20200035 Ver 1_Technical memo_20201216

Strickland, Bev
From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 10:24 AM
To: Munzer, Olivia; [e-mail]; Bowers, Todd; Angela Allen; Dow,
Jeremiah J; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Davis, Erin B; Haywood, Casey
M CIV (USA); Wilson, Travis W.; Jones, Brena K.; Wells, Emily N
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay; John Hutton
Subject: [External] RE: Liberty Rock technical memo
Attachments: Liberty Rock Technical Memorandum_12_15_20.pdf
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All,
Attached is an updated technical memo for Liberty Rock. Some figures and tables were updated. Please use
this for your review and let me know if you need additional review time beyond Dec 30 due to the holidays.
Thanks
Kim
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
-----Original Message -----
From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 11:13 AM
To: Munzer, Olivia <[e-mail]>; [e-mail]; Bowers, Todd
<[e-mail]>; Angela Allen <[e-mail]>; Dow, Jeremiah J
<[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)<[e-mail]>;
Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA) <[e-mail]>;
Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Jones, Brena K. <[e-mail]>; Wells, Emily
N <[e-mail]>
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay <[e-mail]>; John Hutton <[e-mail]>; Barnes, Kyle
W CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Liberty Rock technical memo
Hi all,
I know several members of the IRT are in the field this week and may not have time to review the Liberty Rock
revised technical approach. I think it's best to stick to the Folly Swamp discussion for Friday since it's a pending
bank site, I'd rather not mix a DIMS site discussion with one of our project manager's meetings. I think it would
be beneficial if everyone could review the Liberty Rock information provided by Angela and provide written
comments to me by December 30, 2020. That way it goes through the 15-day review period. I'll forward all

comments received in a memo to Wildlands so they have a path to move forward. Please indicate whether
you are comfortable with the revised approach. Given the holidays, please let me know if you need additional
review time.
Thanks, and I hope everyone is well,
Kim
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
-Original Message -----
From: Munzer, Olivia <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 11:01 AM
To: [e-mail]; Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>; Angela Allen
<aallen@wild landseng.com>; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Dow, Jeremiah J <[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV
USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Haywood,
Casey M CIV (USA) <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>;
Jones, Brena K. <[e-mail]>; Wells, Emily N <[e-mail]>
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay <[e-mail]>; John Hutton <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Liberty Rock technical memo
I have field surveys planned on Friday morning, but I am available later in the afternoon.
Olivia Munzer
Western Piedmont Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
From: Matthews, Kathryn H <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 7:42 AM
To: Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>; Angela Allen <[e-mail]>; Kim Browning
<[e-mail]>; Dow, Jeremiah J <[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV
USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Haywood,
Casey M CIV (USA) <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>;
Munzer, Olivia <[e-mail]>; Jones, Brena K. <[e-mail]>; Wells, Emily N
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay <[e-mail]>; John Hutton <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] RE: Liberty Rock technical memo
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as
an attachment to Report Spam. <mailto:[e-mail]>

That works for me.
Please note that our Office Phone System is currently not working. Email is the best way to reach me.
Thanks,
Kathy Matthews
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
551-F Pylon Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-856-4520, x. 27
From: Bowers, Todd <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 3:48 PM
To: Angela Allen <[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Matthews, Kathryn H
<[e-mail] <maiIto: [e-mail]> >; Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA) <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Dow,
Jeremiah J <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA) <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Davis, Erin B
<[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA)
<[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; 'Wilson, Travis W.
([e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> )'<[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Munzer, Olivia <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Jones, Brena K. <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Wells, Emily N <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; John Hutton
<[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Liberty Rock technical memo

This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments,
or responding.
Since we are having a discussion with Wildlands on Friday (gam) for Folly Swamp would it be appropriate to
add this site on for additional discussion with the IRT? Just wanted to minimize time before we consider and
provide Wildlands with a response. J
Todd Allen Bowers
US EPA Region 4 Oceans, Wetlands and Streams Protection Branch
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
Note: I am currently teleworking and away from the office. Please contact me via email or at 919.523.2637.
From: Angela Allen <aaIlen@wild landseng.com <mailto:[e-mail]> >
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 3:37 PM
To: Matthews, Kathryn H <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Browning,
Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]
<mailto: Kimberly. [e-mail]> >; Dow, Jeremiah J <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Davis, Erin B

<[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA)
<[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; 'Wilson, Travis W.
([e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> )' <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Munzer, Olivia <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Jones, Brena K. <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]> >; Wells, Emily N <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay <[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]> >; John Hutton
<[e-mail] <mailto:jhutton@wild landseng.com> >
Subject: Liberty Rock technical memo
MR
Attached is a technical memorandum showing the change in restoration approach for Liberty Rock Mitigation
Site based on our virtual meeting and subsequent design site visits. Please let me know If you have any further
questions for us and if we are approved to move forward with this approach.
Thank you,
Angela
Angela Allen, PE I Water Resources Engineer
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
<Blockedhttps://urldefense.com/v3/_https:/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http*3A*2F*2Fww
w.wildlandseng.com*2F&data=04*7C01*7Ckathryn_matthews*40fws.gov*7C333d3cb2c926446046ef08d8a0
71b9b3*7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494*7C0*7C0*7C637435757597225558*7CUnknown*7CTWFp
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ewD42sVnit71Wx*2BVyGxHXbSblHkauf*2BoVLGYapc*3D&reserved=0_;JSUIJSUIJSUIJSUIJSUIJSUIJQ!!HYmST
oo!OzQ8nK1-mrgQ7FT8yoCPo6BQcMjfNFjhTeLVYRUsghowl-vV5Pb62xWmjxFHINyOEO9FmP4$>
312 West Millbrook Road, Suite 225
Raleigh, NC 27609

