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Home My WebLink About20201357 Ver 1_Final Prospectus_Oct 2020_resized_20201021ID#* 20201357 Version* 1 Select Reviewer:* Erin Davis Initial Review Completed Date 10/22/2020 Mitigation Project Submittal - 10/21/2020 Is this a Prospectus, Technical Proposal or a New Site?* r Yes r No Type of Mitigation Project:* V Stream Pr Wetlands r- Buffer r` Nutrient Offset (Select all that apply) Project Contact Information Company/owner:* Water & Land Solutions, LLC Contact Name:* Catherine Manner Project Information Email Address:* catheirne@waterlandsolutions.com Project Type: r DMS r Mitigation Bank Project Name: WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Bank- Starker Mitigation Site County: Catawba Document Information Mitigation Document Type:* Mitigaton Bank Prospectus File Upload: WLS Catawba 01 Jinal Prospectus —Oct 17.64M6 2020_resized.pdf Rease upload only one RDFof the corrplete file that needs to be subrritted... Signature Print Name:* Catherine Manner Signature:* c96wu aOAAAI WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Private Commercial Mitigation Bank for Stream and Wetland Compensatory Mitigation Credits Catawba County, North Carolina Catawba River Basin (HUC 03050101) October 2020 Prepared for: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District Prepared by: WATER & LAND SOLUTIONS 7721 SIX FORKS ROAD, SUITE 130, RALEIGH, NC 27615 (919) 614 - 5111 1 waterlandsolutions.com WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table of Contents 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Project Overview...........................................................................................................................5 1.2 Bank Site Location.........................................................................................................................5 1.3 Mitigation Goals and Objectives...................................................................................................5 1.4 Watershed Need and Technical Feasibility...................................................................................6 2 Qualifications........................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Bank Sponsor................................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Bank Sponsor Qualifications......................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Representative Mitigation Projects......................................................................................7 3 Bank Establishment and Operation.................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Site Ownership............................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Proposed Service Area................................................................................................................ 11 4 Ecological Suitability of the Sites........................................................................................................ 11 4.1 Baseline Conditions —Starker Site.............................................................................................. 11 4.1.1 Watershed Characterization...............................................................................................11 4.1.2 Physiography, Geology, and Soils....................................................................................... 13 4.1.3 Existing Stream Conditions................................................................................................. 14 4.1.4 Existing Reach Descriptions................................................................................................ 15 4.1.5 Existing Wetland Conditions............................................................................................... 19 4.2 Regulatory Considerations.......................................................................................................... 19 4.2.1 Existing Easements & Potential Site Constraints................................................................ 19 4.2.2 Mineral or Water Rights Assurance.................................................................................... 20 4.2.3 Hydrologic Trespass............................................................................................................ 20 4.2.4 Invasive Species Vegetation................................................................................................ 20 4.2.5 Cultural Resources.............................................................................................................. 20 4.2.6 Threatened and Endangered Species.................................................................................20 4.2.7 Conditions Affecting Hydrology.......................................................................................... 21 4.2.8 Adjacent Land Use.............................................................................................................. 21 5 Mitigation Work Plan.......................................................................................................................... 21 5.1 Site Design Approach.................................................................................................................. 21 5.1.1 Proposed Stream Conditions —Starker Site........................................................................ 22 Page 2 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus 5.1.2 Proposed Riparian Wetland Conditions..............................................................................24 6 Credit Determination.......................................................................................................................... 24 6.1 Proposed Credit Types................................................................................................................24 6.2 Credit Release Schedule.............................................................................................................. 25 6.3 Initial Allocation of Released Credits.......................................................................................... 26 6.4 Subsequent Credit Releases........................................................................................................ 27 6.5 Financial Assurances...................................................................................................................27 7 Long -Term Management.................................................................................................................... 27 7.1 Maintenance............................................................................................................................... 27 7.2 Adaptive Management Plan........................................................................................................28 Tables Table 1. Parcel Ownership Information..................................................................................................... 11 Table 2. Potential Functional Uplift and Ecological Benefits......................................................................12 Table 3. Reach Watershed Drainage & Jurisdictional Status —Starker Site...............................................15 Table 4. NCWAM & NCSAM Summary........................................................................................................ 15 Table 5. Existing Reach Description — Starker Site.....................................................................................16 Table 6. Proposed Stream Mitigation Credits(SMCs).................................................................................25 Table 7. Proposed Wetland Mitigation Credits(WMCs).............................................................................25 Table 8. Credit Release Schedule................................................................................................................26 Table 9. Routine Maintenance Components..............................................................................................28 Water & Land Solutions Page 3 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Figures Starker Site Figure1...............................................................................................................................Service Area Map Figure2....................................................................................................................................... Vicinity Map Figure3.................................................................................................................... Existing Conditions Map Figure 4.............................................................................................................Water Quality Stressors Map Figure5a....................................................................................................................1951 Aerial Photograph Figure5b...................................................................................................................1964 Aerial Photograph Figure5c....................................................................................................................1993 Aerial Photograph Figure5d...................................................................................................................2004 Aerial Photograph Figure5e................................................................................................................... 2012 Aerial Photograph Figure6.......................................................................................................................................... USGS Map Figure7......................................................................................................................................... LiDAR Map Figure8.................................................................................................................................. NRCS Soils Map Figure9........................................................................................................................ Channel Incision Map Figure10..................................................................................................................................... Erosion Map Figure11....................................................................................................................................... FEMA Map Figure 12.................................................................................................................Mitigation Practices Map Figure13......................................................................................................................................... BEHI Map Appendices Appendix ............................................................................................................... Existing Conditions Data Part1........................................................................................................................................ Cross Sections Part 2............................................................................................................NC DWQStream Identification Forms Part3....................................................................................................................................NCWAM/NCSAM Forms Part4..................................................................................................................................................................BANCS Part5.............................................................................................................................................Hydric Soils Report Part6...............................................................................................................................................Particle Summary Part7..............................................................................................................................................................Photolog Appendix 8................................................................................................. Adjacent Landowner Information Appendix .................................................................................................. LondownerAuthorizotion Forms Page 4 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus 1 Introduction 1.1 Project Overview Water & Land Solutions, LLC (WLS) is pleased to submit this draft prospectus for WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank (Bank). WLS proposes to develop this private commercial umbrella mitigation bank to allow for the addition of future project sites located in the Catawba River Basin, 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03050101. The Bank will initially include one project site named 'Starker Mitigation Site' (Site). The purpose of the Bank is to provide stream and wetland mitigation credits to compensate for unavoidable impacts to Waters of the U.S. authorized under section 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, and all applicable state statutes. This prospectus was prepared in accordance with C.F.R. §332.1-8 (2008), Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources, and was based on current United States Army Corps of Engineers — Wilmington District (USACE) Guidance, which is subject to the approval of the USACE District Engineer (DE) in consultation with the NC Inter -Agency Review Team (IRT). 1.2 Bank Site Location Starker Site The Starker Mitigation Site (35.5734°,-81.17304°) is located in Catawba County, North Carolina. The Site is part of the Catawba River Headwaters Subbasin, HUC 03050101 (Figure 1). The proposed site includes two Unnamed Tributaries to Mull Creek (referred to in this prospectus as 5100 and 5200), which drain into Lyle Creek and ultimately Lake Norman. Lyle Creek is listed as WS-IV because it flows into Lake Norman, a water supply reservoir, approximately four miles downstream of the confluence of Mull Creek and Lyle Creek. Mull Creek near the project site drains portions of the city of Conover and the town of Claremont. Both municipalities are experiencing growth into surrounding rural areas, and since the Site is located directly abutting both sides of Interstate 40 (1-40) between mile markers 133 and 135. The Site is currently in agricultural use but is likely a future commercial/residential development area. 1.3 Mitigation Goals and Objectives The project mitigation goals are to provide numerous water quality and ecological benefits within the Lyle Creek and Catawba River watersheds. Major goals for the Catawba River basin, as described in the Catawba River Basin Restoration Priorities (RBRP; NCEEP, 2007, amended 2013) include: 1) improved management of stormwater runoff to Crowder and Catawba creeks, 2) protection of the critical water supply reservoirs in the region and their immediate riparian zones, and 3) land protection for important natural and cultural resource sites including the Bunker Hill bridge over Lyle Creek. The proposed Starker Mitigation Site will restore aquatic habitats that are currently degraded by cattle access and bank erosion; improve water quality by excluding cattle; restore riparian buffers; stabilize streams that are part of a WS- IV watershed; serve to continue existing water quality initiatives that are on -going in the watershed; and enhance/restore riparian wetlands by reconnecting the stream to its historic floodplain. In the Catawba River Basin wide Water Quality Plan (NCDWQ 2010), the Lyle Creek Watershed (03050101140010, Figure 1) is specified for protection efforts that include headwater streams that drain to Lake Norman, a water supply reservoir. As part of the proposed Project, approximately 10,000 linear Water & Land Solutions Page 5 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus feet of stream (warm water thermal regime) will be stabilized, enhanced, and restored. The Lyle Creek watershed is described as 39% agricultural land, and a majority of Lyle Creek receives agricultural runoff. The proposed restoration work for the Project would restore riparian buffers at least 50 feet in width along all stream reaches. This proposed work will provide significant reductions in nutrients, sediment, and fecal coliform supplied to Mull Creek, Lyle Creek, and ultimately Lake Norman. To accomplish these goals, the following site -specific objectives will be measured to document overall project success: • Provide a floodplain connection to the incised Project stream reaches by lowering bank height ratios (BHRs) to less than 1.2, thereby promoting more natural floodplain storage and overbank flood flows, • Improve bedform diversity by increasing scour pool to pool spacing and depth variability, • Increase native species riparian buffer and wetland vegetation density/composition along streambank and floodplain areas, • Improve aquatic habitat and fish species diversity and migration through the addition of in -stream cover and native woody debris, • Site protection through a 30-acre conservation easement with minimum 50-foot riparian buffers from the top of banks along all streams in perpetuity. The preliminary site assessment suggests that the proposed mitigation activities will result in a higher functioning aquatic ecosystem. The project goals and objectives address water quality stressors by reducing nutrient and sediment inputs through stream restoration, riparian buffer restoration, and riparian wetland rehabilitation. Hydrologic functions will be improved by raising the local water table. The biologic and habitat functions will be improved by the revegetation of the riparian buffers. Additionally, a 30-acre conservation easement will protect stream reaches and aquatic resources in perpetuity. These mitigation efforts will provide a significant ecological benefit with minimal impacts and constraints during a recovery period that would not otherwise occur through natural processes. 1.4 Watershed Need and Technical Feasibility As a result of implementing this bank, WLS will restore, enhance, and protect approximately 10,000 linear feet of stream. In order to appropriately offset unavoidable impacts to Waters of the United States associated with rapid growth and development, the proposed bank is critical to improving water quality and protecting aquatic resource functions in this region. The technical feasibility of the bank is assured due to WLS' extensive experience with stream and wetland restoration and enhancement in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. Examples of WLS' success with stream restoration and enhancement include the WLS Neuse 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank and the WLS Yadkin 01 Umbrella Mitigation Banks. The absence of fatal flaws, such as hydrologic trespass, and the absence of threatened and endangered species and their habitats means the project is unlikely to be impeded by resource issues, or by objections from landowners. Page 6 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus 2 Qualifications 2.1 Bank Sponsor This prospectus is submitted on behalf of Water & Land Solutions, LLC (Sponsor), who will serve as the Sponsor for the WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank. The contact information for the Sponsor is listed below: Water & Land Solutions, LLC c/o Adam V. McIntyre 7721 Six Forks Road, Suite 130 Raleigh, NC 27615 919-614-5111 adam@waterlandsolutions.com 2.2 Bank Sponsor Qualifications WLS is a mitigation provider that concentrates on the production and delivery of quality mitigation credits and services to clients across multiple regions of the United States. WLS was founded with the purpose of combining the key components of high quality and successful mitigation sites, including the technical expertise for mitigation site development, the understanding of land management, and the expertise in environmental economics and finance. Through its inception WLS has identified, targeted and employed well -respected practitioners in the mitigation industry who have specifically focused their careers on all of the unique aspects of successful mitigation project implementation. Beyond our focus to improve ecological function of impaired systems, WLS has a specific mission to positively impact people in our industry and the general public through education, partnerships, and building meaningful relationships. In just over five years since establishment, WLS has grown to a staff of fourteen people located in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices in Weaverville, North Carolina, Columbus, Ohio, and Crested Butte, Colorado. WLS staff have been recognized by industry colleagues as leaders in the development, management, design, permitting, construction, and monitoring of successful mitigation projects. 2.2.1 Representative Mitigation Projects WLS staff have extensive experience with stream, wetland, and riparian buffer restoration. Our staff have been involved with the entire suite of services for hundreds of mitigation projects over nearly two decades. This experience equates to the successful restoration of hundreds of thousands of feet of stream and thousands of acres of wetlands. Several project examples are highlighted below. Water & Land Solutions Page 7 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Monteith Park Mitigation Site, Charlotte/Mecklenburg Stormwater Services, Huntersville, NC Monteith Park before restoration (left) and five years after restoration (right) WLS implemented what is considered to be a unique watershed restoration project in the mitigation industry. The Monteith Park Mitigation Site (MPMS) is the only project to date in NC that utilized a watershed restoration approach to generate additional mitigation credits at ratios above and beyond those typically awarded for traditional stream and wetland restoration activities. The project involved the Rosgen Priority Level I restoration of 3,550 linear feet of stream, 1.1 acres of wetland restoration, and the innovative design and installation of five Stormwater Control Devices (bioretention basins) to reduce peak flows and restore watershed hydrology to predevelopment conditions. This project met all project milestones and performance standards through the year five monitoring phase and achieved regulatory closeout in 2019. Hollowell Mitigation Project, Wayne County, NC Water & Land Solutions (WLS) has developed a private commercial mitigation bank as part of the WLS Neuse 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank located in the Neuse River Basin, 8-digit HUC 03020201. This basin is located within the rapidly growing Research Triangle region of North Carolina. The Hollowell Bank Site drains directly to the Neuse River, which is listed as 'Class C' and Nutrient Sensitive Waters per the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. The Hollowell project will restore, enhance, preserve and protect over 8,979 linear feet of critical headwater streams that was in agricultural use. In addition this project will restore/enhance approximately 10 acres of riparian wetlands. Page 8 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Edwards Full Delivery Projects, DMS, Johnston County, NC Lake Wendell Mitigation Project before (left) and one year after restoration (right) WLS is providing turn -key mitigation services for one of the most expansive series of DMS full delivery projects within adjacent subwatersheds. The projects include Lake Wendell, Pen Dell, Edwards -Johnson, Odell's House and Buffalo Creek Tributaries Sites (Sites) respectively. The Sites' subwatersheds expand across several hundred acres within one of the fastest urbanizing areas in the Triangle region. Upon completion, the five projects will total approximately 22,000 linear feet of stream, 20 acres of wetlands, and 64 acres of land conversion to be restored, enhanced, and permanently protected with conservation easements. Site streams, wetlands, and riparian buffer areas had been severely degraded primarily due to development, agricultural practices and cattle grazing since the 1950s. In addition, portions of the stream segments have been impacted due to man-made impoundments. Many of the vegetated buffers along the stream reaches had been removed for agricultural practices. Wetlands were historically present throughout the riparian corridor but had been significantly impacted due to cattle trampling and channel incision (draining wetland hydrology). Many of the stream systems have been channelized and incised leading to a significant loss of floodplain functions across the entire watershed. The comprehensive restoration of these subwatersheds will provide significant species habitat and water quality improvements to the wetlands, streams, and riparian buffers as well as the Buffalo Creek watershed. Design and technical approaches include Rosgen Priority Level I stream restoration, associated riparian wetland restoration, riparian buffer restoration, and the innovative design and installation of agricultural stormwater BMPs to reduce peak flows and restore appropriate watershed hydrology. Water & Land Solutions Page 9 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Scarborough Mitigation Project, Wayne County, NC Water & Land Solutions (WLS) has developed a private commercial mitigation bank as part of the WLS Neuse 02 Umbrella Mitigation Bank located in the Neuse River Basin, 8-digit HUC 03020202. This sub -basin spans portions of Johnston and Wayne Counties and includes the towns of Goldsboro, Selma, Pine Level, Mount Olive, Kinston, and Princeton. The Scarborough project will restore over 11,300 linear feet of critical headwater streams, restore approximately 118 acres of riparian wetlands, and permanently protect over 230 acres within the conservation easement. The site streams drain directly to the Neuse River which is listed as 'Class C' and Nutrient Sensitive Waters, per the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. Over 90 percent of the streambanks have inadequate riparian buffers and over 60 percent of the total stream length is actively subject to on -site water quality stressors resulting from agricultural practices. Project restoration activities will reduce nutrient and sediment inputs from surrounding agricultural areas. 