20120365 Ver 1_Loflin Dairy Proposal for Concurrence_20111002

WILDLANDS
ENGINEERING
1430 S. Mint Street, Suite 104 - Charlotte, NC 28203 - Phone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]
MEMORANDUM
To: Sue Homewood, NCDWQ From: Andrea Eckardt
Cc: Kristie Corson Date: 10/31/2011
Tim Baumgartner
Re: Loftin Dairy Butler Mitigation Site — Proposed Planting Areas
Representatives of Wildlands Engineering, Inc (WEI), NC Ecosystem
Enhancement Program (NCEEP), and NC Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ)
attended a site visit to the Loflin Dairy Buffer Mitigation Site on August 18, 2011.
Meeting notes and a draft planting area figure were submitted by WEI for agency
review following the site visits. WEI received comments from NCDWQ on the
notes and initial planting area map via email September 9, 2o11. The proposed
planting area for the project has since been revised based on agency comments,
updated survey data, and site constraints.
Attached is the updated map showing the proposed planting area for the Loflin
Dairy Buffer Mitigation Site. The conservation easement boundary is 50 feet
from the surveyed top of bank. The project planting area, which is the area that
will generate restoration credit, is 8.7 acres out of a 9.5 acre conservation
easement area. The jurisdictional streams and ephemeral ditches on the site have
been excluded from the planting acreage.
NCDWQ requested additional information on the existing vegetation in three
areas: Reaches Al, A2, and B1. Reach Al had only a single line of four mature
trees ( >5" DBH) along the right top -of -bank; therefore, no official tree count plot
was established. A tree count plot was created on A2 as shown on the attached
figure. The result of the plot is included below in Table 1. On Reach B1, there
were no trees greater than or equal to 5 inches DBH found along the reach;
therefore, so no official plot was created.
Table 1. Loflin Dairy Existing Buffer Vegetation Plots
Plot
Reach
Dimensions
No. Trees
Tree Density
(ft.)
> 5" DBH
Per Acre
#1
Reach A2
75'x 30'
4
77
Below is a summary of the conditions, issues, and mitigation potential at each
project Reach.

Reach Al — As there was only a single line of four trees found along the top -of-
bank of this reach with DBH greater than or equal to five inches, the conservation
easement area along this entire reach will be riparian buffer restoration.
Reach A2 — As the tree density per acre for this reach was 77, the conservation
easement area along this entire reach will be riparian buffer restoration. The
upstream ephemeral breaks that had been identified in the field by NCDWQ were
surveyed. The project extent stops prior to the breaks due to property owner
constraints.
Reach B1— As there were no trees found with DBH greater than or equal to five
inches, the conservation easement area along this entire reach will be riparian
buffer restoration.
Reach B2 — The conservation easement area along this entire reach will be
riparian buffer restoration.
Reach B3 — The conservation easement area along this entire reach will be
riparian buffer restoration. The headcut at the upstream portion of the reach that
was identified in the field by NCDWQ was surveyed and used to determine the
project extent on this reach. The upstream end of the easement area has been
"bubbled" 50 feet per NCDWQ guidance.

U
l:
a