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WILDLANDS
ENGINEERING
Technical Memorandum
To: North Carolina Interagency Review Team
From: Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
Re Restoration Approach on Rocky River, mussel population considerations
Liberty Rock Mitigation Site — Option 3
Cape Fear 03030003; Randolph County, NC
DEQ Contract No. 7877-01
DMS Project No. 100135
Wildlands Project No. 005-02185
DATE: Tuesday 12/15/ 2020
ntroduction
Wildlands Engineering submitted a Full Delivery Proposal to the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) on August
13, 2019 to fulfill stream and wetland mitigation needs in the Cape Fear 03030003 River Basin (RFP-16-007877).
The project was contracted with NCDMS on November 14, 2019. The NC IRT site walk February 18, 2020. The IRT
agreed that off-line restoration of the Rocky River was the best approach for ecological uplift. Olivia Munzer (WRC)
mentioned that there may be some rare mussel species on -site, and that she would contact Wildlands with
suggestions of appropriate habitat to support the mussel species.
In April 2020, WRC agreed to help Wildlands develop a relocation plan for mussels on the restoration reaches of
the Rocky River. Wildlands Engineering worked with WRC and a subcontractor, SEPI, Inc., to develop a scope of
work for the relocation and monitoring of mussels on the Rocky River prior to construction, and throughout the
seven-year monitoring period. The contract with SEPI Includes the following tasks
Phase 1— Pre -Construction
Task 1— Identify freshwater mussel relocation reaches (Upstream off -site relocation reach has been
identified)
Task 2 — A maximum of three separate freshwater mussel surveys and relocation efforts to take place
within the project limits.
Phase 2 — Post -Construction
Task 3 — MY-01: Freshwater mussel survey (upstream off -site relocation reach and downstream of project
restoration reach)
Task 4 — MY-02: Freshwater mussel survey (upstream off -site relocation reach only)
Task 5 — MY-03: Freshwater mussel survey (restored reaches only)

Task 6 — MY-05: Freshwater mussel survey (upstream off -site relocation reach and downstream of
restoration project reach)
Task 7 — MY-07: Freshwater mussel survey (restored reaches only)
During Task 1, Phase 1, from the mussel relocation plan, additional rare mussel species were found that gave WRC
concerns on proceeding with restoration on the Rocky River. The IRT was contacted on October 9, 2020 with this
information. The IRT held a virtual meeting on October 26, 2020 (meeting minutes in Appendix). Wildlands was
tasked on preparing an updated concept plan for the restoration of the Rocky River that takes into account
limiting streambed disturbance on the areas where high concentrations of rare mussel species were found, while
providing the highest ecological uplift possible for all reaches of the Rocky River and riparian wetlands.
Proposed Restoration Approach
Wildlands developed a restoration plan for the Rocky River that balances the need to rehydrate riparian wetlands,
provide long term lateral stability, and provide high quality habitat for aquatic species, including existing mussel
populations. The proposed alignment of the stream, wetland areas, and riparian buffer extents, are shown in
Figure 1.
At the upstream limit, the Rocky River will transition off-line for approximately 1,990 feet. Moving the stream
entirely into the left floodplain places the new channel in the existing valley center to promote wetland
rehydration. It also allows for this reach to be built entirely off-line and reduce the impacts of sediment on mussel
populations during construction.
During the October 261h meeting it was noted that the greatest density of rare mussels was found in the lower
third of the project reach. This was identified as starting in the riffle areas upstream of the confluence with Mica
Creek. Wildlands did an evaluation of this area after the October 261h meeting. The bedform appeared the most
diverse and stable starting at the confluence of Dolomite Creek and proceeding downstream for approximately
580'. At that point, the stream incises further, has lower quality bedform, and higher lateral instability. Wildlands
proposes to bring the channel back on-line for this 580' as an enhancement reach. As this reach is overwidened
and has bank scour and failure along its length, nearly all streambanks will require a combination of grading,
vegetated soil lifts, brush toe, or rock toe, to reestablish a stable channel.
After the enhancement reach, the Rocky River will go offline for 420 feet and then tie back into the existing
channel for the last 50 feet. Wildlands determined that moving the channel away from the valley wall in this
section provided the most lateral stability, and best potential for rehydrating riparian wetlands.
Wildlands proposes to continue with the mussel relocation plan as described above and as guided by WRC for the
reaches of the Rocky River being relocated. This will either be for relocation up or downstream of project extents,
or by direct relocation to the new channel during construction.
Proposed Stream Credits
Wildlands proposes to credit all restoration sections and enhancement sections on the Rocky River to be credited
at a 1:1 ratio. The level of intervention, and potential for ecological uplift along the enhancement reach coupled
with the extensive mussel monitoring program warrants the higher ratio. Wildlands is also proposing to extend the
riparian buffer along Mica Creek and to apply the USACE Wilmington District Stream Buffer Credit Calculator to
WWildlands Engineering, Inc. page 2
LIBERTY ROCK Mitigation Site — Option 3
Technical Memorandum

