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Home My WebLink About20120366 Ver 1_401 Application_20120413WILDLANDS ENGINEERING Wildlands Engineering, Inc 1430 South Mint Street Suite 104 Charlotte, NC 28203 704 - 332 -7754 TRANSMITTAL TO FROM Katie Merritt Andrea Eckardt Nutrient Offset Bank Coordinator COMI ANY NCEEP ADDRII)S 1 ROJLcr NUMBER NCDWQ — Wetlands and Stormwater Branch 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699 1650 RI DATI Prospectus Submittal 4/12/2012 N 1 � ❑ OVI RNK 111 0 RLCUI ARM 111 111 ICh Ul ❑IIAND DELL LRY THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE BRING TRANSMiTTFD COPIES DATE DESCRIPTION 1 4/12/2012 Prospectus — Rocking F Buffer/Nutrient Bank Raman DYNRJ- �1IA is pU • eOwwo a NOTES i 20120366 Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Guilford County, NC Haw River Arm of the Cape Fear 02 Drainage Basin HUC 03030002 Prospectus March 2012 WILDLANDS ENGINEERING Prepared by Wlldlands Engineering, Inc 5605 Chapel Hill Rd, Suite 122 Raleigh, NC 27607 Phone 919 8519986 Fax 919 8519987 U c�ivE APR 13 2012 � r � Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site HUC 03030002 Prospectus TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 1 Introduction 12 Site Location 13 Site Goals 14 Bank Sponsor 20 Establishment and Operation of Mitigation Bank 21 Bank Credits 22 Proposed Service Area 23 Qualifications of Bank Sponsor 30 Ecological Suitability of Site 3 1 Existing Site Conditions 32 Technical Feasibility of the Site 40 Site Maintenance and Long Term Sustamability 41 Site Maintenance 42 Long Term Management Provisions for the Site FIGURES Figure 1 Service Area ,Figure 2 Vicinity Map Figure 3 USGS Map Figure 4 Site Map 'Figure 5a Soils Map _Figure 5b NRCS Soils Map Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear 03030002 Prospectus 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 Page 1 I Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site HUC 03030002 Prospectus 10 Site Introduction and Goals 1 1 Introduction The Rocking F Ranch Site ( Site ) is planned as part of Wildlands Engineering s proposed umbrella mitigation banking instrument ( Bank ) in the Haw River arm of the Jordan Lake watershed (sub basins 03 06 01 — 03 06 04) which is a large portion of the Cape Fear 03030002 HUC The site is planned to encompass land along Climax Creek and six unnamed tributaries on a cattle farm in Guilford County NC The purpose of the Bank is to create nutrient and riparian buffer mitigation credits to compensate for development requiring nutrient offset and riparian buffer payments within the Haw River arm service area depicted in Figure 1 The Site involves the restoration of riparian buffers ( buffers ) in order to help reduce non point source discharge of contaminants into stream channels within the Haw River Arm of the Jordan Lake watershed The proposed nutrient offset bank would protect up to approximately 39 acres of land on the site with a permanent conservation easement Buffer widths will range from 150 to 200 feet from the top of the channel bank 12 Site Location The proposed Site is located in Southeastern Guilford County approximately four miles southeast of the Town of Pleasant Garden (Figures 2 and 3) To get to the site travel south on US Hwy 421 from Greensboro and exit onto NC Hwy 62 south Travel 1 75 miles on NC Hwy 62 and turn right on Monnett Road Travel 0 4 miles on Monnett Road and arrive at the site which is located on either side of the road There are unpaved farm roads off of Monnett Road on either side for site access The proposed site is located in a rural watershed within the Cape Fear River Basin (HUC 03030002) and within sub basin 03 06 03 Climax Creek flows into Big Alamance Creek which then flows into the Haw River Big Alamance Creek is classified River by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality as Water Supply IV Nutrient Sensitive Waters from its source to the dam at Lake Macintosh and Class C Nutrient Sensitive Waters from the dam to the confluence with the Haw The Haw River is classified as Water Supply IV Nutrient Sensitive Waters from the confluence to Jordan Lake Big Alamance Creek is rated Impaired for aquatic habitat from Lake Macintosh to the confluence with Stinking Quarter Creek and Not Rated for Class C from Stinking Quarter Creek to the Haw River due to not meeting fecal coliform bacteria screening criteria The Haw River from the confluence with Big Alamance Creek to Jordan Lake is rated as Supporting until a point 0 5 miles downstream of US Hwy 64 where the river is considered to be part of Jordan Lake The Haw River arm of the lake is rated as Impaired for pH and chlorophyll a Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Page 2 Cape Fear 03030002 Prospectus 13 Site Goals The proposed nutrient offset and riparian buffer mitigation project described above will provide numerous ecological benefits within the Haw River arm of the Cape Fear 02 Basin While some of these benefits are limited to the project area others such as pollutant removal and improved aquatic and terrestrial habitat have more far reaching effects The primary goal of the project will be to restore nitrogen and phosphorous removal capacity of those areas adjacent to surface waters Other expected improvements to water quality and