20130250 Ver 1_Mitigation Information_20130312

20130250
Kulz, Eric
From:
Tugwell, Todd SAW [Todd.Tugwell @usace.army.mil]
Sent:
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 12:07 PM
To:
Fritz Rohde (Fritz. Rohde @noaa.gov); Beter, Dale E SAW; bowers.todd @epa.gov; Crumbley,
Tyler SAW; Karoly, Cyndi; Cox, David R.; Ellison, Michael; Emily_Jernigan @fws.gov;
Alsmeyer, Eric C SAW; Galamb, Eric; Kulz, Eric; Gibby, Jean B SAW; Jurek, Jeff; Thomas,
John T JR SAW; Jones, Amanda D SAW; Jones, Scott SAW; Kathryn_Matthews @fws.gov;
Paugh, Leilani Y; Fitzpatrick, Linda F; Montgomery, Lori; Haupt, Mac; Marella Buncick
(Marella _Buncick @fws.gov); McLendon, Scott C SAW; Matthews, Monte K SAW;
Recktenwald, Marc; Stanfill, Jim; Sollod, Steve; Sugg, Mickey T SAW; Baumgartner, Tim;
Wilson, Travis W.; Wicker, Henry M JR SAW
Subject:
FW: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Attachments:
Norkett IRT -BMP credit proposal_03- 08- 2013.pdf
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
All,
Here is the letter that was submitted by Wildlands for the Norkett Branch site. Based on the
comments from the IRT this morning, we have agreed to the proposal for credits presented in
this letter. We have not agreed that this methodology will be applicable to other sites,
which must be reviewed on a case -by -case basis.
Thanks,
Todd Tugwell
Special Projects Manager
Regulatory Division
Wilmington District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
11405 Falls of Neuse Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 846 -2564
We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated
Customer Service Survey is located at: http: / /per2 .nwp.usace.army.mil /survey.html Thank you
for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Emily Reinicker [ mailto :[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2013 11:04 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd SAW
Cc: Kulz, Eric; Johnson, Alan; Crumbley, Tyler SAW; Marella Buncick
([e-mail]); Wilson, Travis W.; Kichefski, Steven L SAW; Wiesner, Paul
Subject: RE: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Hi Todd,
This letter is a follow up to our correspondence for the Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation
Site and the two water quality BMPs that we have discussed for the site. Our letter dated
July 24, 2012, documented our initial discussions for SMU credit for BMPs on two agricultural
drainage areas on the site. Based on IRT feedback during email discussions through September
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17, 2012, we have pursued two different BMP designs for the site: one pocket wetland and one
step pool stormwater conveyance channel. Wildlands initially proposed credits based on the
length of these BMP features. During the design phase, we have developed a calculation basis
for SMUs that is based on the drainage area treated and pollutant removal rates for these
BMPs, which could be a more appropriate way to translate BMP work to mitigation credits. We
have submitted the draft Mitigation Plan containing this credit calculation for EEP's initial
review. Since we are not aware of a precedent for this type of credit calculation, we are
circulating this letter for IRT comment concurrently with EEP's review of the overall site
Mitigation Plan. We would appreciate your review and comment by April 5, 2013.
Thanks for your time and input,
Emily
Emily G. Reinicker, PE, CFM
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 S. Mint Street, Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28203
704 - 332 -7754 x106
704 - 332 -3306 fax
[e-mail]
www.wildlandseng.com
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Tugwell, Todd SAW [ mailto :Todd.Tugwell @usace.army.mil]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 2:26 PM
To: Kulz, Eric; Emily Reinicker
Cc: John Hutton; Shawn Wilkerson; Johnson, Alan; Crumbley, Tyler SAW; Marella Buncick
(Marella_ [e-mail]); Wilson, Travis W.; Kichefski, Steven L SAW; Wiesner, Paul
Subject: RE: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
I'm not as concerned with the wetland filling in (at least in the short term) with this
scenario because the surrounding land use is mostly pasture with thick grass. It also
depends on the design of the wetlands. Also, I assume that if the wetlands fill in, the area
would be protected and continue to function like a buffer afterward. But given the stated
concerns, I think the best option might be to take your suggestion that a different approach
be used on the two drainages, which would provide us with some useful information by project
closeout. This is, of course, assuming that Wildlands is willing to do this. Thoughts from
others?
Todd
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Kulz, Eric [mailto:eric.kulz @ncdenr.gov]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 11:38 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd SAW; Emily Reinicker
Cc: John Hutton; Shawn Wilkerson; Johnson, Alan; Crumbley, Tyler SAW; Marella Buncick
(Marella_ [e-mail]); Wilson, Travis W.; Kichefski, Steven L SAW; Wiesner, Paul
Subject: RE: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Todd:
z

