HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070602 Ver 1_General Correspondence_20070511May 8, 2007
Cyndi Karoly
410 Oversight /Express Review Permitting unit
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Re: 070602RamBranchHistoricPreservation(Buncombe)
I received your email copy of a letter dated Apri130, 2007. I have yet to receive the
actual certified mail.
In response, we are now having an engineer prepare the drawings showing the features
you requested in you April 301etter. I am looking forward to meeting on site with your
representatives on May 16th at 10:00 am. to review the scope.
At the time of the meeting, possible you could help with some questions I had.
Specifically:
• Item 3, ow property is 8,000 acres. What distance from the work area are
we to show other wetlands (isolated or not), streams and other waters?
Many are several miles away.
• Item 5, the pool we are recreating no longer exist so we showed the
historic boundary. We have pictures of the pool from the early 1900's and
pieces of the original rock spillways are visible but there is no longer. a
pool.
• Item 7, I am unclear why the widening of Ram Branch would not be a
valid historic purpose. This landscaped `Approach Road' was designed by
Fredrick Law Olmsted and is a contributing feature in our National
Historic Landmark Status. We have several statements from the time
period explaining the design intent of guest seeing the `play of water and
light' and we have early photo's showing the stream width. In this area,
our past maintenance practice cause a narrow, straight streambed that has
become channelized, only a foot or less across and fairly deep hidden from
view of our guest. There are no longer shelves in the channel that allow
for heavy flows to spread out. Let's look at stream bank erosion during
our visit next week. Perhaps you can suggest some ways to help guest
`see' the stream and reduce velocity that we have not explored.
• Item 8, would a list of proposed plants to be used in the marginal areas be
enough? We are still working out the planting plan as we confirm
availability.
We do plan to continue with this project and are committed to providing the DWQ with
all the information it needs to approve the plan.
~„ ~ ..~
ector of Horti lture ~~~ ~ ~ 7
Nl ",Y ~. 0
May 8, 2007
Cyndi Karoly
410 Oversight /Express Review Permitting unit
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Re: Project 07-0602 Ram Branch Historic Preservation
I received your email copy of a letter dated Apri130, 2007. I have yet to receive the
actual certified mail.
In response, we are now having an engineer prepare the drawings showing the features
you requested in you April 30 letter. I am looking forward to meeting on site with your
representatives on May 16`h at 10:00 am. to review the scope.
At the time of the meeting, possible you could help with some questions I had.
Specifically:
• Item 3, our property is 8,000 acres. What distance from the work area are
we to show other wetlands (isolated or not), streams and other waters?
Many are several miles away.
• Item 5, the pool we are recreating no longer exist so we showed the
historic boundary. We have pictures of the pool from the early 1900's and
pieces of the original rock spillways are visible but there is no longer a
pool.
• Item 7, I am unclear why the widening of Ram Branch would not be a
valid historic purpose. This landscaped `Approach Road' was designed by
Fredrick Law Olmsted and is a contributing feature in our National
Historic Landmark Status. We have several statements from the time
period explaining the design intent of guest seeing the `play of water and
light' and we have early photo's showing the stream width. In this area,
our past maintenance practice cause a narrow, straight streambed that has
become channelized, only a foot or less across and fairly deep hidden from
view of our guest. There are no longer shelves in the channel that allow
for heavy flows to spread out. Let's look at stream bank erosion during
our visit next week. Perhaps you can suggest some ways to help guest
`see' the stream and reduce velocity that we have not explored.
Item 8, would a list of proposed plants to be used in the marginal areas be
enough? We are still working out the planting plan as we confirm
availability.
We do plan to continue with this project and are committed to providing the DWQ with
all the information it needs to approve the plan.
Parker Andes,
Director of Horticulture