3 Bank Establishment and Operation The Bank will be developed as a private commercial umbrella mitigation bank under an umbrella mitigation banking instrument (UMBI) to allow for the addition of future mitigation project sites located in the Catawba River Basin, 8-digit HUC 03050101. The compensatory mitigation credits developed under the UMBI will be available to public, private, and non-profit customers. The proposed bank sites may include a combination of stream and wetland restoration, enhancement, and preservation activities, depending upon the need of the individual aquatic resource to gain the highest ecological lift possible. The proposed mitigation types, credit ratios, and performance monitoring will follow current USACE guidance documents as approved by the USACE District Engineer (DE) and IRT. 3.1 Site Ownership The Sponsor is obtaining legal options to develop the mitigation project with a conservation easement for each of the property parcels that comprise the site. The Sponsor will record conservation easements in the county Register of Deeds for the sites upon IRT bank approval. Landowner Agent Authorization forms are provided in the appendices. The current property owners for the proposed site are listed in Table 1 below. Page 10 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table 1. Parcel O 375210364087 Starker Hunsucker Farms, LLC Catawba 236.74 375219523168 Starker Hunsucker Farms, LLC Catawba 68.42 Starker 375215732614 Hunsucker Farms, LLC Catawba 31.70 Starker 375216831456 Hunsucker Farms, LLC Catawba 0.80 375215534132 Starker Hunsucker Farms, LLC Catawba 33.69 375211558910 Starker Hunsucker Farms, LLC Catawba 178.82 3.2 Proposed Service Area The proposed Geographic Service Area (GSA) for the bank is illustrated in Figure 1 and will provide compensatory mitigation credits for unavoidable, permitted impacts to Waters of the United States in the Catawba River Basin (8-Digit HUC 03050101). Use of approved mitigation credits from the bank to compensate for impacts outside the GSA may be considered by USACE on a case -by -case basis. For example, the Starker site is warm water stream and wetland site and will provide compensatory mitigation for warm stream impacts and wetland impact. Future sites may be developed in the bank that provide both warm stream mitigation credits as well as wetland mitigation credits. 4 Ecological Suitability of the Sites 4.1 Baseline Conditions — Starker Site 4.1.1 Watershed Characterization Table 2 details functional uplift and benefits in the context of the Catawba River Basin Wide Water Quality Plan (NCDWQ 2010) and the Lyle Creek Watershed. Water & Land Solutions Page 11 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus TAMP 2_ PntPntlni Ainftlnnni Unfift and Fcninnlcni RpnpfitS Current Proposed Goals Objectives FunctionalFunctional Status GoalsStatus I /Lyle Creek Watershed Discussedin the CatawbaRestoration Priorities (NCEEP, 200712013) and Catawba River Basin Plan (NCDWQ, 2010) Protect Restore and enhance minimum 50-foot Headwaters and riparian buffers along all project reaches. Riparian Buffers Not Functioning Functioning Protect riparian buffers with a perpetual that Drain to Lake conservation easement. Norman ■ Restore appropriate aquatic in -stream habitat. Protect Important ■ Restore riparian buffer communities. Not Functioning Functioning Natural Resources ■ Reduce sediment loads to downstream receiving waters from bank erosion ■ Stabilize stream channels on the Protect Water property. Quality within Restore and protect riparian buffers. Not Functioning Functioning Lake Norman Exclude cattle and other livestock from Watershed streams. ■ Increased riparian wetland function. Page 12 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Additional Goals Consistent with Protection of Catawba River Basin ■ Restore and protect riparian buffers. Nutrient Exclude cattle and livestock from Reductions streams. Not Functioning Functioning ■ Increase riparian wetland acreage and function. ■ Stabilize stream channels on the Sediment property. Reductions Stabilize gullies and other eroding areas. Not Functioning Functioning ■ Restore and protect riparian buffers. ■ Restore appropriate bed form diversity and in -stream structures to provide appropriate habitat. Improved Aquatic Restore self-sustaining stream channels. Functioning At -Risk Functioning Habitats Restore riparian buffer vegetation to provide organic matter and shade. ■ Exclude cattle and other livestock from streams. Restore Terrestrial ' Restoration of riparian buffers in wetland Habitat and upland areas. Not Functioning Functioning 4.1.2 Physiography, Geology, and Soils As shown in Figure 8, soils in the project area are primarily the Tomlin loam series on the upstream end of S100 and S200, and Codorus loam along the downstream ends of the two tributaries and along the Mull Creek floodplain. Tomlin soils consist of very deep, well drained soils that are found in Piedmont uplands and along interfluves, side slopes, and nose slopes. Codorus soils consist of very deep, moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in recently deposited alluvial materials along floodplains. In the wider alluvial valley areas of the site (primarily middle to lower reaches of S100 and S200), soil profiles that are exposed along many eroding stream banks on the site show evidence of upland sediments that have been deposited over a hydric soil profile. This provides evidence that prior to significant land use change in the watershed, it is likely that wetland systems were prevalent along both S100 and S200, and remnants of these wetland areas are still present at the Site. The underlying geology and metamorphic terrane within the Project area is located in the Piedmont geologic province east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. More specifically, the Project is located in the foothills of Inner Piedmont and at the Amphibolite and Biotite Gneiss Formation interlayered with minor layers and lenses of hornblende gneiss, metagabbro, mica schist, and granitic rock (Geologic Map of North Carolina, NC Geological Survey, 1998). Water & Land Solutions Page 13 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus 4.1.3 Existing Stream Conditions Field investigations were conducted to evaluate and document the existing conditions of the Site as well as each Project stream reach. These a. h studies included cross-section surveys, photographic documentation, pebble counts, r. bank erosion documentation and estimations, -: and documentation of other observed site conditions and stressors. The assessments were� originally conducted in November 2014 and were confirmed in November 2018 and again in July: and August 2019. The results of these investigations are summarized in Table 3 and ,.....::.v. collected field data are provided in Appendix A. Areas of documented bank scour and mass Direct cattle access and agricultural runoff to wasting are provided in Figure 10, areas of proposed stream reaches and wetlands are the channel incision are provided in Figure 9, and primary water quality stressors. watershed stressors are illustrated in Figure 4. Finally, the potential of each bank to contribute sediment to the stream (BEHI) is shown in Figure 13. It should be noted that the reach names have been revised from the draft prospectus submittal. S100 is a transport channel that can be characterized throughout its entire lengths as an incised, partially entrenched, predominantly sand bed stream with gravel dominant riffles. The overall reach stressors are agricultural impacts including direct cattle access, anthropogenic channel modification, timbering practices that have resulted in channel incision, entrenchment, and mass wasting of banks due to channel evolutionary processes, localized channel scour, and poor riparian habitat on a reach -wide scale. Stressors along S100 vary throughout its length and it is a heavily impacted and an incised transport channel. S101, S102 and S103 are all direct tributaries to S100 and are all incised spring head systems heavily impacted by livestock. Each reach is discussed in detail in the following paragraphs. Similar to S100, S200 can be generally characterized as a spring -fed, sand -dominated transport channel that is undergoing many of the same channel evolution steps present in S100 and is significantly incised and partially entrenched. As with S100, S200 has experienced stressors associated with agricultural practices: human channel modification, cattle access, and timbering. Each reach is discussed in detail in the following paragraphs. Table 3 and Table 4 present the results of the field evaluations along with the unverified jurisdictional status of each project reach. Copies of the supporting field assessment forms are available in Appendix A. Table 3 provides reach designations, approximate drainage area, stream status based on field analysis and NCDWR stream classification form score. Page 14 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table 3. Reach Watershed Drainage & Jurisdictional Status — Starker Site 59 0.09 Perennial 35.5 5 0.008 Intermittent 28.5 2.5 0.004 Intermittent 22 193 0.30 Perennial 35.5 252 0.39 Perennial 35.5 12 0.02 Intermittent 29 84 0.13 Perennial 34.5 169 0.26 Perennial 34.5 4.1.4 Existing Reach Descriptions In general, all or portions of the project streams do not function to their full potential. Current conditions demonstrate significant habitat degradation as a result of impacts from silviculture, agriculture, and water diversion. Site reaches were assessed using the NC Stream Assessment Method (NC SAM) and wetlands were assessed using the NC Wetland Assessment Method (NC WAM). NC SAM and WAM rating forms are included in Appendix A, and results are summarized in Table 4. Morphological parameters are located in Table 5. Table 4. NCWAM & NCSAM Summary LOW -- LOW -- LOW -- LOW -- -- MEDIUM Water & Land Solutions Page 15 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table 5. Existing Reach Description — Starker Site S100 (North of 1-40, upstream of farm crossing): Reach S100 begins as a deep gully near Rock Barn Road on the northern end of the property. The gully is approximately 12 to 15 feet deep, highly unstable, and has been used in the past as a dumping area for farm trash and waste. At the base of the gully system, =_ . several strong springs originate and form the headwaters of the S100 system. Incision of the stream decreases downstream; however, the system is incised (BHR > 1.5) along its entire length. Large trees are present along the banks of the upper portion of S100, but not along the lower portion. From the middle portion of S100 to the end of the reach, Reach S100 demonstrates the ability to adjacent riparian wetland areas become prevalent enhance significant riparian wetlands. due to considerable discharge of groundwater along Wetland areas are currently degraded by the adjacent toe of slopes. However, the function of channel incision, loss of vegetation, and these wetlands is being impacted by the incised cattle access. stream condition and frequent cattle access which is prevalent along the entire reach. S100 above the crossing ends at the inlet of the culverted crossing for a farm path which provides a downstream structural grade control point. Page 16 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus S102: Reach S102 is a direct tributary to S100. S102 begins asspring head approximately 100 feet ups lope of and near the middle of S100 above 1-40. The reach is heavily impacted by cattle and sections of the streambanks have been completely trampled. The channel has been filled with sediment from the eroding banks, and flow is diffuse and impeded due to a cattle crossing near the middle of the reach. There are crayfish and frogs in the reach, but the biological function of the stream has been severely impacted by sedimentation and habitat degradation. Reach S102 ends at its confluence with Reach S100. S103: Reach S103 is a short tributary to S100, which starts at a large headcut where the adjacent slope has failed. There was water flowing for much of its length during the site visit, though the streambed sediments are largely influenced by large scale erosion of the adjacent upland soils. S100 (North of 1-40, downstream of farm crossing): At the culvert outlet of the farm path crossing the outlet end of the pipe is perched due to past headcutting of the stream up to the crossing. As a result of the headcutting, incision along the reach is higher, resulting in greater sediment loss due to bank scour and mass wasting than in Reach S100. This section of S100 is predominantly wooded; however, trees along the riparian floodplain are relatively sparse and consist primarily of successional species. Cattle are constantly accessing the wooded areas for shade and multiple areas along this section of S100 and are active loafing areas with an over -widened channel and trampled banks. Anthropogenic channel modification is evident with the channel's location against the right side of the valley, creating areas of mass wasting with bank heights much greater than those associated with the remainder of the incised channel. The lower section of S100 closer to 1-40 has been fenced off from cattle and has been left for reforestation to occur; however, this area presents the most active channel evolutionary processes. Numerous tree falls exist and continue to occur where the channel is actively increasing meander width. Almost all outside bends are characterized by extremely high, vertical banks with larger trees precariously perched on top. The top third of these banks consist of exposed roots and overhanging banks with little to no surface protection or rooting depth at the lower elevations where channel interaction occurs. Where Reach S100 approaches the 60-inch culvert under 1-40 the bank height ratio drops to a relatively stable condition and the substantial erosive forces no longer seem apparent, most likely due to the backwater effects the culvert during higher flows. S100 (South of 1-40): Reach S100 begins at the downstream outlet of the 60-inch culvert under 1-40. The outlet is laid on a natural bedrock seam which is providing vertical stability, however the increased velocities at the outlet of this extremely long stretch of culvert are impacting the banks with localized scour. The upper portion of S100 below 1-40 is wooded along the right bank, but the forest along the left bank has recently been cleared, leaving only a thin line of trees. Cattle have been fenced out of this upper part of S100 south of 1-40. However, as with the lower portion of S100, many of the channel evolutionary processes are manifesting through mass wasting of outer bends and localized toe scour within riffle and run sections. Much of the upper section of S100 south of 1-40 contains tree falls and/or debris jams creating localized areas of unstable vertical banks up and down stream. As S100 begins to transition to the floodplain of Mull Creek, cattle access resumes, the riparian buffer is reduced, and human channel modification once again become apparent through channel straightening. Cattle are using several loafing areas where substantial shade exists, causing trampled banks. Almost all outer bends through this lower portion of S100 are characterized by nearly vertical banks covered by herbaceous vegetation with few moderately sized trees. An existing farm culvert is in place towards the end of the reach which acts as a pinch point for the stream, causing localized scour and instability in the banks up and down stream. Finally, the confluence with Mull Creek is vertically stable as Mull Creek has some bedrock controls within the Water & Land Solutions Page 17 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus vicinity of the confluence that would provide an excellent tie in point with minimal concern of future headcutting. S101: Reach 5101 is a direct tributary to 5100. 5101 begins as spring head approximately 100 feet upslope of and near the lower end of Reach 5100. The reach is not currently impacted by cattle but is incised and actively eroding. Efforts have been made by the landowner to prevent the headcut from worsening by filling the channel with logs and debris, but the channel still appears to be actively eroding and downcutting. Based on historical aerial imagery from 1951, it appears that 5101 could have been a functioning stream before the construction of 1-40. There is evidence that the watershed for the tributary was split by the highway and the stream was diverted into a ditch that flows into 5100 north of 1-40 below the crossing. Upstream of the jurisdictional break, the channel appears to have been straightened and filled in. In addition to overland stormwater flow, 5101 is also fed by groundwater from several streambank seeps. Reach 5101 ends at its confluence with Reach 5100. S200 (North of 1-40): Similar to 5100 to Mull Creek, S200 to Mull Creek can be generally characterized as a sand -dominated transport channel that is spring fed, with significant incision, partial entrenchment, and undergoing many of the same channel evolution steps present in 5100 to Mull Creek. As with 5100, 5200 to Mull Creek has experienced stressors associated with agricultural practices: human channel modification, cattle access, and timbering. Reach S200 north of 1-40 begins as a small wetland area that is fed by hill slope springs near the main farmhouse and buildings. At a culverted farm crossing just downstream, the stream incises greatly due to headcutting that has migrated up the stream system to the culvert. From the farm crossing culvert down to near the NCDOT right-of-way for 1-40, the stream is highly incised with extreme bank heights and considerable ongoing scour erosion and mass wasting. Headcuts are actively moving through this reach. Approximately 50 feet upstream of the NCDOT right-of- way, the stream has formed an active wetland floodplain within the overly widened channel that is relatively stable; however, there is still some erosion along the adjacent terrace banks due to overland flow and runoff. S200 (South of 1-40, upstream of farm crossing): This reach begins directly below the 1-40 right-of- way and flows approximately 583 feet to a culverted farm crossing. The reach appears to have over - widened in the past, perhaps due to heavy cattle access, but has now formed a relatively stable wetland floodplain at a lower elevation. The developing floodplain is dominated by herbaceous vegetation with little deep rooting woody vegetation established. Cattle have been excluded from the reach for some time, perhaps because of the high, steep streambanks that are still eroding in some locations. This section ends at a culverted farm crossing that appears to be appropriately sized, but is experiencing some erosion due to poor stabilization practices. Page 18 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus " � g '� € S2OO (South of 1-40, downstream of farm crossing): This section begins at the culverted farm crossing and extends down to the confluence of S200 with Mull Creek. The reach is highly incised along much of its length with considerable areas of bank scour and mass wasting. The upper 800 feet and lower 700 feet of the reach have sparse mature trees that r offer limited riparian protection, and cattle have s` L active access to these areas. The middle 1,300 feet of channel was cleared of trees in 2009, and the area X7,r. .' along the left stream bank was converted to livestock -' pasture. The area along the right streambank has been Reach 5200, like many of the project left fallow and has repopulated with young reaches, displays frequent erosion around successional tree species that are approximately ten outer meander bends due to land years of age, including significant areas of Chinese disturbance, channel incision, loss of buffer, privet (Ligustrum sinense). Much of the channel and frequent cattle access. through the middle and lower portion of S200 is meandering and eroding, especially on the outside of meander bends. This ongoing evolution has left the outer bends characterized by steep, undercut banks with an herbaceous cover lacking sufficient surface protection or rooting depth. Where large woody trees are present and an overwidening of the channel exists, small areas of new floodplain are developing at a lower elevation. However, with the presence of vertical bedrock grade control, the only means of gaining stability will be to continually stress the outer bends until an appropriate meander width can be achieved. As S200 approaches the confluence with Mull Creek, the channel appears to still be undergoing incision processes. The banks are more vertical with significantly less vegetation is present. The terminus for S200 will occur at the farm crossing just upstream with the confluence with Mull Creek. This culverted crossing is currently providing the stable downstream grade control point and will serve as a stable end to the S200 to Mull Creek system. 4.1.5 Existing Wetland Conditions W1 is a riparian wetland located on 5100 north of 1-40 above the farm crossing and is approximately 1.2 acres. The wetland has been impacted by the incised stream condition and extensive cattle access along the entire reach. A preliminary soils investigation was completed by an LSS (Appendix A). Two soil borings in the study area showed colluvium material from the surrounding upland that washed in from anthropogenic activities. The colluvium material in both boring was determined to be hydric and met the F3 Depleted Matrix hydric soil indicator. WLS will evaluate other potential wetland mitigation areas during project development. If present, it is anticipated they will be limited to small riparian wetlands/seeps and the primary mitigation treatments will be rehabilitation, enhancement, and preservation. 4.2 Regulatory Considerations 4.2.1 Existing Easements & Potential Site Constraints The 1-40 corridor runs through the approximate center of the project area and bisects 5100 and 5200. The culverts beneath 1-40 will be control points for the proposed stream design work, and the design will tie into the elevations of the existing culverts. No additional flooding will be created within the 1-40 NCDOT Water & Land Solutions Page 19 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus right-of-way because of the project. The project engineer will coordinate with NCDOT to ensure the design is acceptable and the conservation easement provides suitable spacing for future ROW maintenance or expansion. One power line easement is present to the north of 5100, but the easement is located outside of the proposed project limits. No other easements or significant constraints have been identified for the project. The Sponsor will coordinate with the landowner regarding future development access and utilities to utilize proposed easement crossings. There are commercial or private airports within five miles of the project site. 4.2.2 Mineral or Water Rights Assurance There are no known mineral or surface water rights issues within or adjacent to the site properties. 4.2.3 Hydrologic Trespass Upon review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program's Digital Flood Insurance Rate Mapping (DFIRM) panel 3710375200J effective September 5, 2007, 5100 and S200 are not regulated waters (Figure 11). There are no established Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), Floodways, or Flood Hazard Zones along the tributaries. However, the portions of Mull Creek that 5100 and S200 flow into are regulated and therefore the lower 500 feet of 5100 and S200 are within the flood hazard zone AE associated within Mull Creek. The proposed restoration work associated with this project will not include any structure placement, excavation, or fill within the Flood Hazard Zone significant enough to influence the BFEs of Mull Creek. Therefore, coordination will occur with the local floodplain manager. 4.2.4 Invasive Species Vegetation There are currently no substantial communities of invasive plant species within the proposed project boundaries. Some small, immature Chinese Privet was observed on the project site below 1-40, as well as some small multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) plants were observed on the project site above 1-40. These areas will be monitored by WLS, and any invasive plants found within the project boundary will be treated to prevent expansion and establishment of a substantial invasive community. This will allow for a healthy, native riparian and upland plant community to dominate the area and help prevent future establishment of invasive species vegetation. 