20061590 Ver 1_Staff Report_20060927

George Jones Stream Appeal
September 27, 2006
On September 27, 2006, Lia Myott, Periann Russell and myself went to 11601 Appaloosa
Run to perform a buffer determination. Lia Myott was fairly new to the Division of Water
Quality at the time of the buffer determination, so I asked her to attend for a learning
experience. Periann Russell is the 401 Unit's Geomorphologist, so I asked her to attend
so she could assist with some of the questions Lia may have while I was doing the buffer
determination.
The three of us started walking from the stream feature adjacent to Appaloosa Way along
the entire reach of the stream through George Jones' property.
When it was apparent that a stream was present, it was flagged ("Start A 1 ", "Start A2",
"Start A3"). At these points I did a Stream ID form to support my decision. The form
rates the stream feature for Geomorphology, Hydrology and Biology.
It was apparent at all three points, that there was a stream present on Mr. Jones' property.
For each point that I rated on the Stream ID form, I began by looking at how distinctive
the bed and bank were. In other words I looked to see if there was an evident channel
where water is normally confined and if there were obvious banks.
Then I had to judge how sinuous, or curvy, the feature was.
Next I looked at the riffle-pool sequence. I had to see if there was a slight gradient change
(to cause the riffles) followed by a lower slope and deeper water.
Then for soil texture/substrate sorting, I dug with my hand auger into the channel to
visually and physically examine the soil. Then I dug into the soil out of the stream in the
higher ground to see if that soil was different in texture. It was evident that in the stream
bed there was small particle sand and pebbles, as well as a few cobbles. In the higher
ground, there were no sand particles or pebbles.
It was obvious that the stream was topping its banks and utilizing a floodplain.
Also, there were areas along the reach where sediment had been deposited by the stream
to form bars and an occasional bench.
The stream feature was not braided.
I observed sediment deposits in the stream channel.
There were no natural levees.
At each point there was an evident headcut. In other words, there was a very distinct
vertical drop in the stream channel.
There were no grade controls (such as large roots) in the stream channel.
While I stood in the stream channel, I looked to my left and then to my right and saw that
the stream feature was in a natural valley. The land sloped down towards the stream
feature on both sides.
This is a first order stream channel as shown on the soil survey map.
There was definite baseflow evidence in the stream channel. This means that there was
water flowing in the stream channel more than 48 hours after a significant rainfall event.
To the best of my knowledge, it had not rained in the Raleigh area for more than two

days prior to my stream evaluation at this site. I work in Raleigh and knew the weather
reports and weather conditions prior to the stream evaluation.
There was very little leaf litter at point "Start Al"and point "Start A2". Leaflitter was
completely absent from point "Start A3". The lack of leaflitter or very little presence of
leaflitter, is indicative of a constant flow of water. Water will move leaflitter down a
stream channel until it comes into contact with a tree root or rock that will impede the
leaflitter movement.
There was also a little evidence of sediment deposits on the plants on the banks of the
stream feature. This is also indicative of flow. Water is depositing the sediment on the
plants.
The wrack lines (leaflitter that is accumulating in the stream channel) were evident. A
constant flow of water is pushing the leaves down the channel.
I used my hand auger to determine if the soils were hydric. Hydric soils form when they
are in contact with water for a long period of time and are in anaerobic conditions (lack
of oxygen). The soils become reduced or gleyed (gray) as the ones in this stream feature
did.
The only point that had fibrous roots was point "Start A 1 ". If there are fibrous roots, then
there's enough of a non-flow period to have some vegetation to grow on the banks on in
the channel.
There were no rooted plants in the channel.
The only other biology observed along the stream reach was at point "Start A2" and that
was a mayfly (collected by Lia Myott) and iron oxidizing bacteria.
I'm also going to mention that a stream feature is subject to the Neuse Buffer Rules if it
shows up on a USGS Topo Map or a hard copy Soil Survey Map. However, a Division of
Water Quality certified representative can determine a stream feature is not subject to the
Neuse Buffer Rules upon inspection if a stream is not present.
Mr. George Jones' stream is subject to he Neuse Buffer Rules based upon my buffer
determination appeal.