Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20150634 Ver 1_Year 4 Monitoring Report_2020_20210219ID#* 20150634 Version* 1 Select Reviewer:* Katie Merritt Initial Review Completed Date 02/19/2021 Mitigation Project Submittal - 2/19/2021 Is this a Prospectus, Technical Proposal or a New Site?* r Yes r No Type of Mitigation Project:* r Stream r Wetlands W Buffer V Nutrient Offset (Select all that apply) Project Contact Information Contact Name:* Jeremiah Dow Project Information ................................................................................... ID#:* 20150634 Existing IDr Project Type: Project Name: County: Email Address:* jeremiah.dow@ncdenr.gov Version: *1 Existing Version r DMS r Mitigation Bank UT to Falls Lake Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Mitigation Project Durham Document Information Mitigation Document Type:* Mitigation Monitoring Report File Upload: UTFL_95389_MY4_2020.pdf 6.22MB Rease upload only one RDFof the corrplete file that needs to be subrritted... Signature Print Name:* Jeremiah Dow Signature:* YEAR 4 ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT FINAL Year 5 Post Planting UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Mitigation Project Durham County, North Carolina NC Division of Mitigation Services Project #: 95389 Neuse River Basin 03020201 DWR #: 2015.0634 Mitigation Services ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Prepared for and by: NC Department of Environmental Quality Division of Mitigation Services 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699.1652 December 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Project Summary ............................................................................................................................1 2.0 Performance Standards....................................................................................................................1 3.0 Monitoring Plan..............................................................................................................................1 3.1 Reporting.................................................................................................................................1 3.2 Vegetation Monitoring.................................................................................................................2 4.0 Maintenance & Contingency Plan........................................................................................................2 5.0 Year 3 Annual Monitoring..................................................................................................................2 Appendices Appendix A. Background Tables Table 1 Project Components Table 2 Project Activity & Reporting Table 3 Project Contacts Table 4 Project Attributes Appendix B. Visual Assessment Data Figure 1 Vicinity Map Figure 2 Asset Map Figure 3 Current Condition Plan View Site Photos Table 5 Vegetation Condition Assessment Appendix C. Vegetation Plot Data Table 6 Planted Tree Species Table 7 Planted and Total Stems 1.0 PROJECT SUMMARY NC Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) implemented the UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Project (Project) to fulfill riparian buffer mitigation needs in the Neuse 03020201 Catalog Unit and nutrient offset mitigation needs in the Upper Falls Lake Watershed in accordance with the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR) Temporary Buffer Mitigation Rule (15A NCAC 02B .0295) effective October 24, 2014. This project site is located off Benny Ross Road in Durham County approximately 7.5 miles east of the City of Durham and is within the Upper Falls Lake Watershed (Appendix B, Figure 1). The site is within the Lick Creek watershed (HU 3020201050030) which is comprised of sub -watersheds draining to Lick Creek, its tributary Rocky Branch, Laurel Creek, and unnamed tributaries to Falls Lake. Falls Lake is a drinking water supply watershed with additional nutrient restrictions regulated by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources. The site is in NC DWR's 03-04-01 sub -basin. Riparian buffer mitigation activities occur along the Project from top of bank and extending out to 200 feet, resulting in a maximum of 9.67 acres (421,385 ft2) of riparian buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation through planting and preservation of 10.86 acres of forested buffer easement along the main unnamed tributary to Falls Lake and several water conveyances that flow to UT to Falls Lake. Refer to Appendix A, Table 1 for project mitigation components and Appendix B, Figure 2 for the project component/asset map. Due to the site's location within the Upper Falls Lake Watershed, nutrient offset mitigation from this site can only be provided to offset impacts from development within the Falls Lake Watershed. In addition, riparian buffer mitigation from this