcel No.: (706WM)1B THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT made this 2"d day of August, 2002, by and between Joe Elmer Proffitt and wife Alma Joyce Proffitt; hereinafter called the "Grantor(s)" and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Inland Fisheries, 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1721, hereinafter called the "WRC," and administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, hereinafter called the "NCDOT," provides the following: WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Grantor is the sole owner in fee simple of certain real property in Meat Camp Township of Watauga County, North Carolina, as more particularly described in Deed Book 067, Page 312, Deed Book 221 Page281, Deed Book 150 Page 481, Deed Book 204 Page 144, Deed Book 211 Page 076, and Deed Book 163 Page 346 of the Watauga County Registry, North Carolina, which land is hereinafter referred to as "the Property'; WHEREAS, the NCDOT is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purpose includes the construction of transportation projects for public use and who has the authority to acquire land for the purpose of mitigating environmental impacts of these transportation projects; WHEREAS, the NCDOT desires to restore 29.5 feet of stream in Watauga County on the said Property through the WRC: WHEREAS, the WRC is an agency of the State of North Carolina whose purposes include the restoration and conservation of open space and streams for stream mitigation purposes; is authorized by the laws of the State of North Carolina to accept, hold and administer conservation easements; and who has the authority to accept and is willing to accept this Conservation Easement from the Grantor under the terms and conditions hereinafter described; WHEREAS, the Grantor is willing to grant a perpetual Conservation Easement over 0.053 acres of the Property (the Conservation Easement Area), thereby restricting and limiting the use of land within the Conservation Easement Area to the terms and conditions and for the purposes hereinafter set forth; WHEREAS, the Uniform Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act, N.C.G.S. § 121-34 et. seq., provides for the enforceability of restrictions, easements, covenants or conditions appropriate to retaining land or water areas predominantly in their natural, scenic or open condition or in agricultural, horticultural, farming or forest use; WHEREAS, the NCDOT, under a Section 404 permit granted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), must conduct certain off-site trout stream enhancement to mitigate for impacts to trout streams resulting from the construction of US 421 from South Fork New River to East of the Blue Ridge Parkway (R-0529 BA R-0529 BB & R-0529 BD); WHEREAS, the NCDOT has entered into an agreement with the WRC to reimburse them for conducting the mitigation activities; 3K 0 7 7 8 Pc 1 7 WHEREAS, the USACE has reviewed and approved the use of the Conservation Easement on the Property to mitigate for the stream impacts, and such will satisfy the said permit conditions after the completion of the stream monitoring period; WHEREAS, the purposes of this Conservation Easement are to protect the mitigation activities performed by the WRC, to preserve and protect the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, to prevent any use of the Conservation Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with these purposes, and to maintain permanently the dominant woodland, scenic and natural character of the Conservation Easement Area designated on the Property as hereinafter described. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of $265.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars and other valuable considerations to the Grantor in hand paid by the NCDOT, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in further consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and restrictions hereinafter set forth, the Grantor hereby grants and conveys unto the WRC and its successors or assigns forever and in perpetuity a Conservation Easement, pursuant to the USACE Section 404 permit requirements, of the nature and character and to the extent hereinafter set forth, in respect to the land of the grantor situated in Watauga County, North Carolina, as described in Exhibit A, and hereinafter referred to as the "Conservation Easement Area". For a plat of the above described Conservation Easement, please see plat titled "Conservation Easement' recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. The terms, conditions and restrictions of the Conservation Easement are as hereinafter set forth:' ARTICLE I. DURATION OF EASEMENTS; ACCESS A. Conservation Easement. This Conservation Easement shall be perpetual. It is an easement in gross, runs with the land and is enforceable by the WRC or its successors and/or assigns against the Grantor(s), Grantor(s) heirs, devisees, successors and assigns, lessees, agents and licensees. B. Public Access. The easement rights granted herein do not include public access rights. However, the public has the right to view the Conservation Easement Area from any adjacent publicly accessible area. ARTICLE II. PROHIBITED, RESTRICTED AND RESERVED ACTIVITIES Any activity on, or use of, the designated Conservation Easement Area inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement is prohibited. Unless expressly reserved as a compatible use herein, any activity in, or use of, the Conservation Easement Area by the Grantor is prohibited as inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement. The Conservation Easement Area shall be maintained in its natural, scenic and open condition and restricted from any development or alteration that would significantly impair or interfere with the conservation values of this Conservation Easement Area. Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor have been acquired by the WRC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,, the following activities and uses are expressly prohibited, restricted or reserved as indicated hereunder: 1. Silvicultural Use and Land Clearing. There may be no destruction or cutting of trees or plants in the Conservation Easement Area, except in accordance with the Conceptual Restoration Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit B, or upon written approval of the WRC. 2. Dumping or Storage. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste, abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery, or hazardous substances, or toxic or hazardous waste, or any placement of underground or aboveground storage tanks or other materials on the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. 3. Mineral Use, Excavation, Dredging. There shall be no filling, excavation, dredging, mining or drilling; no removal of topsoil, sand, gravel, rock, peat, minerals or other material, and no change in the topography of the land in any manner on the Conservation Easement Area nor shall there be any activities conducted on the Conservation Easement Area or on adjacent property if owned by the Grantor and their successors which would cause erosion or siltation on the Conservation Easement Area. 4. Grantor's Rights. The Grantor, for themselves, their successors, assigns, invitees and licensees, hereby reserves the right to quiet enjoyment of the Conservation Easement Area; the right of ingress and egress to the Conservation Easement Area and all adjacent property of the Grantor; and the right to sell, transfer, gift or otherwise convey the Conservation Easement Area, in whole, provided such sale, transfer or gift conveyance is subject to the terms of this Conservation Easement and written notice is provided to the WRC in 2 accordance with the provisions herein below. 5. W RC's Ri hts. The WRC reserves the right to use the Conservation Easement Area in any way necessary, consistent with the terms herein, to undertake any activities to protect, restore, manage, maintain, or enhance stream functional values, and monitor the restoration resources, as described in the Conceptual Restoration Plan Exhibit B) for the Conservation Easement Area, in order to mitigate for impacts to streams resulting from road construction. These mitigation activities include, but are not limited to, construction of new stream channels; restoration/stabilization of existing stream channels; installation of natural and man-made materials as needed to direct in-stream, above ground, and subterraneous water flow; planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; collecting live cuttings; and utilization of heavy equipment to grade, fill, and prepare the soil. The WRC further reserves the right to monitor the results of the mitigation activities in perpetuity and to repair or. restore any damage to the Conservation Easement Area occurring after initial completion of the construction associated with mitigation activities. ARTICLE III. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES Nothing contained herein shall be construed to entitle the Grantor or WRC to bring any action against the other party for any injury or change in the Property resulting from causes beyond the control of either party, including fire, flood, storm, war, acts of God or third parties, or from any prudent action taken in good faith by either party under emergency conditions to prevent, abate, or mitigate significant injury to life, damage to property or harm to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from such causes, in accordance hereunder. The WRC has the right to prevent any action on or use of the Conservation Easement Area that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or features of the Conservation Easement Area that may be damaged by any inconsistent activity or use. If the WRC determines that the Grantor is in violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement or that a violation is threatened, WRC shall give written notice to Grantor of such violation and demand corrective action sufficient to cure the violation and, where the violation involves injury to the Conservation Easement Area resulting from any use or activity inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement, to restore the. portion of the Conservation Easement Area so injured. If Grantor fails to cure the violation within thirty (30) days after- receipt of notice thereof from WRC, or under circumstances where the violation cannot reasonably be cured within a thirty (30) day period, fails to begin curing such violation within the thirty (30) day period, or fails to continue diligently to cure such violation until finally cured, WRC may bring an action at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, to enjoin the violation, as necessary, by temporary or permanent injunction, to recover any damages to which it may be entitled for violation of the terms of this Easement, including damages for the loss of conservation values, and to require the restoration of the Conservation Easement Area to the condition that existed prior to any such injury. If the WRC, in its sole discretion, determines that circumstances require immediate action to prevent or mitigate significant damage to the conservation values of the Conservation Easement Area, the WRC may pursue its remedies without prior notice to the Grantor. WRC shall exercise reasonable efforts to notify the Grantor and shall, in any event, notify Grantor within two business days after action is taken to explain the action undertaken. WRC's remedies shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other rights and remedies available to WRC at law or equity. Any