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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20140073 Ver 2_Year 1 Monitoring Report_2020_20210114ID#* 20140073 Version* 2 Select Reviewer:* Katie Merritt Initial Review Completed Date 01/14/2021 Mitigation Project Submittal - 1/14/2021 Is this a Prospectus, Technical Proposal or a New Site?* r Yes r No Type of Mitigation Project:* r Stream r Wetlands W Buffer r- Nutrient Offset (Select all that apply) Project Contact Information Contact Name:* Jeremiah Dow Project Information ................................................................................... ID#:* 20140073 Existing IDY Project Type: Project Name: Email Address:* jeremiah.dow@ncdenr.gov Version: *2 Existing Version r DMS r Mitigation Bank Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project County: Randolph Document Information Mitigation Document Type:* Mitigation Monitoring Report File Upload: GreenValleyll_100111_MY1_2020.pdf 7.92MB Rease upload only one RDFcf the conplete file that needs to be subnitted... Signature Print Name:* Jeremiah Dow Signature:* Year 1 Monitoring Report Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project DMS Project #: 1001111 Contract #: 7862 1 DWR # 20140073v2 I RFP: 16-007703 Randolph County, North Carolina Cape Fear River Basin Randleman Lake Watershed HUC 03030003 Prepared By: fires Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC For Environmental Banc and Exchange, LLC Prepared For: NC Department of Environmental Quality Division of Mitigation Services January 2021 fires January 7, 2021 Jeremiah Dow NC DEQ Division of Mitigation Services 217 West Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27604 3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27610 Corporate Headquarters 5020 Montrose Blvd. Suite 650 Houston, TX 77006 Main: 713.520.5400 RE: RES Green Valley Farm 11: Year 1 Monitoring Report (NCDMS ID 100111) Listed below are comments provided by DMS on January, 7 2021 regarding the RES Green Valley Farm 11: Draft Year 1 Monitoring Report and RES' responses. 1. Section 1.3 — This Project generates approximately 175,509.615 ft2 (4.03 acres) of riparian restoration credits on existing cropland." Please remove the word "approximately", and all area units (ft2 and acres) when referencing credits. Done. 2. Section 1.6 — Does RES have a theory as to why vegetation in and around veg plot 6 had such high mortality (herbaceous competition, poor soil, late planting date, etc.)? If so, please briefly discuss this and what actions may be considered to ensure the supplemental planting's success. RES believes the high mortality can be attributed to the growing season (May) planting. RES experienced similar mortality across all four Randleman Group B sites. RES will ensure that supplemental planting is completed during this dormant season. 3. Figure 2 — The orange lines in the area of veg plot 6 do not match the Legend. Presumably it is meant to represent marginal target community and absence of invasive species (shown as vertical orange lines in the Legend)? The Legend is meant to display simple hatching versus cross hatching. The orange lines on the map still represent marginal target community and absence of invasive species despite not being oriented vertically. 4. Please submit the planted buffer area shapefile so it is segmented based on the min -max buffer width from Table 1. Done. 5. Please submit monitoring photos as JPEGs. Done. Table of Contents 1 Project Summary.................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Location and Description.............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Monitoring Protocol and Project Success Criteria.................................................................... 1 1.3 Project Components.................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Riparian Mitigation Approach................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Construction and As -Built Conditions...................................................................................... 3 1.6 Year 1 Monitoring Performance................................................................................................ 