4.2.5 Cultural Resources This project is not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on cultural or historical resources. On -site investigations and discussions with the landowner have not revealed any potential resources of this type on the property. EPR conducted a one -mile radius search of the project area using the Natural Heritage Program of North Carolina database and no occurrences were found in the project boundary. 4.2.6 Threatened and Endangered Species Based on a review of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) database and IPaC, there are currently four federally -listed endangered species known to occur in Catawba County: Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii ), Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii), Dwarf -flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora) and the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). Project implementation is not anticipated to have a negative impact on these species. EPR sent letters to USFWS and NCWRC and is in coordination concerning the Schweinitz's sunflower and Dwarf -flowered heartleaf. Schweinitz's Page 20 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus sunflower was surveyed for on September 29, 2020 and no species were found. Dwarf -flowered heartleaf will be surveyed for in Spring 2021. 4.2.7 Conditions Affecting Hydrology Six farm culvert crossings must be accounted for in the stream design (Figure 12). These crossings will allow livestock and farm equipment to access fields and pastures on either side of the stream reaches. When necessary to benefit the restoration designs and ensure stream stability, the crossings will be replaced with appropriately sized pipes set at the correct elevations to promote stability and allow passage of aquatic life. Stabilization practices will be applied to ensure stable crossings. 4.2.8 Adjacent Land Use Site -adjacent land use is primarily silviculture and agriculture. However, the surrounding landuse is transitioning to commercial, residential, and industrial land uses due to its proximity to several population centers and easily accessible transportation corridors. None of these land uses will have negative impacts on the operation of the site. 5 Mitigation Work Plan 5.1 Site Design Approach The Starker Mitigation Site involves the restoration and enhancement of approximately 10,000 feet of stream (Figure 12). The proposed Project will improve the function of existing wetland systems and restore a stable headwater stream -wetland complex. Aquatic resources on the Site have been severely impacted by past channelization, ditching, direct cattle access, loss of riparian buffers, and past land use. S100 and S200, including S101, S102 and S103 are highly degraded and moderately to highly incised due to past channelization and/or natural stream incision in response to land use changes. The design approach for the entire length of S100 and S200 will involve reconnecting the streams to active floodplains (Priority Level I and II Restoration Approaches), with a preference for Priority Level I Restoration when feasible. By reconnecting the streams to a functional floodplain, the following functional improvements will be achieved: The Project is experiencing mass wasting of banks and considerable erosion due to past channelization and/or natural stream incision in response to land use changes. ■ Rehabilitation/Enhancement of Adjacent Riparian Wetlands - Based on observed soil profiles that are exposed along eroding stream banks, it is apparent that wetlands were once prevalent along much of the Starker Mitigation Site reaches. Numerous groundwater springs discharge along the toe of adjacent hill slopes, and in some areas are still enough to support Water & Land Solutions Page 21 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus degraded wetland habitats. Raising of the stream beds and reconnection to an active floodplain will promote higher water table conditions adjacent to the streams and more overbank flooding. ■ Filtration of Flood Flows — Currently, discharges significantly higher than the bankfull discharge are carried within the incised stream channels. Reconnection to an active floodplain will provide filtration of flood flows through floodplain vegetation, effectively reducing storm flow energies and velocities. ■ Improved Buffer Function — Higher water table conditions associated with reconnecting the floodplain will promote better denitrification of groundwater flowing to the stream channels. Rehabilitated wetland areas adjacent to the stream will promote increased plant uptake and retention of surface runoff before reaching the stream channels, minimizing overland flow velocities while also encouraging nutrient removal processes. ■ Reduced Water Quality Impacts — By simply excluding livestock from the project stream using fencing and restoring riparian buffers, significant reductions in direct input of nutrients and fecal coliform will be achieved. Design approaches will ensure that all excavated floodplain areas allow for the design meander belt width, plus an additional 1.5 bankfull widths beyond the stream belt width. For most project reaches this equates to a design floodplain width of between 50 to 70 feet. This width is considered practical and achievable based on available floodplain widths measured in the field. In some locations, natural pinches in the valley topography may necessitate tighter floodplain widths. For excavated floodplain areas, depths will be undercut so that excavated topsoil can be replaced to approximately 8 to 10 inches in depth to achieve final design floodplain grades. Good quality topsoil will be stockpiled separately during construction activities to be used in the replacement of topsoil in excavated areas. The slopes between the outer edge of the floodplain grading and the terrace will be a minimum of 5:1, unless natural hill slope topography dictates the need for steeper slopes. In -stream structures will be constructed from materials naturally found at the project site such as hardwood logs and brush, with the use of quarried rock and stone as needed. WLS will use methods of structure design and construction that have proven successful on numerous past projects, and practices that have been well received by regulatory agencies. 5.1.1 Proposed Stream Conditions —Starker Site S100 (North of 1-40, upstream of farm crossing): Reach S100 begins as a highly incised channel that becomes less incised as it flows downstream and opens into an alluvial valley. The extreme incision at the upstream end of the reach will be addressed by routing storm flows from the ephemeral drainage upstream through the existing gully on the east side of the headwater system. Rock step structures and a constructed cascade will be used to step the storm flows down to the existing streambed elevation. The western gully will be stabilized by installing a gravel drain at the existing channel elevation that will continue to transport spring flow to the channel, and then filling and sloping the gully area over the gravel drain to stabilize the area without needing to remove any of the large trees along the top of the bank. Downstream of the stream head, the bed elevation of the stream will be raised over approximately 300 feet to reconnect the stream with its original floodplain. Fill material will be taken from adjacent upland areas to raise the streambed, and constructed riffle structures will be installed to ensure bed stability. Woody structures such as toe wood and log vanes, along with bioengineering practices, will be used to stabilize the outside meander bends and other areas of high bank stress. The design pattern will follow a Page 22 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus meandering plan form through the alluvial valley. This Priority Level I Restoration will be carried down to the farm crossing. S100 (North of 1-40, downstream of farm crossing & South of 1-40)— Due to the highly incised and unstable nature of these stream reaches, a Priority Level II Restoration approach is proposed for these reaches that will both raise the stream bed elevation and lower the adjacent floodplain slightly to restore floodplain access. Excavation of a floodplain at a lower elevation is the most practical approach to restoration since a significant amount of fill material would be required to raise the streambed and stabilize eroding banks and hill slopes. This approach also provides the opportunity to remove upland alluvial sediments that have been deposited on the floodplain as a result of poor land use practices in the past, thus exposing the buried hydric soil layers that are present along the reaches. Exposing the buried hydric soils, raising the local water table by raising the streambed, and providing for greater floodplain storage will provide significant uplift of lost riparian wetland function. S101 and S102— Due to the incised and unstable nature of these stream reaches, a combination of Priority Level I and II Restoration approaches are proposed that will raise the stream bed elevation to restore floodplain access. This approach also provides the opportunity to raise the local water table, providing for greater floodplain storage and a significant uplift of lost riparian wetland function. Downstream of the stream head for both reaches, the streambed elevation will be raised to reconnect the stream with its original floodplain. Fill material will be taken from adjacent upland areas to raise the streambed, and constructed riffle structures will be installed to ensure bed stability. Woody structures such as toe wood, along with bioengineering practices, will be used to stabilize the outside meander bends and other areas of high bank stress. The design pattern will follow a meandering plan form through the alluvial valley. This Priority Level I Restoration will be transitioned down to the confluences with S100 using shallow Priority Level II Restoration only where/if needed. While this restoration approach requires the removal of some trees along the reaches, tree loss will be minimized to the extent possible. In many areas, the approach can be applied while working around larger trees that would provide shade and organic material to the stream after restoration. Trees are most dense along the lower portion of S100 north of 1-40 below the crossing; however, tree loss due to bank erosion in this area is significant under existing conditions. These stream reaches are attempting to form active floodplains at a lower elevation but are early in the evolutionary process. Therefore, considerable erosion, mass wasting, and tree loss will continue before the system would begin to approach stability on its own. S103- Due to the unstable nature of this stream reach, a combination of Priority Level I and II Restoration approaches will raise the stream bed elevation to connect to S100 using shallow Priority Level II Restoration only where/if needed. The stream will be designed as a step -pool channel that primarily follows the existing channel alignment. Rock step structures and a constructed cascade will be used to step the storm flows down to the S100 design streambed elevation. S200 (North of 1-40) — This reach is the most incised of all the project reaches. Restoration will begin at the culverted farm crossing at the beginning of the reach, where the existing culvert crossing will be removed, and the farm path re-routed to above the reach as part of the project. A Priority Level II Restoration approach will be used, involving raising the stream bed several feet and excavating a bench in some areas along the right stream bank, which has minimal large trees. The stream will be designed as a step -pool channel that primarily follows the existing channel alignment, due to the higher slope of the reach and the need to tie into the road culvert at the downstream end of the reach. Rock cross -vane and Water & Land Solutions Page 23 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus constructed riffles/cascades will be used along the reach to ensure bed stability and arrest the channel incision and headcutting that is currently occurring along the reach. Near the downstream end of the reach above 1-40, stable benches have already formed along the stream; therefore, stabilization practices will focus on minimizing future downcutting and treating eroding side slopes. S200 (South of 1-40, upstream of farm crossing) — The restoration approach will begin by raising the elevation of the stream to the culvert. The design floodplain will connect into the existing benches that have formed to provide better floodplain connection. Constructed riffle structures will be installed to ensure bed stability. Woody structures such as toe wood and log vanes, along with bioengineering practices, will be used to stabilize the outside meander bends and other areas of high bank stress. The design pattern will follow a meandering plan form through the alluvial valley. This Priority Level II Restoration will be carried down to the farm crossing. Some areas of invasive species vegetation have begun to establish, mainly Chinese privet and Japanese stiltgrass. Treatment of invasive species vegetation will be included under the restoration approach. S200 (South of 1-40, downstream of farm crossing) — The restoration approach for this reach will be the same as the approach described above for S100 north of 1-40. However, this section of S200 has few mature trees along its length since trees were timbered along much of the reach within the past 10 years. Within this cutover area, young successional species have begun to establish along the reach, along with a considerable amount of Chinese privet. Treatment of invasive species vegetation will be included under the restoration approach, as well as minor benching along this reach to provide floodplain reconnection, which will promote the restoration of adjacent riparian wetland functions. 5.1.2 Proposed Riparian Wetland Conditions Based on a primary assessment by an LSS W1 is suitable for wetland rehabilitation and enhancement. It is anticipated that cattle exclusion, raising the stream bed elevation, limited soil alterations, and planting with woody wetland species will fully restore wetland function. 6 Credit Determination 6.1 Proposed Credit Types The work describes a total of more than 10,200 LF of stream restoration. The mitigation approaches described will yield 10,271 warm water thermal regime stream mitigation credits (SMCs) and 0.73 wetland mitigation credits (WMCs). Table 6 below summarizes the mitigation approaches, lengths, mitigation ratios, and mitigation credits that are expected from the project. Page 24 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table 6. Proposed Stream Mitigation Credits (SMCs) Stream Restoration 110 1:1 110 Warm Stream Restoration 81 1:1 81 Warm Stream Restoration 2,343 1:1 2,343 Warm Stream Restoration 1,924 1:1 1,924 Warm Stream Restoration 96 1:1 96 Warm Stream Restoration 838 1:1 838 Warm Stream Restoration 570 1:1 570 Warm Stream Restoration 3,071 1:1 3,071 Warm Note 1: No mitigation credits are proposed outside the conservation easement boundaries. Note 2: Existing and proposed stream lengths were estimated from GIS/GPS data and will be modified after developing a survey basemap and formal mitigation work plans have been approved by IRT. All the project stream reaches proposed for mitigation credits are perennial or intermittent streams as determined using North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) Stream Identification Forms. Table 7. Wetland Rehabilitation Enhancement 6.2 Credit Release Schedule All credit releases, except the initial release, will be based on the total number of mitigation credits generated as reported in the approved final mitigation plan and verified by the as -built survey. The initial credit release will be based on the proposed restoration lengths (SMCs) as approved in the final mitigation plan. The credit ledger will be managed by WLS and approved by the USACE District Engineer (DE) and IRT. The estimated credits will be released following current USACE guidance, as shown in Table 8. Water & Land Solutions Page 25 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table 8. Credit Release Schedule Site Establishment (as defined in Section 6.3) 15% 15% 15% 15% Completion of all initial physical and biological improvements made pursuant to 15% 30% 15% 30% the Mitigation Plan Year 1 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 10% 40% 10% 40% standards have been met Year 2 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 10% 50% 10% 50% standards have been met Year 3 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 10% 60% 15% 65% standards have been met Year 4 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 5% 65% 5% 70% (75%-) standards have been met Year 5 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 10% 75% 15% 85% (S5%-) standards have been met Year 6 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 5% 80% 5% 90% (90%*) standards have been met Year 7 Monitoring Report demonstrates that channels are stable and interim performance 10% 90% 10% 100% (100%*) standards have been met Note: *10% reserve of credits to be held back until the bankfull event performance standard has been met. 6.3 Initial Allocation of Released Credits The standard credit release schedule generated through stream and wetland mitigation projects will occur upon establishment of the bank site(s), and upon initial satisfactory completion of the following activities: 1) Execution and Approval of the UMBI by the Sponsor and the USACE. 2) Approval of the Final Mitigation Plan. 3) Confirmation the mitigation bank site has been secured. 4) Delivery of the financial assurances as described in the Mitigation Plan. 5) Recordation of the long-term protection mechanism and title opinion acceptable to the USACE. 6) Issuance of the 404 permit verification for construction of the site, if required. For mitigation bank sites that include preservation -only credits, 100% of the preservation credits will be released with the completion of the six criteria stated above. Page 26 4 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus 6.4 Subsequent Credit Releases All subsequent credit releases must be approved by the DE, in consultation with the IRT, once performance standards have been met or exceeded. For mitigation bank site(s), implementation of the approved Mitigation Plan must be initiated no later than the first full growing season after the date of the first credit transaction (credit sale). For streams, a reserve of 10% of the site(s) total stream credits will be released after four bankfull events have occurred, in separate years, provided the channel is stable and all other performance standards are met. In the event that less than four bankfull events occur during the monitoring period, release of these reserve credits is at the discretion of the IRT. For headwater streams (zero order), channel formation and continuous surface water flow within the valley must be documented to occur every year for at least 30 consecutive days during the prescribed monitoring period. For wetlands, the site(s) must meet or exceed the percent saturatio n/hydroperiod thresholds for common wetland soil series in North Carolina. 6.5 Financial Assurances The bank sponsor will provide financial assurances in the form of a casualty insurance policy or a performance bond. The financial assurance policy will be submitted for review and approval by the USACE and Office of General Counsel (OGC) prior to completion of the final UMBI. Upon establishment, the USACE will hold the original policy document to ensure bank compliance and successful project site completion. Financial assurances shall be payable at the direction of the USACE to his designee or to a standby trust. Financial assurances structured to provide funds to the USACE in the event of default by the Bank Sponsor are not acceptable. A financial assurance must be in the form that ensures that the USACE receives notification at least 120 days in advance of any termination or revocation. 7 Long -Term Management 7.1 Maintenance The bank sites will be protected in perpetuity by a recorded conservation easement. The conservation easement will allow for annual site inspections during the post -construction monitoring period. These site inspections may identify components and features that require routine maintenance. The site will be monitored on a regular basis and a physical inspection will take place at least once a year throughout the post -construction monitoring period until performance standards are met. Routine post -construction maintenance may include the following components as described in Table 9. Water & Land Solutions Page 27 WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Table 9. Routine Maintenance Components Stream Routine channel maintenance and repair activities may include modifying in -stream structures to prevent piping, securing loose coir matting, and supplemental installations of live stakes and other target vegetation along the project reaches. Areas of concentrated stormwater and floodplain flows that intercept the channel may also require maintenance to prevent bank failures and head -cutting until vegetation becomes established. Wetland Routine wetland maintenance and repair activities may include securing of loose erosion control matting and supplemental plantings of target vegetation within the wetland. Areas of concentrated stormwater and floodplain flows that intercept the wetland may also require maintenance to prevent excess scour. Vegetation Vegetation will be maintained to ensure the health and vigor of the targeted plant community. Routine vegetation maintenance and repair activities may include supplemental planting, pruning, and fertilizing. Exotic invasive plant species will be controlled by mechanical and/or chemical methods. Any invasive plant species control requiring herbicide application will be performed in accordance with NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA) rules and regulations. Site Boundary Site boundaries will be demarcated in the field to ensure clear distinction between the mitigation site and adjacent properties. Boundaries may be identified by fence, marker, bollard, post, or other means as allowed by site conditions and/or conservation easement. Boundary markers disturbed, damaged, or destroyed will be repaired and/or replaced on an as needed basis. Stream Crossing The stream crossing(s) within the site may be maintained only as allowed by the recorded Conservation Easement, deed restrictions, rights of way, or corridor agreements. Upon final IRT approval and project closeout, the site(s) will be transferred to a long-term land steward. The responsible party for long-term management has not yet been chosen but will be approved by the DE and IRT prior to the bank establishment. The long-term management and land steward shall be responsible for periodic/routine inspection of the site(s) to ensure that the conservation easement and/or the deed restrictions are being upheld. Any endowment funds for the conservation easement and deed restrictions shall be negotiated prior to site transfer to the responsible party. The management activities will be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the approved UMBI as agreed to by WLS, USACE, and the IRT. 7.2 Adaptive Management Plan In the event the mitigation site or a specific component of the mitigation site fails to achieve the necessary performance standards as specified in the approved mitigation plan, the Sponsor shall notify the USACE and coordinate with IRT members to develop a remedial action plan. The Sponsor will also coordinate with the USACE to obtain authorization and approval to conduct the remedial action. The remedial action plan should describe the source or reason for the failure, a concise description of the corrective measures that are proposed, and a time frame for the implementation of the corrective measures. Additional monitoring, as prescribed by IRT guidance, may also be required to satisfy the performance standards. 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Bro heville hlocresv i LEGEND01 Conservation Easement Shelby �n Charlotte Targeted Local Watershed 8-Digit HUC ` PREPARED BY: 0 1.5 3 STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM Miles HYDROLOGIC UNIT MAP PLANNING & Ar RESTORATION FIGURE 1 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 S� Jphns Ch`rph Rry N E k Sawn Rd ¢pc S p °� s opt d 0 m Q w - - L C ry 7 LEGEND Conservation Easement PREPARED BY: 0 375 750 STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM Feet VICINITY MAP PLANNING & ri RESTORATION FIGURE 2 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 S103 �;• l ' S100 S102 t r 4 1 1 • ..' •% S200 ti - - , 41 Y ■ .