20040325 Ver 1_Other Agency Comments_20000127

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
P.O. BOX 1890
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28402-1890
IN REPLY REFER TO
Regulatory Division
January 27, 2000
Action ID No. 199704890, Barra Farm Mitigation Bank
Mr. Alan Fickett
ECOBANK
1555 Howell Branch Road
Winter Park, Florida 32789
Dear Mr. Fickett:

Reference the Remedial Actions and Supplemental Planting Plan for the Barra Fanns
Wetland Mitigation Bank, dated October 8, 1999, and in which you describe the remedial actions
to be undertaken at this Bank. It is our understanding that the remedial planting will occur on
February 7 and 8, 2000 and that once leaf-out has occurred, ECOBANK will prepare an interim
monitoring report that describes the survival of the newly planted trees.
Notwithstanding our comment below, we agree that you have satisfied our requirements as
outlined in our meeting held on September 28, 1999, and our letter dated July 8, 1999.
Accordingly, year one credits (24) from the Bank are available for use. As always, future
decisions concerning the acceptability of the use of this bank to mitigate for the impacts of any
particular permit will be made during the permit review process of that permit.
We note that the plan describes the installation of several flash-board risers on the north
side of the restoration area. Historically, we have prohibited the use of artificial measures to
manipulate water levels on mitigation sites. This is due to necessary future maintenance and
because these structures can be tampered with easily. For these reasons, all flash-board risers
will need to be removed once the trees have grown such that they will not be inundated with
ponded water. We again suggest you evaluate the affect the berm on the south side of the site is
having on the retention of surface water in the former agricultural fields.

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this project. Questions or comments may be
addressed to the undersigned in the Wilmington Field Office, Regulatory Division, telephone
[phone].
Sincerely,
Scott McLendon
Regulatory Specialist
Copies furnished:
Mr. Garland Pardue, Field Supervisor
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Post Office Box 33726
Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726
Mrs. Kathryn Matthews
Wetlands Section, Region IV
Water Management Division
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Mr. William D. Gilmore, PE, Manager
Project Development and Environmental
Analysis Branch
N. C. Department of Transportation
Post Office Box 25201
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-5201
Mr. John Dorney
Division of Water Quality
North Carolina Department of Environment,
and Natural Resources
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687
Mr. Bennett Wynne, Regional Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
901 Laroque Avenue
Kinston, North Carolina 28501
Mr. Mac Haupt
Division of Water Quality
Wetland Restoration Program
North Carolina Department of Environment,
and Natural Resources
Post Office Box 29535
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
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