20100857 Ver 1_Year 2 Monitoring Report_20110907

iOOBs?
Natural Resource
Restoration & Conservation
September 7, 2011
Mr. Eric Kulz
NCDENR - Division of Water Quality
2321 Crabtree Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604
Subject: Butlers Branch Year 2 (2011) Monitoring Report
Dear Mr. Kulz:
Restoration Systems, LLC has completed the second year of monitoring (2011) for the
Butlers Branch Buffer Restoration Project for the City of Raleigh. As stipulated in our
contract with the City of Raleigh, the City requires the Division of Water Quality to
acknowledge that the project is still in conformance with the Mitigation Plan prior to
approving invoices resulting from annual monitoring efforts.
The 2011 Annual Report for the project is provided for your review and indicates that all
12 monitoring plots met the success criteria for stems per acre (320). The average for
stems per acre for the 2011 monitoring season is 870.
If you feel that our project is in conformance with the Mitigation Plan, please provide me
with a letter indicating such at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions
concerning this report please contact me at 919-334-9112.
Sincerely,
Travis Hamr ck
Restoration Systems, LLC
Attachments (1)
Pilot Mill • 1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 0 Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT
YEAR 2 (2011)
BUTLERS BRANCH NUTRIENT BUFFER RESTORATION PROJECT
NEUSE RIVER NITROGEN ABATEMENT
CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepared for:
THE CITY OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepared by:
Restoration Systems, L.L.C.
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
And
Axiom Environmental, Inc. -
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Axiom Environmental, Inc.
September 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Restoration Systems, LLC has completed riparian buffer restoration at the Butlers Branch Nutrient Buffer
Restoration Site (hereafter referred to as the "Site") for the City of Raleigh's wastewater treatment facility
on the Neuse River (NPDES Permit NC0029033). Within the Site, approximately 54 acres of headwater
buffer habitat were restored providing 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater than 122,742
pounds of nitrogen offsets over 30 years to the City of Raleigh. The Site is located approximately 17
miles east of the Town of Kinston in Craven County within United States Geological Survey Hydrologic
Unit 03020202080020 (North Carolina Division of Water Quality Subbasin 03-04-08) of the Neuse River
Basin.
The Site includes three main tributary systems that drain directly to the Neuse River (Village Creek and
two unnamed tributary systems). Prior to construction, the Site was characterized by agricultural fields
and disturbed forest, and Site streams were regularly dredged and cleared of vegetation. Land use
practices including the maintenance and removal of vegetation, regular plowing, and use of agricultural
chemicals had resulted in degraded water quality.
The goals and objectives of this project focused on improving local water quality, improving bank
stability, supporting in-stream habitat through the contribution of large woody debris, and maintaining
wildlife passage corridors. These goals were accomplished by the following.
1. Removing nonpoint sources of pollution associated with agriculture production by a) ceasing the
application of agricultural herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials into
and adjacent to Site ditches and open waterways and b) providing a vegetative buffer adjacent to
ditches and waterways to treat surface runoff that may be laden with sediment and/or agricultural
pollutants.
2. Reducing sedimentation/siltation within on-Site and downstream receiving waters by a)
increasing retention time for surface waters entering and leaving the Site, b) reducing erosion
associated with vegetation maintenance and agricultural plowing to Site ditches, and c) planting a
forested vegetative buffer adjacent to Site ditches and waterways.
3. Promoting floodwater attenuation by ripping compacted soils and revegetating the Site to increase
frictional resistance on floodwaters crossing the Site.
4. Providing terrestrial wildlife habitat including a forested riparian corridor within an area that was
previously cleared and highly dissected by agricultural land use.
This project was constructed in late winter/early spring 2010. Planting of the entire 54-acre Site will
provide 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater than 122,742 pounds of nitrogen offsets over
30 years to the City of Raleigh. As a whole, the densities of vegetation plots across the Site were above
the required 320 stems per acre with an average of 870 planted stems per acre in the Second Monitoring
Year (2011). In addition, each individual plot met success criteria based on planted stems alone.
