SW3210403_Wetland Determination/Report (2)_20210722

ECS C A R O L I N A S, L L P "Setting the Standard for Service"
Geotechnicai • Construction Materials • Environmental • Facilities NC Registered Engineering FirmF-1078
October 2, 2015
Mr. Brian Adams
A TOO D
11111 Carmel Commons Boulevard
Suite 160
Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
Reference: Report of Wetland Delineation
Shelby Randolph Road Solar — Proposed Road
Southern Drive
Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina
ECS Project No. 08-10319-E
Dear Mr. Adams:
ECS Carolinas, LLP (ECS) is pleased to submit this report of the jurisdictional waters/wetland
delineation for the site located along Southern Drive in Shelby, Cleveland County, North
Carolina. This report summarizes our findings for the site.
Background
The subject site is located along Southern Drive in Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina
(Figure 1). The site consists of an easement along an abandoned railroad line near Southern
Drive. The site is approximately 5-acres. ECS was requested to conduct a stream/wetland
delineation for the subject site for a proposed access road for a planned solar array. Project
information was provided to ECS by Mr. Brian Adams with A TOO D.
Wetlands are defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "those areas that are inundated or saturated by
surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal
circumstances, do support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil
conditions." In order for an area to be classified as wetland, hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils,
and wetland hydrology indicators must be present.
Literature Review
ECS reviewed the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Topographic Map, the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil
Survey of Cleveland County, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetlands
Inventory (NWI) Map, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM), and the Geologic Map of North Carolina to obtain information regarding the
site.
The USGS Topographic Map (Figure 2) depicts a rail road along the southern border of the
study area. The rail road appears to function as a drainage divide. The site gently slopes
towards the north-northwest. Elevations on the site range from approximately 800 to 840
feet above mean sea level. Surface waters are not depicted on the site; however, a drainage
swale is located on the western portion of the site.
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Report of Wetland Delineation — Shelby Randolph Road Solar
Southern Drive
Shelby, North Carolina
ECS Project No. 08-10319-E
The USDA Soil Survey of Cleveland County (Figure 3) indicates that soils on the site have
been mapped as Pacolet-Bethlehem complex. The Pacolet-Bethlehem series consists of
moderately eroded soils with 2 to 8% slopes (PbB2, PbC2 and PaC2) and 8 to 15% slopes
(PbC2). The soils mapped onsite do not appear on the Hydric Soils List for Cleveland
County, NC. Surface waters are not depicted on the site; however, a gully is depicted on the
western portion of the site.
ECS reviewed the USFWS - NWI Map of the site (Figure 4). The map does not depict
wetlands on the site.
ECS reviewed the FEMA-FIRM Map Service Center website. The site is depicted on the
FEMA-FIRM Panel 3710252700 (Figure 5). The map indicates that the subject site
boundaries are determined to be located in Zone X, which is outside the 0.2% annual
chance floodplain.
The subject site is located within the Inner Piedmont Belt of the Piedmont Physiographic
Province. The soils encountered in this area are the residual product of in -place chemical
weathering of rock presently underlying the site and/or historic depositional events. In
general, shallow unconfined groundwater movement within the overlying soils is controlled
largely by topographic gradients. However, as the groundwater percolates downward, it
becomes controlled by the subsurface geologic conditions. Thus, the direction of
groundwater movement in the deeper aquifers may not be consistent with the reflecting
topography.
Surface waters primarily recharge shallow aquifers by infiltration along higher elevations.
Once in the shallow aquifer, the groundwater typically discharges into streams or other
surface water bodies at lower elevations. The depth of the shallow water table is transient
and can vary with seasonal fluctuations in precipitation. Groundwater movement in the
shallow aquifer is generally from higher to lower elevations. As such, shallow groundwater is
expected to flow generally to the north-northwest beneath the site toward an unnamed
tributary of Brushy Creek.
Site Reconnaissance
Mr. David E. Valentine of ECS conducted the site reconnaissance on August 13, 2015 and
September 24, 2015. During reconnaissance, the site was observed for evidence of streams,
ponds, and wetlands. Ponds were not identified on -site.
A Jurisdictional stream is located on the western portion of the site. The stream (SA) has
defined beds and banks, moderate sinuosity, and contained flowing water at the time of our
visits. Soils located on the site were bright and appeared well drained. Stream SA was flagged
during a previous delineation conducted by ECS in 2014. The centerline of the stream was
flagged in the field with blue and white striped surveyors tape. The stream was verified by the
USACE and a Jurisdictional Determination was issued on April 3, 2015 (SAW-2014-02265).
Figure 6 shows the approximate location of the stream. Figure 6 is based on our field notes and
should only be used for preliminary planning purposes. The stream flags should be surveyed to
2