ecological processes from the project are outlined below in Table 1 as project goals Table 1 Site Goals and Methods of Achievement Nutrient removal from On site nutrient inputs will be decreased by removing cattle access to stream flow streams Runoff will be filtered through buffer zones Flood flows will be filtered through restored floodplain areas where flow will spread through native vegetation Vegetation uptakes excess nutrients Fecal coliform removal Removing cattle access to streams will result in reductions of fecal from stream flow colifonn bacteria in stream flow Runoff from cattle pastures will be retained and filtered by the restored buffers before entering channels on the site Sediment removal from Storm flow containing grit and fine sediment will be filtered through stream flow restored floodplain areas where flow will spread through native vegetation The spreading flood flows will reduce velocity allowing sediment to settle out Sediments will be filtered from overland flow by the restored buffers before entering channels on the site Restoration of Adjacent buffer and riparian habitats will be restored with native terrestrial habitat vegetation as part of the project Native vegetation will provide cover and food for terrestrial creatures 14 Bank Sponsor This site is presented as part of the proposed Haw River Arm of the Cape Fear Basin HUC 03030002 umbrella mitigation banking instrument sponsored by Wildlands Engineering Inc ( Sponsor ) Contact information for this Bank is provided below Wildlands Engineering Inc 5605 Chapel Hill Road Suite 122 ( 1 Raleigh NC 27607 Phone 919 851 9986 Fax 919 851 9987 Attn John Hutton Email jhutton @wildlandseng com Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Page 3 Cape Fear 03030002 Prospectus 2 0 Establishment and Operation of Mitigation Bank The Sponsor has acquired an option to purchase a conservation easement on the site Upon completion of the review process for the site prospectus the Sponsor will submit a detailed Bank Parcel Development Plan (BPDP) and umbrella banking instrument The instrument will provide detailed information regarding bank operation Once the final site BPDP is approved and the accompanying instrument executed by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality ( NCDWQ) the Sponsor will record a conservation easement on the bank site 21 Bank Credits The use of credits from the Bank to offset development requiring nutrient offset and riparian buffer payments will be consistent with rules adopted by the Environmental Management Commission and all other applicable authorities Prior to the release of credits the following requirements will be met NCDWQ approval of the final mitigation plan and execution of the banking instrument recordation of the conservation easement and establishment of appropriate financial assurances 2 2 Proposed Service Area The Bank is being established to provide mitigation credit to compensate for impacts to riparian buffers and development requiring nutrient offset payments within the service area depicted in Figure 1 This service area consists of the Haw River Arm of Hydrologic Unit 03030002 The service includes portions of Rockingham Guilford Caswell Randolph Alamance Orange and Chatham Counties A specific geographic limit of applicability in no way compromises any state agency s ability to accept or reject the use of a bank for any given impact 2 3 Qua lifications of Bank Sponsor W►ldlands Engineering (WEI) is a multidisciplinary group of professionals that bring together the expertise necessary to create outstanding stream wetland and buffer restoration projects in a timely and cost effective manner WEI has offices in Charlotte and Raleigh North Carolina and Charlottesville Virginia Our 17 employees dedicated to environmental restoration have positioned WEI as a leader in ecosystem restoration in the southeastern United States WEI has completed one nutrient bank and is in the process of developing eight full delivery projects through the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program To execute buffer mitigation projects WEI assembles a team of project specific subcontractors to perform surveying archaeological investigations and construction services Each of these subcontractors has substantial experience in stream and buffer restoration in North Carolina and a substantial full time professional staff presence in North Carolina WEI staff members have worked with all of these sub contractors on numerous occasions WEI believes that early coordination and frequent communication with sub contractors ensures that everyone understands their role in the project and can complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Page 4 Cape Fear 03030002 Prospectus 3 0 Ecological Suitability of Site 31 Existing Site Conditions 311 Existing Site vegetation The project area consists primarily of open agricultural fields currently used as pasture for cattle Streams on the property have little to no existing riparian buffer Existing riparian zones are grazed and the streams are used as a water source for cattle 32 Technical Feasibility of the Site Based on the results of the preliminary investigations it was determined that the subject site has buffer restoration potential that could be considered for development of a viable