20090866 Ver 3_Mitigation Bank Proposal Review_20100127

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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
January 27, 2010
DWQ Project # 09-0866 v3
Mr. John Hutton
W kIlands, Inc.
5605 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 122
Raleigh, NC 27606
Re: Neuse River Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Mitigation Bank
Draft Bank Parcel Development Package (BPDP) - Deer Water Farm Parcel
Dear Mr. Hutton:
DWQ has reviewed your revised BPDP, dated December 2009 and received on December 17, 2009.
Overall the plan appears consistent with other plans that have been approved for nutrient offset mitigation.
One issue DWQ noted was your definition of?Character Trees" as including planted or volunteer species.
We noted that your Table 4, Character/Bdsting Tree and Shrub Species, included red maple, sweetgum,
and loblolly pine. While these species are indeed endemic to the geographic area and to the Coastal Plain
Bottomland Hardwood Communities, these species are aggressive colonizers, and it has been out
experience that in certain conditions, these species occur on sites in such prolific numbers that they out-
compete other desirable species. The intent of buffer restoration is the establishment of an assemblage of
native species which, as demonstrated through the five-year monitoring period, is on track to provide a
diverse forest community. Regardless of stem density, the establishment of a monoculture stand of
sweetgum or loblolly pine is not the intent of buffer restoration.
Therefore, DWQ requests that the Draft BPDP be revised to note that:
• For the purposes ofmonitoring, each of these species (sweetgum, red maple, and loblolly pine) can only be
counted to a maximum of 20% of the total trees counting toward the target criterion of 320 stems per acre,
and
• If stem counts or visual observations indicate that these species are becoming invasive and hindering the
survival of the planted stems, control measures will be taken.
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Location: 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Internet: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands/
Mr. Hutton
NorthCaiolina
N I
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An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
Draft BPDP - Deer Water Farm Parcel
Page 2 of 2
1/27/2010
Please note that the DWQ tracking number for the Deer Water Farm is 09-0866 0. Please include this
number on all correspondence related to this project.
If you have any questions regarding this letter or the operation of your bank, please contact Eric Kulz or Iia
Gifleski at [phone].
Sinc ly,
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
Cc: . File Copy (Lia Gikleski)