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Home My WebLink About20111042 Ver 1_USACE Correspondence_20120123 (2)REPLY TO ATTENTION OF Regulatory Division DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS 69 DARLINGTON AVENUE WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403 -1343 Action ID No. SAW -2011 -02198 January 20, 2012 Messrs. Randy Turner and Worth Creech Restoration Systems, LLC 1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211 Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Dear Sirs: it foqZ, Q�c��aec� JAN 2 3.2012 DENR - WATER QUALITY O" ANDS AND STQRMWATER BRANCH This letter serves as our initial evaluation of your prospectus detailing the establishment of a mitigation bank, known as New River Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank, within a 31 -acre tract owned by the Thompson and Troldahl families. The property is located just north of NC Hwy 24 and Jesse Williams Road intersection, adjacent to the New River, west of Richlands, Onslow County, North Carolina. Also, please reference our December 20, 2011 onsite meeting along with your consultant, Mr. Grant Lewis of Axiom Environmental, Ms. Joanne Steenhuis of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality, and Mr. Todd Tugwell of our office. Your proposal is to return the site back to its historic conditions by backfilling the current ditches and to restore approximately 2,000 linear feet of perennial stream, approximately 995 linear feet of intermittent stream, and approximately 15.2 acres of riparian wetland; and to enhance approximately 2.2 acres of riparian wetlands. Plans were to generate approximately 2,995 linear feet of stream credits and approximately 16.3 credits of riparian wetlands. Pursuant to 33 CFR Part 332.8(d)(5) Compensatory Mitigation For Losses of Aquatic Resources, our office is providing our initial evaluation as to the potential of your proposed bank for providing appropriate compensatory mitigation for activities authorized by Department of the Army (DA) permits. Several comments (copies enclosed) were received during the commenting period of the Public Notice and forwarded to you by e -mail on January 3, 2012 for consideration. Based on our review and the onsite inspection, it is our position that the New River Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank is not appropriate for providing compensatory stream mitigation for DA authorizations. As discussed onsite, we question whether the site historically supported any stream channel(s) based on the following current information: 1) LIDAR: the absence of any onsite crenulation(s), 2) USGS: no depiction of any onsite tributary feature(s), 3) 2.0 -foot contour map, 4) Drainage size, 5) Soil type: Muckalee, a typical floodplain (fluvaquent) hydric soil that, in this case, seems to have been formed greatly from the influence of the (pre - channelized) New -2- River and not from any side channels, 6) Lack of Reference: no evidence provided on similar features up and/or downstream of the project site, 7) Lack of any conclusive historic records /aerials depicting stream channels, 8) Use of our best professional knowledge on similar floodplain type features and landscape positioning, and 9) Onsite confirmation. We are not, by any means, stating that the site does not have any potential for wetland restoration or enhancement credits. This position is solely for the proposal to produce compensatory stream credits. If, at this time, Restoration Systems desires to move forward with a proposal, it is our recommendation that the prospectus be modified to more appropriately represent historic conditions, or provide additional information that addresses the concerns listed above. Additionally, if Restoration Systems disagrees with this determination, you may present your position to the North Carolina Interagency Review Team for further consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me at the Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, telephone (910) 251 -4811 if you have any questions regarding our determination or moving forward with a mitigation bank proposal. Enclosures Copies Furnished (without enclosures): Mr. Steve Sollod Transportation Project Coordinator Division of Coastal Management 1638 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 -1638 Mr. Ron Sechler National Marine Fisheries Service Pivers Island Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 Sincerely, G� Mickey S gg, Project Manager Wilmington Regulatory Division Mr. Mike Wicker U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Post Office Box 33726 Raleigh North Carolina 27636 -3726 Ms. Molly Ellwood North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 -3- Ms. Joanne Steenhuis North Carolina Division of Water Quality 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 Mr. Travis Wilson North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 1142 I -85 Service Road Creedmor, North Carolina 27522 Ms. Jennifer Derby, Chief Region IV- Wetlands Regulatory Section Water Management Division, USEPA 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Ms. Becky Fox US Environmental Protection Agency Region IV- Wetlands Section 1307 Firefly Road Whittier, North Carolina 28789 Ms. Karen Higgins North Carolina Division of Water Quality NCDENR- Webscape Unit 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh North Carolina 27699 -1650 Mr. Eric Kulz North Carolina Division of Water Quality NCDENR- Webscape Unit 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh North Carolina 27699 -1650 Mr. Barry Guthrie North Carolina Division of Coastal Management 400 Commerce Avenue Morehead City, North Carolina 28557 Mr. Grant Lewis Axiom Environmental, Inc. 218 Snow Avenue Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Thompson 302 Jesse Williams Road Richlands, North Carolina 28574 Mr. and Mrs. Morris Thompson 113 Westside Lane Richlands, North Carolina 28574 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Troldahl 314 Jesse Williams Road Richlands, North Carolina 28574 Mr. Michael Ellison, Deputy Director North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27669 -1652