20130595 Ver 1_Closeout Meeting Minutes_20200731

Strickland, Bev
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Reid, Matthew
Friday, July 31, 2020 12:33 PM
Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Davis, Erin B; Leslie, Andrea J
Wiesner, Paul; Allen, Melonie; McKeithan, Katie; Clemmons, Micky; King, Scott;
Baumgartner, Tim
Upper Silver Creek Closeout Meeting Minutes
U pperSilver_I RT_Closeout_SiteVisit_Memo_2020J uly29.pdf
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Attached are the Upper Silver Creek closeout meeting minutes from the site visit held on Wednesday, July 29,
2020. Please let me know if you have any additions or comments concerning the meeting minutes.
Thank you,
Matthew Reid
Project Manager — Western Region
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
828-231-7912 Mobile
matthew.reid(@ncdenr.gov
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Dr
Suite 102
Asheville, NC 28801
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
1

INTERNATIONAL
Meeting Minutes
Upper Silver Creek Restoration Site, Project Closeout IRT Field Meeting
DMS Project ID. 94645
NC DEQ Contract# 003270
USACE Action ID: SAW-2010-02157
Catawba River Basin: 03050101-050050
Date Prepared:
July 30, 2020
Meeting Date, Time,
July 29, 2020, 11:00 AM
Location:
On -site (Gold Mine Road, Burke County, NC)
USACE —Todd Tugwell
DEQ— Erin Davis
Attendees:
WRC —Andrea Leslie
DMS — Tim Baumgartner, Paul Wiesner, Matthew Reid, Melonie Allen
Baker — Micky Clemmons, Katie McKeithan, Scott King
Subject:
Project closeout site walkover with IRT
Recorded By:
Scott King
An on -site meeting was held on July 29t" at 11:00 AM to inspect the site as part of the final project
closeout review for the Upper Silver Creek Restoration Site, a full delivery project located in Burke
County, NC. The purpose of the meeting was to allow the IRT to inspect and assess the site in person
after having heard the project closeout presentation given remotely on June 9t". General recent
weather conditions have been hot with scattered thunderstorms throughout the area commonly
observed for the past few weeks.
The group met in a mowed field in the middle of the project near the entrance to the large deer stand.
Micky gave a brief review of the project and noted that the groundwater gauge data downloaded last
week for the site showed that every well had already met the 12% criteria for 2020 and passed around a
copy of the individual well graphs to every member of the group that was interested in seeing them.
Micky then lead the group to the top of UT1 and we walked down the stream, which was flowing
strongly. Micky noted that the reach was built largely off-line but did overlap with the old channel in a
couple of locations, in particular with an existing bend that had mature trees growing along it and which
had an overhanging bank. He also noted UT1 is flatter in the upper portion but loses more grade at the
bottom to meet the elevation of the main stem (Silver Creek). The IRT seemed to be pleased with the
condition of UT1.
The group then inspected a section of the main stem in the general vicinity of its confluence with UT1,
both up and downstream for a short distance. Micky described the downstream section of the main