Annual Monitoring Report Executive Summary
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................i
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................1
1.1 Location and Setting .....................................................................................................................1
1.2 Project Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................ l
1.3 Project Structure, Restoration Type, and Approach ...................................................................... l
2.0 MONITORING PLAN ..................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Vegetation Success Criteria ..........................................................................................................2
2.2 Maintenance and Contingency ......................................................................................................3
2.3 Vegetation Sampling Results and Comparison to Success Criteria ..............................................3
3.0 CONCLUSIONS ...............................................................................................................................3
4.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................. 5
APPENDICES
Appendix A. Figures
Figure 1. Site Location
Figure 2. Monitoring Plan View
Appendix B. Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photographs
Annual Monitoring Report Table of Contents
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Location and Setting
Restoration Systems, LLC has completed riparian buffer restoration at the Butlers Branch Nutrient Buffer
Restoration Site (hereafter referred to as the "Site") for the City of Raleigh's wastewater treatment facility
on the Neuse River (NPDES Permit NC0029033). Within the Site, approximately 54 acres of headwater
buffer habitat were restored providing 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater than 122,742
pounds of nitrogen offsets over 30 years to the City of Raleigh. The Site is located approximately 17 miles
east of the Town of Kinston in Craven County within United States Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit
03020202080020 (North Carolina Division of Water Quality Subbasin 03-04-08) of the Neuse River Basin
(Figure 1, Appendix A).
Directions to the Site from Kinston, North Carolina:
? Take NC-1 UNC-55 North out of Kinston
? Turn right at NC-55 and travel approximately 16 miles
? Turn left onto Biddle Farm Road and travel for approximately 1.2 miles
? The Site is on the right.
? Site coordinates:
o Latitude 35.29250°N, Longitude 77.30624°W (NAD83/WGS84)
1.2 Project Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of this project focused on improving local water quality, improving bank stability,
supporting in-stream habitat through the contribution of large woody debris, and maintaining wildlife
passage corridors. These goals were accomplished by the following.
1. Removing nonpoint sources of pollution associated with agriculture production by a) ceasing the
application of agricultural herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials into
and adjacent to Site ditches and open waterways and b) providing a vegetative buffer adjacent to
ditches and waterways to treat surface runoff that may be laden with sediment and/or agricultural
pollutants.
2. Reducing sedimentation/siltation within on-Site and downstream receiving waters by a) increasing
retention time for surface waters entering and leaving the Site, b) reducing erosion associated with
vegetation maintenance and agricultural plowing to Site ditches, and c) planting a forested
vegetative buffer adjacent to Site ditches and waterways.
3. Promoting floodwater attenuation by ripping compacted soils and revegetating the Site to increase
frictional resistance on floodwaters crossing the Site.
4. Providing terrestrial wildlife habitat including a forested riparian corridor within an area that was
previously cleared and highly dissected by agricultural land use.
1.3 Project Structure, Restoration Type, and Approach
The Site includes three main tributary systems that drain directly to the Neuse River (Village Creek and
two unnamed tributary systems). Prior to construction, the Site was characterized by agricultural fields and
disturbed forest, and Site streams were regularly dredged and cleared of vegetation. Land use practices
including the maintenance and removal of vegetation, regular plowing, and use of agricultural chemicals
had resulted in degraded water quality.
Annual Monitoring Report Page 1
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
As constructed, Site activities restored historic riparian buffer functions by planting the entire 54-acre Site
with native riparian vegetation. The Site will provide 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater
than 122,742 pounds of nitrogen offsets over 30 years to the City of Raleigh. The following table outlines
information for project managers, owners, and contractors.
Table 1. Project Contacts Table
Designer Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
[phone]
Planting Contractor Carolina Silvics
908 Indian Trail Road
Edenton, North Carolina 27932
Dwight McKinney [phone]
Monitoring Performer Axiom Environmental, Inc.
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
Grant Lewis [phone]
2.0 MONITORING PLAN
Monitoring of Site restoration efforts will be performed for vegetation components of the Site for five years
or until success criteria are fulfilled. After planting was completed, an initial evaluation was performed to
verify planting methods were successful and to determine initial species composition and density. Twelve
sample vegetation plots (10-meter by 10-meter) were installed within the Site as per guidelines established
in CVS-EEP Protocol for Recording Vegetation, Version 4.0 (Lee et al. 2006). In each sample plot,
vegetation parameters to be monitored include species composition and species density. Visual
observations of the percent cover of shrub and herbaceous species will also be documented by photograph.
2.1 Vegetation Success Criteria
Characteristic Tree Species include woody tree and shrub species planted at the Site (Table 2) or outlined
for the appropriate plant community in Schafale and Weakley (1990). An average density of 320 stems per
acre of Characteristic Tree Species must be surviving after year 5 monitoring.
