20090080 Ver 2_More Info Received_20100121

Mcmillan, Ian
From: Kim Williams [[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 10:00 AM
To: Wheeler, Tracey L SAW
Cc: Mcmillan, Ian; Ken Williams; John Thomas Sr; Rob Moul
Subject: pam 12
Attachments: pam 12 mitigation plan 1-10.pdf; Pam12 revised figure 5.pdf
Hi Tracey
Attached is the revised mitigation plan and figure for the Pamlico 12 site. Please note that we are proposing restoration of
4.7 acres of wetlands and preservation of 14.25 acres of wetlands to mitigate for 3.79 acres of impact. Overall, this is a
5:1 mitigation ratio. I also changed the language regarding the proposed berms to state that they would only be installed if
it was determined that salinity was having a negative effect on planted vegetation. These berms would be removed as
soon as the plants are established (1s' paragraph of pg 4). Please review these documents. If you are satisfied with them,
I will send you a hard copy.
Also, John Thomas is working on a new wetlands map with tie lines, but this may take some time. Can this map be a
condition of the permit (to be completed prior to any wetland impacts)?
Thanks,
Kim
Kim Williams
Land Management Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 2522
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Pamlico #12
Wetland Restoration Plan
Restoration of Road #7
Introduction
1. Background
In 2006, Spring Creek Timber Company, LLC, constructed a forestry road within the
Pamlico #12 tract and impacted 2.7 acres of 404 wetland habitat. Because the road was
constructed under a forestry plan and because best management practices were utilized, they
were exempt from 404/401 permitting and mitigation requirements. However, Spring Creek
Timber Company, LLC has proposed to change the primary use of the road from forestry to an
access road for a hunting cabin. In addition, they wish to construct another road for recreational
purposes. Because impacts are no longer related solely for the purpose of timber management,
the road is subject to the "recapture clause" of section 404(f) wetland guidelines. Section
404/401 permits and adequate mitigation are necessary. Total impacts are to 3.79 acres of 404
wetlands. The applicant has submitted an Individual Permit application to the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, NC Division of Water Quality, and NC Division of Coastal Management.
This restoration plan proposes removing an existing forestry road (Road #7), filling.
adjacent ditches, and planting the restored area with native wetland species. This will restore
approximately 4.7 acres of wetlands. In addition, 14.25 acres of wetlands will be preserved using
the ACOE's standard preservation language. Monitoring of the project will take place for three
years following the restoration activities to determine overall project success.
II. Pre-Restoration Site Conditions
The tract is located off of Whortonsville Road in Pamlico County, adjacent to Spring
Creek (Figure 1). Several creeks form boundaries of the tract. Broad Creek and two of its
tributaries (Pittman Creek and Green Creek) form portions of the tract's southern boundary and
Spring Creek and Long Creek form its northern boundary. Additionally, Burton Creek and the
tip of Green Creek extend into the southern part of the site.
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The site is comprised of a pine plantation that was started by Weyerhaeuser Company
several decades ago. There are several dirt logging roads located throughout the tract, most are
approximately 20' wide. Surrounding land use currently consists of undeveloped silvicultural
land or other pine plantations (Figure 4).
III. Wetland Classification and Functions
Much of the southeastern North Carolina coastal plain, including this tract, is underlain
by an extensive Pleistocene marine terrace that is flat and poorly to very poorly drained.
Saturated conditions produced by this terrace have driven the development of hydric soils and
large interstream divide wetlands. Many of these wetland ecosystems are classified
hydrogeomorphically as flats. These ecosystems receive precipitation as their sole water source
and lose water primarily by evapotranspiration with overland flow and gradual seepage to the
underlying aquifer. Soils of wet flats can be either histosol or mineral. Flats with organic soil
are dominated by bay type vegetation (e.g. Magnolia virginiana, Persea borbonia, Ilex spp.,
Lyonia spp.) while mineral soil flats tend to be dominated by pine species (e.g. Pinus taeda).
Restoration at the Pamlico #12 tract will re-establish 4.7 acres of non-riverine wet pine
and mixed hardwood flat forest habitat to replace the wetlands that were impacted from the
construction of a road. The goal is to provide for functional restoration via re-establishment of
characteristic hydrology and vegetative assemblages. By re-establishing these criteria, wetland
functions such as nutrient cycling and removal, sediment retention, and water storage will be
realized on the tract. In addition to the restoration, there will be 3.3 acres of wetland
enhancement.
IV. Soils
The soils of the project area are mostly comprised of the Stockade soil series (Figure 3).
These soils are very poorly drained and possess a clay layer from 11 inches to 36 inches which is
restrictive to percolation of precipitation into surrounding surficial aquifers. The drainage
restrictions present in these soils allow them to retain wetland hydrology almost year round
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through the retention of precipitation and without any additional input from surrounding stream.
systems.
V. Vegetation Community
Prior to mechanized impacts, uplands supported mostly planted loblolly pine (Pinus
taeda) with scattered sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and red maple (Acer rubrum).
Wetlands supported loblolly pine, pond pine (Pinus serotina), red maple, wax myrtle (Morella
cerifera), and red bay (Persea borbonia). These species are indicative of the non-riverine wet
pine and mixed hardwood flat forest habitat.
VI. Prior Anthropogenic Impacts
Several thousand linear feet of a forest road system and concurrent ditches are currently
in place. These roads and ditches are not in violation of standards set by DWQ or the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. These features provide site access for forestry applications.
VII Adjacent Land Use
The land use in the surrounding area consists of undeveloped land or other pine'
plantations. There is no residential or commercial development in the vicinity of the project.
