20120080 Ver 1_Staff Comments_20120301

Strickland, Bev
From: Kulz, Eric
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2012 2:51 PM
To: Witherspoon, Lauren
Cc: Mcmillan, Ian; Strickland, Bev
Subject: Underwoods Property - Chatham Co. (20120080)
Hey Lauren:
I looked this over; my only real concern remains the amount of proposed excavation; not sure how much will really
become wetlands. The stream portions of the project look great.
I would add two conditions to your approval letter:
Approval of the restoration plan and issuance of the 401 Water Quality Certification means that DWQ has determined
that the proposed activity will not remove or degrade significant existing uses of the surface water (15A NCAC 2H
.0506(a)). The issuance does not represent an approval of credit yield for the project.
Also:
The planting plan included in the restoration plan includes the planting of tag alder (Alnus serrulata). The
amount /percentage of alder was not indicated. DWQ acknowledges that tag alder is a natural component of riparian
areas and wetlands throughout North Carolina. However, this species fixes nitrogen, and the downstream waters have a
supplemental classification of NSW (nutrient sensitive waters). An alternative woody riparian species should be
selected, or the amount of alder should be minimized to no more than 5% of the stems planted..
Let me know if you have any questions.
Eric
Eric W. Kulz
Environmental Senior Specialist
N.C. Division of Water Quality
Wetlands Program Development Unit
1650 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650
Phone: [phone] Please note this is a new phone number
Fax: [phone]
E -mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be
disclosed to third parties