20180067 Ver 1_Final Mitigation Plan Changes_20200803

Strickland, Bev
From: Kasey Carrere <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2020 3:17 PM
To: Steve Kichefski
Cc: Davis, Erin B; Bradley Breslow
Subject: [External] SAW-2018-00094 Puncheon Fork Final Mitigation Plan Changes
Attachments: SAW-2018-00094_FinaIMP_CL&Pages 29-30_PuncheonFork.pdf
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Good Afternoon Steve,
In regards to your request for the Puncheon Fork Final Mitigation Plan, we made the following changes:
• Updated the planting plan to have an April 30t" planting deadline.
• Updated the planting plan and list to exclude red maple.
I have attached a cover letter stating these changes with the updated planting plan. Please let me know if you have any
other questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Kasey Carrere
Project Manager
RES I res.us
Mobile: [phone]
1

fires
August 3, 2020
Steve Kichefski
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801
Erin Davis
NCDEQ, Division of Water Resources
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
Re: Puncheon Fork Final Mitigation Plan (SAW-2018-00094): Final Changes
Dear Mr. Kichefski,
3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27612
Corporate Headquarters
6575 West Loop South, Suite 300
Bellaire, TX 77401
Main: 713.520.5400
On behalf of Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) & Environmental Banc & Exchange, LLC (a RES affiliate), I
am pleased to submit the updated planting plan associated to the Final Mitigation Plan for the Puncheon Fork Site, an
instrument modification of the RES French Broad 05 Umbrella Mitigation Bank.
The attached planting plan includes minor modifications which were discussed on July 29tt', 2020 between RES and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and input from the NCDEQ, Division of Water Resources. The minor alterations
and updates are detailed below:
• The final planting plan now includes the April 30' planting deadline.
• Red maple has been removed from the planting plan and planting list.
Thank you for your time in reviewing this project.
Sincerely,
Brad Breslow
Regulatory Manager
res.us

6.2 Sediment Control Measures
A suite of sediment control measures will be utilized for the Project to reduce direct effluent inputs,
pollutant contamination, and sediment loading. The combination of the following sediment control
measures: riparian buffer planting, bank stabilization, slope stabilization, stream restoration, livestock
exclusion, and livestock watering facilities, will ultimately lead to the functional uplift of the site, while
still allowing livestock production to persist through the installation of alternative water sources.
The riparian buffer will be restored along all project reaches. Restored riparian buffers are established
adjacent to and up -gradient from watercourses of water bodies to improve water quality. The main
advantages of the restored riparian buffer will be to provide water quality treatment, erosion control, and
water temperature benefits. Moreover, there will be significant reductions in sedimentation, nutrient input,
and fecal coliform input.
To account for eliminating livestock water access, landowners will install livestock watering facilities as
an alternate water source.
6.3 Vegetation and Planting Plan
Plant Community Restoration
The restoration of the plant communities is an important aspect of the restoration Project. The selection of
plant species is based on what was observed in the forest surrounding the Project and what is typically
native to the area. Specifically, species identified in the Project along with species described in the 2012
Guide to the Natural Communities of North Carolina, Fourth Approximation (Schafale, 2012) for
mountain -type communities were used to determine the most appropriate species for the restoration project.
A Montane Alluvial Forest (Small River Subtype) (Schafale, 2012) will be the target community for the
Project. The target community will be used for the planting areas within the Project, shown in Appendix
D. This community type is very similar to cove forests and shares many of the same species; however, it
incorporates several floodplain and wetland species that are typical of small mountain stream floodplains.
The plant species list has been developed and can be found in Table 13. Species with high dispersal rates
are not included because of locally occurring, adjacent seed sources and the high potential for natural
regeneration. Tree species typical of the target community were observed in adjacent and nearby
communities and were judged to be appropriate for this site. Additionally, rhododendron is a significant
inclusion in montane alluvial forests and is already present throughout the Project; however, it will not be
planted so that it does not outcompete the other planted trees. With that said, it is possible that the
rhododendron thickets may expand, in which case it will be left alone, as it will provide an appropriate
understory as the Project's forest matures.
The restoration of plant communities along the Project will provide stabilization and diversity. For rapid
stabilization of the stream banks (primarily outside meanders), silky dogwood (Corpus amomum), black
willow (Salix nigra), silky willow (Salix sericea), and elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) were chosen for
live stakes along the restored channel because of their rapid growth patterns and high success rates. Willows
grow at a faster rate than the species planted around them, and they stabilize the stream banks. Willows will
also be quicker to contribute organic matter to the channel. When the other species are bigger, the willows
will slowly stop growing or die out because the other species would outgrow them and create shade that the
willows do not tolerate. The live stake species will be planted along the outside of the meander bends three
feet from the top of bank, creating a three-foot section along the top of bank. The live stakes will be spaced
one per three linear feet with alternate spacing vertically.
Puncheon Fork Mitigation Plan 29 August 2020
French Broad 05 UMBI

It is anticipated that the vegetation planting/replanting will be conducted between November 15 and March
15, per the October 2016 USACE/NCIRT monitoring guidance. However, if the Project completes
construction after March 15, the site will be planted no later than April 30.
Table 13. Proposed Plant List
Bare Root Planting Tree Species
Species
Common Name
Wetland
Status*
Spacing (ft)
Unit Type
% of Total
Species
Composition
Platanus occidentalis
American sycamore
FACW
9X6
Bare Root
15
Betula alleghaniensis
Yellow birch
FAC
9X6
Bare Root
15
Betula nigra
River birch
FACW
9X6
Bare Root
10
Liriodendron tulipifera
Yellow poplar
FACU
9X6
Bare Root
10
Alnus serrulata
Hazel alder
OBL
9X6
Bare Root
10
Quercus rubra
Northern red oak
FACU
9X6
Bare Root
10
Quercus montana
Chestnut oak
UPL
9X6
Bare Root
10
Quercus alba
White oak
FACU
9X6
Bare Root
10
Tsuga canadensis
Eastern hemlock
FACU
9X6
Bare Root
10
* Based on USDA NRCS Wetland Status for Eastern Mountains and Piedmont
Live Staking and Live Cuttings Bundle Tree Species
Species
Common Name
% of Total Species
Composition
Salix nigra
Black willow
30
Salix saricea
Silky willow
30
Cornus ammomum
Silky dogwood
25
Sambucus canadensis
Elderberry
15
On -Site Invasive Species Management
Treatment for invasive species will be required within the entire easement area. Invasive species will require
different and multiple treatment methods, depending on plant phenology and the location of the species
being treated; however, the only current known exotic invasive species to occur onsite and adjacent to the
site is multiflora rose. All treatment will be conducted as to maximize its effectiveness and reduce chances
of detriment to surrounding native vegetation. Treatment methods will include mechanical (cutting with
loppers, clippers, or chain saw) and chemical (foliar spray, cut stump, and hack and squirt techniques).
Plants containing mature, viable seeds will be removed from the Project and properly disposed. All
herbicide applicators will be supervised by a certified ground pesticide applicator with a North Carolina
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) license and adhere to all legal and safety
requirements according to herbicide labels, and NC and Federal laws. Management records will be kept on
the plant species treated, type of treatment employed, type of herbicide used, application technique, and
herbicide concentration and quantities used. These records will be included in all reporting documents.
Puncheon Fork Mitigation Plan 30 August 2020
French Broad 05 UMBI