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Home My WebLink About20090734 Ver 1_Year 1 Monitoring Report_20101124Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 801 Jones Franklin Road Suite 300 Raleigh NC 27606 U U Tel: (919) 851-6866 Fax: (919) 851-7024 Stantec November 22, 2010 North Carolina Division of Water Quality 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699 Dear Mr. Eric Kulz: all f7 Nov 2 f 2010 WETW Ds AND sTOORR I'1?h', TER BRANCH As requested the Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal and Stream Restoration Monitoring Year 1 report is being submitted for review to Monte Matthews (USACE), Eric Kulz (NCDWQ), and Jeremy Thigpen (Progress Energy). From 401/404 permit: As per direction from Monte Matthews (USA CE) and Eric Kulz (NCDWQ) on March 10, 2009, the project is to be visually monitored for 5 years to prove stability. Monitoring consists of visual inspections of channel and structure stability, photo points and a qualitative assessment of the survival of planted vegetation. All monitoring activities will be completed for Buckhorn Creek and the two redesigned tributaries. A brief report will be prepared and submitted to USA CE and NCDWQ annually for 5 years following completion of the project. Should you have any questions about the report, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC. ,I 1) ---, Amber Coleman Scientist, Environmental Tel: (919) 865-7399 Fax: (919) 851-7024 amber.coleman(&stantec.com Attachment: Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal and Stream Restoration Monitoring (YR1) Report Cc: Monte Matthews, USACE Jeremy Thigpen, Progress Energy 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal and Stream Restoration 11N@EeOwL9@ h?o v ?. r 20,40 Monitoring (YRI) -F? Chatham County, North Carolina November 19, 2010 FINAL Submitted By: Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 801 Jones Franklin Rd, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27606 StafftC 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Table of Contents 1 Introduction and Background ................................... 2 Visual Assessment .................................................. 2.1 Stream .............................................................. 2.2 Vegetation ........................................................ 3 References .............................................................. Appendix A. Photos ........................................................ Appendix B. Figures ........................................................ Figure 1. Vicinity ............................................................. Figure 2. Monitoring Plan View & Current Condition ...... ...................................................1 ...................................................1 ................................................... 3 ................................................... 5 .................................................17 ................................................. 21 ................................................. 23 Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Pagei 1 This page intentionally left blank. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC 1 October 2010 Page ii 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Progress Energy Carolinas (PEC) hired Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. (Stantec) to provide engineering work related to the demolition of the Buckhorn Generating Facility and subsequent stream restoration of Buckhorn Creek. As per direction from Monte Matthews (USACE) and Eric Kulz (NCDWQ) on March 10, 2009, the project is to be visually monitored for 5 years to prove stability. Monitoring consists of visual inspections of channel and structure stability, photo points and a qualitative assessment of the survival of planted vegetation. All monitoring activities will be completed for Buckhorn Creek and the two redesigned tributaries. A brief report will be prepared and submitted to USACE and ' NCDWQ annually for 5 years following completion of the project. 2 VISUAL ASSESSMENT Stantec staff visited the site on October 15, 2010 to perform a visual assessment of post- construction conditions at the end of the first growing season. ' 2.1 Stream Approximately 1575 linear feet (LF) along Buckhorn Creek (Reach 1) and two unnamed ' tributaries (Reach 2 and Reach 3) was restored in conjunction with the of the removal of the Buckhorn Power Generating Facility. Restoration techniques included channel relocation, placement of in-stream structures, and floodplain grading. ' The approximately 900 LF of restoration along Buckhorn Creek is generally stable. Riffles have become increasingly coarse, but are maintaining their constructed bankfull dimension. The interberm features constructed in the riffle sections are showing signs of minor erosion in some areas and minor deposition in other areas. This is expected as the channel undergoes slight adjustments post construction. Pools have maintained their dimension and depth. The three brush layerings utilized in the outside meander bends are protecting the banks as intended. The ' right bank from Sta. 4+54 to Sta. 5+20 is exhibiting excess erosion (Appendix A2 Photo 1). The erosion is caused from a bedrock outcrop near the bank. This area is scheduled to be repaired in the near future. The repair will consist of an additional rock vane constructed to turn water away from the bank. The approximately 200 LF of restoration along Reach 2 is stable. The banks exhibit no signs of erosion and the bed shows no downcutting or sedimentation. All drop structures are holding ' grade as intended. The approximately 475 LF of restoration along Reach 3 is stable. The banks exhibit no signs of erosion and the bed shows no downcutting or sedimentation. All drop structures are holding ' grade as intended. 