site can be used to offset permitted impacts according to the Temporary Rule (15A NCAC 02B .0295) effective October 24, 2014. The following goals of this riparian buffer/nutrient offset mitigation project are to address stressors identified in the Project watershed through the restoration of riparian buffers along the UT and its conveyances. • Removing nonpoint sources of pollution associated with agricultural activities • Reducing sedimentation onsite and downstream The success of these goals are based on the following objectives; • Removal of horses and goats from riparian areas; • Reducing the application of agricultural materials into and adjacent to streams; • Establishing a vegetative buffer adjacent to streams to treat surface runoff, which may contain pollutants such as sediment and/or agricultural pollutants from the adjacent landscape; • Reducing bank erosion associated with a lack of vegetative cover; and • Planting a diverse hardwood vegetative buffer adjacent to Site tributaries. Project restoration activities were completed in March 2016. Refer to Appendix A, Tables 2, 3 and 4 for detailed project activity, reporting history, project contact information and project baseline information and attributes. Directions to the Project from Raleigh: Take US 70 West/Glenwood Avenue toward Durham. Turn Right on NC 50 North/Creedmoor Road. Exit onto NC 98 West. Turn Right onto Southview Road and follow to T intersection. Turn Right onto Baptist Road. Turn right onto Benny Ross Road Site. Travel approximately 0.3 mile to gate on the left. Access is by foot through the gate and 50 ft. access easement See Appendix D, As -Built Sheets). Coordinates: 35.998142,-78.742794 2.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Performance standards were established for native forest development and diffuse flow through the riparian buffer in accordance with DWR's Administrative Code 15A NCAC 02B.0295 (Mitigation Program Requirements for Protection and Maintenance of Riparian Buffers) (NCDWR 2014 Temporary Rule). Performance standards are dependent upon the density and survival of characteristic forest species. After five years of monitoring, an average density of 260 woody stems per acre must be surviving and diffuse flow maintained. 3.0 MONITORING PLAN 3.1 Reporting Annual monitoring data will be reported following DMS's Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Buffer Annual Monitoring Report Template (ver. 1.0) dated Feb. 2, 2014. The monitoring report shall provide a project data chronology and assist in decision making regarding project close-out. The following table outlines monitoring requirements and parameters for this project. UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 1 Required Parameter Quantity Frequency Notes Quantity and location of vegetation plots Vegetation will be monitored for a period of five years or until Yes Vegetation will be determined by Division of Annual success criteria are met. During years 2, 3 and 5 random plots will Mitigation Services be used. Visual monitoring of the site will be done all five years Yes Project Annual Locations of fence damage, vegetation damage, boundary boundary encroachments, etc. will be mapped 3.2 Vegetation Monitoring To monitor the vegetation at this site, the NC Division of Mitigation Services will use a combination of visual monitoring and random vegetation plots. Visual monitoring will be conducted during all five years of monitoring to assess vegetative cover, diffuse flow and easement integrity. DMS will monitor ten (10) rotating, random 1,500 square foot vegetation plots in years 2, 3, and 5 to assess vegetative success representative of the entire mitigation area from top of bank to 200 feet from each tributary/conveyance. These ten (10) plots will provide coverage of 3% of the site each year used. In each sample plot, monitoring parameters will include species composition and density. As it was done for the baseline data collection, the vegetation plots will be randomly selected using a grid and random number generator or similar method for each of the monitoring years 2, 3 and 5. Visual observations of the percent cover of shrub and herbaceous species, diffuse flow and easement integrity will be documented by photograph and site visits. Monitoring of site restoration efforts will be performed for five years or until performance standards are met. The first annual monitoring assessment (MY1) was completed in the fall of 2016. The vegetation will be monitored for a total of five years, with the final monitoring activities concluding in 2021. The close-out for the Project will be conducted in 2022 given that the performance criteria has been met. 4.0 MAINTENANCE AND CONTINGENCY PLAN DMS shall monitor the site and conduct a physical inspection of the site a minimum of once per year throughout the post - construction monitoring period until performance