Annual Monitoring Report Page 2
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
Table 2. Planted Woody Vegetation
Species Quantity
American elm (Ulmus americana) 2700
American holly (Ilex o aca) 1610
Americansycamore Platanus occidentalis) 4563
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum) 4694
Buttonbush Ce halanthus occidentalis 2280
Che bark oak uercus pagoda) 4085
Elderberry Sambucus canadensis 868
Green ash Fraxinus enns Ivanica 6218
Ironwood Ca inus caroliniana) 322
Laurel oak ( uercus lauri olia) 4085
Overcu oak ( uercus lyrata) 4172
Possumhaw viburnum (Viburnum nudum) 434
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbuti olio) 1339
River birch (Betula ni ra) 4563
Silk dogwood (Cornus amomum) 1610
Silk willow (Salix sericea 434
Swam chestnut oak uercus michauxii) 2700
Sweetbay (Magnolia vir iniana) 1350
Water oak ( uercus ni ra) 1080
Willow oak ( uercus hellos) 4085
Yellow o lar (Liriodendron tuli i era) 1620
TOTAL 54,813
2.2 Maintenance and Contingency
In the event that success criteria are not fulfilled, a mechanism for contingency will be implemented. If
vegetation success criteria are not achieved based on average density calculations from combined plots
over the entire restoration area, supplemental planting may be performed with tree species approved by
regulatory agencies. Supplemental planting will be performed as needed until achievement of vegetation
success criteria.
2.3 Vegetation Sampling Results and Comparison to Success Criteria
Quantitative sampling of vegetation was conducted in August 2011. Vegetation success criteria (320 stems
per acre) were exceeded for the Year 2 (2011) annual monitoring year with an average density of 870
planted stems per acre across the Site. In addition, each individual plot met success criteria based on
planted stems alone.
3.0 CONCLUSIONS
As a whole, the densities of vegetation plots across the Site were above the required 320 stems per acre
with an average of 870 planted stems per acre in the second monitoring year (2011). The following table
summarizes planted stem data throughout the monitoring period.
Annual Monitoring Report Page 3
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
Table 3. Summarv of Planted Stem Vegetation Plot Results
Planted Stems/Acre
Plot Year 1
(2010) Year 2
(2011) Year 3
(2012) Year 4
(2013) Year 5
(2014)
1 971 1012
2 283 324
3 1052 1012
4 850 809
5 931 850
6 890 809
7 1052 1093
8 809 809
9 890 931
10 1052 1012
11 890 971
12 647 809
Average Plots 1-12 860 870
Annual Monitoring Report Page 4
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
4.0 REFERENCES
Lee, M.T., R.K. Peet, S.D. Roberts, and T.R. Wentworth. 2006. CVS-EEP Protocol for Recording
Vegetation. Version 4.0. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Ecosystem Enhancement Program. Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). 2007. Redbook, Surface Waters and Wetlands
Standards. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water
Quality. Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). 2008a. Draft North Carolina Water Quality
Assessment and Impaired Waters List (2008 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report) (online).
Available: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/tmdl/documents/B.Draft2008303dList.pdf [November 10,
2008]. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). 2008b. Draft Basinwide Planning Program: Neuse
River Basinwide Water Quality Plan-June 2008. North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality. Raleigh, North Carolina.
Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina:
Third Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation,
North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Raleigh, North
Carolina.
United States Geological Survey (USGS). 1974. Hydrologic Unit Map - 1974. State of North Carolina.
Annual Monitoring Report Page 5
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
Appendix A.
Figures
Figure 1. Site Location
Figure 2. Monitoring Plan View
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
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Directions to the Site w9
From the City of Kinston
East on US Route 70 - 5 miles
Left on Russell Farm Road (into Dover) - 1 mile
Left on Dover Road (at Post Office) - 7 miles
Right on NC Route 55 - 2 miles
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Lefton Biddle Farm Road - 1 mile
Site is on Right
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t 2126 Rowland Pond Dr SITE LOCATION Ckd by: WGL FIGURE
Willow Spring, NC 27592 WGL
[phone] BUTLERS BRANCH RESTORATION SITE Date: 1
- [phone] fax Craven County, North Carolina Apr2007
Project:
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Appendix B.
Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photographs
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
Butlers Branch
Year 2 (2011)
Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos
Taken August 2011
pW 2
N4
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site
PM T

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Butlers Branch
Year 2 (2011)
Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos
Taken August 2011
(continued)
X10
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site