2.2 Vegetation ' After final grading was complete in December 2009, the riparian zone was planted with native woody species along the entire project. Bareroot trees were planted on the floodplain and adjacent slopes while livestake shrubs were planted along the streambanks. Overall, the ' planted vegetation onsite is doing well with no major issues. Desirable volunteers including sycamore and eastern cottonwood are prevalent throughout the site. 1 Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Page 1 1 1 Minor issues include one bare area located along the right bank of Reach 2. This area can be seen at Photo Station 2 in Appendix Al is due to a bedrock outcrop. This bedrock area is natural and will not be planted. The riparian buffer is greater than 100 feet in this area and this bare area will not affect water quality. ' A few invasive plant species are also present onsite. The most prevalent includes Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum). The stiltgrass was present onsite before restoration, is currently present in the forest outside the disturbed areas and is also present in the watershed upstream. Currently it is located on the western half of the site. Japanese stiltgrass is difficult to eradicate since the seeds are transported by water and it is already prolific in the surrounding area. Due to the low-growing herbaceous nature of the plant it is not likely to negatively affect the woody plant community. The invasive Asiatic dayflower (Murdannia keisak) is present along the banks of Reach 2, the downstream end of Reach 3 and the upstream end of Reach 1 (Buckhorn Creek). The native, yet invasive, cattail (Typha latifolia) is also present in the lower half of Reach 3. These plants can form dense stands within the stream potentially affecting function. These species will not affect the woody plant community but will be monitored to ensure that stream stability and ' function are not compromised. 'J Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Page 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 F 1 1 1 3 REFERENCES USACE 2003. US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District; NC Division of Water Quality; US Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV; Natural Resource Conservation Service; and NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Stream Mitigation Guidelines. Raleigh, NC. Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Page 3 11 1 1 1 1 i 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 This page intentionally left blank. Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Page 4 1 1 APPENDIX A. PHOTOS 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 This page intentionally left blank. Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Appendix 11 Al. PHOTO STATIONS s w I-A 4??A r n ?{i?,?..??' il? t ?? ` ;? .fir ;r? ;, F , 1?r ? ?? ?.•itj ? a<M di' ?? r ?'. t 1? ??''+f°9 t? ? , ?AK ?ksq, Photo Point 1 - Downstream I Photo Point 1 - Upstream Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix ? q?,n Icy r - 'i 1 ?! i ?i^ t +w'4'31 S w.' ?S S ('v rimy 7:Y Photo Point 2 - Upstream 1 vra. Jy..ir?.f. (Mylu*_ VII .. , . G Y b ? ` f?v 4 Photo Point 2 - Downstream Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix _s .a+ k ? r .gip Y ti, 1 1 a 7 ,l F" w,d! , ??,, r t4,. fir.. ?' r •tt ,, + ? 4 ? , r ?'? ( z.?. ? +., ?. r ?,r?+ f't'';? ?y'? X13.•- ? a _?? ??); 1 ?}jt+?ty ?''.•?JI?'??. wa???+F'.. ? '? > ?''? .., :.' - 'iii ?(,: .'. '? S'a's"A'L •1t,'t?..? . v:. . Photo Point 3 - Upstream x ; 6e I it ° ?y3'' ? i^i •1 S,?• `YS -j?y4t4 d d I ?? ?+ '? ? } 1 qp? j1( ? 1 ,? Ifs ^?+ ? i- r1 ?" a w'k ; ` • = f , Point 3 - Downstream Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Appendix 1 a a o- r k_ 3`x it- Photo Point 4 - Upstream 1 Ft ?Y ?e t AM ?6 A'"I 'o PA,` u { a* t ,.l Fy iRC r fir) '? 7L F 5 ? ? _.y 3 . PM V . ? ?? y a x,e ? ° i' .^'ti t r?Pfy .r ?ytP` k A ,w 4 i ? A;, Photo Point 4 - Downstream Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix 1 ' s ? ?.? . al• to yY; - Photo Point 5 - Upstream NA- ? rye;, ??. ?r .. i r V Photo Point 5 - Downstream t Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Appendix w s ,? ? 64s ? i S, • ?%a?[i, ..,a. ?•.,5, a i.??°f RJ. ??#"?[;re . ,. ?.-?S?,F,?,,.4.";`3`4. Photo Point 6 - Upstream Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix rnoto Hoint 6 - Downstream Q ` W WP n gy` Yb ? {? Y 1 K aT.w t - {r Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix Photo Point 7 - Upstream Photo Point 7 - Downstream r Opp, d .... :..mod.. `'? a.. ?.°, h . ?. ,S M Y vµ K". rA? t . ? ` ? r ? eiiAyt? #? . h _ .t I Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix Photo Point 8 - Upstream Photo Point 8 - Downstream ,?.aa „? v ?4V. itv [, • ti Sift z, a r A tit E . iii ?. !? ± •.1'z *V?.a?e :?,L ^NI f ?' w Photo Point 9 - Upstream Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC October 2010 Appendix Photo Point 9 - Downstream A2. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ' F`roy?a Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix Photo 1 - Bank Erosion Right Bank (Approximately STN 5+00) 1 " Wo""011f Vt in, A 4?ti»ar. r._?, ?. ° `''.5?'Pw,"'??iY ? ems. ..r ?,?t ?G.yi"h •``c ,`a s RE- ?A. yxt ka- y i R tit Y t p9. w'i •,? ! ,t 3 ,?:Y. .x , 'h Photo 4 - Japanese Stiltgrass in Surrounding Forested Area Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 Chatham County, NC ??-? ", '? • is : ?,. t ; ..lx +,. ` '. ,?; '' *?` +?j •' y +? ?,w ? y±?.' ? . 3 yiY ?7{ A IM 11 ? .M ?e Photo 3 - Reach I Cattail and Asiatic Dayflower in Stream, Japanese Stiltgrass on Floodplain and Slopes October 2010 Appendix This page intentionally left blank. 1 ' Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix 1 1 1 1 APPENDIX B. FIGURES Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix 1 JI r? i1 This page intentionally left blank. Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix 4& NN a Q t GOOJ?- 42 F ? Figure 1. Vicinity Map Project Area Buckhorn Generating - Facility Removal ?- Railroad ® County boundaries /V US Highways /V NC Highways Roads Streams Lake/pond City Limits 0 2,500 5,000 10,000 15,000 Fe t u 1 1 u 1 u 1 1 1 This page intentionally left blank. Buckhorn Generating Facility Removal & Stream Restoration - Monitoring YR1 October 2010 Chatham County, NC Appendix 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Figure 2. 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