commercial mitigation bank Actions required to develop the subject site for mitigation would require altering current land use practices to sustain stable long term environment Buffer restoration would involve replanting appropriate native tree and shrub species along the buffer corridor Herbaceous riparian vegetation will also be planted but will generally re establish naturally Intensive vegetation management and a rigorous herbicide schedule will be implemented over the first few years after planting to prevent establishment of invasive species that will out compete the planted native vegetation Cattle will be permanently removed from the riparian zones through fencing installed around all replanted buffers The replanted zones will be placed in a conservation easement to ensure long term protection of the buffers The proposed site is shown in Figure 4 and the soils on the site are depicted in Figures 5a and 5b 4 0 Site Maintenance and Long -Term Sustainability 41 Site Maintenance Adaptive measures will be developed or appropriate remedial actions will be implemented in the event that the site or a specific component of the site fails to achieve the success criteria outlined in the final umbrella banking instrument The project specific monitoring plan developed during the design phase will identify an appropriate threshold for maintenance intervention based on the monitored items Any actions implemented will be designed to achieve the success criteria which will be specified in the umbrella banking instrument and will include a work schedule and updated monitoring criteria 42 Long Term Management Provisions for the Site The Sponsor will institute a Long Term Management Plan responsible for assessing the condition of the mitigation site and implementing maintenance provisions to maintain performance of the site The proposed conservation easement will help to ensure that only NCDWQ allowable activities take place To monitor the site s continued success the Long Term Management Plan will be implemented following the five year monitoring period All components of the restoration site will be inspected annually or less frequently as needed to ensure that the project remains stable in perpetuity Sources of instability or other deficiencies will be addressed Invasive species will be managed annually or less frequently as needed to Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Page 5 Cape Fear 03030002 Prospectus ensure the long term survivability of the planned native vegetation community. All reporting will be documented and kept on file for future reference. Rocking F Ranch Nutrient and Riparian Buffer Site Page 6 Cape Fear 03030002 - Prospectus - Rocking F Ranch Service Area County Boundaries ING4.M FOR 17 .. 2U �1GU D r� 311 I o 1 - 311 I DAVIDSON +, i RANDOL «'- I ce: , ! 5 i � r eu9' I r , R 'QWAN X 8 t � / + ,o Y f MONTGOMERY + i1 52 � n Rocking F Ranch Site I e I I I a21 I C1„ i r ?? I i l 11, yoz a2 W I L D L A N D S 0 5 10 Miles F NGINFFR1NG I s, LEE N I -, , �, + it G % .I RHA�/11d7 0 Ys r r a3 I /WAKEI m HARNETT (271 Figure 1 Service Area Rocking F Ranch Nutrient And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC ` 0065 r,501 AuHarbor � Atrpgrt 283m oa Aap t I �.i Gjbsr� i .Ile' Eku, Greens whitsew university loon ,554 GUILFORD ' i ----------- Gown x20 ALAMANCE i 2 333u 13341 J3�' I i .148.0' I 1001' 421 i 1129 $CS rawest Suture I y Paf* 73 Sark Rocking F Ranch Site I Q --------------------- - - - - -- - - - \ ` - -- - ---------- ----------------- -------------- i- Hinsha.. Greenacresi I �ssq !anthem -m 1955t" --34RANDOLPH �14 s144 i CHATHAM 31m 294 31m , Asheboro r... I -- r Figure 2 Vicinity Map W I L D L A N D S 0 2 4 Miles Rocking F Ranch Nutrient ENGIN(-FRING i I ( I And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC I I I I ' I I I oa Aap t I �.i Gjbsr� i .Ile' Eku, Greens whitsew university loon ,554 GUILFORD ' i ----------- Gown x20 ALAMANCE i 2 333u 13341 J3�' I i .148.0' I 1001' 421 i 1129 $CS rawest Suture I y Paf* 73 Sark Rocking F Ranch Site I Q --------------------- - - - - -- - - - \ ` - -- - ---------- ----------------- -------------- i- Hinsha.. Greenacresi I �ssq !anthem -m 1955t" --34RANDOLPH �14 s144 i CHATHAM 31m 294 31m , Asheboro r... I -- r Figure 2 Vicinity Map W I L D L A N D S 0 2 4 Miles Rocking F Ranch Nutrient ENGIN(-FRING i I ( I And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC — Property Boundary r i, } ,�--ti, - `''�; -•=:.% -- �-�vf � � �# �.: fir,. �. •` { /f ' � I ?5r �� 1 f . Iq i ObakeECM 79� fit _� .•.ti --Y., i 9j Joe Big E •�_ .S�rbst Lion -41 ■ ■ . ��. n �. , �3-344) eldo �C- r �t limj NC 7.5' T pog` M ad ran le_ _ it tom. �' -A i Figure 3 USGS Map W I L D L A N D S 0 500 1,000 Feet Rocking F Ranch Nutrient And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC ID Figure 4 Site Map W I L D L A N D S 0 250 500 Feet Rocking F Ranch Nutrient ENGINEERING I 1 1 1 I And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC Figure 5a Soils Map WOMWILDLANDS 0 250 500 Feet Rocking F Ranch Nutrient E N G IN E E R IN G I i And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC Figure 5b NRCS Soils Map EN W I L ll L A N ll S 0 550 1,100 Feet Rocking F Ranch Nutrient G INEERIN G I I I I I And Riparian Buffer Site Cape Fear River Basin (03030002) Guilford County, NC