add additional stream credits to the project. The table below shows the credit breakdown from the proposal
compared to this updated technical memo.
Restoration Activity
Credit Ratio
Proposal Credits
Credits as of 12/8/2020
Stream Restoration
1:1
5,051
4,273
Stream Enhancement 1
1:1
0
580
Stream Enhancement 11
5:1
25
7
Preservation
10:1
42
34
Credit from Additional
Buffers
-
252
Total Stream Credits
5,118
5,146
Wetland credits are not anticipated to be affected by this change in stream restoration approach along the Rocky
River. Wetland credits will be updated according to results of the preliminary JD and stream design in the draft
mitigation plan.
Next Steps
Wildlands requests concurrence with the restoration and monitoring approaches provided in this memorandum
for the development of the draft mitigation plan.
WWildlands Engineering, Inc. page 3
LIBERTY ROCK Mitigation Site — Option 3
Technical Memorandum

AWL
-
Project Location
-Restoration (1:1)
--�
� Proposed Conservation Easement
Enhancement 11:1
( )
Proposed Wetland Re-establishment
Enhancement II (5:1)
Preservation (10:1)
Proposed Wetland Rehabilitation
Restoration -Not For Credit
50'-75' Buffer Area
75'-100' Buffer Area
Non -Project Streams
100'-125' Buffer Area
Topographic Contours (4')
125'-150' Buffer Area
N
WILDLANDS 0 300 600 Feet
ENGINEERING I I I I I
Wide Buffer Credit Areas
Liberty Rock Mitigation Site
Cape Fear River Basin (03030003)
Randolph County, NC

Mussel Surveys and Relocation Efforts
SCOPE OF WORK
Stream restoration will consist of realigning 3375 linear feet of stream channel throughout the
proposed conservation easement. Three freshwater mussel species known in the Cape Fear
River Basin are federally listed as "At Risk Species" (ARS) by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Services (Table 1). Of the listed ARS, the State "Endangered" Atlantic pigtoe was listed as
"Proposed "Threatened" in October 2018. The brook floater is State "Endangered" and the
Savannah lilliput is State "Threatened" (Table 1).
Table 1. Protected Freshwater Mussel Species located in the Randolph County Cape Fear River Basin
Common Name
Species Name
Federal Status
State Status
Atlantic pigtoe
Fusconaia masoni
ARS* (Proposed Threatened)
Endangered
Brook floater
Alasmidonta varicosa
ARS*
Threatened
Savannah lilliput
Toxolasma pullus
ARS*
Endangered
*ARS =At Risk Species. Species that are Petitioned, Candidates or Proposed for Listing under the Endangered
Species Act. Consultation under Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA is not required for Candidate or Proposed species;
although a Conference, as described under Section 7(a)(4) of the ESA is recommended for actions affecting
species proposed for listing.
SEPI will conduct the tasks in two phases: Phase 1 (Pre -construction) and Phase 2 (Post -Construction).
The following tasks are based on recommendations from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission.
Phase 1 (Pre -Construction)
Task 1- Identify freshwater mussel relocation reach (2 people)
Task 2- A maximum of three separate freshwater mussel surveys and relocations efforts will
take place within the proposed 3375 ft reach proposed for realignment, and within the
downstream reach (600 ft section between the railroad and Old 421). If no mussels are found
during the second survey effort, then a third survey will not be necessary. (3 people)
Phase 2 (Post -Construction Monitorinci)
Task 3- MY-01 Freshwater Mussel Surveys (Relocation Reach and Downstream Reach)
(3 people)
Task 4- MY-02 Freshwater Mussel Surveys (Relocation Reach Only) (3 people)
Task 5- MY-03 Freshwater Mussel Surveys (Restored Reach Only) (3 people)
Task 6- MY-05 Freshwater Mussel Surveys (Relocation Reach and Downstream Reach)
(3 people)
Task 7- MY-07 Freshwater Mussel Surveys (Restored Reach Only) (3 people)
FRESHWATER MUSSEL SURVEY METHODOLOGIES
During the freshwater mussel survey efforts, areas of appropriate habitat will be searched,
concentrating on the habitats preferred by freshwater mussels. The survey team will spread out
across the creek into survey lanes using bathyscopes, snorkeling, and tactile methods. Freshwater
mussels observed during Phase 1 will be moved to the relocation reach. Ones observed during
Phase 2 will be recorded and placed back in the stream. During all surveys, fish observations will be
recorded, and timed survey efforts will provide a Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) for freshwater
mussels. A memo of the findings will be provided for each task, and the aquatic species data will be
provided to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.