stem to the north and offered to walk down with anyone who wished to inspect closer, but no one felt
that necessary.
The group then proceeded upstream along the main stem, ultimately crossing over to the east bank to
inspect UT2. The general floodplain area at the lower end of T2 is quite thick with vegetation, had
considerable areas of soft/saturated soil and standing water. A few shallow pools stained orange from
oxidized iron were noted in the floodplain. UT2 was located and the reassembled group walked along it
upstream for a bit. UT2 was clearly flowing and though the banks were thick with vegetation in spots,
Scott noted that if you got into the channel and pushed the veg back, the stream bed itself was largely
clear of growth. The upstream section was more easily visible as the mature trees here provide enough
shade to inhibit the herbaceous growth to a degree. The IRT seemed pleased with the condition of UT2
and the group then proceeded back down UT2 towards the main stem. This lower section was very
thick with vegetation, with many wetland herbaceous species noted, and was quite wet in many areas.
The group remained on the east bank of the main stem and walked upstream in the floodplain,
eventually crossing back over to the west bank near the location of the large deer stand in the middle of
the project. Several soil borings were taken by the group at a few locations in the various wetland types,
each area ultimately meeting hydric criteria to everyone's satisfaction. The group then specifically
sought out the location of the 'Creation' wetland type and walked within it for a short distance. The
ground appeared saturated throughout with standing water present in several spots. It was noted by
the group that the area had diverse vegetation established, and though some scattered cattail was
present, the group did not feel it was a problem.
The group then walked back to the vehicles and drove down the grassy field towards the top of the
project. The group disembarked and walked to UT3, which had strong flow, and followed it upstream to
the bottommost section of the enhancement portion of the reach. The IRT briefly discussed UT3 and
seemed to be pleased with its condition.
The group then walked over towards the non -riparian wetland areas at the top of the project along the
gentle slope to the south of the main stem. The group stopped to assess this wetland type closer (both
the restoration and enhancement portions) and dug numerous soil borings in the lower section around
Veg Plot #14 and to the east and north along the boundary with the riparian wetland type. While a few
of the borings did reveal hydric indicators at depths of around 0.7 to 0.8 ft, the majority did not reveal
hydric indicators in the upper portion, and the soil was found to be quite bright, dry, and rocky. It was
also noted that the vegetation in this immediate area is much less dense than in the previous wetlands.
Scott noted that both the non -riparian wells have met success criteria, usually by significant margins,
and also noted that this area holds very shallow ponded water for extended periods of the year as
observed during annual monitoring. Evidence of that ponded water include widely observed black -
stained organic matter (plant debris not yet decayed) found along the ground surface, as well as some
pockets of moss (not positively identified as sphagnum though). Scott also noted that the original soils
report did observe some variability throughout the floodplain. Nevertheless, the lack of clear hydric
soils presented a concern for the IRT and they requested a closer soils inspection of this area to
remove the non-hydric portion. The idea was then raised that perhaps other areas on site that have
restored functional wetlands outside of the presently established credited areas (such as near UT2),
could be delineated and used to replace these lost wetlands. Baker agreed to that idea.
The group then walked down to the main stem, where various folks walked up and down the stream for
significant sections, ultimately making their way back to the vehicles by various routes. Along the way,

additional portions of the stream, vegetation, and wetlands were further assessed. Pockets of standing
water were observed throughout the walk back, along with areas of substantial wetland herbaceous
vegetation.
The group assembled one last time by the vehicles to discuss what had been observed and decided
during the walkover. It was agreed that the stream portion of the project is accepted for closeout, as
are most of the wetlands, with the exception of the area noted above along the non-riparian/riparian
boundary. Baker will assess this area further with soil borings and GPS points to remove the upland
soils from the final wetland boundary. Additionally, Baker will investigate, document, and GPS
additional restored wetland areas not currently within a credited wetland boundary (but still within the
conservation easement). These are expected to be found along the east floodplain, in particular around
the lower portion of UT2. A short summary report describing the findings along with a final wetland
boundary and revised wetland maps/tables will be provided to the IRT. Assuming that the report and
new boundary are found acceptable, and that an equivalent number of suitable replacement wetland
credits are discovered, it is then presumed the IRT would approve the wetland portion of the project for
closeout.
This represents Baker's best interpretation of the meeting discussions. If anyone should find any
information contained in these meeting notes to be in error and/or incomplete based on individual
comments or conversations, please notify me with corrections/additions as soon as possible.
Most sincerely,
Scott King, LSS, PWS
[e-mail]
919-219-6339 [M]
Attachment: Asset Overview Map from the closeout report

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• Wetland Monitoring Wells
- Vegetation Plot
® Crest Gauge
Cross Sections
Photo Station
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Stream- Enhancement I
Stream - Restoration
Stream Top of Bank j
Wetland Components
[L Restoration: Non -Riparian
® Restoration: Riparian
® Enhancement: Non -Riparian
Enhancement: Riparian
Creation: Riparian
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Michael- Feet Asset Overview
N T E R N A T 1 0 N A L DMS Project # 94645 Upper Silver Creek Site

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Q Conservation Easement
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Vegetation Plot
A Photo Station
® Crest Gauge
Cross Sections;;
.
In -Stream Structures
Stream - Restoration
Stream Top of Bank
Wetland Components
Restoration: Non -Riparian
F ' .•,
® Restoration: Riparian
® Enhancement: Non -Riparian
Enhancement: Riparian
Creation: Riparian
N
150
N T E R N A T 1 0 N A L DMS Project # 94645
Reach 2
300 Figure 1A
m Feet
Asset Overview
Upper Silver Creek Site