3 2 Reference................................................................................................................................................4 Annendix A: Background Tables and Site Mans Table 1: Buffer Project Areas and Assets Table 2: Project Activity and Reporting History Table 3: Project Contacts Table Table 4: Project Background Information Figure 1: Site Location Map Figure 2: Current Conditions Plan View Appendix B: Vegetation Assessment Data Table 5: Plant Species Summary Table 6: Vegetation Plot Mitigation Success Summary Table Table 7: Stem Count Total and Planted by Plot Species Appendix C: Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos n I Proiect Summary L I Project Location and Description The Green Valley Farm II Project is within the Randleman Lake Watershed of the Cape Fear River Basin within the 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03030003, 14-digit HUC 03030003010070 and DWR Sub - basin Number 03-06-08. The Project is located in Randolph County approximately 2.3 miles northwest of Level Cross, North Carolina (Figure 1). To access the Project head North on Randleman Road from city center for one mile and turn left on Hockett Dairy Road. Go about 1.3 miles before taking a farm access road to reach the project, on the right side. The coordinates are 35.9086 °N and-79.833 'W. Environmental Banc & Exchange, LLC (EBX), a wholly -owned subsidiary of Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), is pleased to provide this Monitoring Report for the Green Valley Farm II Riparian Buffer Mitigation Project (Project) as a full -delivery buffer mitigation project for the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) (DMS 9100111). This Project provides riparian buffer mitigation credits for unavoidable impacts due to development within the Randleman Lake Watershed (Figure 1). This Monitoring Report is in accordance with the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295 and the Randleman Lake Water Supply Watershed Buffer Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0250. The conservation easement of the Green Valley Farm II Project totals approximately 7.19 acres and includes two unnamed tributaries that drain directly into Randleman Lake approximately 1,000 feet downstream of the Project. Land use within the Project parcel was primarily actively farmed row crops and newly planted riparian forest. The goal of the Project was to restore ecological function to the existing stream and riparian area by establishing appropriate plant communities while minimizing temporal and land disturbing impacts. Riparian area improvements help filter runoff from agricultural fields, thereby reducing nutrient and sediment loads to Project channels and the overall watershed. Restoration, of the Randleman Lake riparian area (as defined in 15A NCAC 02B .0250), results in a reduction of the water quality stressors affecting the Project. This Project is consistent with the management strategy for maintaining and protecting riparian areas in the Randleman Lake watershed. The easement is comprised of four sections, separated by two crossings and UT4. This Project surrounds an existing DMS project, Green Valley Farm Buffer Restoration Site (DMS # 95012, 2014-0073v1) that was closed out (Figure 2). The Green Valley II Project is composed of two stream channels: UT1 and UT4. Both of these reaches are outside of the actual easement boundaries but included in the previous Green Valley Farm Project. UT4 is a tributary to UT1, which then flows into Randleman Lake. UT1 is approximately 1,677 linear feet and is on the western side of the project. UT4 is approximately 590 linear feet and runs between the four easement segments. Stream identifications were verified by the DWR site visit on September 1, 2011, as well as a re-evaluation for UT4 on February 23, 2017. 1.2 Monitoring Protocol and Project Success Criteria Vegetation monitoring and visual assessments are to be conducted annually. Riparian area vegetation monitoring is based on the "Carolina Vegetation Survey -Ecosystem Enhancement Program Protocol for Recording Vegetation: Level 2 Plot Sampling Only Version 4.2". Monitoring plots were installed a minimum of 100 meters squared in size and covered at least two percent of the planted mitigation area. These plots were randomly placed throughout the planted riparian restoration area and was representative of the riparian area restoration. The following data was recorded for all trees in the plots: species, height, Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project 1 Year 1 Monitoring Report Project 9100111 January 2021 planting date (or volunteer), and grid location. All stems in plots were flagged with flagging tape. There are six fixed vegetation monitoring plots (Figure 2). Photos are to be taken at all vegetation plot origins each monitoring year and be