standards are met. These site inspections may identify site components and features that require routine maintenance. Routine maintenance should be expected most often in the first two years following site construction and may include the following: Component/Feature Maintenance through project close-out Remedial Measures Vegetation shall be maintained to ensure survival. Routine vegetation Any remedial activities performed will be Vegetation maintenance and repair activities may include supplemental planting. The site documented in the annual monitoring reports. will also be evaluated to ensure diffuse flow is still occurring. Site boundaries shall be identified in the field to ensure clear distinction between the mitigation site and adjacent properties. Boundaries may be identified by Any remedial activities performed will be Site Boundary fence, marker, bollard, post, tree -blazing, or other means as allowed by site documented in the annual monitoring reports. conditions and/or conservation easement. Boundary markers disturbed, damaged, or destroyed will be repaired and/or replaced on an as needed basis. 5.0 YEAR 4 MONITORING Based on the results of Year 2 annual monitoring, and DMS's efforts to contract with a new planting contractor to replant the Project and treat invasive vegetation, DMS did not conduct annual monitoring in 2018. The replanting of the site was completed in late February 2019. A list of species planted during the replant of the site is provided in Appendix C. Invasive treatments were last completed in June 2019. Species treated included Tree of Heaven, Lespedeza and dog fennel. Additional treatment of will be done as needed. Year 4 annual monitoring (MY4) was conducted in August 2020. While quantitative vegetation monitoring was not proposed for MY4, due to the history of planted stems struggling at this site, and observations of low stem density and vigor, MY4 monitoring activities included stem counts using ten (10) rotating, random 1,500 square foot vegetation plots. Other monitoring activities included visual monitoring of the project verifying the presence or absence of invasive species; checking the integrity of the easement and fencing; and taking photographs at the established photo points. Five (5) of the ten (10) transects did not meet success criteria of 260 stems per acre for planted stems. Visual monitoring and random vegetation transects conducted by DMS staff revealed most planted stems are concealed by herbaceous vegetation and areas with low stem density are likely due to low soil fertility, and to a lesser extent, competition from a dense UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 2 herbaceous layer. Furthermore, in plots that met success criteria, the vigor of many stems was poor (See Appendix B for representative photos). The fence installed along the easement boundary is functioning as intended and all installed signage is still in place. DMS secured a new planting contractor, Terravista Landscape Management (Terravista), to treat invasive vegetation and replant approximately 3.27 acres of low stem density area within the easement. Terravista began the supplemental planting on December 16, 2020 and completed the work on January 4, 2021. To maximize survivability of stems in the poor site soils, Terravista dug 10" deep holes by hand with shovels and backfilled with 50/50 mix. Planted stems were at least 24" in height and 0.5" in caliper size. Planted species included Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) and Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). Terravista has been contracted to conduct independent, random vegetation transect monitoring to ensure survival of at least 300 stems per acre in the supplemental planting zones. The results of Terravista's monitoring will be included in future monitoring reports in addition to the normal yearly vegetation monitoring. UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 3 APPENDIX A BACKGROUND TABLES UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 Table 1: Project Mitigation Components UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) DMS Project #95389 Mitigation Components* Riparian Nutrient Nutrient Buffer Offset Offset Existing Restored Creditable Mitigation Mitigation Credits Credits Buffer Buffer Buffer Restortion Ratio Credits Nitrogen Phosphous Project Component SF SF SF Level (X:1) (SF) (Ibs) (Ibs) Notes/Comments Buffer Riparian Buffer TOB-50' Restored riparian buffer for buffer or Nutrient (Reaches Al, A2 & B) 0 49,393 49,393 R 1 49,393 OR 2,577.48 166.00 Offset credit Subject Rural Riparian Buffer 51-100' Restored riparian buffer for buffer or Nutrient (Reaches Al, A2 & B) 0 82,083 82,083 R 1 82,083 OR 4,283.35 275.87 Offset credit Subject Rural Riparian Buffer 101-200' Restored riparian buffer for Nutrient Offset (Reaches Al, A2 & B) 0 149,557 149,557 R 1 7,804.36 502.64 credit only