20200369 Ver 1_Post Contract Meeting Minutes_20200622

Strickland, Bev
From: Reid, Matthew
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2020 8:47 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Davis, Erin B
Cc: Ray Holz; Grant Lewis; Allen, Melonie; Alex Baldwin; Matthew Harrell
Subject: Witt's End Post Contract Meeting Minutes
Attachments: RS_Wits End IRT Meeting Notes -Yadkin 05.pdf
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
M
Attached are the Witt's End Post Contract Meeting Minutes from the site visit held on June 1, 2020. Please let me know
if you have any questions, comments or would like any changes.
Thanks,
Matthew Reid
Project Manager —Western Region
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
828-231-7912 Mobile
matthew.reida-ncdenr.gov
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Dr
Suite 102
Asheville, NC 28801
KI.
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Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
1

June 19, 2020
RE: Wit's End Mitigation Site
Post-IRT Site Visit Notes
DMS Contract No. 7968
Attendees:
USACE: Todd Tugwell
NCDWR: Mac Haupt and Erin Davis
NCDMS: Matthew Reid and Melonie Allen
AXE: Grant Lewis
RS: Ray Holz and Alex Baldwin
Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes St. Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina
Ph: [phone]
Fx: [phone]
On Monday June 1, 2020, representatives of the Interagency Review Team (IRT) met with representatives
from North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services, Restoration Systems, and Axiom Environmental at the
Wit's End Mitigation Site to review proposed site mitigation features and approaches. Below is a summary
of what was discussed and how those comments will be addressed as the mitigation plan moves forward.
This proposal will be further refined in the development of the Mitigation Plan.
Streams-
• All parties were in agreement on a restoration approach for streams except for UT-4.
• UT-4 can be included for restoration if the easement can be expanded to include the remaining
section extending downstream to the confluence with Waxhaw Branch.
• The IRT noted that flow gauges would be required on all UT's.
• No stream credit would be provided for ephemeral features in the easement.
• BMPs would be expected on all ephemeral features.
Wetlands-
• All parties were in agreement on the presence of existing wetlands in the downstream forested
floodplain of Waxhaw Branch and should be proposed as wetland preservation outside of the
documented hydrologic influence Waxhaw Branch which has down cut approximately 4-5 feet.
• DWR was accepting of the potential for wetland restoration in the floodplain of Waxhaw Branch
and the use of the F19 hydric indicator. They expressed caution about the use of the indicator as
their experience has seen the F19 hydric indicator used on floodplains of larger streams. USACE
was concerned about all proposed wetland restoration areas and the application of the F19 hydric
indicator.
• DWR and USACE had concerns regarding the presence of drained hydric soils in the upper reaches
of UT-3 and under the pond.
• DWR requested more soils work to be provided in the mitigation plan including a detailed soils
evaluation using a grid mapping approach with representative profile descriptions, a map of soil
boring locations, and photos of representative profiles.
• DWR requested transects of monitoring wells extending from the edge of the wetland across the
floodplain to the stream as a part of overall project monitoring.
• DWR was receptive of the proposed 8% of the growing season wetland hydroperiod for proposed
wetland restoration areas.
1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Ph 919.755.9490 • Fx 919.755.9492

Ponds•
• The small historic pond adjacent to the downstream wetland preservation area could be credited
at 2:1 for removal of berm, planting, and enhancing habitat.
• The small historic pond at the confluence of UT-3A and UT-313 and along UT-3 has potential for
enhancement if the water level is lowered and habitat is enhanced with planting and/or
structures.
• Regarding the large in line pond associated with Waxhaw Branch the proposed stream restoration
was acceptable. There were concerns over the historic existence of wetlands under the pond. It
was noted that if the pond was dug out or had filled with sediment this would be viewed as
wetland creation. At this time the IRT lacked enough information to provide a credit ratio for
wetland credits under the pond. A recommendation was made to perform a bathymetry survey
to gain additional information regarding the presence or lack of sediment, and to investigate the
soils after the pond is drained.
In summary, the IRT was accepting of the project but will require additional information before agreeing
to credit ratios and wetland restoration components of the project. RS will remove credits generated from
ephemeral features and attempt to gather supplemental data for the existing substrate of the large
pond. RS will provide a detailed soils evaluation and justification for proposed credit ratios associated with
restoration/enhancement of assets associated with historic remnant ag ponds.
Thank you,
Raymond Holz
Restoration Systems
1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Ph 919.755.9490 • Fx 919.755.9492

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Post-IRT Site Visit '
2019 Imagery