provided in the annual reports. Visual inspections and photos are to be taken to ensure that restoration areas are being maintained and compliant. The measures of vegetative success for the Project are the survival of at least four native hardwood tree species, where no one species is greater than 50 percent of stems, at a density of at least 260 stems per acre at the end of Year 5. Native volunteer species may be included to meet the performance standards as determined by NC Division of Water Resources (DWR). A visual assessment of the conservation easement was performed each year to confirm: • No encroachment has occurred; • No invasive species in areas were invasive species were treated, • Diffuse flow is being maintained in the conservation easement areas; and there has not been any cutting, clearing, filling, grading, or similar activities that would negatively affect the functioning of the riparian area. Component/ Monitoring Maintenance through project close-out Feature Vegetation Annual Vegetation shall be maintained to ensure the health and vigor of the targeted plant vegetation community. Routine vegetation maintenance and repair activities may include monitoring supplemental planting, pruning, mulching, and fertilizing. Exotic invasive plant species shall be treated by mechanical and/or chemical methods. Any vegetation requiring herbicide application will be performed in accordance with NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA) rules and regulations. Vegetation maintenance activities will be documented and reported in annual monitoring reports. Vegetation maintenance will continue through the monitoring period. Invasive and Nuisance Visual Invasive and noxious species will be monitored and treated so that none become Vegetation Assessment dominant or alter the desired community structure of the Project. Locations of invasive and nuisance vegetation will be mapped. Project Boundary Visual Project boundaries shall be identified in the field to ensure clear distinction between the Assessment mitigation project and adjacent properties. Boundaries will be marked with signs identifying the property as a mitigation project and will include the name of the long- term steward and a contact number. Boundaries may be identified by fence, marker, bollard, post, tree -blazing, or other means as allowed by Project conditions and/or conservation easement. Boundary markers disturbed, damaged, or destroyed will be repaired and/or replaced on an as -needed basis. Easement monitoring and staking/ signage maintenance will continue in perpetuity as a stewardship activity. Road Crossing Visual Road crossings within the Project may be maintained only as allowed by conservation Assessment easement or existing easement, deed restrictions, rights of way, or corridor agreements. Crossings in easement breaks are the responsibility of the landowner to maintain. 1.3 Project Components This Project generates 175,509.615 riparian restoration credits on existing cropland. These riparian mitigation credits generated service Randleman Lake buffer impacts within the Randleman Lake watershed. The total mitigation credits that the Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project generates are summarized below and in Table 1. Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project 2 Year 1 Monitoring Report Project 9100111 January 2021 Rural Subject Restoration UTU4 50-100 110,917 1 1 100% 1.00000 110,917.000 Rural Subject Restoration UTU4 101-200 195,735 1 33% 3.03030 64,592.615 TOTALS 306.652 175,509.615 1.4 Riparian Mitigation Approach Restoration efforts along UT1 and UT4 were accomplished through the planting, establishment, and protection of a hardwood forest community. The result was a riparian habitat that functions to mitigate nutrient and sediments inputs from the surrounding uplands. Traditional riparian restoration, as outlined in 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (n), was utilized. All riparian restoration activities took place within the 50-200' riparian area along to UT1 and UT4 and was subject to crediting and ratios as outlined in the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule. Mitigation ratios followed those provided in the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule. Prior to the issuance of the RFP (916-007703), RES received approval for restoration on February 27, 2012 and an update in March 24, 2017. RES received an email from DWR on May 13, 2019 that indicated that an updated site visit was not necessary. 