Restoration
I. Physical Restoration Plan
Restoration activities at the Pamlico #12 tract will restore a total of 4.7 acres of
hardwood/pine flat (Figure 5). At present, the existing fill road measures 30' in width and has
two borrow ditches on either side. These ditches currently have a lateral effect to drain up to 35'
adjacent to their position. This drainage effect was based on information obtained from the
North Carolina Scope and Effect Guide (MRCS, 1998; Appendix B). The Stockade soil series in
this region is considered to be non-sandy. Although the roadside ditches are approximately 2.5
feet deep, they were found to contain approximately 1 foot of standing water during a recent site
visit. Therefore, an overall depth of 1.5 feet was used in the calculations. Based on this
information, the ditches have a lateral drainage effect of between 35 and 65 feet. A conservative
value of 35 feet was used in this mitigation plan.
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Restoration of Road #7 will commence with the removal of all fill material and grading
to original contours, which will directly restore 1.4 acres of wetlands. Because of the 35' lateral
drainage effect of the ditches, their filling will result in an additional 3.3 acres of wetland
restoration. If it is determined that the salinity of adjacent waters is having a negative effect on
planted vegetation, small berms will be constructed at the low end of the two ditches to prevent
coastal/estuarine waters from overland flow that could reach the planted seedlings during high
spring and wind tide events. These berms will be removed as soon as the seedlings are
established. In addition to the 4.7 acres of restoration, 14.25 acres of wetlands (including the
restoration area) will be preserved using the USACE's standard preservation language (Figure
5).
Typical non-riverine wet hardwood forest vegetation such as swamp chestnut oak
(Quercus michauxii), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) will be
planted along with shrubs such as wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), red bay (Persea palustrus) and
pond pine (Pinus serotina). The typical shrub vegetation will mimic vegetation already found on
site. Planting of the species will occur during the dormant season (Winter 2010).
The table below lists the available species for planting. The total represents a planting
density of 500 stems per acre, which achieves the project objectives and allows for considerable
seedling mortality.
Table 1: Proposed Species List for Wetland Restoration of Road #7, Pamlico #12
Common Name Scientific Name Quantity
Laurel Oak Quercus laurifolia 400
Swamp Chestnut Oak Quercus michauxii 500
Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 400
Pond Pine Pinus serotina 500
Wax Myrtle Morella cerifera 400
Red Bay Persea palustris 200
Total 2,400
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Monitoring Plan
I. Annual Report Schedule
All restoration monitoring will be conducted for three years or until deemed successful,
whichever is longer. Annual reports will be submitted to the USACE and DWQ no later than
November 30th of the following year. Each report will include a narrative summarizing the
findings of the monitoring. Vegetative and hydrologic data will also be included to document
conditions of the restored area over the course of the year. Photographs will be incorporated to
illustrate the evolution of site soil and vegetative communities.
H. Restoration Monitoring
Hydrologic Monitoring
Filling of ditches in wetlands precludes the necessity of hydrologic monitoring as
it removes the transport mechanism for the existing water volume causing retention
times to increase within the area. The two ditches that were dug displaced small
amounts of water due to the shallow depth and narrow channel width.
In order to demonstrate the restored hydrology, two shallow automated
groundwater monitoring wells will be installed as shown in Figure 5. One of these
wells will be located perpendicular to the existing ditches to document hydrologic
activity in both wetland and upland habitats. The second will be installed in a non-
impacted area. Groundwater levels will be recorded daily. The success criterion will
be the establishment and maintenance of a static water table which closely mirrors the
levels recorded in the reference well.
Vegetation Monitoring
While the primary success criterion for the restoration will be based on
hydrology, vegetation community development will also be monitored. A vegetation
monitoring study will include three 0.10-acre circular plots, which will be randomly
selected throughout the restored area. The number of acceptable volunteer species and
planted individuals will be quantified. Overall, survivorship must meet or exceed 320
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stems per acre by the end of the monitoring period for the project to be deemed
successful.
Contingency Plan
In the event that the hydrology and vegetation success criteria are not fulfilled, a
contingency plan will be implemented. The contingency plan will require consultation with all
regulatory agencies if success is not achieved during the monitoring period. Sample contingency
measures may include selective re-grading or replanting. Recommendations for further activities
will be implemented and monitored until the hydrology and vegetation accurately represent the
reference site and meet or exceed regulatory statutes.
Restoration Implementation Schedule
Restoration planting will occur in the winter of 2010 pending the approval of this plan.
Groundwater and vegetation monitoring of the restoration site will begin after the earth work and
plantings are complete and will continue for the duration of the project. Annual vegetation
monitoring will be conducted in the spring of each year following planting and will continue
until deemed successful by the USACE.
Summary
To mitigate for 3.79 acres of wetland impacts within the Pamlico 12 tract, 4.7 acres of
wetlands will be restored through the removal of an existing road. In addition, 14.25 acres of
wetlands will be preserved. The plan will provide for a functional restoration via re-
establishment of characteristic hydroperiod and vegetative communities. Earth work will restore
contours to their original grades and 2,400 stems will be planted. The target stem density (for
planted and characteristic volunteer species) will be 320 stems/acre by the completion of the last
year of monitoring. It is anticipated that the native seed bank within the ditch spoil piles and
stripping windrows will germinate via seed and sucker sprouts once this material is spread over
top of the regraded areas. If the target species diversity and density are not met, contingency
plans will be developed in conjunction with NCDENR and USACE, ensuring a successful
restoration project.
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\PERMITS\2004 PERMIT FILES\01-04-344 --- Pamlico 12, Ken Williams\CAD\Paml2 Figures mitigation 1-20-10.dwq