� �., �� ;,w S100 R y �Ir a AIL 4L s `r S200 r LEGEND " ` ' q0 I Conservation Easement O Bedrock ti ' Project Streams Cattle Access Gully Erosion F 1 Cattle have access to approximately 52% Existing Farm Crossings of j roect streams project PREPARED BY: 0 600 STARKER MITIGATION SITE ArRESTORATION ECOSYSTEM Feet WATER QUALITY STRESSORS MAP PLANNING & FIGURE 4 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 At EPR '0JI t-7 6 .011 F-77" 4 M.w A tf A. LEGEND Conservation Easement 0 300 600 STARKER MITIGATION SITE PREPARED BY: ECOSYSTEM Feet HISTORICAL AERIAL MAP (1964) PLANNING & ri RESTORATION FIGURE 5B CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT 2020 r fw =I; r' LEGEND Conservation Easement f r' PREPARED BY: 0 300 600 STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM Feet HISTORICAL AERIAL MAP (1 993) Ar PLANNING & RESTORATION FIGURE 5c CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 4r, W, 46 41 Vol gpy; y tp . 4* % , 2�1 lk 4 LEGEND 'Aar ti k Conservation Easement PREPARED BY: 0 300 600 STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM 006-m� Feet HISTORICAL AERIAL MAP (2012) PLANNING & irl RESTORATION FIGURE 5E CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT 2020 f F do -sch - --- u S103� ■ S102 1 S100 I - � S200 f S100 r it ` ■ a� `y+ r S101 1 Drainage Area Reach (acres) S200 S100 (North of 1-40, 59 J above crossing) I S102 5 r f S103 2.5 i S100 (North of 1-40, below crossing) 193 LEGEND S100 (South of 1-40) 252 Conservation Easement S101 12 Watersheds - S200 (North of 1-40) 84 C S200 (South of 1-40) 169 0 500 1,000 PREPARED BY: Feet STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP PLANNING & 1 inch = 1,000 feet Ar RESTORATION FIGURE 6 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 S103 S100 S102 S200 S101 S100 S200 LEGEND Conservation Easement Elevation (ft) High : 994.035 Low : 848.49 0 300 600 PREPARED BY: Feet STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM ECOSYSTEM LIDAR MAP PLANNING & 1 inch = 600 feet RESTORATION FIGURE 7 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 rt s S100 ► �' a S103VC 4 N ". S 102 ► IL T, i.N r J S200 S101 S100 ' S200 JW Reach Channel % Channel Incision (ft.) Incision . l S100 (North of 1-40, r1075 98 above crossing) S102 74 80 S103 81 100 LEGEND S100 (North of I-40, Incision below crossing) 2168 93 S100 (South of 1-40) 1929 -- Project Streams S101 80 100 Conservation Easement S200 (North of 1-40) 457 j 57 S200 (South of 1-40) 2858 83 0 300 600 Feet 1 inch = 600 feet STARKER MITIGATION SITE.. CHANNEL INCISION MAP PREPARED BY: ECOSYSTEM PLANNING & RESTORATION FIGURE 9 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 S103;14 , S102 S100 far `�]'1r 10 ifs,' �� ►� � � � - S i r t ' t- A y S200�pt. ' T S100 S101 1 i Reach Bank Erosion % Bank S200 (ft.) Erosion S100 (North of 1-40, LEGEND. above crossing) 1950 89 " S102 163 89 Project Streams S103 81 100 Conservation Easement - S100 (North of 1-40, below crossing) 2765 59 Erosion `:. ��' "� S100 (South of 1-40) 1255 32 Mass Wasting " _ .+�. � � S 101 71 44 Scour S200 (North of 1-40) 865 54 S200 (South of 1-40) 2844 41 0 300 600 PREPARED BY: Feet STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM 1 inch = 600 feet EROSION MAP PLANP41NG & Ar RESTORATION FIGURE 10 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 t e z Newton a s, A Catawba River Corridor Q•�wu c s i �y Proiect Location 6 �' Clarunohf c Lyle Creek Corridor r ei f U:> Catawba Lake Norman Murrays Mill/ Upper Balls Creek Natural Area LEGEND Conservation Easement Protected State Lands Significant Natural Heritage Areas (SNHAs) Water Supply Watersheds (WSW) WS-Iv 1k 0 0.75 1.5 PREPARED BY: Miles STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM ADJACENT AND PROXIMAL PLANNING ELEMENTS MAP PLANNING & 1 in = 1.5 miles ArRESTORATION FIGURE 1 1 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 S103 S102 S100 OV^ w I lrwpqw w 11 1 V; 31 &dirk S101 Lw Nil S100 S200 LEGEND Conservation Easement Project Streams Flood Zone A Zone AE ZZ Floodway Zone X, 0.2 PCT ANNUAL CHANCE % FLOOD HAZARD 0 300 600 PREPARED BY: 006;-m� Feet STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM FEMA MAP PLANNING & ri 1 inch = 600 feet RESTORATION FIGURE 12 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 71. a S102 bt � d 41, qz S200 5100 r.- °' S 101 k"` i.� lob - LEGEND I- S200 Project Streams yk. ,�# ' Conservation Easement." Y BEHI Extreme Very High High Moderate Low - kW : i,.:• _ ti x.'a 0 300 600 PREPARED BY: Feet STARKER MITIGATION SITE ECOSYSTEM BANK EROSION HAZARD INDEX MAP PLANNING & 1 inch = 600 feet •; RESTDF?ATipIV FIGURE 14 CATAWBA COUNTY, NC OCT. 2020 Appendix A- Existing Conditions Data WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Starker Mitigation Project STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA REACH S 100 (NORTH OF 1-40, ABOVE CROSSING) S 100 - FACING UPSTREAM - DEBRIS PILED IN S 100 - FACING UPSTREAM - CATTLE ALONG GULLEY, CATTLE HAVE ACCESS TO STREAM ERODING STREAMBANKS S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - STEEP, S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - INCREASED VERTICAL STREAM BAN KS AND OVERWIDE BANK EROSION DUE TO CATTLE IMPACTS CHANNEL APPENDIX A STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S 1 00- FACING UPSTREAM - ERODING STREAMBANKS AND FINE SEDIMENT IN CHANNEL REACH 9102 S 102 - FACING UPSTREAM - CONFLUENCE WITH S 100 - FACING UPSTREAM - CROSSING NORTH OF 1-40, RIPARIAN WETLAND USED AS A WALLOW AREA FOR CATTLE S 102 - FACING UPSTREAM - INCISED CHANNEL APPENDIX A 2 STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S 102 - FACING UPSTREAM - CATTLE CROSSING, S 1 02- FACING UPSTREAM - ERODING FINE SEDIMENT ENTERING CHANNEL STREAMBANKS, LOGS AND DEBRIS IN CHANNEL NEAR SPRING HEAD REACH S 100 (NORTH OF 1-40, BELOW CROSS S 1 00- FACING UPSTREAM - PERCHED CULVERT AT CROSSING S 100 - FACING UPSTREAM - ERODING STREAMBANKS APPENDIX A 3 Olt Aw • - r_.�' �"S .ice ZS` _ '�> _4 _ .Aw ' TPaw r - L i y a �IMP If �1 1 v W z ._ ,. .... «cif', _.�: - �- - •t,.. - '•i . � g", x x r 1< y icy ! � J n �� S£ 1 i � T" - ; ..,"a�# � -• dT � ': � f fay. F -'� '"'yl � ✓ � "' S � _d �:- i. Szri'- x R �g- �,- ' iJ r STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S 1 00- FACING UPSTREAM - TREES FALLING INTO CHANNEL, FINE SEDIMENT DEPOSITS S 100 - FACING UPSTREAM - DEBRIS IN CHANNEL, ERODING STREAMBANK S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - LARGE ERODING CUT BANK S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - UNDERCUT STREAMBANK APPENDIX A 7 STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S 100 - FACING UPSTREAM - FENCE DEBRIS IN CHANNEL S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - ERODING STREAM BANKS DOWNSTREAM OF CROSSING S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - ERODING STREAMBANK, JUST UPSTREAM OF CROSSING NEAR XS S 100 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - ERODING STREAMBANK DOWNSTREAM OF CROSSING APPENDIX A 8 STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA REACH S 1 O 1 S 10 1 - FACING UPSTREAM - CONFLUENCE WITH 5100 S 10 1 - FACING UPSTREAM - INCISED CHANNEL, ERODING STREAMBANK S 10 1 - FACING UPSTREAM - ERODING STREAMBANKS, FINES SEDIMENT IN CHANNEL APPENDIX A 9 STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA REACH S200 (NORTH OF 1-40) S200 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - WATER PONDED UPSTREAM OF BLOCKED CULVERT S200 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - INCISED CHANNEL, ERODING BANKS S200- FACING DOWNSTREAM - TREES COLLAPSED INTO CHANNEL S200 - ERODING GULLEY THAT DRAINS TO PROJECT STREAM APPENDIX A 10 STARKER STREAM RESTORATION SITE AUGUST 2019 CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA S200 - FACING UPSTREAM REACH S200 (SOUTH OF 1-40, BELOW CROSSING) S200 - FACING UPSTREAM - ARMORED CULVERT AT CROSSING S200- FACING UPSTREAM S200 - FACING DOWNSTREAM - STEEP STREAMBANKS, CATTLE IMPACTS APPENDIX A 12 + -a ate= t a v .a2 ! e'6 4 Y €c � tA xt` /1 ` Banks Assessment for Non -point source Consequences of Sediment (BANCS) Starker: Existing Conditons Bank Erosion Hazard Stream Index Near Bank Shear Erosion Rate Sub -Reach Length (ft)* (BEHI) Category Stress (Tons/yr) S100 (North of 1-40, above crossing) Left Bank 1025 Low Very Low 0.10 47 Extreme Very Low 5.88 Right Bank 825 Low Very Low 0.08 145 Moderate Very Low 0.29 111 Extreme Very Low 13.90 subtotal 20 S100 (North of 1-40, below crossing) Left Bank 94 Low Very Low 0.04 1212 Moderate Very Low 0.75 723 High Very Low 3.66 370 Extreme Very Low 46.98 Right Bank 111 Low Very Low 0.02 1209 Moderate Very Low 5.34 621 High Very Low 13.36 422 Extreme Very Low 116.43 subtotal 187 5100 (South of I-40) Left Bank 1362 Moderate Low 10.64 410 High Low 10.89 250 Extreme Low 126.98 Right Bank 1379 Moderate Low 10.22 307 High Low 7.73 347 Extreme Low 167.13 subtotal 334 Reach S100 Total 540 S200 (North of 1-40) Left Bank 85 Low Very Low 0.02 246 High Very Low 4.31 324 Very High Very Low 30.53 159 Extreme Very Low 35.67 Right Bank 115 Low Very Low 0.02 264 High Very Low 4.74 329 Very High Very Low 31.80 104 Extreme Very Low 23.94 subtotal 131 S200 (South of 1-40, above crossing) Left Bank 424 Moderate Low 2.37 160 High Low 3.04 Right Bank 421 Low Low 0.05 106 Moderate Low 0.12 53 High Low 0.20 subtotal 6 5200 (South of 1-40, below crossing) Left Bank 1609 Moderate Moderate 12.09 930 High Moderate 18.63 258 Extreme Moderate 80.74 Right Bank 1495 Moderate Moderate 20.21 926 High Moderate 33.39 412 Extreme Moderate 232.09 subtotal 397 Reach S20OTotal 534 Project Total 1074 Banks Assessment for Non -point source Consequences of Sediment (BANCS) Starker: Design Bank Erosion Hazard Stream Index Near Bank Shear Erosion Rate Sub -Reach Length (ft)* (BEHI) Category Stress (To ns/yr) S100 (North of 1-40, above crossing) Left Bank 1076 Low Very Low 0.11 Right Bank 1076 Low Very Low 0.11 subtotal 0 S100 (North of 1-40, below crossing) Left Bank 2355 Low Very Low 0.94 Right Bank 2355 Low Very Low 0.52 subtotal 1 S100 *South of 1-40) Left Bank 2054 Low Low 1.61 Right Bank 2054 Low Low 1.52 subtotal 3 Reach S100 Total 5 S200 (North of 1-40) Left Bank 815 Low Very Low 0.15 Right Bank 815 Low Very Low 0.15 subtotal 0 S200 (South of 1-40, above crossing) F eft Bank 583 Low Low 0.33 ight Bank 583 Low Low 0.06 subtotal 0 S200 (South of 1-40, below crossing) Left Bank 2812 Low Moderate 3.52 Right Bank 2812 Low Moderate 6.34 subtotal 10 Reach S200 Total 11 Project Totol 15 Me 9 C: g O CU 9 N 9 W S100 (North of 1-40, above crossing) o Ground Points • Bankfull Indicators • Water Surface Points Wbkf = 4.87 Dbkf = .68 Abkf = 3.31 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Horizontal Distance (ft) RIVERMORPH CROSS SECTION SUMMARY River Name: Reach Name: Cross Section Name: Survey Date: Starker Mitigation 5100 S100 (North of I-40, 11/05/2014 site above crossing) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Section Data Entry BM Elevation: 0 ft Backsight Rod Reading: 0 ft TAPE FS ELEV NOTE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 4.39 95.61 6 4.76 95.24 15 4.81 95.19 24 5.13 94.87 26 5.35 94.65 LB 31 7.39 92.61 LEW 33.8 7.94 92.06 TW 34.2 7.88 92.12 REW 34.5 6.28 93.17 BKF 35.3 6.83 93.72 RB 40 5.34 94.66 50 5.23 94.77 64 5.08 94.92 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Sectional Geometry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Left Right Floodprone Elevation (ft) 94.28 94.28 94.28 Bankfull Elevation (ft) 93.17 93.17 93.17 Floodprone width (ft) 11.19 ----- ----- Bankfull width (ft) 4.87 2.16 2.71 Entrenchment Ratio 2.3 ----- ----- Mean Depth (ft) 0.68 0.41 0.89 Maximum Depth (ft) 1.11 0.72 1.11 width/Depth Ratio 7.16 5.26 3.04 Bankfull Area (sq ft) 3.31 0.89 2.42 wetted Perimeter (ft) 5.83 3 4.26 Hydraulic Radius (ft) 0.57 0.3 0.57 Begin BKF Station 29.63 29.63 31.79 End BKF Station 34.5 31.79 34.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Calculations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Formula: Rosgen Modified Shields Curve Channel Left side Right side slope 0 0 0 shear stress (lb/sq ft) Movable Particle (mm) O _N W S100 (North of 1-40, below crossing) o Ground Points • Bankfull Indicators • Water Surface Points Wbkf = 15.1 Dbkf = .8 Abkf = 12 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Horizontal Distance (ft) RIVERMORPH CROSS SECTION SUMMARY River Name: Reach Name: Cross Section Name: Survey Date: Starker Mitigation 5100 S100 (North of I-40, 11/05/2014 site below crossing) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Section Data Entry BM Elevation: 0 ft Backsight Rod Reading: 0 ft TAPE FS ELEV NOTE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 5 95 10 5.29 94.71 17 5.77 94.23 LB 20.7 7.12 92.88 22 10.18 89.82 25 10.24 89.76 LEw 32.2 10.39 89.61 Tw 36.5 10.31 89.69 REw 36.78 0 90.51 BKF 37 8.93 91.07 38.4 6.85 93.15 RB 47 6.48 93.52 69 6.29 93.17 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Sectional Geometry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Left Right Floodprone Elevation (ft) 91.41 91.41 91.41 Bankfull Elevation (ft) 90.51 90.51 90.51 Floodprone width (ft) 15.9 ----- ----- Bankfull width (ft) 15.07 7.52 7.55 Entrenchment Ratio 1.06 ----- ----- Mean Depth (ft) 0.8 0.75 0.85 Maximum Depth (ft) 0.9 0.84 0.9 width/Depth Ratio 18.84 10.07 8.88 Bankfull Area (sq ft) 12.01 5.62 6.39 wetted Perimeter (ft) 16.12 8.82 8.98 Hydraulic Radius (ft) 0.75 0.64 0.71 Begin BKF Station 21.71 21.71 29.23 End BKF Station 36.78 29.23 36.78 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Calculations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Formula: Rosgen Modified Shields Curve Channel Left side Right side slope 0 0 0 shear stress (lb/sq ft) Movable Particle (mm) O _N W S100 (South of 1-40) o Ground Points • Bankfull Indicators • Water Surface Points Wbkf = 7.74 Dbkf = 1.3 Abkf = 10 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Horizontal Distance (ft) RIVERMORPH CROSS SECTION SUMMARY River Name: Starker Mitigation Site Reach Name: 5100 Cross Section Name: S100 (South of I-40) Survey Date: 11/05/2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Section Data Entry BM Elevation: 0 ft Backsight Rod Reading: 0 ft TAPE FS ELEV NOTE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 5.42 94.58 7 5.3 94.7 19 5.08 94.92 LB 21 6.52 93.48 25 8.26 91.74 26.3 8.84 91.16 BKF 27 10.04 89.96 LEw 30.6 10.49 89.51 Tw 33.4 10.11 89.89 REw 34.3 8.31 91.69 38 5.36 94.64 RB 46 5.04 94.96 53 5 95 70 5.13 94.87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Sectional Geometry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Left Right Floodprone Elevation (ft) 92.81 92.81 92.81 Bankfull Elevation (ft) 91.16 91.16 91.16 Floodprone width (ft) 13.16 ----- ----- Bankfull width (ft) 7.73 3.87 3.86 Entrenchment Ratio 1.7 ----- ----- Mean Depth (ft) 1.3 1.25 1.34 Maximum Depth (ft) 1.65 1.6 1.65 width/Depth Ratio 5.95 3.09 2.88 Bankfull Area (sq ft) 10.04 4.85 5.19 wetted Perimeter (ft) 9.26 6.18 6.27 Hydraulic Radius (ft) 1.08 0.79 0.83 Begin BKF Station 26.3 26.3 30.17 End BKF Station 34.03 30.17 34.03 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Calculations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Formula: Rosgen Modified Shields Curve Channel Left side Right side Slope 0 0 0 shear stress (lb/sq ft) Movable Particle (mm) 1 0 _0 w S200 (North of 1-40) o Ground Points • Bankfull Indicators • Water Surface Points Wbkf = 3.63 Dbkf = 1.07 Abkf = 3.88 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Horizontal Distance (ft) RIVERMORPH CROSS SECTION SUMMARY River Name: Starker Mitigation Site Reach Name: S200 Cross Section Name: S200 (North of I-40) Survey Date: 11/05/2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Section Data Entry BM Elevation: 0 ft Backsight Rod Reading: 0 ft TAPE FS ELEV NOTE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 0.44 99.56 22 2.19 97.81 26 5.03 94.97 30 7.8 92.2 33 9.2 90.8 37 10.22 89.78 40 11.3 88.7 42 11.84 88.16 LB 44 13.5 86.5 45 0 84.89 BKF 46 16.48 83.52 LEw 47 16.5 83.5 Tw 48 16.48 83.52 REw 49 14.31 85.69 52 11.72 88.28 RB 55 9.3 90.7 59 7 93 63 6.28 93.72 69 6.1 93.9 80 5.33 94.67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Sectional Geometry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Left Right Floodprone Elevation (ft) 86.28 86.28 86.28 Bankfull Elevation (ft) 84.89 84.89 84.89 Floodprone width (ft) 5.55 ----- ----- Bankfull width (ft) 3.63 1.97 1.66 Entrenchment Ratio 1.53 ----- ----- Mean Depth (ft) 1.07 1.03 1.12 Maximum Depth (ft) 1.39 1.39 1.39 width/Depth Ratio 3.39 1.92 1.48 Bankfull Area (sq ft) 3.88 2.02 1.85 wetted Perimeter (ft) 5.21 4.06 3.93 Hydraulic Radius (ft) 0.74 0.5 0.47 Begin BKF Station 45 45 46.97 End BKF Station 48.63 46.97 48.63 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Calculations---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Formula: Rosgen Modified shields curve slope Channel Left side Right side 0 0 0 shear stress (lb/sq ft) Movable Particle (mm) O _N W S200 (South of 1-40, above crossing) o Ground Points • Bankfull Indicators Wbkf = 7.79 Dbkf = .4 • Water Surface Points 7 Abkf = 3.63 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Horizontal Distance (ft) RIVERMORPH CROSS SECTION SUMMARY River Name: Reach Name: Cross Section Name: Survey Date: Starker Mitigation S200 S200 (South of I-40, 11/05/2014 site above crossing) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Section Data Entry BM Elevation: 0 ft Backsight Rod Reading: 0 ft TAPE FS ELEV NOTE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 5.11 94.89 7 5.38 94.62 10.3 5.52 94.48 LB 13.3 7.14 92.86 15 8.05 91.95 17 9.33 90.67 LEw 17.6 9.39 90.61 Tw 19.7 9.29 90.71 REw 23.7 8.63 91.37 BKF 28.5 8.35 91.65 31.3 8.2 91.8 36.3 0 96.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Sectional Geometry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Left Right Floodprone Elevation (ft) 92.13 92.13 92.13 Bankfull Elevation (ft) 91.37 91.37 91.37 Floodprone width (ft) 16.97 ----- ----- Bankfull width (ft) 7.79 7.24 0.55 Entrenchment Ratio 2.18 ----- ----- Mean Depth (ft) 0.47 0.5 0.05 Maximum Depth (ft) 0.76 0.76 0.09 width/Depth Ratio 16.57 14.54 11 Bankfull Area (sq ft) 3.63 3.61 0.02 wetted Perimeter (ft) 8.06 7.59 0.65 Hydraulic Radius (ft) 0.45 0.48 0.04 Begin BKF Station 15.91 15.91 23.15 End BKF Station 23.7 23.15 23.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Calculations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Formula: Rosgen Modified Shields Curve Channel Left side Right side slope 0 0 0 shear stress (lb/sq ft) Movable Particle (mm) O _N W S200 (South of 1-40, below crossing) o Ground Points • Bankfull Indicators • Water Surface Points Wbkf = 5.76 Dbkf = 1.12 Abkf = 6.47 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Horizontal Distance (ft) RIVERMORPH CROSS SECTION SUMMARY River Name: Reach Name: Cross Section Name: Survey Date: Starker Mitigation S200 S200 (South of I-40, 11/05/2014 site below crossing) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Section Data Entry BM Elevation: 0 ft Backsight Rod Reading: 0 ft TAPE FS ELEV NOTE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 4.01 95.99 20 4.98 95.02 29 6.43 93.57 LB 30.1 7.5 92.5 BKF 32 8.87 91.13 LEw 33.4 9.03 90.97 Tw 35.1 8.99 91.01 REw 36.2 6.84 93.16 38 4.35 95.65 RB 42 4.33 95.67 46 4.36 95.64 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cross Sectional Geometry ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Channel Left Right Floodprone Elevation (ft) 94.03 94.03 94.03 Bankfull Elevation (ft) 92.5 92.5 92.5 Floodprone width (ft) 10.68 ----- ----- Bankfull width (ft) 5.76 2.88 2.88 Entrenchment Ratio 1.85 ----- ----- Mean Depth (ft) 1.12 0.94 1.31 Maximum Depth (ft) 1.53 1.48 1.53 width/Depth Ratio 5.14 3.07 2.2 Bankfull Area (sq ft) 6.47 2.7 3.77 wetted Perimeter (ft) 7.13 4.81 5.28 Hydraulic Radius (ft) 0.91 0.56 0.71 Begin BKF Station 30.1 30.1 32.98 End BKF Station 35.86 32.98 35.86 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Calculations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrainment Formula: Rosgen Modified Shields Curve Channel Left side Right side slope 0 0 0 shear stress (lb/sq ft) Movable Particle (mm) S100 (North of 1-40) 00 go— T17 TFU ao ,o 60- 10 50 40 30 20 01, 10 0 001 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 Particle Size (mm) S100 (South of 1-40) 0.01 0.1 1 40 100 1000 100W Particle Size (mm) S200 (North of 1-40) 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 Particle Size (mm) S200 (South of 1-40, below crossing) Particle Size (mm) HYDRIC SOIL & SITE INVESTIGATION Hunsucker Tract Catawba County, North Carolina Prepared for: Ecosystem Planning & Restoration 559 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 150 Raleigh, NC 27606 Prepared by: 324 Blackwell Street, Suite 1200 Durham, NC 27701 (919) 732-1300 Michael G. Wood January 3, 2019 INTRODUCTION Ecosystem Planning & Restoration (EPR) is investigating the feasibility of stream and riparian wetland mitigation within the Catawba River Basin. The project site was accessed from Rock Barn Road, Catawba County, NC. Three Oaks Engineering (Three Oaks) has been retained to perform a Hydric Soil & Site Investigation that describes and classifies the soil within the study area to make a determination as to its present and/or past hydric status. The Study Area is a 1.18-acre wetland delineated by EPR that is a lightly wooded pasture adjacent to a UT to Mull Creek. The UT is mostly incised. METHODOLOGY Prior to performing the evaluation, NRCS soil maps and USGS topographic maps were reviewed. The field investigation was performed on October 12, 2018, by Michael G. Wood, LSS. Soils were evaluated via hand -turned soil auger borings. Each boring was classified based on soil characteristics indicating the hydric soil status. Boring locations were located with a GPS Unit with sub -meter accuracy and are shown on the attached figure. Hydric soil status is based upon the NRCS Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States -A Guide for Identifying and Delineating Hydric Soils (Version 8.1, 2017). RESULTS Two (2) soil borings were advanced within the Study Area (Figure 1), both of which had colluvium material from the surrounding uplands that washed in from anthropogenic activities. The amount of colluvium varied from 8-13 inches. The colluvium material in both borings was determined to be hydric. The original soil below the colluvium also was determined to have been hydric. In all cases, hydric soil indicator F3 Depleted Matrix was the best match. F3 Depleted Matrix. A layer that has a depleted matrix with 60 percent or more chroma 2 or less that has a minimum thickness of either: a. 5 cm (2 inches) if the 5 cm starts at a depth of <10 cm (4 inches) from the soil surface, or b. 15 cm (6 inches), starting at a depth of <25 cm (10 inches) from the soil surface. CONCLUSION Borings 1 and 2 are prime candidates for wetland rehabilitation. It is anticipated that through removal of the cattle, raising the stream level, limited soil alterations, and re -vegetation, the hydrology will be restored and allow the wetland to regain its normal functions. Hunsucker Tract Hydric Soil & Site Investigation January 3, 2019 Three Oaks Job 18-795 1 The findings presented herein represent Three Oaks' professional opinion based on our Hydric Soil & Site Investigation and knowledge of the current regulations regarding wetland mitigation in North Carolina and national criteria for determining hydric soil. Hunsucker Tract Hydric Soil & Site Investigation January 3, 2019 Three Oaks Job 18-795 2 liS 41 w - � n 1.18 Acres 0' Soil Borings . 'n - Existing Wetlands F - 'NC Ce fo Ge gra Information si r !, g°. 9y1��3H1`J��' Hydric Soil Investigation Hunsucker Farm Catawba County, North Carolina Date: January 2019 Scale: 0 25 50 Feet 1 Its I .lob No-: 1$-795 Drawn By: hecked By: ETM MG Figure NC DWC1 Stream Identifiestion Form Version 4.11 Date: f �Lr ProjectlSite:ai'i�[X�•j1+7 Latitude: Evaluator: ��mCSp County: Longitude: Total Points: G Stream is at least intermittent �. J Stream Determination (ci Ephemeral Intermitter Perennia Other /� 1 e.g. Quad Name: 1 1° Li 17 or if z 19 orperennial if >_ 30` A. Geomorphology (Subtotal =) Absent Weak Moderate Strong ,a, Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 2 (3 J 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 1 2, 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle -pool, step -pool, ripple -pool sequence 0 1 2 f) 4, Particle size of stream substrate 0 1 2 3 6. Active/relict floodplain 0 1 2 3 6. Depositional bars or benches 0 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0: 1 2 3 8. Headcuts 0 1 2 3 9. Grade control 0 .5 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 0.5 1 .5 11. Second or greater order channel No = 0 Yes = 3 a artificial ditches are not rated; see discussions in manual R Hvrirnlnnv (RijhtntA = 6 1 12. Presence of Baseflow 0 1 2 3 13. Iron oxidizing bacteria 0 1 2 3 14. Leaf litter `1.5 1 0.5 0 15. Sediment on plants or debris 0 0 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0 0. 1 1,5 17. Soil -based evidence of high water table? No = 0 Yes = 3 ` ('. Rinlnnv M 1htntnI = <i' _ 47 l 18. Fibrous roots in streambed 3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed (3 2 1 0 20. Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 0 1 ''2 3 21. Aquatic Mollusks r. 1 2 3 22. Fish 0 0.6 1 1.5 23. Crayfish 0 0.5 1 1.5 24. Amphibians 0 0.5 1 1.5 25. Algae 0 } 0.5 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FACW = 0.75; OBL =1.5 Other = 0 'perennial streams may also be identified using other methods. See p. 35 of manual. Notes: Sketch: S101 NC DWQ Stream Identification Farm Version 4.11 Date: � ProjectlSite: &,k- ( f J- Evaluator: County: oaf Total Point's; Stream Detern jcircle one) Stream is at least intermittent Ephemeral Intertnittertt erennia ff 2: 19 or perennial if? 30' Latitude: r -7 � 6-r Longitude: - ( ,1(a-713 Z Other e.g. Quad Name: A. Geomorphology (Subtotal = Absent Weak Moderate Strong 1 B, Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 2 3 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 1 2 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle -pool, step -pool, 0 1 3 ripple -pool sequence 1 2 3 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 5. Activelrelict floodplain 0 1 2 3 6. Depositional bars or benches 0 1 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 1 2 3 8. Headcuts 0 ., 2 3 9. Grade control 0.5 10. Natural valley 0 '�0.5 1 1.5 11. Second or greater order channel , No =� � Yes = 3 artificial ditches are not rated; see discussions in manual 12. presence of Baseflow 0 1 l 2. 3 13, Iron oxidizing bacteria 0 1 2 14. Leaf litter 1.5 1 0.5 0 15. Sediment on plants or debris 0 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0 0.5' 1 1.5 17_ Soil -based evidence of high water table? No = 0 es = 3 r` 0, 1^4Z"11f^fo1 _ 1 18. Fibrous roots in streambed 3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 3 2 1 0 20_ Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 1 2 3 21. Aquatic Mollusks CO)1 2 3 22_ Fish 0 0.5 1 1.5 23. Crayfish A 0.5 1.5 24_ Amphibians 0,5 1 1 1.5 25. Algae by 0.5 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FACW = 0.75; OBL = 1.5 Other = 0; *perennial streams may also be identified using other methods. See p_ 35 of manual - Notes: 1 _ yam, 1 f (gyp rG� 1-i�Ms 51 ; Pw6( Sketch: ll 'Tkrft" r � r-Tw � , _ate � 2 f 1 1 Ise e-\OriS � ;bras � � ►3 r � s� U CL ��,� � 0911% NC DWQ Stream Identification Form Version 4.11 Date: ( Project/Site: �/j, t_u Evaluator: IlM County: Total Poems: Stream e7ete atttsnGi Stream is at least intermittent g 5 Ephemeral ntermitteti if ? 19 or perennial if >_ 30" Latitude: '; �5 -7 Z 6 �� Longitude: -g ( r 1_15Z� role one) other Perennial e.g. Quad Name: A. Geomorphology (Subtotal = Absent Weak Moderate Stror 1a. Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 2 3 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 1 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle pool, step -pool, 0 1 2 3 ri le- ooi se uence 1 3 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 5. Active/rolict floodplain 0 1 2 3 6. Depositional bars or benches 0 1 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 1 2 3 $. Headcuts 0 1 2 3 9- Grade control 0 0-5 1 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 .5 1 1.5 11. Second or greater order channel ( No = 0 Yes = 3 a artificial ditches are not rated; see discussions in manual A, U. l 1 Vi VIV +v 1 _ 21 - 3 12. Presence of Baseflow 0 �' 13. Iron oxidizing bacteria 011, 1 2 3 14. Leaf litter .5 1 0.5 0 15_ Sediment on plants or debris 0 0.5' 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0.5 17- Soil -based evidence of high water table? No = 0 es = 3 ,-- 18. Fibrous roots in streambed 3 - 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 3 2 1 0 20. Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 0 1 2 3 21. Aquatic Mollusks 1 2 3 22. Fish 0 0.5 1 1.5 23. Crayfish 0 0.5 1.5 24. Amphibians 0 0,5 i 1.5 25. Algae 0 0.5 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FACW = 0.75; OBL = 1.0 Othe_rr,� "perennial streams may also be identified using other methods_ See p- 35 of manual_ Notes: Sketch: j► ��7 i S rd�� r��n Cu+COt^A y CUnc_41 �W ri t7� 7 0 I^ ""f- GLCCX5 iaalrN�� P� bob V'�O, [ rl� , �� rl � �� t��s f � �•,� a �� f 5 �`'-eel Cry �fi� � l�S�s NC DWQ Stream Identification Form Version 4.11 Date: ' ¢ 2� Project/Site: tr Le" S l a 3 Latitude: Evaluator: A-, TDme y e'p jL County. C-0 sL Longitude: I t � Total Points: Stream Determ ircle one) Other Stream is at least intermittent 2-Z EphemeraF Intermittent erennial e.g. Quad Name: 1J eA04o h if z 19 or Derennial if a 30' �----- A. Geomorphology (Subtotal = (y .�5 ) Absent Weak Moderate Strong 18. Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 2 3 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 1 2 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle -pool, step -pool, 0 2 3 ripple -pool sequence 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 1 3 5. Active/relict floodplain 0 1 2 3 6. Depositional bars or benches 0 ti 1 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 1 2 3 8. Headcuts 0 1 2 3) 9. Grade control 0.5 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 .0.5,1 1 1.5 11. Second or greater order channel No = 0; Yes = 3 a artificial ditches are not rated; see discussions in manual 12. Presence of Baseflow 0 1 L2 3 13. Iron oxidizing bacteria 0 1 2 3 14. Leaf litter 1.5 1 0.5 0 15. Sediment on plants or debris 0.5 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 17. Soil -based evidence of high water table? 0 0.5 (No- = 0_- 1 1.5 Yes = 3 r Din inr..r /Q..i.+..+..I - 1 18. Fibrous roots in streambed 3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 31 2 1 0 20. Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) i 0 1 2 3 21. Aquatic Mollusks 0 1 2 3 22. Fish 0.5 1 1.5 23. Crayfish 0.5 1 1.5 24, Amphibians 0.5 1 1.5 25. Algae 0 0.5 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FACW = 0.75; OBL = 1.5 40ther = 'perennial streams may also be identified using other methods. See p. 35 of manual. �f Notes, C L ., !. J Sketch: NC" DWO Stream Identification Form Version 4.11 Date: �'r 4 �0 ProjecdSite: �( �52 Latitude: '� fj, �-7 31 Evaluator: A 'gr,r5 F- County: �,�b Longitude: Total Points: Stream is at least intermittent /Z� �J Stream Determination (cir Ephemeral Intermittent ,Perennial Other e.g. Quad Name: if? 19 or erennial if? 30" A. Geomorphology (Subtotal Absent Weak Moderate Strong 1' Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 2 3 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 1 2 3 3. In -channel structure: ex, riffle -pool, step -pool, ripple -pool sequence 0 1 2 3 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 1 2 3 5. Activelrelict floodplain 0 1 2 & Depositional bars or benches 0 1 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 1 2 3 8. Headcuts l 0 1 3 9. Grade control 0 0.5 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 0.5 1 1.5 11. Second or greater order channel , N�=O Yes = 3 a artificial ditches are not rated: see discussions in manual R Hvrlrnlnnv (Sichtntal = q (^ 1 12. Presence of Baseflow 0 1 2 3 13. Iron oxidizing bacteria 0 1 2 3 14. Leaf litter 1. 1 0.5 0 15. Sediment on plants or debris 0.5 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0 .5 1 1.5 17. Soil -based evidence of high water table? No = 0 es = 3 C; Rininav tSuhtntal = -4- 1 18 Fibrous roots in streambed 3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 3 1 0 20. Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 0 1 2 3 21 Aquatic Mollusks 1 2 3 22, Fish 0 0.5 1 1.5 23. Crayfish 0 0. 1 1.5 24. Amphibians 0 0.5 1 1.5 25, Algae 0 .5 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FACW = 0.75; OBL = 1.5 Other = 'perennial streams may also be identified using other methods. See p. 35 of manual- Notes:A2 r r r r tom Rd I ' r �• �< <_ Sketch: NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1 USACE AID #: NCDWR #: INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle, and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and number all reaches on the attached map, and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch" section if supplementary measurements were performed. See the NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant. NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA (do not need to be within the assessment area). PROJECT/SITE INFORMATION: 1. Project name (if any): Starker Mitigation Bank 3. Applicant/owner name: WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC 5. County: Catawba 7. River basin: Catawba Date of evaluation: 7/14/2020 Assessor name/organization: Nearest named water body on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Amy James/EPR Mull Creek 8. Site coordinates (decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 35.717069,-81.165934 STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations) 9. Site number (show on attached map): S100 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated (feet): 5,418 11. Channel depth from bed (in riffle, if present) to top of bank (feet): 3-7 ft. ❑Unable to assess channel depth. 12. Channel width at top of bank (feet): 15-20 ft. 13. Is assessment reach a swamp steam? ❑Yes ❑No 14. Feature type: ®Perennial flow ❑Intermittent flow ❑Tidal Marsh Stream STREAM CATEGORY INFORMATION: 15. NC SAM Zone: ❑ Mountains (M) ® Piedmont (P) ❑ Inner Coastal Plain (1) ❑ Outer Coastal Plain (0) 16. Estimated geomorphic ❑A� J ®B valley shape (skip for Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream, flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream, steeper valley slope) 17. Watershed size: (skip ❑Size 1 (< 0.1 mi2) ®Size 2 (0.1 to < 0.5 mil) ❑Size 3 (0.5 to < 5 mil) ❑Size 4 (>_ 5 mil) for Tidal Marsh Stream) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 18. Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑Section 10 water ❑Classified Trout Waters ®Water Supply Watershed (❑l ❑II ❑III ®IV ❑V) ❑Essential Fish Habitat ❑Primary Nursery Area ❑ High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters ❑Publicly owned property ❑NCDWR Riparian buffer rule in effect ❑Nutrient Sensitive Waters ❑Anadromous fish ❑303(d) List ❑CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) ❑Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area. List species: ❑Designated Critical Habitat (list species) 19. Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in "Notes/Sketch" section or attached? ❑Yes ❑No 1. Channel Water — assessment reach metric (skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) ®A Water throughout assessment reach. ❑B No flow, water in pools only. ❑C No water in assessment reach. 2. Evidence of Flow Restriction — assessment reach metric ❑A At least 10% of assessment reach in -stream habitat or riffle -pool sequence is severely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impoundment on flood or ebb within the assessment reach (examples: undersized or perched culverts, causeways that constrict the channel, tidal gates, debris jams, beaver dams). ®B Not 3. Feature Pattern — assessment reach metric ❑A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples: straightening, modification above or below culvert). ®B Not 4. Feature Longitudinal Profile — assessment reach metric ®A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile (examples: channel down -cutting, existing damming, over widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these disturbances). ❑B Not 5. Signs of Active Instability — assessment reach metric Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include active bank failure, active channel down -cutting (head -cut), active widening, and artificial hardening (such as concrete, gabion, rip -rap). ❑A < 10% of channel unstable ❑B 10 to 25% of channel unstable ®C > 25% of channel unstable Streamside Area Interaction — streamside area metric Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). LB RB ❑A ❑A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction ❑B ❑B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down -cutting, aggradation, dredging) that adversely affect reference interaction (examples: limited streamside area access, disruption of flood flows through streamside area, leaky or intermittent bulkheads, causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching [including mosquito ditching]) ®C ®C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction, bulkheads, retaining walls, fill, stream incision, disruption of flood flows through streamside area] or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: impoundments, intensive mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an interstream divide 7. Water Quality Stressors — assessment reach/intertidal zone metric Check all that apply. ❑A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone (milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam) ❑B Excessive sedimentation (burying of stream features or intertidal zone) ❑C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem ❑D Odor (not including natural sulfide odors) ❑E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in "Notes/Sketch" section. ®F Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone ❑G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone ❑H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone (removal, burning, regular mowing, destruction, etc) ❑I Other: (explain in "Notes/Sketch" section) El Little to no stressors 8. Recent Weather — watershed metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought; for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought. ❑A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours ❑B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours ®C No drought conditions 9. Large or Dangerous Stream — assessment reach metric ❑Yes ®No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes, skip to Metric 13 (Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition). 10. Natural In -stream Habitat Types — assessment reach metric 10a. ❑Yes ®No Degraded in -stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive sedimentation, mining, excavation, in -stream hardening [for example, rip -rap], recent dredging, and snagging) (evaluate for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams only, then skip to Metric 12) 10b. Check all that occur (occurs if > 5% coverage of assessment reach) (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams) ❑A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses W ❑F 5% oysters or other natural hard bottoms (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) M E ❑G Submerged aquatic vegetation ®B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent o w ❑H Low -tide refugia (pools) vegetation Y r ❑I Sand bottom ❑C Multiple snags and logs (including lap trees) r ❑J 5% vertical bank along the marsh ❑D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots ❑K Little or no habitat in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter ❑E Little or no habitat ***************************** 'REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS**************************** 11. Bedform and Substrate— assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 11 a. ❑Yes ®No Is assessment reach in a natural sand -bed stream? (skip for Coastal Plain streams) 11 b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es). ®A Riffle -run section (evaluate 11c) ❑B Pool -glide section (evaluate 11d) ❑C Natural bedform absent (skip to Metric 12, Aquatic Life) 11 c. In riffle sections, check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach —whether or not submerged. Check at least one box in each row (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present (NP) = absent, Rare (R) = present but < 10%, Common (C) _ > 10-40%, Abundant (A) _ > 40-70%, Predominant (P) _ > 70%. Cumulative percentages should not exceed 100% for each assessment reach. NP R C A P ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Bedrock/saprolite ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Boulder (256 — 4096 mm) ❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Cobble (64 — 256 mm) ❑ ❑ ❑ ® ❑ Gravel (2 — 64 mm) ❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Sand (.062 — 2 mm) ❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Silt/clay (< 0.062 mm) ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Detritus ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Artificial (rip -rap, concrete, etc.) 11 d. ❑Yes ❑No Are pools filled with sediment? (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12. Aquatic Life — assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) 12a. ®Yes ❑No Was an in -stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual? If No, select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. ❑No Water ❑Other: 12b. ®Yes ❑No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that apply. If No, skip to Metric 13. 1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to "individuals" for Size 1 and 2 streams and "taxa" for Size 3 and 4 streams. ❑ ®Adult frogs ❑ ❑Aquatic reptiles ❑ ❑Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) ❑ ❑Beetles ❑ ®Caddisfly larvae (T) ❑ ❑Asian clam (Corbicula) ❑ ®Crustacean (isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp) ® ❑Damselfly and dragonfly larvae ❑ ❑Dipterans ❑ ❑Mayfly larvae (E) ❑ ❑Megaloptera (alderfly, fishfly, dobsonfly larvae) ❑ ❑Midges/mosquito larvae ❑ ®Mosquito fish (Gambusia) or mud minnows (Umbra pygmaea) ❑ ❑Mussels/Clams (not Corbicula) ❑ ❑Other fish ❑ ❑ Sal amanders/tadpoles ❑ ❑Snails ❑ ❑Stonefly larvae (P) ❑ ❑Tipulid larvae ❑ ❑Worms/leeches 13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff. LB RB ®A ®A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area ❑B ❑B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area ❑C ❑C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area (examples: ditches, fill, soil compaction, livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees, drainage pipes) 14. Streamside Area Water Storage — streamside area metric (skip for Size 1 streams, Tidal Marsh Streams, and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB) of the streamside area. LB RB ❑A ❑A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water >_ 6 inches deep ❑B ❑B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ®C ®C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 15. Wetland Presence — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal wetted perimeter of assessment reach. LB RB ®Y ®Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area? ❑N ❑N 16. Baseflow Contributors — assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach. ®A Streams and/or springs (jurisdictional discharges) ❑B Ponds (include wet detention basins; do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins) ❑C Obstruction passing flow during low -flow periods within the assessment area (beaver dam, leaky dam, bottom -release dam, weir) ®D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating (iron in water indicates seepage) ®E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present) ❑F None of the above 17. Baseflow Detractors — assessment area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all that apply. ❑A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach (includes areas excavated for pump installation) ❑B Obstruction not passing flow during low -flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex: watertight dam, sediment deposit) ❑C Urban stream (>_ 24% impervious surface for watershed) ❑D Evidence that the streamside area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach ❑E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge ®F None of the above 18. Shading — assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider aspect. Consider "leaf -on" condition. ❑A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category (may include gaps associated with natural processes) ®B Degraded (example: scattered trees) ❑C Stream shading is gone or largely absent 19. Buffer Width — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider "vegetated buffer" and "wooded buffer" separately for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) starting at the top of bank out to the first break. Vegetated Wooded LB RB LB RB ®A ®A ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed ❑B ❑B ❑B ®B From 50 to < 100 feet wide ❑C ❑C ®C ❑C From 30 to < 50 feet wide ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D From 10 to < 30 feet wide ❑E ❑E ❑E ❑E < 10 feet wide or no trees 20. Buffer Structure — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Vegetated" Buffer Width). LB RB ❑A ❑A Mature forest ®B ®B Non -mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure ❑C ❑C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees < 10 feet wide ❑D ❑D Maintained shrubs ❑E ❑E Little or no vegetation 21. Buffer Stressors — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all appropriate boxes for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream (Abuts), does not abut but is within 30 feet of stream (< 30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet). If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank, check here and skip to Metric 22: ❑ Abuts < 30 feet 30-50 feet LB RB LB RB LB RB ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A Row crops ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B Maintained turf ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C Pasture (no livestock)/commercial horticulture ®D ®D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D Pasture (active livestock use) 22. Stem Density — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Wooded" Buffer Width). LB RB ❑A ❑A Medium to high stem density ®B ®B Low stem density ❑C ❑C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground 23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation > 10 feet wide. LB RB ®A ®A The total length of buffer breaks is < 25 percent. ❑B ❑B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent. ❑C ❑C The total length of buffer breaks is > 50 percent. 24. Vegetative Composition — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first) as it contributes to assessment reach habitat. LB RB ❑A ❑A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species, with non-native invasive species absent or sparse. ®B ®B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear -cutting or clearing or communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees. ❑C ❑C Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted stands of non -characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation. 25. Conductivity— assessment reach metric (skip for all Coastal Plain streams) 25a. ❑Yes ®No Was conductivity measurement recorded? If No, select one of the following reasons. ❑No Water ❑Other: 25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement (units of microsiemens per centimeter). ❑A < 46 ❑B 46 to < 67 ❑C 67 to < 79 ❑D 79 to < 230 ❑E >_ 230 Notes/Sketch Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1 Stream Site Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Stream Category Pb2 Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) YES Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) NC SAM feature type (perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) Perennial USACE/ NCDWR Function Class Rating Summary All Streams Intermittent (1) Hydrology LOW (2) Baseflow HIGH (2) Flood Flow LOW (3) Streamside Area Attenuation LOW (4) Floodplain Access LOW (4) Wooded Riparian Buffer MEDIUM (4) Microtopography NA (3) Stream Stability LOW (4) Channel Stability LOW (4) Sediment Transport MEDIUM (4) Stream Geomorphology MEDIUM (2) Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction NA (2) Longitudinal Tidal Flow NA (2) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA (3) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA (1) Water Quality MEDIUM (2) Baseflow HIGH (2) Streamside Area Vegetation LOW (3) Upland Pollutant Filtration LOW (3) Thermoregulation MEDIUM (2) Indicators of Stressors YES (2) Aquatic Life Tolerance HIGH (2) Intertidal Zone Filtration NA (1) Habitat LOW (2) In -stream Habitat LOW (3) Baseflow HIGH (3) Substrate MEDIUM (3) Stream Stability LOW (3) In -stream Habitat LOW (2) Stream -side Habitat MEDIUM (3) Stream -side Habitat MEDIUM (3) Thermoregulation MEDIUM (2) Tidal Marsh In -stream Habitat NA (3) Flow Restriction NA (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA (4) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA (4) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA (3) Tidal Marsh In -stream Habitat NA (2) Intertidal Zone NA Overall LOW NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1 USACE AID #: NCDWR #: INSTRUCTIONS: Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle, and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and number all reaches on the attached map, and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch" section if supplementary measurements were performed. See the NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant. NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA (do not need to be within the assessment area). PROJECT/SITE INFORMATION: 1. Project name (if any): Starker Mitigation Bank 3. Applicant/owner name: WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC 5. County: Catawba 7. River basin: Catawba Date of evaluation: 7/14/2020 Assessor name/organization: Nearest named water body on USGS 7.5-minute quad: Amy James/EPR Mull Creek 8. Site coordinates (decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): 35.713045,-81.172890 STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations) 9. Site number (show on attached map): S200 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated (feet): 4,220 11. Channel depth from bed (in riffle, if present) to top of bank (feet): 4-10 ft. ❑Unable to assess channel depth. 