1.5 Construction and As Built Conditions Revegetation of the Site included treating invasive species and planting native hardwood bareroot trees. Prior to planting, RES prepped the Site by spraying and ripping the easement. Piedmont Alluvial Forest is the target community type for the riparian restoration areas. The community is defined by Schafale (2012). The planting of bareroot trees occurred in May 2020. Deviations from the initial planting plan were due to bareroot availability. A list of the planted tree species can be found in Table 5. Additionally, a temporary and permanent seed mixture was applied in areas where row crops were present. Among a variety of seeds, the mixture also included black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) which is a perennial, pollinator species. 1.6 Year 1 Monitoring Performance Monitoring of the six permanent vegetation plots was completed on November 4, 2020. Vegetation tables are in Appendix B and associated photos are in Appendix C. Year 1 monitoring data indicates that five out of six plots are exceeding the success criteria of 260 planted stems per acre. Planted stem densities ranged from 243 to 890 planted stems per acre with a mean of 600 planted stems per acre across all plots. A total of 16 species were documented within the plots. Volunteer species were noted at Year 1 monitoring and are expected to increase in upcoming years. The average tree height observed was 1.6 feet. The area in and around Vegetation Plot 6 (1.74 acres) will be supplemental planted with bareroot trees this dormant season. Visual assessment of vegetation outside of the monitoring plots indicates that the herbaceous vegetation is becoming well established throughout the project and no invasive species were observed. Additionally, there were no signs of encroachment or concentrated flow in the easement area. Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project 3 Year 1 Monitoring Report Project 9100111 January 2021 2 Reference Lee Michael T., Peet Robert K., Roberts Steven D., and Wentworth Thomas R., 2008. CVS-EEP Protocol for Recording Vegetation Level. Version 4.2 NC Environmental Management Commission. 2014. Rule 15A NCAC 02B.0295 - Mitigation Program Requirements for the Protection and Maintenance of Riparian Buffers. NC Environmental Management Commission. 2010. Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0250 - Randleman Lake Water Supply Watershed: Protection and Maintenance of Existing Riparian Buffers. Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC (2020). Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project — Final Mitigation Plan. Schafale, M.P. 2012. Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina, Fourth Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, NCDENR, Raleigh, NC. Green Valley Farm II Mitigation Project 4 Year 1 Monitoring Report Project 9100111 January 2021 Appendix A Proj ect Background Tables and Site Maps Table 1. Buffer Project Areas and Assets Area Creditable Initial Credit o Final Credit Riparian r v I MEMENd Location Subject? Feature ype Area (sf) Ratio (x:1) % Full Credit Ratio (x:1) Buffer Buffer Rural Yes I / P Restoration 50-100 UT1/4 110,917 110,917 1 100% 1 110,917.000 Buffer Rural Yes I / P Restoration 101-200 UT1/4 195,735 195,735 1 33% 3.0303 64,592.615 Totals 306,652 306,652 175,509.615 Table 2. Project Activity and Reporting History Green Valley Farm II Site Elapsed Time Since planting complete: 7 months Number of reporting Years : Activity or Deliverable Data Collection Complete Completion or Delivery Restoration Plan NA Jan-20 Final Design — Construction Plans NA NA Stream Construction NA NA Site Planting NA May-20 As -built (Year 0 Monitoring — baseline) May-20 Jun-20 Year 1 Monitoring Nov-20 Dec-20 Year 2 Monitoring Year 3 Monitoring Year 4 Monitoring Year 5 Monitoring = The number of reports or data points produced excluding the baseline Table 3. Project Contacts Table Green Valley Farm II Site Planting Contractor H&J Forestry Planting contractor POC Matt Hitch Nursery Stock Suppliers Arborgen Monitoring Performers RES / 3300 Glenwood Ave, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27612 Monitoring POC Ryan Medric (919) 741-6268 Table 4. Project Background Information Project Name Green Valley Farm II County Randolph Project Area (acres) 7.19 Project Coordinates (latitude and longitude) Latitude: 35.9086 N Longitude:-79.833 W Planted Acreage (Acres of Woody Stems Planted) 7.19 Project Watershed Summary Information Physiographic Province Southern Outer Piedmont River Basin Randleman Lake USGS Hydrologic Unit 8-digit 03030003 USGS Hydrologic Unit 14-digit 03030003010070 DWR Sub -basin 03-06-08 arborfiekl Dr Invitations Express Q Hodgin Fain Rd 'z c Baptist Church y r 0 1 C m Sfcenk• View Dr Lenevo t Kerrer�� k, Y i M Greensboro HOCketl Dairy Rd fo Hakcrt Dairy Rd ,9Jf, Hr;Mr.tt D.i l.e A.