20040017 Ver 1_Mitigation Information_20110125

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
January 25, 2011
Mr. Doug Haggett
NC Division of Coastal Management
Parker Lincoln Building
2728 Capital Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27604
EUGENE A. CONTI, JR.
SECRETARY
Re: Stella Bridge Mitigation and Temporary Impact Sites, Onslow County, State Project No.
8.2160801, TIP No. B-2938, Action ID No. 199801809, DWQ Project No. 04-0017,
DCM Permit No. 64-04
Mr. Huggett:
As you are aware, the-Department has monitored the Stella Bridge Mitigation and Temporary
Impact Sites since their construction in February of 2006. Located in Onslow County, adjacent
to the bridge over the White Oak River on SR 1442, the Stella Bridge mitigation site provides
1.70 acres of wetland restoration and 46.0 acres of tidal freshwater marsh enhancement. The
Stella Bridge Temporary Impact site includes 0.05-acre that was monitored for temporary
wetland impacts.
The Stella Bridge Mitigation Site was monitored to provide compensation for 0.0227-acre of
unavoidable wetland impacts associated with the B-2938 Stella Bridge project. The wetland
restoration area was graded to the elevation of the adjacent marsh and planted with Spartina
cynosuroides, Spartina patens, and Juncus roemerianus. According to permit conditions,
NCDOT was required to monitor the Stella Bridge Mitigation Site for five years or until success
criteria were met, with vegetation and hydrologic monitoring conducted each year.
The Stella Bridge Temporary Impact site was monitored for temporary wetland impacts
associated with the B-2938 Stella Bridge project. The 0.05-acre temporary impact area where the
work bridge was located was left to revegetate naturally and must re-attain jurisdictional status at
the end of three years; hydrologic monitoring was not required for this project. According to
permit conditions, NCDOT was required to monitor the Stella Bridge Temporary Impact Site for
three years or until success criteria were met, with vegetation monitoring conducted each year
After each growing season, annual monitoring reports for both sites were submitted to the
appropriate regulatory agencies via the Natural Environment Unit's (NEU) website:
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1598 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1598
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WEBsITE: WWW.NCDOT.ORG
LOCATION:
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTER
4701 ATLANTIC AVENUE
SUITE 116
RALEIGH NC 27604
i
wL
http /hrtivtir.ncdot.orf,,/doh/preconstruct/pe/fteu/Monitoring/MonitorinQReports.hind
Hydrologic monitoring success criteria for the Stella Bridge mitigation site required the
establishment of hydrologic conditions comparable in hydrologic frequency and duration to those
of the existing reference wetlands adjacent to the restoration area. Hydrologic monitoring
utilized two surface water gauges located on the site and two surface water gauges located in the
adjacent reference area. The two surface water gauges at the site were compared to the reference
gauges. Both surface gauges indicated that inundation patterns were' similar to that of the
reference gauges throughout the five year monitoring period.
The vegetation success of the Stella Bridge site was determined in accordance with NMFS
Guidelines. After five years of marsh vegetation monitoring, the percent of target species
frequency is 97% and the vegetative cover scale value is 4.8. Individual yearly monitoring data
is provided within the annual monitoring reports submitted between 2006 and 2010.
After three years of vegetation monitoring, the Stella Bridge Temporary Impact Site indicates
that natural re-vegetation has occurred and the temporarily impacted areas have re-attained
jurisdictional status. Individual annual monitoring data is provided within the monitoring reports
available on NEU's website between 2007 and 2009.
A site visit was conducted on September 1", 2010 with the regulatory agencies and NCDOT
personnel present. It was determined at that meeting that the site success criteria had been met
and that no further monitoring would be required. NCDOT requests that the appropriate resource
agencies provide written documentation stating that no further monitoring is required and that the
site is closed. Also, please see the attached on-site debit ledger for Stella Bridge listing the TIP
debits and remaining available credit at the site. If you have any questions about this project,
please contact Mr. Randy Griffin at [phone].
Sincerely,
Philip S. Harris, III, P.E., Unit Head
PDEA- Natural Environment Unit
cc: Mr. Brad Shaver, ACOE
Mr. David Wainwright, DWQ
Mr. Travis Wilson, WRC
Mr. Chris Militscher, EPA
Mr. Gary Jordan, USFWS
Mr. Scott McLendon, ACOE
Mr. Brian Wrenn, DWQ
Mr. David Harris, P.E., NCDOT-REU
Mr. Stoney Mathis, P.E., NCDOT-DE03
Mr. Randy Griffin, NCDOT-NEU
r -
L
v
a
a.
L
v
0
y
d co
N
N
d fV N
O m o
d
a
m r
?
?O

Q
M
.? V
m r
?
ry
V
H
d
?
a-
O
2
c ? c

co
L U

LL c

4 V
C
7 y
O
V ?p
U
c
o_
Mn N

B
y
> U)

?m t m
0
3

U r
°o
O
= Cl)
O
M
IL co
rn
d N
? m
d
O
E 9
C
'° m
d

H
H
O
N
r
L
7
L
d
W
w
0
N
a0.
R
y
a
0
C
O
it
R
L
C
•L
d
OL
'O
d
L
d
0
O
z