Subject Rural Riparian Buffer TOB-200' Restored riparian buffer for Nutrient Offset 0 72, 392 72, 392 R 1 3, 777.65 243.30 Non -Subject Rural credit only Riparian Buffer TOB-100' Preserved Riparain Buffer for Buffer Credit (Reaches Al, A2 & B) 64,826 0 64,826 P 10 6,483 only Subject Rural Preserved Riparian Buffer for Buffer Credit only. Area in this zone is less than 10% of Riparian Buffer 101-200' 3,134 0 3,134 P 20 157 total Buffer Mitigation area. 20:1 ratio = 10:1 (Reach A2) Subject Rural factoring in 50% reduction for preservation on a Subject Non -Urban stream. Totals 421,385 138,115 18,442.85 1,187.82 *All assets and credits generated in accordance withDWR Temporary Buffer Mitigation Rule (15A NCAC 02B .0295) effective October 24, 2014. Length and Area Summations by Mitigation Category Restoration Level Stream Riparian Wetland Non -riparian Wetland Creditable Buffer (linear feet) (acres) (acres) (square feet) Riverine Non- Riverine Restoration 353,425 Enhancement Enhancement I Enhancement 11 Creation Presery ation 67,960 High Quality Pres Overall Assets Summary Overall Asset Category Credits Buffer' 138,115 Nutrient Offset Nitrogen 18,442.85 (Ibs/ac/30 yr) Nutrient Offset 1,187.82 Phosphorus (Ibs/ac/30 yr) ' Pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0295(n)(1) (2014 Temporary Rule), buffer mitigation credit used for buffer credit will not be used for nutrient offset credit UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 Table 2. Project Activity and Reporting History UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) DMS Project #95389 Activity or Deliverable Data Collection Complete Completion or Delivery Institution Date NA Jun-13 404 permit date NA NA Restoration Plan Jul-15 Sep-15 Final Design — Construction Plans Jul-15 Sep-15 Construction NA Mar-16 Planting Mar-16 Mar-16 Mitigation Plan / As -built (Year 0 Monitoring — baseline) May-16 Jun-16 Year 1 Monitoring Oct-16 Oct-16 Year 2 Monitoring Oct-17 Oct-17 Invasive Treatment NA Oct-19 Site Replant NA Feb-19 Invasive Treatment NA Jun-19 Year 3 Monitoring Sep-19 Sep-19 Year 4 Monitoring Aug-20 Aug-20 Year 5 Monitoring Table 3. Project Contacts Table UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) DMS Proiect #95389 Designer NC Division of Mitigation Services 217 W Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 Jeff Schaffer, DMS (919) 707-8308 Construction Contractor Wright Contracting, LLC PO Box 545, Siler City, NC 27344 Andrew Dimmette (704) 219-0486 Initial Planting Contractor Bruton Natural Systems, Inc. PO Box 1197, Fremont, NC 27830 Charlie Bruton (919) 242-6555 Supplemental Planting & Terravista Landscape Management Invasive Contractor 7213 Becky Cir., Raleigh, NC 27615 Jennifer Barnhill (919) 791-7840 Monitoring Performers NC Division of Mitigation Services 217 W Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 Jeremiah Dow, DMS (919) 707-8308 LIT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 Table 4: Project Attributes Table UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) DMS Project #95389 Project Information Project Name UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) County Durham Project Area (acres) 10.86 Project Coordinates (latitude and longitude) 35.998142,-78.742794 Planted Acreage (Acres of Woody Stems Planted) 10.86 Project Watershed Summary Information Physiographic Province River Basin Neuse USGS Hydrologic Unit 8-digit 3020201 USGS Hydrologic Unit 14-digit 03020201050030 DWR Sub -basin 03-04-01 Project Drainage Area (acres) 21.5 Project Drainage Area Percentage of Impervious Area < 5% CGIA Land Use Classification Majority Forested, some pasture Regulatory Considerations Parameters Applicable? Resolved? Supporting Docs? Water of the United States - Section 404 No Water of the United States - Section 401 No Endangered Species Act No Historic Preservation Act No Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA or CAMA) No FEMA Floodplain Compliance No Essential Fisheries Habitat No UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 APPENDIX B VISUAL ASSESSMENT DATA LIT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 paws Lake 5#a Falls Rec leatvn L aka I3 0 n Zr Project ��° � D in +� a Fag Is V it lage (. ',Off COCOF56 a _— _ ----- LIc _----`re4 = -_ Ug or W'1 e� ON G� Sources: ESFi. HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermep, increment PCorp., NRCAN, ESrI Japan, METI, ESrI China {Hong Kong), Esri {Thailand), MapmyIndia, DpenStreetMapcontributors, and the GIS User Community FIGURE I Project Location Map JE UT TO FALLS LAKE (McDANIEL FARM) Durham County, NC 0 025 0.5 0.75 1 Miles LIT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 10 Reach A I + r S • a ra { - A 4.r IF � 4 Reach A t•. '. w If IF P �L .' Owe 92 IF 7. hAt _ Reach B Ir. _ � y ti- y�� � *5.�1',{• �.r YL r. tr' 1 41, i- e Figure 3: current Condition Plan View , . L, UT to Fills Lake (McDaniel Farm) Photo Points+'- MY4 Transects MY3 Transects Supplemental Plant Area 2020f2021 dormant season (approx. 