+ Holkell Dairy Rd 6 Ilburg Jamestown 3 tog Peasant Hig Point _ Garder Legend 8 chdale Clima Trin Level ross Conservation Easement Thomasville Randleman Lake Service Area - NC DMS Conservation Easement ndle an Grays " Figure 1 - Site Location Map Date: 5/19/2020 w _ F Green Valley Farm II Drawn by: GDS res 5 Mitigation Project Checked by: RTM 0 500 1,000 1 inch= 1,000 feet Feet Randolph County, North Carolina 4 s Y4 b ,� , � � ' ��3�d � �y,\ C �?C,i ,fir"a �,� � 1C ��� W 3 �� l�� ; , ; „ r i; k , ���� . t;,� I � � ;�'� ti+s �,•�� i4 I'Ct`` s�° \1\ ,r '1 S _�+tj�•! ".+�,°°'-'. v+ ,°. 4a .d�.'-+.' +r i" ` , , oi , a h { 1 � �,A # �•_ ,; �,�� �q.,t. �A. k �• u ..�•11�K .'�, � *i tl - 'd'ti 4y�,�, '` � ♦, 'S' 16A ,'��\ts �1.F •r..,'X.`1�����^ .v; �y£ l::s'�.�` .0 sYes� s �. `�S.i��fp,,t3-., +�-r.. ;�' / ♦ �. _-�' - tie ;b. � t. .�,:.::, � iF:.: 'sr --sr. " 4 'i. _x. a l+F � �• t,+'- Fl. *L� �S i.,` � .x: 'r ��` �:a ,tiZ° �, �':.�}� oF� ��`. �.`F �' '�'l..\ •�ry ,ti .fox. ., y.� -�'\ �/ t.:�. i >> ; � E � �♦�� t ,v. 1J AIR # h \ �' �' -"� `�, �� ter • � 'E`° a �'' C `�, � , ` ��� ` �a ' — , -'- - IC In Appendix B Vegetation Assessment Data Appendix B. Vegetation Assessment Data Table 5. Green Valley Farm II Planted Species Summary Common Name Scientific Name Total Stems Planted Willow Oak Quercus phellos 1,900 River Birch Betulo nigro 1,200 White Oak Quercus olbo 1,100 Water Oak Quercus nigro 1,000 American Sycamore Plotonus occidentolis 800 Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipfero 800 Southern Crabapple Molus ongustifolio 800 Northern Red Oak Quercus rubro 600 Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiono 500 American Plum Prunus omericono 500 Eastern Redbud Cercis conodensis 500 Common Elderberry Sombucus conodensis 200 Black Walnut Juglons nigro 100 Total 10,000 Table 6. Green Valley Farm II Vegetation Plot Mitigation Success Summary Plot # Planted Stems/Acre Volunteer Stems/Acre Total Stems/Acre Success Criteria Met? Average Planted Stem Height (ft) 1 890 1619 2509 Yes 1.9 2 688 526 1214 Yes 1.6 3 405 0 405 Yes 1.6 4 809 0 809 Yes 1.7 5 567 0 567 Yes 1.8 6 243 0 243 No 1.3 Project Avg 600 357 958 Yes 1.6 Appendix B. Vegetation Assessment Data Table 7. Green Valley Farm II Stem Count Total and Planted by Plot Species Green Valley Farm II Current Plot Data (MY1 2020) Annual Means Scientific Name Common Name Species Type 100111-01-0001 100111-01-0002 100111-01-0003 100111-01-0004 100111-01-0005 100111-01-0006 MY1 (2020) MYO (2020) PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T PnoLS P-all T Betula nigra river birch Tree 8 8 8 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 15 15 15 18 18 18 Cercis canadensis eastern redbud Tree 6 6 6 6 6 6 1 1 1 Diospyros virginiana common persimmon Tree 1 1 1 1 1 1 14 14 14 Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash Tree 20 3 23 Juglans nigra black walnut Tree 3 3 3 Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum Tree 10 10 20 Liriodendron tulipifera tuliptree Tree 2 2 7 2 2 7 3 3 3 Malus angustifolia southern crabapple Tree 1 11 1 11 1 1 4 4 4 Morus rubra red mulberry Tree 4 4 4 1 1 1 5 5 5 Platanus occidentalis American sycamore Tree 5 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 6 6 11 141 14 14 Prunus americana American plum Tree 5 5 5 Quercus alba white oak Tree 7 7 7 3 3 31 2 2 2 1 1 1 13 13 13 16 16 16 Quercus nigra water oak Tree 1 1 11 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 14 14 14 Quercus phellos willow oak Tree 4 4 4 5 5 5 2 2 2 1 1 1 12 12 12 43 43 43 Quercus rubra northern red oak Tree 3 3 3 11 11 11 10 10 10 2 2 2 26 26 26 191 19 19 Sambucus canadensis Common Elderberry Shrub 1 11 1 Stem count size (ares) size (ACRES) Species count Stems per ACRE 221 22 62 17 17 30 10 101 10 201 20 20 14 141 14 61 61 6 891 891 142 1551 1551 155 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 6 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.15 0.15 51 5 8 41 41 6 5 51 5 51 51 5 4 5 5 5 11 11 13 13 13 13 890 890 2509 688 688 1214 405 405 405 809 809 809 56 EA 567 243 243 243 600 600 958 1045 1045 1045 Appendix C Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos ti n y I e„ 10 b �°"�� ���f �'1y" i ?�di � °ry i i`-,. ✓ '5�.� 'f�\ ice_' �{ y V i � -