cost incurred by WRC in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, and any costs of restoration necessitated by Grantor's violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement shall be borne by Grantor. No failure on the part of the WRC to enforce any covenant or provision hereof shall be a waiver to discharge or invalidate such covenant or any other covenant, condition, or provision hereof or affect the right of WRC to enforce the same in the event of a subsequent breach or default. The Grantor reserves the right to take action against the WRC for use of the Conservation Easement Area in a way that is inconsistent with the purpose of this Conservation Easement. Any cost incurred by Grantor in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against WRC or its successors or assigns, including, without limitation, costs of suit and attorney's fees, shall be borne by WRC. ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS A. Amendments. The NCDOT, WRC and Grantor may amend this Conservation Easement; only by a jointly executed written agreement, and provided that no amendment will be allowed that is inconsistent with the purposes stated herein, and provided that it is approved by the USACE. B. Exhibits. The attached Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Plat recorded in Plat Book 016, Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry are incorporated in and made a part of this instrument by reference. 3 The parties acknowledge that the Conceptual Restoration Plan, developed by g \WR ; Pic i&gi§t qn 9 dated June 2002 (Exhibit B), a copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the WRC, end which is also attached hereto and incorporated herein, describes the plan for mitigation activities in the Conservation Easement Area. C. Title. The Grantors covenant and represent that the Grantors are the sole owner and are seized of the Property in fee simple and have good right to grant and convey the aforesaid Conservation Easement; that the Conservation Easement Area is free and clear of any and all encumbrances, except easement and leases of record or in effect by prescriptive rights as of the date hereto, and Grantors covenant that the WRC shall have the use of and enjoy all of the benefits derived from and arising out of the aforesaid easements conveyed. The easements conveyed herein shall run with the land and must be made part of any transfer of title by the Grantors. D. Notification. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notices shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties at their addresses shown above or to other addresses as either party establishes in writing upon notification to the other. E. Entire Agreement. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Conservation Easement and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or agreements relating to the said easements. If any provision is found to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Easement, and the application of such provision to persons or- circumstances other than those as to which is found to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby. F. Recording. The NCDOT shall record this instrument and any amendment hereto in timely fashion with the Office of the Register or Deeds of Watauga County, North Carolina, and may re-record it at any time as may be required to preserve its right under this Conservation Easement. G. Costs and Liabilities. The Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Property, including the payment of all taxes, assessments, fees, and charges of whatever description levied on or assessed against the property. G. Construction of Terms. This Conservation Easement shall be construed to promote the purposes of the North Carolina enabling statute set forth in N.C.G.S. § 121-34, which authorizes the creation of Conservation Easements for purposes including those set forth in the recitals herein, and the conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement, including such purposes as are defined in Section 170(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. H. Authorized Representative. All parties agree that the NCDOT is an authorized representative of the WRC for purposes of this Conservation Easement J. Conservation Purpose. The WRC, for themselves, and their successors and assigns agree that this Conservation Easement shall be held exclusively for conservation purposes. The parties hereto recognize and agree that the benefits of this Conservation Easement are in gross and assignable, provided, however, that the WRC hereby covenants and agrees that in the event they transfer or assign this Conservation Easement they hold under, the organization receiving the interest will be a qualified organization as that term is defined in Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor section) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which is organized or operated primarily for one of the conservation purposes specified in Section 170(h)(4)(A) and section 2301 of the Internal Revenue Code, and the WRC further covenants and agrees that the terms of the transfer or assignment will be such that the transferee or assignee will be required to continue to carry out in perpetuity the conservation purposes that the contribution was originally intended to advance, set forth in the Recitals herein. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid Conservation Easement unto the NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION, its successors and assigns, forever. The rights and obligations set forth herein shall inure to and be binding upon the Grantor and thq WRC, their heirs, executors, NCDOTs, assigns and successors in title or interest. