20150416 Ver 1_Mitigation Site Visit_20210709

INTERNATIONAL
Meeting Minutes
Russell Gap Stream Mitigation Project
DMS Project ID. 100003
DWR #20150416
NC DEQ Contract# 6980
USACE Action ID: SAW-2017-00826
Catawba River Basin: 03050101-120010
Date Prepared:
July 1, 2021
Meeting Date, Time,
June 23, 2021, 12:30 PM
Location:
On -site (Alexander County, NC)
USACE —Todd Tugwell, Kim Browning, Casey Haywood
DEQ- Erin Davis
Attendees:
DMS — Matthew Reid, Melonie Allen, Paul Wiesner
NCWRC —Olivia Munzer
Michael Baker International (MBI) — Scott King, Katie McKeithan, Jason York
Subject:
IRT Credit Release Site Visit
Recorded By:
Jason York
An on -site meeting was held on June 23rd, 2021 at 12:30 PM to review the as -built conditions for the
Russell Gap stream mitigation project (Full Delivery) in Alexander County, NC. The purpose of the
meeting was to inspect the as -built and MY1 (2020) conditions on the site as part of the IRT credit
release process. Participants met at the railcar bridge crossing on Reach 1 and then inspected tributaries
R11, R13, and R14 (see attached Project Asset Map for reference and reach labels). The channel and
wetlands were then inspected on the lower half of R1. The group continued to the southern portion of
the project and walked south along the farm road to R17 and walked back downstream in the easement
along R6 and R7a. Participants then inspected the culvert at the head of R9 and the lower third of R4
paralleling Mt. Olive Church Rd and observed a structural repair at the confluence of R15 and R4. Next,
the group drove up Mt. Olive Church road northeast to R4a and R26 where the lack of a marked
easement boundary was discussed. Lastly, participants reviewed the concerns of the IRT and possible
strategies to correct for existing and potential issues. Generally, the site is looking good for MY2 and
much will be determined in future monitoring years depending on the success of vegetation and proper
maintenance. Below is a list of notes and comments that were discussed at the walk-through:
Summary Notes and Comments:
• A culverted crossing on R1 was replaced with a railcar bridge after sustaining damage during
heavy rains from tropical storms in late November 2020 (after MY1 reporting). This
repair/installation was inspected and approved by all present.

• Low flow was noted in the lower half of R11. Flow was visible at the location of mid -reach flow
gauge and at the top of the reach. USACE staff suggested re -locating the flow gauge to the
upper third of the reach. A sink hole in the right floodplain was filled during maintenance and
the repair looks good. Additionally, the outer bend upstream of the confluence of R11 and R1
has some bank erosion that threatens to impact the alignment and hydrology of R11. Strategies
to prevent this from happening were discussed. This problem area was damaged when the
culvert on R1 failed during flooding in November 2020. We do not anticipate future erosion on
R1 that will impact or change the alignment of R11 following the installation of the railcar bridge
where the failed culvert was previously located. Live staking and manual repairs will be done to
stabilize the outer bend of R1 upstream of the R11 confluence. This area will be discussed in the
MY2 monitoring report.
• Dense populations ofJuncus spp. are widespread in the R1 floodplain and may negatively impact
the success of planted vegetation. MBI staff noted that the presence of Juncus likely minimized
damage to the banks and floodplain and agreed to monitor the success of other vegetation in
these locations. All wetlands on the R1 floodplain are functional. One auger test in a small area
of low -growing vegetation revealed a small pocket of non-hydric soil near wetland well #7;
however, it was determined in the field to be a minor spot of ditch filling (as clearly observable
on old aerials) and additional pulls were hydric. All of the site's groundwater wells met the
established hydrology success criteria in MY1 (2020).
• R17 should be monitored to make sure it does not become more like a wetland area. The head
of the culvert should be protected to ensure the stream continues to flow through the pipe.
Erin Davis suggested that the tops of R17 and R18 culverts be inspected and fenced out to
eliminate livestock access and potential sediment and nutrient inputs into the project. It should
be noted that this area is outside of the conservation easement; however, MBI will discuss with
the landowner.
• CE signs were not hung on fence posts on site. This is a requirement and must be completed
before credit will be released. MBI staff agreed that this was an oversight and plan to install all
necessary signage as soon as possible. Photos of the installed conservation easement signage
will be forwarded to DMS for review and approval. Upon receipt, DMS will request release of
the MY1 (2020) project credits as proposed.
• The culvert between the bottom of R8 and the head of R9 should be monitored for piping.
• The structural repair at the confluence of R15 and R4 looked good.
• R26 was missing CE signs and posts along the right bank. This area is not active pasture
therefore fencing is not required; however, the easement boundary must still be clearly marked.
No encroachments on the easement were noted despite the lack of signage.
• The R26 portion of the easement should contain a "random" vegetation plot or transect during
MY2. The invasive Princess tree, Pawlonia tomentosa, was observed along with other scattered
invasive plants. This area should be treated in MY2.

• Areas of bank erosion were noticed at the bottom of R4a which is an Enhancement I reach.
Manual repairs and live staking will be completed to stabilize the banks and this location will be
monitored for further damage during MY2 and included in the monitoring report.
Scattered populations of invasive vegetation were noted around the site. Multiflora rose, Privet,
Honeysuckle, and Princess Tree were all observed and will be treated with herbicide in MY2.
DMS staff requested that some survey pins be uncovered and photographed to confirm their
installation in required locations. These photos will be sent to DMS along with photo
documentation of the installation of easement markers and posts where needed.
Jason York, Environmental Scientist
/-- �Z�
[e-mail]
828-380-0118

Credited
Stream Riparian Wetland B uffer
K Restoration Level (linear feet) (acres) feet)
Wetland 7.0531
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Michael Baker 0 500 1,000 Figure 2
-Feet Project Asset Map
► ► + : • •

From: Davis. Erin B
To: Baker, Caroline D
Subject: FW: IRT/ DMS/ Michael Baker - Russell Gap Site Visit Meeting Minutes (6-23-2021): Russell Gap (DMS# 100003)
SAW-2017-00826; DWR#20150416
Date: Monday, November 1, 2021 12:47:01 PM
Attachments: RussellGap 100003 IRT Credit Relase Meeting 6-23-2021.pdf
Laserfiche Upload: Email & Attachment
DWR#: 20150416 v.1
Doc Type: Mitigation Site Visit
From: Wiesner, Paul
Sent: Friday, July 9, 20212:15 PM
To: Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA) <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B
<[e-mail]>; Kim Browning <[e-mail]>; Munzer, Olivia
<[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US)
<[e-mail]>
Cc: King, Scott <[e-mail]>; [e-mail];
[e-mail]; Reid, Matthew <[e-mail]>; Allen, Melonie
<[e-mail]>
Subject: IRT/ DMS/ Michael Baker - Russell Gap Site Visit Meeting Minutes (6-23-2021): Russell Gap
(DMS# 100003) SAW-2017-00826; DWR#20150416
Casey, Erin, Kim, Olivia, and Todd;
Please find Michael Baker's meeting minutes for the June 23, 2021 site visit attached.
Let us know if you have any additions, questions, comments or concerns.
Baker will put the final meeting minutes in the 2021 (MY2) report as an Appendix for
documentation.
Thanks
Paul Wiesner
Western Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
828-273-1673 Mobile
[e-mail]
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Drive
Suite 102
Asheville, N.C. 28801

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.