20140869 Ver 1_Supplemental Planting_20210311

Strickland, Bev
From: Jeff Keaton <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 10:48 AM
To: Kim Browning; Tsomides, Harry
Cc: Wiesner, Paul; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Davis, Erin B; Wilson, Travis
W.; Leslie, Andrea J; Bowers, Todd; Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA); Shawn Wilkerson;
Kristi Suggs; Jordan Hessler
Subject: [External] RE: Vile Creek Supplemental Planting / Alleghany County /
SAW-2014-01585
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Kim - We have scheduled the Vile Creek replanting for late March. We have amended the planting list by
reducing the sycamores by 6% and replacing that with the other trees on the list. We did not reduce the river
birch because they are apparently pretty deer resistant and grow well. We will include two transects in the
supplemental planting area to monitor success for MY6 and MY7. Please let me know if you need any other
information.
Jeff
Original Message
From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 10:12 AM
To: Jeff Keaton <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <[e-mail]>
Cc: Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; 'Wilson, Travis W.
([e-mail])' <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>;
'Bowers, Todd ([e-mail])' <[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA)
<[e-mail]>
Subject: Vile Creek Supplemental Planting / Alleghany County / SAW-2014-01585
Good morning Jeff,
Below are IRT comments for the proposed supplemental planting on the Vile Creek Mitigation Site. Based on
IRT feedback, you may proceed with the proposed supplemental planting. Please consider reducing the
amount of river birch and sycamore, per WRC's concerns. Please provide at least two transects in MY6 and
MY7. If data suggests that the vegetative performance is not on a trajectory for success, an additional year of
monitoring may be required.
Todd Bowers, EPA:
I took a quick look at the proposed planting plan for Vile Creek and it does appear to be quite different that
the original species list planted. 6 of the 10 proposed species are new to the site and would increase site
diversity overall with a mix of canopy and understory trees. I understand that many on the original list are

quite palatable and suffer from deer browse. The only issue I might have would be the lack of an appropriate
oak species for additional mast production. Due to the size of the area I recommend an additional 3rd fixed or
mobile plot to be established in the replanted zone. I recommend an additional year of vegetation monitoring
if only to get two data points (MY7 and MY8 (veg only) beyond the initial planting (MY5) to provide evidence
of surviving stems. I also recommend an additional year due to greater than 10% of the site being planted this
late in the project life. Another option would be to perform veg monitoring during MY6 (3 plots in the replant
area only) and MY7 (total site) to obtain a trend in mortality. I would contend that the provider may
reconsider close out at MY7 if mortality is less than 20 percent and the IRT concurs. Thank you for the
opportunity to provide feedback on the Vile Creek Supplemental Planting Plan for MY5.
Andrea Leslie, WRC:
They are leaning heavily on river birch (18% of stems), sycamore (21% of stems), and persimmon (22% of
stems). The planting is on a trib to Vile Creek. I'd really like them to put less emphasis on river birch and
sycamore, especially as MY 3 data shows those species already being more dominant.
Erin Davis, DWR:
Given that sycamore appears as the most common plots species, I thought to comment on its high percentage
in the proposed supplemental plant quantity. But considering the replanting location is focused along the
main stem site and not wetland credits areas, I'm not quite as concerned with their existing/proposed
diversity. I'm glad to see a mix of bareroot and container plant types. I'm fine with the new species they've
added and appreciate that they considered deer resistant species in their selection. I'd like to request veg plot
monitoring during MY6 and at least two transects in the supplemental planting area to demonstrate stem
survival. Based on the data results, an additional year monitoring may need to be discussed.
The IRT would like to visit this site at some point this year. We can set up a site visit at the credit release
meeting.
Thanks
Kim
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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