Report of Wetland Delineation — Shelby Randolph Road Solar
Southern Drive
Shelby, North Carolina
ECS Project No. 08-10319-E
determine the exact location and extent of the jurisdictional area. The JD will be valid for a
period of five years from the date of issuance.
General Discussion
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of dredge and fill materials into
waters of the United States (lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, etc.), including wetlands. Waters of
the United States include the territorial seas, navigable coastal and inland lakes, rivers and
streams, intermittent streams, and wetlands. Activities that could be regulated under Section
404 include the placement of fill for construction of roadways; residential, commercial or
industrial structures; and the construction of water retention ponds along tributaries. The EPA
and the USACE jointly administer the Section 404 program. Section 401 of the Clean Water Act
grants each state the authority to approve, condition, or deny Federal permits that could result in
a discharge to State waters.
Streams are regulated by the USACE and the NCDWR. Permits will be required prior to
impacting wetlands or open waters, including ponds, lakes and perennial or intermittent
streams. Mitigation and stormwater management plans will be a condition of permits issued for
the site. Buffers may be required adjacent to streams and water bodies.
For impacts to one-half acre or more of waters or to 300 linear feet or more of perennial stream
channel, an individual permit (IP) may be required. An IP requires a habitat analysis, alternative
site analysis, project justification, plans to avoid and minimize impacts, and a proposed
mitigation plan. Depending on the habitat analysis and the extent of impacts, and Environmental
Impact Statement may be required by the USACE. An IP allows for a public comment period
and may require 4 to 18 months to obtain depending on conditions arising during the USACE
review and public comment period.
Watershed Classification
According to the NCDENR-DWR, the site is located in the Broad River Basin in an area that has
been designated as Class C waters. The streams located on the site are not subject to state
buffer requirements. ECS recommends consulting with local agencies to determine local buffer
requirements.
ECS recommends that erosion control measures and best management practices are installed
and implemented on -site prior to earth moving activities.
3

Report of Wetland Delineation — Shelby Randolph Road Solar
Southern Drive
Shelby, North Carolina
ECS Project No. 08-10319-E
Closure
ECS appreciates the opportunity to provide wetland services for your project. Please contact us
at [phone] if you have any questions concerning this report.
Sincerely,
ECS CAROLINAS, LLP
David E. Valentine
Environmental Staff Project Manager
0 • �-0^4v- - �
W. Brandon Fulton, LSi, PWS
Environmental Department Manager
John S. Lair P.G.
Principal Geologist
Attachments: Figure 1 — Site Location Map
Figure 2 —Topographic Map
Figure 3 — Soil Map
Figure 4 — National Wetlands Inventory Map
Figure 5 — FEMA FIRM Map
Figure 6 — Stream/Wetland Location Map
Photographs
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FIGURE 1
SITE LOCATION MAP
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SHELBY RANDOLPH ROAD SOLAR
2015
SOUTHERN DRIVE
SHELBY, CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC
SCALE AS SHOWN
ECS PROJECT NO. 08-10319-E

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SOURCE: FIGURE 2
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
USGS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP:
GROVER AND WACO, SHELBY RANDOLPH ROAD SOLAR
NORTH CAROLINA QUADRANGLES SOUTHERN DRIVE
DATED 1983 SHELBY, CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC
SCALE AS SHOWN
ECS PROJECT NO. 08-10319-E
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SOURCE: i FIGURE 3
SOIL MAP
USDA SOIL SURVEY OF
CLEVELAND COUNTY SHELBY RANDOLPH ROAD SOLAR
ISSUED: 2006 SOUTHERN DRIVE
NOT TO SCALE SHELBY, CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC
ECS PROJECT NO. 08-10319-E
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Wetlands
Freshwater Emergent
- Freshwater ForesledlShrub
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine
Freshwater Pond
- Lake
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Proposed Roadway
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tudy Area
SOURCE:
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
NATIONAL WETLANDS INVENTORY
MAPPING PROGRAM
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FIGURE 4
NATIONAL WETLANDS INVENTORY MAP
SHELBY RANDOLPH ROAD SOLAR
SOUTHERN DRIVE
SHELBY, CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC
ECS PROJECT NO. 08-10319-E

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