12. Channel width at top of bank (feet): 12-18 ft. 13. Is assessment reach a swamp steam? ❑Yes ❑No 14. Feature type: ®Perennial flow ❑Intermittent flow ❑Tidal Marsh Stream STREAM CATEGORY INFORMATION: 15. NC SAM Zone: ❑ Mountains (M) ® Piedmont (P) ❑ Inner Coastal Plain (1) ❑ Outer Coastal Plain (0) 16. Estimated geomorphic ❑A� J ®B valley shape (skip for Tidal Marsh Stream): (more sinuous stream, flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream, steeper valley slope) 17. Watershed size: (skip ❑Size 1 (< 0.1 mi2) ®Size 2 (0.1 to < 0.5 mil) ❑Size 3 (0.5 to < 5 mil) ❑Size 4 (>_ 5 mil) for Tidal Marsh Stream) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 18. Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑Section 10 water ❑Classified Trout Waters ❑Water Supply Watershed (❑l ❑II ❑III ®IV ❑V) ❑Essential Fish Habitat ❑Primary Nursery Area ❑ High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters ❑Publicly owned property ❑NCDWR Riparian buffer rule in effect ❑Nutrient Sensitive Waters ❑Anadromous fish ❑303(d) List ❑CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) ❑Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area. List species: ❑Designated Critical Habitat (list species) 19. Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in "Notes/Sketch" section or attached? ❑Yes ❑No 1. Channel Water — assessment reach metric (skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) ®A Water throughout assessment reach. ❑B No flow, water in pools only. ❑C No water in assessment reach. 2. Evidence of Flow Restriction — assessment reach metric ®A At least 10% of assessment reach in -stream habitat or riffle -pool sequence is severely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impoundment on flood or ebb within the assessment reach (examples: undersized or perched culverts, causeways that constrict the channel, tidal gates, debris jams, beaver dams). ❑B Not 3. Feature Pattern — assessment reach metric ❑A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples: straightening, modification above or below culvert). ®B Not 4. Feature Longitudinal Profile — assessment reach metric ®A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile (examples: channel down -cutting, existing damming, over widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these disturbances). ❑B Not 5. Signs of Active Instability — assessment reach metric Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include active bank failure, active channel down -cutting (head -cut), active widening, and artificial hardening (such as concrete, gabion, rip -rap). ❑A < 10% of channel unstable ❑B 10 to 25% of channel unstable ®C > 25% of channel unstable Streamside Area Interaction — streamside area metric Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). LB RB ❑A ❑A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction ❑B ❑B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down -cutting, aggradation, dredging) that adversely affect reference interaction (examples: limited streamside area access, disruption of flood flows through streamside area, leaky or intermittent bulkheads, causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching [including mosquito ditching]) ®C ®C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction, bulkheads, retaining walls, fill, stream incision, disruption of flood flows through streamside area] or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: impoundments, intensive mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an interstream divide 7. Water Quality Stressors — assessment reach/intertidal zone metric Check all that apply. ❑A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone (milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam) ❑B Excessive sedimentation (burying of stream features or intertidal zone) ❑C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem ❑D Odor (not including natural sulfide odors) ❑E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in "Notes/Sketch" section. ®F Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone ❑G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone ❑H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone (removal, burning, regular mowing, destruction, etc) ❑I Other: (explain in "Notes/Sketch" section) El Little to no stressors 8. Recent Weather — watershed metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought; for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought. ❑A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours ❑B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours ®C No drought conditions 9. Large or Dangerous Stream — assessment reach metric ❑Yes ®No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes, skip to Metric 13 (Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition). 10. Natural In -stream Habitat Types — assessment reach metric 10a. ❑Yes ®No Degraded in -stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive sedimentation, mining, excavation, in -stream hardening [for example, rip -rap], recent dredging, and snagging) (evaluate for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams only, then skip to Metric 12) 10b. Check all that occur (occurs if > 5% coverage of assessment reach) (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams) ❑A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses W ❑F 5% oysters or other natural hard bottoms (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) M E ❑G Submerged aquatic vegetation ®B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent o w ❑H Low -tide refugia (pools) vegetation Y r ❑I Sand bottom ❑C Multiple snags and logs (including lap trees) r ❑J 5% vertical bank along the marsh ❑D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots ❑K Little or no habitat in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter ❑E Little or no habitat ***************************** 'REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS**************************** 11. Bedform and Substrate— assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 11 a. ❑Yes ®No Is assessment reach in a natural sand -bed stream? (skip for Coastal Plain streams) 11 b. Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es). ®A Riffle -run section (evaluate 11c) ❑B Pool -glide section (evaluate 11d) ❑C Natural bedform absent (skip to Metric 12, Aquatic Life) 11 c. In riffle sections, check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach —whether or not submerged. Check at least one box in each row (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present (NP) = absent, Rare (R) = present but < 10%, Common (C) _ > 10-40%, Abundant (A) _ > 40-70%, Predominant (P) _ > 70%. Cumulative percentages should not exceed 100% for each assessment reach. NP R C A P ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Bedrock/saprolite ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Boulder (256 — 4096 mm) ❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Cobble (64 — 256 mm) ❑ ❑ ❑ ® ❑ Gravel (2 — 64 mm) ❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ Sand (.062 — 2 mm) ❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ Silt/clay (< 0.062 mm) ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Detritus ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Artificial (rip -rap, concrete, etc.) 11 d. ❑Yes ❑No Are pools filled with sediment? (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12. Aquatic Life — assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) 12a. ®Yes ❑No Was an in -stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual? If No, select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. ❑No Water ❑Other: 12b. ®Yes ❑No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that apply. If No, skip to Metric 13. 1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to "individuals" for Size 1 and 2 streams and "taxa" for Size 3 and 4 streams. ❑ ®Adult frogs ❑ ❑Aquatic reptiles ❑ ❑Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) ❑ ❑Beetles ❑ ®Caddisfly larvae (T) ❑ ❑Asian clam (Corbicula) ❑ ®Crustacean (isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp) ❑ ❑Damselfly and dragonfly larvae ❑ ❑Dipterans ❑ ❑Mayfly larvae (E) ❑ ❑Megaloptera (alderfly, fishfly, dobsonfly larvae) ❑ ❑Midges/mosquito larvae ❑ ®Mosquito fish (Gambusia) or mud minnows (Umbra pygmaea) ❑ ❑Mussels/Clams (not Corbicula) ❑ ❑Other fish ® ❑ Sal amanders/tadpoles ❑ ❑Snails ❑ ❑Stonefly larvae (P) ❑ ❑Tipulid larvae ❑ ❑Worms/leeches 13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff. LB RB ®A ®A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area ❑B ❑B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area ❑C ❑C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area (examples: ditches, fill, soil compaction, livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees, drainage pipes) 14. Streamside Area Water Storage — streamside area metric (skip for Size 1 streams, Tidal Marsh Streams, and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB) of the streamside area. LB RB ❑A ❑A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water >_ 6 inches deep ❑B ❑B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ®C ®C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 15. Wetland Presence — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal wetted perimeter of assessment reach. LB RB ❑Y ®Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area? ®N ❑N 16. Baseflow Contributors — assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach. ®A Streams and/or springs (jurisdictional discharges) ❑B Ponds (include wet detention basins; do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins) ❑C Obstruction passing flow during low -flow periods within the assessment area (beaver dam, leaky dam, bottom -release dam, weir) ®D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating (iron in water indicates seepage) ®E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present) ❑F None of the above 17. Baseflow Detractors — assessment area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all that apply. ❑A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach (includes areas excavated for pump installation) ❑B Obstruction not passing flow during low -flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex: watertight dam, sediment deposit) ❑C Urban stream (>_ 24% impervious surface for watershed) ❑D Evidence that the streamside area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach ❑E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge ®F None of the above 18. Shading — assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider aspect. Consider "leaf -on" condition. ❑A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category (may include gaps associated with natural processes) ®B Degraded (example: scattered trees) ❑C Stream shading is gone or largely absent 19. Buffer Width — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider "vegetated buffer" and "wooded buffer" separately for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) starting at the top of bank out to the first break. Vegetated Wooded LB RB LB RB ®A ®A ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B From 50 to < 100 feet wide ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C From 30 to < 50 feet wide ❑D ❑D ®D ®D From 10 to < 30 feet wide ❑E ❑E ❑E ❑E < 10 feet wide or no trees 20. Buffer Structure — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Vegetated" Buffer Width). LB RB ❑A ❑A Mature forest ®B ®B Non -mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure ❑C ❑C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees < 10 feet wide ❑D ❑D Maintained shrubs ❑E ❑E Little or no vegetation 21. Buffer Stressors — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all appropriate boxes for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream (Abuts), does not abut but is within 30 feet of stream (< 30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet). If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank, check here and skip to Metric 22: ❑ Abuts < 30 feet 30-50 feet LB RB LB RB LB RB ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A ❑A Row crops ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B ❑B Maintained turf ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C ❑C Pasture (no livestock)/commercial horticulture ®D ®D ❑D ❑D ❑D ❑D Pasture (active livestock use) 22. Stem Density — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Wooded" Buffer Width). LB RB ❑A ❑A Medium to high stem density ®B ®B Low stem density ❑C ❑C No wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground 23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation > 10 feet wide. LB RB ®A ®A The total length of buffer breaks is < 25 percent. ❑B ❑B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent. ❑C ❑C The total length of buffer breaks is > 50 percent. 24. Vegetative Composition — streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first) as it contributes to assessment reach habitat. LB RB ❑A ❑A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species, with non-native invasive species absent or sparse. ®B ®B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear -cutting or clearing or communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees. ❑C ❑C Vegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted stands of non -characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation. 25. Conductivity— assessment reach metric (skip for all Coastal Plain streams) 25a. ❑Yes ®No Was conductivity measurement recorded? If No, select one of the following reasons. ❑No Water ❑Other: 25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement (units of microsiemens per centimeter). ❑A < 46 ❑B 46 to < 67 ❑C 67 to < 79 ❑D 79 to < 230 ❑E >_ 230 Notes/Sketch Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 2.1 Stream Site Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Stream Category Pb2 Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) NO Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) NC SAM feature type (perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) Perennial USACE/ NCDWR Function Class Rating Summary All Streams Intermittent (1) Hydrology LOW (2) Baseflow HIGH (2) Flood Flow LOW (3) Streamside Area Attenuation LOW (4) Floodplain Access LOW (4) Wooded Riparian Buffer LOW (4) Microtopography NA (3) Stream Stability MEDIUM (4) Channel Stability LOW (4) Sediment Transport HIGH (4) Stream Geomorphology MEDIUM (2) Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction NA (2) Longitudinal Tidal Flow NA (2) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA (3) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA (1) Water Quality MEDIUM (2) Baseflow HIGH (2) Streamside Area Vegetation LOW (3) Upland Pollutant Filtration LOW (3) Thermoregulation MEDIUM (2) Indicators of Stressors YES (2) Aquatic Life Tolerance HIGH (2) Intertidal Zone Filtration NA (1) Habitat LOW (2) In -stream Habitat LOW (3) Baseflow HIGH (3) Substrate HIGH (3) Stream Stability LOW (3) In -stream Habitat LOW (2) Stream -side Habitat MEDIUM (3) Stream -side Habitat MEDIUM (3) Thermoregulation MEDIUM (2) Tidal Marsh In -stream Habitat NA (3) Flow Restriction NA (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability NA (4) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA (4) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology NA (3) Tidal Marsh In -stream Habitat NA (2) Intertidal Zone NA Overall LOW NC WAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies user Manual version b.0 USACE AID # NCDWR# Project Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Evaluation 7/14/2020 Applicant/Owner Name WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC Wetland Site Name Wetland A Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Level III Ecoregion Piedmont Nearest Named Water Body Mull Creek River Basin Catawba USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit 03050101 County Catawba NCDWR Region Mooresville I-1 Yes F No Precipitation within 48 hrs? Latitude/Lonaitude (deci-dearees) 35.726300.-81.175047 Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on the last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) • Surface and sub -surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) • Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) • Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear -cutting, exotics, etc.) Is the assessment area intensively managed? ❑ Yes ® No Regulatory Considerations -Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑ Anadromous fish ❑ Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species ❑ NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect ❑ Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) ❑ Publicly owned property ❑ N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) ❑ Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout ❑ Designated NCNHP reference community ❑ Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) ❑ Blackwater ® Brownwater ❑ Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) ❑ Lunar ❑ Wind ❑ Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island? ❑ Yes ® No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? ❑ Yes ® No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions? ❑ Yes ® No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence an effect. GS VS ❑A ❑A Not severely altered ®B ®B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire -plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) Surface and Sub -Surface Storage Capacity and Duration — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub -surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch <_ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub -surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf Sub ®A ®A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. ❑B ❑B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). ❑C ❑C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). Water Storage/Surface Relief — assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a. ❑A ❑A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 deep ❑B ❑B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep ®C ®C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ❑D ❑D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b. ❑A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet ❑B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet ®C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 4. Soil Texture/Structure — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a. ❑A Sandy soil ®B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) ❑C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features ❑D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil ❑E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b. ❑A Soil ribbon < 1 inch ®B Soil ribbon >_ 1 inch 4c. ®A No peat or muck presence ❑B A peat or muck presence Discharge into Wetland — opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub -surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub -surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub ®A ®A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area ❑B ❑B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area El El Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use — opportunity metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). WS 5M 2M ❑A ❑A ❑A > 10% impervious surfaces ❑B ❑B ❑B Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants ®C ®C ®C >_ 20% coverage of pasture ®D ®D ®D >_ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) ❑E ❑E ❑E >_ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb ❑F ❑F ❑F >_ 20% coverage of clear-cut land ❑G ❑G ❑G Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage and/or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer —assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is wetland? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the .water body. Make bufferjudgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.) ❑A >_ 50 feet ®B From 30 to < 50 feet ❑C From 15 to < 30 feet ❑D From 5 to < 15 feet ❑E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ®<_ 15-feet wide ❑> 15-feet wide ❑ Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? ®Yes ❑No 7e. Is stream or other open water sheltered or exposed? ®Sheltered — adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. ❑Exposed — adjacent open water with width >_ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp Forest only) Check a box in each column for riverine wetlands only. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet ❑B ®B From 80 to < 100 feet ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 80 feet ❑D ❑D From 40 to < 50 feet ❑E ❑E From 30 to < 40 feet ❑F ❑F From 15 to < 30 feet ❑G ❑G From 5 to < 15 feet ❑H ❑H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Answer for assessment area dominant landform. ®A Evidence of short -duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) ❑B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation ❑C Evidence of long -duration inundation or very long -duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands and all marshes) Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). ®A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. ❑B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. El Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select "K" for the FW column. WT WC FW (if applicable) ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ❑D ❑D From 25 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E ❑E From 10 to < 25 acres ❑F ❑F ❑F From 5 to < 10 acres ®G ®G ❑G From 1 to < 5 acres ❑H ❑H ®H From 0.5 to < 1 acre ❑I ❑I ❑I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre ❑J ❑J ❑J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre ❑K ❑K ❑K < 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness — wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) ❑A Pocosin is the full extent (>_ 90%) of its natural landscape size. ❑B Pocosin type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas — landscape condition metric 13a. Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four -lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four -lane road or wider, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide. Well Loosely ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ®D From 10 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E < 10 acres ❑F ❑F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b. Evaluate for marshes only. ❑Yes ❑No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non -forested areas >_ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors, and clear -cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directions? If the assessment area is clear cut, select option "C." ❑A 0 ❑B 1 to 4 ®C 5to8 15. Vegetative Composition — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) ❑A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. ❑B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata. ®C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non - characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16. Vegetative Diversity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non -tidal Freshwater Marsh only) ❑A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (< 10% cover of exotics). ®B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. ❑C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (> 50 % cover of exotics). 17. Vegetative Structure —assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b. Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non -marsh wetlands. ❑A >_ 25% coverage of vegetation ❑B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c. Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non -marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. AA WT o ❑A ❑A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes m ®B ®B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps U ❑C ❑C Canopy sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense mid-story/sapling layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer ®C ®C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense shrub layer ®B ®B Moderate density shrub layer U) ❑C ❑C Shrub layer sparse or absent -a ❑A ❑A Dense herb layer _ ®B ®B Moderate density herb layer ❑C ❑C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags — wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 19. Diameter Class Distribution —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. ❑B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12 inch DBH. ®C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Include both natural debris and man -placed natural debris. ❑A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 21. Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion — wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non -Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. ❑A ❑B ❑C ❑D 22. Hydrologic Connectivity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D. ❑A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. ®B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. N otes NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0 Wetland Site Name Wetland A Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) NO Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) NO Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) YES Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) NO Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) NO Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) NO Sub -function Ratina Summar Function Sub -function Metrics Rating Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Sub -surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NO Particulate Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Soluble Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NO Physical Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NO Pollution Change Condition NA Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Habitat Physical Structure Condition LOW Landscape Patch Structure Condition LOW Veaetation Composition Condition LOW Function Ratina Summar Function Metrics Rating Hydrology Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NO Habitat Condition LOW Overall Wetland Rating MEDIUM NC WAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies user Manual version b.0 USACE AID # NCDWR# Project Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Evaluation 7/14/2020 Applicant/Owner Name WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC Wetland Site Name Wetland B Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Level III Ecoregion Piedmont Nearest Named Water Body Mull Creek River Basin Catawba USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit 03050101 County Catawba NCDWR Region Mooresville I-1 Yes F No Precipitation within 48 hrs? Latitude/Lonaitude (deci-dearees) 35.724651.-81.173859 Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on the last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) • Surface and sub -surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) • Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) • Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear -cutting, exotics, etc.) Is the assessment area intensively managed? ❑ Yes ® No Regulatory Considerations -Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑ Anadromous fish ❑ Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species ❑ NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect ❑ Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) ❑ Publicly owned property ❑ N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) ❑ Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout ❑ Designated NCNHP reference community ❑ Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) ❑ Blackwater ® Brownwater ❑ Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) ❑ Lunar ❑ Wind ❑ Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island? ❑ Yes ® No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? ❑ Yes ® No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions? ❑ Yes ® No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence an effect. GS VS ®A ®A Not severely altered ❑B ❑B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire -plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) Surface and Sub -Surface Storage Capacity and Duration — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub -surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch <_ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub -surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf Sub ®A ®A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. ❑B ❑B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). ❑C ❑C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). Water Storage/Surface Relief — assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a. ❑A ❑A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 deep ❑B ❑B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep ❑C ❑C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ®D ®D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b. ❑A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet ®B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet ❑C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 4. Soil Texture/Structure — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a. ❑A Sandy soil ®B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) ❑C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features ❑D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil ❑E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b. ❑A Soil ribbon < 1 inch ®B Soil ribbon >_ 1 inch 4c. ®A No peat or muck presence ❑B A peat or muck presence Discharge into Wetland — opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub -surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub -surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub ®A ®A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area ❑B ❑B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area El El Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use — opportunity metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). WS 5M 2M ❑A ❑A ❑A > 10% impervious surfaces ❑B ❑B ❑B Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants ®C ®C ®C >_ 20% coverage of pasture ❑D ❑D ❑D >_ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) ❑E ❑E ❑E >_ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb ❑F ❑F ❑F >_ 20% coverage of clear-cut land ❑G ❑G ❑G Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage and/or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer —assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is wetland? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the .water body. Make bufferjudgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.) ❑A >_ 50 feet ❑B From 30 to < 50 feet ❑C From 15 to < 30 feet ®D From 5 to < 15 feet ❑E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ®<_ 15-feet wide ❑> 15-feet wide ❑ Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? ❑Yes ®No 7e. Is stream or other open water sheltered or exposed? ®Sheltered — adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. ❑Exposed — adjacent open water with width >_ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp Forest only) Check a box in each column for riverine wetlands only. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet ❑B ❑B From 80 to < 100 feet ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 80 feet ❑D ❑D From 40 to < 50 feet ❑E ❑E From 30 to < 40 feet ❑F ❑F From 15 to < 30 feet ❑G ®G From 5 to < 15 feet ❑H ❑H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Answer for assessment area dominant landform. ❑A Evidence of short -duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) ❑B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation ®C Evidence of long -duration inundation or very long -duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands and all marshes) Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). ®A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. ❑B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. El Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select "K" for the FW column. WT WC FW (if applicable) ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ❑D ❑D From 25 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E ❑E From 10 to < 25 acres ❑F ❑F ❑F From 5 to < 10 acres ❑G ❑G ❑G From 1 to < 5 acres ❑H ❑H ❑H From 0.5 to < 1 acre ❑I ❑I ❑I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre ®J ®J ®J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre ❑K ❑K ❑K < 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness — wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) ❑A Pocosin is the full extent (>_ 90%) of its natural landscape size. ❑B Pocosin type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas — landscape condition metric 13a. Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four -lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four -lane road or wider, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide. Well Loosely ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ®D From 10 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E < 10 acres ❑F ❑F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b. Evaluate for marshes only. ❑Yes ❑No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non -forested areas >_ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors, and clear -cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directions? If the assessment area is clear cut, select option "C." ❑A 0 ®B 1 to 4 ❑C 5to8 15. Vegetative Composition — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) ❑A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. ❑B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata. ®C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non - characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16. Vegetative Diversity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non -tidal Freshwater Marsh only) ❑A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (< 10% cover of exotics). ®B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. ❑C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (> 50 % cover of exotics). 17. Vegetative Structure —assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b. Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non -marsh wetlands. ❑A >_ 25% coverage of vegetation ❑B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c. Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non -marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. AA WT o ❑A ❑A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes m ®B ®B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps U ❑C ❑C Canopy sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense mid-story/sapling layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer ®C ®C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense shrub layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density shrub layer U) ®C ®C Shrub layer sparse or absent -a ❑A ❑A Dense herb layer _ ®B ®B Moderate density herb layer ❑C ❑C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags — wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 19. Diameter Class Distribution —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. ❑B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12 inch DBH. ®C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Include both natural debris and man -placed natural debris. ❑A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 21. Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion — wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non -Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. ❑A ❑B ❑C ❑D 22. Hydrologic Connectivity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D. ®A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. ❑B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. N otes Oxbox wetland that holds standing water for longer periods; outlets to stream on either end. NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0 Wetland Site Name Wetland B Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) YES Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) NO Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) NO Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) YES Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) NO Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) NO Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) NO Sub -function Ratina Summar Function Sub -function Metrics Rating Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Sub -surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition LOW Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Particulate Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Soluble Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Physical Change Condition LOW Condition/Opportunity LOW Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Pollution Change Condition NA Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Habitat Physical Structure Condition LOW Landscape Patch Structure Condition LOW Veaetation Composition Condition LOW Function Ratina Summar Function Metrics Rating Hydrology Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Habitat Condition LOW Overall Wetland Rating MEDIUM NC WAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies user Manual version b.0 USACE AID # NCDWR# Project Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Evaluation 7/14/2020 Applicant/Owner Name WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC Wetland Site Name Wetland C Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Level III Ecoregion Piedmont Nearest Named Water Body Mull Creek River Basin Catawba USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit 03050101 County Catawba NCDWR Region Mooresville I-1 Yes F No Precipitation within 48 hrs? Latitude/Lonaitude (deci-dearees) 35.724229.-81.173741 Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on the last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) • Surface and sub -surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) • Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) • Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear -cutting, exotics, etc.) Is the assessment area intensively managed? ❑ Yes ® No Regulatory Considerations -Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑ Anadromous fish ❑ Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species ❑ NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect ❑ Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) ❑ Publicly owned property ❑ N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) ❑ Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout ❑ Designated NCNHP reference community ❑ Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) ❑ Blackwater ® Brownwater ❑ Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) ❑ Lunar ❑ Wind ❑ Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island? ❑ Yes ® No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? ❑ Yes ® No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions? ❑ Yes ® No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence an effect. GS VS ❑A ❑A Not severely altered ®B ®B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire -plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) Surface and Sub -Surface Storage Capacity and Duration — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub -surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch <_ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub -surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf Sub ®A ®A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. ❑B ❑B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). ❑C ❑C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). Water Storage/Surface Relief — assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a. ❑A ❑A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 deep ❑B ❑B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep ❑C ❑C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ®D ®D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b. ❑A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet ❑B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet ®C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 4. Soil Texture/Structure — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a. ❑A Sandy soil ®B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) ❑C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features ❑D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil ❑E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b. ❑A Soil ribbon < 1 inch ®B Soil ribbon >_ 1 inch 4c. ®A No peat or muck presence ❑B A peat or muck presence Discharge into Wetland — opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub -surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub -surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub ®A ®A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area ❑B ❑B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area El El Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use — opportunity metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). WS 5M 2M ❑A ❑A ❑A > 10% impervious surfaces ❑B ❑B ❑B Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants ®C ®C ®C >_ 20% coverage of pasture ❑D ❑D El >_ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) ❑E ❑E ❑E >_ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb ❑F ❑F ❑F >_ 20% coverage of clear-cut land ❑G ❑G ❑G Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage and/or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer —assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is wetland? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the .water body. Make bufferjudgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.) ❑A >_ 50 feet ❑B From 30 to < 50 feet ®C From 15 to < 30 feet ❑D From 5 to < 15 feet ❑E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ®<_ 15-feet wide ❑> 15-feet wide ❑ Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? ❑Yes ®No 7e. Is stream or other open water sheltered or exposed? ®Sheltered — adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. ❑Exposed — adjacent open water with width >_ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp Forest only) Check a box in each column for riverine wetlands only. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet ❑B ❑B From 80 to < 100 feet ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 80 feet ❑D ❑D From 40 to < 50 feet ❑E ❑E From 30 to < 40 feet ❑F ®F From 15 to < 30 feet ❑G ❑G From 5 to < 15 feet ❑H ❑H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Answer for assessment area dominant landform. ®A Evidence of short -duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) ❑B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation ❑C Evidence of long -duration inundation or very long -duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands and all marshes) Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). ®A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. ❑B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. El Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select "K" for the FW column. WT WC FW (if applicable) ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ❑D ❑D From 25 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E ❑E From 10 to < 25 acres ❑F ❑F ❑F From 5 to < 10 acres ❑G ❑G ❑G From 1 to < 5 acres ❑H ❑H ❑H From 0.5 to < 1 acre ❑I ❑I ❑I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre ®J ®J ®J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre ❑K ❑K ❑K < 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness — wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) ❑A Pocosin is the full extent (>_ 90%) of its natural landscape size. ❑B Pocosin type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas — landscape condition metric 13a. Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four -lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four -lane road or wider, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide. Well Loosely ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ®D From 10 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E < 10 acres ❑F ❑F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b. Evaluate for marshes only. ❑Yes ❑No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non -forested areas >_ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors, and clear -cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directions? If the assessment area is clear cut, select option "C." ❑A 0 ®B 1 to 4 ❑C 5to8 15. Vegetative Composition — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) ❑A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. ❑B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata. ®C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non - characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16. Vegetative Diversity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non -tidal Freshwater Marsh only) ❑A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (< 10% cover of exotics). ®B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. ❑C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (> 50 % cover of exotics). 17. Vegetative Structure —assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b. Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non -marsh wetlands. ❑A >_ 25% coverage of vegetation ❑B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c. Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non -marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. AA WT o ❑A ❑A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes m ®B ®B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps U ❑C ❑C Canopy sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense mid-story/sapling layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer ®C ®C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense shrub layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density shrub layer U) ®C ®C Shrub layer sparse or absent -a ❑A ❑A Dense herb layer _ ❑B ❑B Moderate density herb layer ®C ®C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags — wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 19. Diameter Class Distribution —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. ®B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12 inch DBH. ❑C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Include both natural debris and man -placed natural debris. ❑A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 21. Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion — wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non -Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. ❑A ❑B ❑C ❑D 22. Hydrologic Connectivity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D. ®A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. ❑B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. N otes NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0 Wetland Site Name Wetland C Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) NO Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) NO Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) YES Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) NO Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) NO Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) NO Sub -function Ratina Summar Function Sub -function Metrics Rating Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Sub -surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Particulate Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Soluble Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Physical Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Pollution Change Condition NA Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Habitat Physical Structure Condition LOW Landscape Patch Structure Condition LOW Veaetation Composition Condition LOW Function Ratina Summar Function Metrics Rating Hydrology Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Habitat Condition LOW Overall Wetland Rating MEDIUM NC WAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies user Manual version b.0 USACE AID # NCDWR# Project Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Evaluation 7/14/2020 Applicant/Owner Name WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC Wetland Site Name Wetland D Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Level III Ecoregion Piedmont Nearest Named Water Body Mull Creek River Basin Catawba USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit 03050101 County Catawba NCDWR Region Mooresville I-1 Yes F No Precipitation within 48 hrs? Latitude/Lonaitude (deci-dearees) 35.724193.