Alan and I discussed some more in detail. While I think we like the concept of the pocket
wetlands, it seems like the majority of the treatment /water quality improvement would be from
fencing the cows out of the ephemeral riparian zone. (I assume they are proposing to capture
the top of the ephemeral channel).
One concern is would the wetlands eventually fill in, either due to sedimentation (although
Alan says it is pretty flat) or due to herbaceous vegetation and the associated
thatch /organic debris. Obviously these wetlands will not be maintained, especially in the
long term.
Might it not be almost as good to make sure to hold the grade on the ephemeral stream
(through structures) and let the restored buffers do their work? We would obviously need to
some determine appropriate credit.
Another possibility would be to bring up the.grade (e.g. fill, like they are proposing at Big
Harris Creek) of the ephemerals to make more shallow, slower - flowing channels that could
flood the restored riparian zone during storm events.
Yet another interesting possibility is to try a wetland on one of the ephemerals and then use
just grade control and buffers on the other, and see if one seems to work better /has fewer
problems than the other.
We are just concerned about the sustainability of whatever is done out there. Obviously, we
would prefer some option to prevent the ephemeral channels from continuing to be conduits
from the pastures.
In any case, the devil will be in the details of the design, whatever the ultimate decision.
Eric W. Kulz
Environmental Senior Specialist
N.C. Division of Water Quality
Program Development Unit
1650 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650
Phone: [phone] Please note this is a new phone number effective May 10, 2012
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
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Tugwell, Todd SAW [ mailto :Todd.Tugwell @usace.army.mil]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 8:34 AM
To: Emily Reinicker
Cc: John Hutton; Shawn Wilkerson; Kulz, Eric; Johnson, Alan; Crumbley, Tyler SAW; Marella
Buncick ( Marella [e-mail]); Wilson, Travis W.; Kichefski, Steven L SAW; Wiesner, Paul
Subject: RE: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Thanks Emily. Yes, I believe that the pocket wetland approach is appropriate, though I
appreciate Alan's comments. I believe that Eric Kulz also weighed in that the wetland
approach would be better, but I will let Eric and Alan work out DWQs official response. In
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the end, I think that the majority of the IRT came down on the side of the wetland approach.
As I mentioned in the meeting, the mitigation plan needs to include a design for the
wetlands, which hopefully can be tied to function (e.g., nutrient removal) so we work toward
establishing some kind of performance standards about the functional uplift provided by the
wetlands. This should be accompanied by some level of monitoring, such as grab samples, of
runoff coming in and out of the wetland to demonstrate uplift. We don't necessarily need to
hold this project to performance standards, other than the monitoring. This is important for
us to be able to justify why we are awarding stream credit for work in a valley that has a
questionably jurisdictional channel. We won't be willing to provide credits for these types
of proposals unless there is good reason to do so.
Let me know if you have questions.
Thanks,
Todd Tugwell
Special Projects Manager
Regulatory Division
Wilmington District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
11405 Falls of Neuse Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 846 -2564
We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated
Customer Service Survey is located at: http: // pert .nwp.usace.army.mil /survey.html Thank you
for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Emily Reinicker [ mailto :[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 2:22 PM
To: Tugwell, Todd SAW
Subject: RE: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs
Hi Todd,
John Hutton mentioned that the proposed pocket wetland approach was discussed at a recent IRT
meeting. I just wanted to follow up with you to make sure the pocket wetland is still the
preferred approach and whether I need to address Alan Johnson's comments below. Just trying
to get us all on the same page early before we get too far into design.
Thanks,
Emily
Emily G. Reinicker, PE, CFM
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 S. Mint Street, Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28203
704 - 332 -7754 x106
704 - 332 -3306 fax
[e-mail]
www.wildlandseng.com
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- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Johnson, Alan [ mailto:alan.johnson @ncdenr.gov]
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 4 :18 PM
To: Emily Reinicker
Cc: Tugwell, Todd SAW (Todd.Tugwell @usace.army.mil)
Subject: RE: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed
BMPs
I favor the Alternative #2 and let nature take its course. Excluding the cattle from the
drainage feature will go along way in protection. One could argue that the with agricultural
field, grass buffers are preferred for sediment removal and possibly nutrient uptake, since
the grass will slow down runoff velocity.
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Emily Reinicker [ mailto :[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 2:30 PM
To: Johnson, Alan
Subject: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed BMPs
Hi Alan,
For your files, here is the correspondence related to the WQ BMPs on UT3 and UT4 with
associated proposed SMUs at the Norkett Branch site.
Emily G. Reinicker, PE, CFM
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 S. Mint Street, Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28203
704 - 332 -7754 x106
704 - 332 -3306 fax
[e-mail]
www.wildlandseng.com
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Emily Reinicker
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 7:52 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd SAW
Cc: Kichefski, Steven L SAW; [e-mail]; Wiesner, Paul; Shawn Wilkerson
Subject: RE: FW: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County):
proposed BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Thanks for the input, we will work toward a pocket wetland approach for water quality
treatment of the UT3 and UT4 drainages at Norkett Branch.
Emily G. Reinicker, PE, CFM
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 S. Mint Street, Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28203
704 - 332 -7754 x106
704 - 332 -3306 fax
[e-mail]
www.wildlandseng.com
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Tugwell, Todd SAW [ mailto :Todd.Tugwell @usace.army.mil]

Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 10:32 AM
To: Emily Reinicker
Cc: Kichefski, Steven L SAW; [e-mail];
Subject: RE: FW: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site
proposed BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Emily, -
Hopefully you got the input you need on this
questions as you move forward.
Thanks,
Todd Tugwell
Special Projects Manager
Regulatory Division
Wilmington District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
11405 Falls of Neuse Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 846 -2564
Wiesner, Paul; Shawn Wilkerson
(Yadkin 03040105, Union County):
project. Let me know if you have additional
We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated
Customer Service Survey is located at: http: / /per2 .nwp.usace.army.mil /survey.html Thank you
for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Kichefski, Steven L SAW
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 2:23 PM
To: [e-mail]; Tugwell, Todd SAW
Cc: Emily Reinicker; Pearce, Guy ([e-mail]); Wiesner, Paul; Shawn Wilkerson
Subject: RE: FW: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County):
proposed BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Agreed, the pocket wetlands seem preferred and would probably slow down the water and filter
better than the step pool approach. Although, it's hard to tell from the description whether
the "stone and earthen weir" will give the grade control needed. As Marella mentioned if
they have doubts that the grade control will be held then a combination might be ideal,
otherwise it will eventually look the same as it does now (but with a buffer).
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)- 271 -7980 Ext. 234
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- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: [e-mail] [ mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 9:42 AM
To: Tugwell, Todd SAW
Cc: Emily Reinicker; Pearce, Guy ([e-mail]); Wiesner, Paul; Kichefski, Steven L
SAW; Shawn Wilkerson
Subject: Re: FW: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County):
proposed BMPs (UNCLASSIFIED)
Thanks for the opportunity to comment. I prefer the pocket wetland approach (Alt 1) because
I think it will provide more complete filtering and better habitat. I also would not object
to a combination of the two ideas if the upstream grade is steep enough to need Alt 2 to hold
it grading to Alt 1 where the slope flattens. I just remember the pretty deeply eroded
channel on UT4 and am thinking some extra hardening may be necessary where it is
steeper—also the wetlands may be harder to establish on the steeper portions, potentially
leaving us without the treatment we're seeking in the long run ... just a thought.
marella
Marella Buncick
USFWS
160 Zillicoa St.
Asheville, NC 28801
828 - 258 -3939 ext 237
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune, without the
words, and never stops at all. Dickinson
" Tugwell, Todd SAW" <Todd.Tugwell @usace.army.mil>
08/02/2012 04:42 PM To
" Kichefski, Steven L SAW" < Steven .L.Kichefski @usace.army.mil>, "[e-mail]"
<[e-mail]>
cc
7

"Wiesner, Paul" <[e-mail]>, "Pearce, Guy ([e-mail])"
<[e-mail]>, Shawn Wilkerson <[e-mail]>, Emily Reinicker
<[e-mail]>
Subject
FW: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed BMPs
(UNCLASSIFIED) ,
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Steve /Marella,
If you recall our visit to the Norkett Branch site in Union County, we discussed the
possibility of adding BMPs on the small drainage features entering the site from the ag
field. Wildlands have put together two proposals for generating credit from these drainages
in the attached. After reviewing them, I believe that Option 1 is preferred, but I'd like to
get your opinion since you also were on the site visit. I think it would make sense to at
least mention this at the next IRT meeting, but if you could weigh in, we could give
Wildlands a preliminary go -ahead with the design option. Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Todd Tugwell
Special Projects Manager
Regulatory Division
Wilmington District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
11405 Falls of Neuse Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 846 -2564
We would appreciate your feedback on how we are performing our duties. Our automated
Customer Service Survey is located at: http: // pert .nwp.usace.army.mil /survey.html Thank you
for taking the time to visit this site and complete the survey.
- - - -- Original Message---- -
From: Emily Reinicker [ mailto :[e-mail]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 1:22 PM
To: Tugwell, Todd SAW
Cc: Pearce, Guy; Paul Wiesner
Subject: Norkett Branch Stream Mitigation Site (Yadkin 03040105, Union County): proposed BMPs
Todd,
Attached please find a letter summarizing our proposed design approach for the water quality
BMPs on the non - jurisdictional channels on UT3 and UT4 at the Norkett Branch Mitigation Site
in Union County (Yadkin 030340105). We have asked that you provide your preference on a
pocket wetland BMP approach or a series of water quality berms in the channel. Please
provide your feedback on the proposed design options and the credit award ratios.
s

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Emily
Emily G. Reinicker, PE, CFM
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 S. Mint Street, Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28203
704 - 332 -7754 x106
704 - 332 -3306 fax
[e-mail] < <http: / /per2. nwp.usace.army.mil /survey.html>
mailto :[e-mail]>
www.wildlandseng.com < < mailto :[e-mail]> http: / /www.wildlandseng.com />
Description: <http: / /www.wildlandseng.com /> cid :image003.jpg@01CD583C.D48ACA40
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
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Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
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