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands and seals and caused this instrument to be signed in their respective names by authority duly given, the day and year first above written. ANTOR(S): ' J&A . ..... (Seal) (Seal) 17 Joe Elmer Proffi Alma qiyee Proff t (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) (Seal) 4 HK0778PG.180 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF WATAUGA I, Anthony A. Adams a Notary Public of Alexander County do hereby certify that Joe Elmer Proffitt and wife Alma Joyce Proffitt, Grantor(s), personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument. Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 2nd day of August, 2002.:; r^^ - tr My Commission Expires: Z- Zu- Notary Public Y Y'. NCDOT: ?t,, 4 1 ; Q1 ACCEP TH MENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY: t;: • f I:r `,t(, y?2.. ??!" 11tI ter.' NOV 0 7 2002 name and title ASST MANAGER OF RIGHT OF WAY NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF W I, - 36'1 I-e a Notary Public of L1°-e- County do hereby ce r . .4fj;jTe_,4 r r1n _ ?„?1•? of /t afi_____ _, of the Nort Department of Transportation, personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the, Uj`dc' the foregoing instrument.* Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this, A/o ti(evw /z,fv , 2002. b..•,,, aul't+ ; 1v do su r it is Y 0,,v "d role ,NGAor a,i My Commission Expires: Notary Public j ?. WRC: 1 ACCEPTED FOR THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION BY: name and title NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF WAKe, 12 lo; ,.,... 'mill , I.-BAt?da CAICUll Le-UtuL , a Notary Public of County do hereby,cen." Obarlv._ R. RutwC+or1 , ?xrs ;ar 'D'?recFar' , of the North Car Olin ?lll,1 ( Resources Commission, personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the Qzecutibn;ofith foregoing instruments Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this _(a day of Lti-4D? ' y 2002. BanN aufl.p /i ?i-Q 4V d o 5o o t, 6,.L.W 0 ie tj g(- 1 ,&Vt4? LII/A/ a AC..u c.> My Commission Expires: `?k J, Notary Public T O The foregoing Certificate(s) of , Notaries/Notary Public, is/are certified to be correct. This instrument and this certificate are duly registered at the date and time and in the Book and Page shown on the first page hereof. This the _ day of , 2002. Register of Deeds For Watauga County BY: Deputy/Assistant Register of Deeds NORTH CAROLINA WATAUGA COUNTY The foregoing certificate(s) of Anthony A. Adams, Notary Public, Alexander County, NC, D.M. Bailey, Notary Public, Lee County, NC, and BeLinda Carroll LeQuinne, Notary Public, Wake County, NC, are certified to be correct. This 2nd day of December 2002. Wa a C. cott - Registe Deeds By. Deputy 5 BK0778PG181 "EXHIBIT A" Parcel (706WM)1 B-Joe Proffitt The conservation easement area shown as Parcel #(706WM)1 B of Joe Proffitt, being more particularly shown and described on a plat entitled Survey of Conservation Easement and being recorded in Plat Book 016 Page 220 of the Watauga County Registry. "EXHIBIT B" 1. Conceptual Stream Mitigation Plan (A copy of which is on file at the office of the NCDOT and the W RC. 6 l _ COPY % ® Forth Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission® 312 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-1188, 919-733-3391 Charles R. Fullwood, Executive Director MEMORANDUM TO: Steve Lund, Highway Projects Permit Coordinator Asheville Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FROM: Joe H. Mickey, Jr., Regional Coordinator Habitat Conservation Program original signed by DATE: December 18, 1998 Joe Mickey 21598 SUBJECT: Request by Wright Brothers Construction to waive the no work period in the trout stream buffer zone for the Laxon Creek relocation associated with the US 421 project, R-529 BB, Watauga County. Wright Brothers Construction is requesting a waiver of the no construction in the trout stream buffer zone from January 1 through April 15 in order to complete the Laxon Creek stream relocation at the culvert site. They are in the process of completing the channel relocation above and below the culvert. It is hoped that all work will be completed by January 1, 1999. However, due to weather or other problems encountered between now and December 31, 1998, this might not be the case. I have discussed this issue with Mr. Todd Hodges, Wright Brothers Construction, and have no objection to granting a two week extension to complete the work. Channel relocation work must be completed by January 15, 1999. I have based my decision on the fact that Laxon Creek contains poor trout habitat, and few, if any wild trout. Granting an extension should have very minimal impacts on aquatic resources. Plans are to complete the channel relocation above culvert in the dry, with banks of the relocated channel stabilized with sod salvaged from the site. All instream channel structures (root wads, rock vanes, channel bed materials) will be installed before water is diverted into the new channel. Some instream work may be required at the site once the berm is removeu and water is divcl:ed into the ilev; channel. At the 100 foot uncompleted section immediately below the culvert that ties into the new relocated channel, some instream work might be required since water has been diverted through the new relocated channel at this location. Every effort will be made to avoid working in live water. I will be assisting Wright Bros. Cons. with the channel relocation. These comments have been provided in accordance with provisions of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 466 et. seq.) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667d). If you have any questions or concerns regarding this extension of the no work period, please contact Mr. Todd Hodges, Wright Bros. Cons. at 828/264-4251 or me at 336/366-2982 before January 1, 1999. cc: Wade Hoke, DOT ,/ohn Dorney, DWQ Todd Hodges, Wright Bros. Cons.