-81.173371 Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on the last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) • Surface and sub -surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) • Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) • Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear -cutting, exotics, etc.) Is the assessment area intensively managed? ❑ Yes ® No Regulatory Considerations -Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑ Anadromous fish ❑ Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species ❑ NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect ❑ Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) ❑ Publicly owned property ❑ N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) ❑ Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout ❑ Designated NCNHP reference community ❑ Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) ❑ Blackwater ® Brownwater ❑ Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) ❑ Lunar ❑ Wind ❑ Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island? ❑ Yes ® No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? ❑ Yes ® No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions? ❑ Yes ® No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence an effect. GS VS ❑A ❑A Not severely altered ®B ®B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire -plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) Surface and Sub -Surface Storage Capacity and Duration — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub -surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch <_ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub -surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf Sub ®A ®A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. ❑B ❑B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). ❑C ❑C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). Water Storage/Surface Relief — assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a. ❑A ❑A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 deep ❑B ❑B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep ❑C ❑C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ®D ®D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b. ❑A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet ❑B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet ®C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 4. Soil Texture/Structure — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a. ❑A Sandy soil ®B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) ❑C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features ❑D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil ❑E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b. ❑A Soil ribbon < 1 inch ®B Soil ribbon >_ 1 inch 4c. ®A No peat or muck presence ❑B A peat or muck presence Discharge into Wetland — opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub -surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub -surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub ®A ®A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area ❑B ❑B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area El El Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use — opportunity metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). WS 5M 2M ❑A ❑A ❑A > 10% impervious surfaces ❑B ❑B ❑B Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants ®C ®C ®C >_ 20% coverage of pasture ❑D ❑D El >_ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) ❑E ❑E ❑E >_ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb ❑F ❑F ❑F >_ 20% coverage of clear-cut land ❑G ❑G ❑G Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage and/or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer —assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is wetland? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the .water body. Make bufferjudgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.) ❑A >_ 50 feet ®B From 30 to < 50 feet ❑C From 15 to < 30 feet ❑D From 5 to < 15 feet ❑E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ®<_ 15-feet wide ❑> 15-feet wide ❑ Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? ❑Yes ®No 7e. Is stream or other open water sheltered or exposed? ®Sheltered — adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. ❑Exposed — adjacent open water with width >_ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp Forest only) Check a box in each column for riverine wetlands only. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet ❑B ❑B From 80 to < 100 feet ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 80 feet ❑D ❑D From 40 to < 50 feet ❑E ®E From 30 to < 40 feet ❑F ❑F From 15 to < 30 feet ❑G ❑G From 5 to < 15 feet ❑H ❑H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Answer for assessment area dominant landform. ®A Evidence of short -duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) ❑B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation ❑C Evidence of long -duration inundation or very long -duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands and all marshes) Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). ®A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. ❑B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. El Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select "K" for the FW column. WT WC FW (if applicable) ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ❑D ❑D From 25 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E ❑E From 10 to < 25 acres ❑F ❑F ❑F From 5 to < 10 acres ❑G ❑G ❑G From 1 to < 5 acres ❑H ❑H ❑H From 0.5 to < 1 acre ❑I ❑I ❑I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre ®J ®J ❑J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre ❑K ❑K ®K < 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness — wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) ❑A Pocosin is the full extent (>_ 90%) of its natural landscape size. ❑B Pocosin type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas — landscape condition metric 13a. Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four -lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four -lane road or wider, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide. Well Loosely ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ®D From 10 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E < 10 acres ❑F ❑F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b. Evaluate for marshes only. ❑Yes ❑No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non -forested areas >_ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors, and clear -cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directions? If the assessment area is clear cut, select option "C." ❑A 0 ®B 1 to 4 ❑C 5to8 15. Vegetative Composition — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) ❑A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. ❑B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata. ®C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non - characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16. Vegetative Diversity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non -tidal Freshwater Marsh only) ❑A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (< 10% cover of exotics). ®B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. ❑C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (> 50 % cover of exotics). 17. Vegetative Structure —assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b. Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non -marsh wetlands. ❑A >_ 25% coverage of vegetation ❑B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c. Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non -marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. AA WT o ❑A ❑A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes m ❑B ❑B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps CU ®C ®C Canopy sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense mid-story/sapling layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer ®C ®C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense shrub layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density shrub layer U) ®C ®C Shrub layer sparse or absent -a ❑A ❑A Dense herb layer _ ®B ®B Moderate density herb layer ❑C ❑C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags — wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 19. Diameter Class Distribution —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. ®B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12 inch DBH. ❑C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Include both natural debris and man -placed natural debris. ❑A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 21. Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion — wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non -Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. ❑A ❑B ❑C ❑D 22. Hydrologic Connectivity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D. ®A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. ❑B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. N otes NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0 Wetland Site Name Wetland D Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) NO Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) NO Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) YES Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) NO Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) NO Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) NO Sub -function Ratina Summar Function Sub -function Metrics Rating Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition LOW Sub -surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Particulate Change Condition LOW Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Soluble Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Physical Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Pollution Change Condition NA Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Habitat Physical Structure Condition LOW Landscape Patch Structure Condition LOW Veaetation Composition Condition LOW Function Ratina Summar Function Metrics Rating Hydrology Condition LOW Water Quality Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Habitat Condition LOW Overall Wetland Rating LOW NC WAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies user Manual version b.0 USACE AID # NCDWR# Project Name Starker Mitigation Bank Date of Evaluation 7/14/2020 Applicant/Owner Name WLS/Hunsucker Farms LLC Wetland Site Name Wetland E Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Level III Ecoregion Piedmont Nearest Named Water Body Mull Creek River Basin Catawba USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit 03050101 County Catawba NCDWR Region Mooresville I-1 Yes F No Precipitation within 48 hrs? Latitude/Lonaitude (deci-dearees) 35.722391.-81.178292 Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on the last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) • Surface and sub -surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) • Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) • Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear -cutting, exotics, etc.) Is the assessment area intensively managed? ❑ Yes ® No Regulatory Considerations -Were regulatory considerations evaluated? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. ❑ Anadromous fish ❑ Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species ❑ NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect ❑ Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) ❑ Publicly owned property ❑ N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) ❑ Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout ❑ Designated NCNHP reference community ❑ Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) ❑ Blackwater ® Brownwater ❑ Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) ❑ Lunar ❑ Wind ❑ Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island? ❑ Yes ® No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? ❑ Yes ® No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions? ❑ Yes ® No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence an effect. GS VS ®A ®A Not severely altered ❑B ❑B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire -plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) Surface and Sub -Surface Storage Capacity and Duration — assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub -surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch <_ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub -surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf Sub ®A ®A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. ❑B ❑B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). ❑C ❑C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). Water Storage/Surface Relief — assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a. ❑A ❑A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 deep ❑B ❑B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep ❑C ❑C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep ®D ®D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b. ❑A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet ❑B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet ®C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 4. Soil Texture/Structure — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes) Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a. ❑A Sandy soil ®B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) ❑C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features ❑D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil ❑E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b. ❑A Soil ribbon < 1 inch ®B Soil ribbon >_ 1 inch 4c. ®A No peat or muck presence ❑B A peat or muck presence Discharge into Wetland — opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub -surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub -surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub ®A ®A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area ❑B ❑B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area El El Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use — opportunity metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). WS 5M 2M ❑A ❑A ❑A > 10% impervious surfaces ❑B ❑B ❑B Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants ®C ®C ®C >_ 20% coverage of pasture ®D ®D ®D >_ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) ❑E ❑E ❑E >_ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb ❑F ❑F ❑F >_ 20% coverage of clear-cut land ❑G ❑G ❑G Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage and/or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer —assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is wetland? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the .water body. Make bufferjudgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.) ❑A >_ 50 feet ®B From 30 to < 50 feet ❑C From 15 to < 30 feet ❑D From 5 to < 15 feet ❑E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ®<_ 15-feet wide ❑> 15-feet wide ❑ Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? ❑Yes ®No 7e. Is stream or other open water sheltered or exposed? ®Sheltered — adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. ❑Exposed — adjacent open water with width >_ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp Forest only) Check a box in each column for riverine wetlands only. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC ❑A ❑A >_ 100 feet ❑B ❑B From 80 to < 100 feet ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 80 feet ❑D ❑D From 40 to < 50 feet ❑E ®E From 30 to < 40 feet ❑F ❑F From 15 to < 30 feet ❑G ❑G From 5 to < 15 feet ❑H ❑H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands) Answer for assessment area dominant landform. ❑A Evidence of short -duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) ®B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation ❑C Evidence of long -duration inundation or very long -duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition — assessment area condition metric (skip for non -riparian wetlands and all marshes) Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). ®A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. ❑B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. El Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size — wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select "K" for the FW column. WT WC FW (if applicable) ❑A ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ❑D ❑D From 25 to < 50 acres ❑E ❑E ❑E From 10 to < 25 acres ❑F ❑F ❑F From 5 to < 10 acres ❑G ❑G ❑G From 1 to < 5 acres ❑H ❑H ❑H From 0.5 to < 1 acre ❑I ❑I ❑I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre ®J ®J ®J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre ❑K ❑K ❑K < 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness — wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) ❑A Pocosin is the full extent (>_ 90%) of its natural landscape size. ❑B Pocosin type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas — landscape condition metric 13a. Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four -lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four -lane road or wider, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide. Well Loosely ❑A ❑A >_ 500 acres ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres ❑D ❑D From 10 to < 50 acres ❑E ®E < 10 acres ❑F ❑F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b. Evaluate for marshes only. ❑Yes ❑No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non -forested areas >_ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors, and clear -cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directions? If the assessment area is clear cut, select option "C." ❑A 0 ❑B 1 to 4 ®C 5to8 15. Vegetative Composition — assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) ❑A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. ®B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata. El Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non - characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16. Vegetative Diversity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non -tidal Freshwater Marsh only) ❑A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (< 10% cover of exotics). ®B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. ❑C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (> 50 % cover of exotics). 17. Vegetative Structure —assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? ®Yes ❑No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b. Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non -marsh wetlands. ❑A >_ 25% coverage of vegetation ❑B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c. Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non -marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. AA WT o ❑A ❑A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes m ®B ®B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps U ❑C ❑C Canopy sparse or absent ❑A ❑A Dense mid-story/sapling layer ®B ®B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer ❑C ❑C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent ❑A 1E ❑A Dense shrub layer ❑B ❑B Moderate density shrub layer U) ®C ®C Shrub layer sparse or absent -a ®A ®A Dense herb layer _ ❑B ❑B Moderate density herb layer ❑C ❑C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags — wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 19. Diameter Class Distribution —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) ❑A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. ❑B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12 inch DBH. ®C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris —wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) Include both natural debris and man -placed natural debris. ❑A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). ®B Not 21. Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion — wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non -Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. ❑A ❑B ❑C ❑D 22. Hydrologic Connectivity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D. ®A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. ❑B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. ❑D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. N otes NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0 Wetland Site Name Wetland E Date of Assessment 7/14/2020 Wetland Type Headwater Forest Assessor Name/Organization Amy James/EPR Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) NO Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) NO Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) YES Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) NO Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) NO Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) NO Sub -function Ratina Summar Function Sub -function Metrics Rating Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Sub -surface Storage and Retention Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Particulate Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Soluble Change Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Physical Change Condition MEDIUM Condition/Opportunity MEDIUM Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Pollution Change Condition NA Condition/Opportunity NA Opportunity Presence (Y/N) NA Habitat Physical Structure Condition LOW Landscape Patch Structure Condition LOW Veaetation Composition Condition MEDIUM Function Ratina Summar Function Metrics Rating Hydrology Condition MEDIUM Water Quality Condition HIGH Condition/Opportunity HIGH Opportunity Presence (Y/N) YES Habitat Condition LOW Overall Wetland Rating MEDIUM Appendix B-Adjacent Landowner Information WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Appendix B- Adjacent Landowner Information Table 1. Starker- Adjacent Landowner Information Susan L. Bolick Gail E. Murray & Mitzi J. Yount Elizabeth Anne Smyre Robert K. & Karen O. Isesnhour GILL & TEG, LLC Kenneth R. Cline, Sr. Gene E. Monday Marth Wilkins Brock Timothy E. Carpenter John Christopher Hoffman Wesley B. Spencer Richard W. Dugger Dan Alan Hunsucker Thomas Wayne Hoffman Just Real Estate, Inc. Barbara Ingold Wilcox Revocable Living Trust Bobby Ray Snipes, Jr. Mavis S. Bumgarner Heirs Aaron Daniel Carpenter 3687 Rock Ridge Road, Conover, NC 28613 646 Museum Dr, Charlotte, NC 28207 P.O. Box 188, Claremont, NC 28610 2977 Dogwood Dr, Claremont, NC 28610 2258 US Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602 3041 Peachtree St Ext, Claremont, NC 28610 P.O. Box 877, Claremont, NC 2860 1927 Hampstead Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732 2727 Sigfield Dr, Claremont, NC 28610 202 W 8t" St, Newton, NC 28658 2488 Birdie Lane NE, Conover, NC 28613 2655 Gettysburg PI, Claremont, NC 2860 3216John Daniel Dr NE, Conover, NC 28613 3734 Barn Rd NE, Conover, NC 28613 3741 Rock Barn Rd NE, Conover, NC 28613 P.O. Box 325, Conover, NC 28613 3854 Rock Barn Rd NE, Conover, NC 28613 P.O. Box 1422, Claremont, NC 28610 2711 Sigfield Dr, Claremont, NC 28610 Phyllis M. Brown 2757 Sigfield dr, Claremont, NC 28610 Casey Robert Dupell Building Systems of Catawba, LLC Charles Edwin Parkhurst Heirs Carol H. Preston Boyce Roop Hollar, Jr. M & A Realty, LLC M & A Investments Hanes Companies, Inc. William Mackie Hunsucker 2783 Sigfield Dr, Claremont, NC 28610 P.O. Box 3409, Hickory, NC 28603 5493 Little Mountain Rd, Catawba, NC 28069 1013 3rd Ave NW, Conover, NC 28613 2029 Conover Blvd E, Conover, NC 28613 P.O. Box 1479, Conover, NC 28613 3624 Bermuda Dr NE, Conover, NC 28613 P.O. Box 757, Carthage, MO 64836 840 Hamilton St, Newton, NC 28658 Linda Mingus Elliot & 2405 St. Johns Church Rd NE, Conover, NC Fred Allen Hunsucker Revocable Life Insurance Trust 28613 Harvey Dallas Sigmon 3028 Balls Creek Rd, Newton, NC 28658 Rock Barn Properties, Inc. 3791 Clubhouse Dr, Conover, NC 28613 Jerry Nye Parkhurst 2369 St. Johns Church Rd NE, Conover, NC 28613 Note: Listed in the table above are all the names and mailing addresses for all the landowners adjacent to the Starker Mitigation Site. Appendix C- Landowner Authorizations Forms WLS Catawba 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank Prospectus Starker Mitigation Project WATER & LAND SOLUTION 7721 SIX FORKS ROAD, SUITE 130, RALEIGH, NC 2761.' (919) 614 - 5111 1 waterlandsolutions.com AGENT AUTHORIZATION FORM PROPERTY LEGAL DESCRIPTION: DEED BOOK 2785 PAGE NO. 1153 PARCEL ID: 375210364087 STREET ADDRESS: 3223 John Daniel Road, Conover NC DEED BOOK 2785 PAGE NO. 1148 PARCEL ID: - 375219523168 STREET ADDRESS: 3 tracts off E 140, Conover NC DEED BOOK 3269 PAGE NO. 1875 PARCEL ID: .375215732614 STREET ADDRESS: 31.70 acres off E 140, Claremount NC DEED BOOK 3269 PAGE NO. 1875 PARCEL ID: - 375216831456 STREET ADDRESS: 3069 Peach Tree Street Ext, Claremount NC DEED BOOK 3068 PAGE NO. 571 PARCEL ID: 375215534132 STREET ADDRESS:.3 tracts off E 140, Conover NC DEED BOOK 2785 PAGE NO. 1163 PARCEL ID: 375211558910 STREET ADDRESS: 3728 Rock Barn Road NE, Conover NC WATER & LAND SOLUTION! 7721 SIX FORKS ROAD, SUITE 130, RALEIGH, NC 27615 (919) 614 - 5111 1 waterlandsolutions.com Please Print: Property Owner: Hunsucker Legacy Farms, LLC/dba Hunsucker Farms, LLC Manager: Dan A. Hunsucker The undersigned, registered property owners of the above noted property, do hereby authorize (Contractor / Agent) (Name of consulting firm) to review my property and to act on my behalf to take all actions necessary for the processing, issuance and acceptance of necessary permits and/or certifications and any and all standard and special conditions attached. This authorization allows the individual to represent on my behalf to the necessary Government agency personnel for the proposed property. Property Owner's Address (if different than property above): 3223 John Daniel Drive NE, Conover, NC 28613 Telephone: 828-312-0102 We hereby certify the above information submitted in this application is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge. Dan IlUmsu g21,2020 16:18 EDT) Authorized Signature Date: Aug 21, 2020 Authorized Signature Date: Page 2 Starker -Lando /ner Authorizatio- Final Audit Report 2020-08-21 Created: 2020-08-21 By: Catherine Manner (catherine@waterlandsolutions.com) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAsOgjxhvb8Rf2ebn6QfOX 7UOiUFQdZzm "Starker -Landowner Authorization" History Document created by Catherine Manner (catherine@waterlandsolutions.com) 2020-08-21 - 8,12:33 PM GMT- IP address: 174.108.239.26 E`11 Document emailed to Dan hunsucker (dahunsucker@hotmail.com) for signature 2020-08-21 - 8:13:24 PM GMT Email viewed by Dan hunsucker (dahunsucker@hotmail.com) 2020-08-21 - 8:15:33 PM GMT- IP address: 71.81.244.211 &Sp Document e-signed by Dan hunsucker (dahunsucker@hotmail.com) Signature Date: 2020-08-21 - 8:18:14 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 71.81.244.211 Signed document emailed to Dan hunsucker (dahunsucker@hotmail.com) and Catherine Manner (catherine@wateriandsolutions.com) 2020-08-21 - 8:18:14 PM GMT Adobe Sign