3.27 acres) Mowin g Allcrwa nce Bridle Rath _ Subject Channel Existing Mature Trees Non -Subject Channel Easement (1a.86 ac} Tr, i i * tiFt w C AI LIT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 11 Site Photos Photo Point 1 Photo Point 2B-NE Photo Point 3B-NW Photo Point 5 Photo Point 2A-NW js Photo Point 4 Photo Point 6 UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 12 Photo Point 7A-SE Photo Point 8A-NW Photo Point 9 View of Veg Transect 2 Photo Point 7B-E Photo Point 8B-SE Photo Point 10 View of Veg Transect 2 UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 13 Table 5: Vegetation Condition Assessment UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) DMS Project #95389 Planted Acreage 10.86 Vegetation Category Definitions Mapping Threshold CCPV Depiction Number of Polygons Combined Acreage % of Planted Acreage 1. Bare Areas Very limited cover of both woody and herbaceous material. 0.1 acres Pattern and Color 0 0.00 0.0% 2. Low Stem Density Areas Woody stem densities clearly below target levels based on MY3, 4, or 5 stem count criteria. 0.1 acres Transparent Pink Polygons 5 3.27 30.1% Total 5 0.00 0.0% 3. Areas of Poor Growth Rates or Vigor Areas with woody stems of a size class that are obviously small given the monitoring year. 0.25 acres Pattern and Color 0 0.00 0.0% Cumulative Total 5 1 3.27 1 30.1% Easement Acreage 10.86 Vegetation Category Definitions Mapping Threshold CCPV Depiction Number of Polygons Combined Acreage % of Easement Acreage 4. Invasive Areas of Concern Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map scale). 1000 SF Pattern and Color 0 0.00 0.0% 5. Easement Encroachment Areas Areas or points (if too small to render as polygons at map scale). none Pattern and Color 0 0.00 0.0% UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 14 APPENDIX C Vegetation Plot Data LIT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 15 Table 6a: Planted Tree Species UT to Falls Lake McDaniel Farm DMS Project #95389 Scientific Name Common Name Number Planted % of Total Acer rubrum Red Maple 1,000 17.5% Fraxinus enns Ivanica Green Ash 1,000 17.5% Platanus occidentalis Sycamore 1,000 17.5% Betula ni ra River birch 1,000 17.5% Ulmusamericana American Elm 1,000 17.5% Hamamelis vir iniana Witch hazel 700 12.3% Table 6b: Supplemental Planted Tree Species (2018) Scientific Name Common Name Number Planted % of Total Liriodendron tuli efera Tulip poplar 700 15.6% Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash 700 15.6% Platanus occidentalis Sycamore 600 13.3% Betula ni ra River birch 600 13.3% Diosypros vir iniana Persimmon 600 13.3% N ssa s Ivatica Black gum 600 13.3% Cercis Canadensis Red bud 700 15.6% Total 5,700 100% Total 4,500 100.0% Table 7: Planted and Total Stems - MY4 UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) DMS Project #95389 Current Year MY4 Annual Means VT1 VT2 VT3 VT4 VT5 VT6 VT7 VT8 VT9 VT10 MY4 2020 MY3 2019 MY2 2017 MY1 2016 MYO 2016 Scientific Name Common Name Type P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T P T Acer rubrum Red Maple Tree 2 2 3 3 26 26 Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash Tree 1 1 2 2 3 3 13 13 7 7 3 3 24 24 Platanus occidentalis Sycamore Tree 2 2 7 7 4 4 1 1 3 3 3 3 20 20 18 18 12 12 25 25 26 26 Betula ni ra River birch Tree 1 1 13 13 5 5 24 24 32 32 Ulmus americana American Elm Tree 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 9 9 9 9 6 6 17 17 35 35 Hamamelis vir iniana Witch hazel Tree 43 43 9 9 19 19 28 28 Liriodendron tuli efera Tulip poplar Tree Diosypros vir iniana Persimmon Tree 2 2 4 4 3 3 4 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 8 8 3 3 28 28 14 18 N ssa s Ivatica Black gum Tree 1 1 2 2 4 4 6 6 5 5 23 23 6 6 47 47 Cercis Canadensis Red bud Tree Pinus taeda Loblolly pine Tree 10 1 57 1 26 1 4 1 2 1 6 15 67 21 9 1 217 1 165 1 81 1 46 29 Li uidambarst raciflua Sweet g um Tree 5 2 3 8 9 9 36 62 85 64 38 Salix ni ra Black Willow Tree 2 Chamaecyparis th oides Atlantic White Cedar Tree 1 2 1 4 2 2 1 Quercus s. Oak Tree 1 1 1 1 Unknown Tree 1 1 4 8 1 Stem count 1 11 8 66 12 45 7 14 7 12 10 24 7 32 11 87 34 55 10 19 107 365 110 343 41 214 91 213 171 239 Plot size acres 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.034 0.344 0.344 0.344 0.344 0.344 Species Count 1 1 2 4 6 3 6 2 5 3 5 5 7 2 5 4 6 3 4 3 4 5 9 6 9 6 11 6 12 6 9 Stems per ACRE 29 319 232 1,916 348 1,307 203 407 203 348 290 697 203 929 319 2,526 987 1,597 290 552 311 1,060 319 996 1 119 621 264 I 618 581 1016 Type = Tree, Shrub, Livestake P = Planted T = Total Color for Density Exceeds requirements by 10% Exceeds requirements, but by less than 10% Fails to meet requirements, by less than 10% Fails to meet requirements by more than 10% UT to Falls Lake (McDaniel Farm) Year 4 Annual Monitoring Report December 2020 16