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Home My WebLink About20211669 Ver 1_Final Mitigation Plan_20201112LOWLANDS WETLANDS MITIGATION SITE MITIGATION PLAN PREPARED FOR: DOMINION ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC. CIO SPENCER TRICHELL DOMINION BLVD GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA PROJECT LOCATION: JOHNSTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA PROJECT NUMBER: DESIGNED BY: DATE: IJ MCADAMS 2905 MERIDIAN PARKWAY DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27713 NC Lic. # C-0293 SPEC-16320 JOSH ALLEN, PE GEORGE BUCHHOLZ AUGUST 2017 CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS 604 MACON PLACE RALEIGH, NC 27609 Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Table of Contents ExecutiveSummary.......................................................................................................................I 1.0 Project Site Identification and Location................................................................................3 1.1 Directions to Project Site.........................................................................................................3 1.2 Landowner Information..........................................................................................................3 2.0 Watershed Characterization...................................................................................................3 2.2 Surface Water Classification / Water Quality.......................................................................4 2.3 Physiography, Geology, and Soils...........................................................................................5 3.0 Project Site —Existing Conditions...........................................................................................5 3.1.1 Rhodes Parcel.............................................................................................................5 3.1.2 Stewart Parcel............................................................................................................6 3.2 Existing Hydrological Characterization................................................................................6 3.3 Drainage Area..........................................................................................................................9 3.4 Existing Soil Characterization................................................................................................9 3.5 Plant Community Characterization.......................................................................................9 3.6 Jurisdictional Wetland Determinations...............................................................................10 3.7 Threatened & Endangered Species......................................................................................11 3.8 Cultural Resources.................................................................................................................11 3.9 Potential Constraints.............................................................................................................12 Property Ownership and Boundary.................................................................................12 3.9.1....................................................................................................................................12 3.9.2 Site Access................................................................................................................12 3.9.3 Utilities......................................................................................................................12 3.9.4 FEMA.......................................................................................................................12 3.9.5 Hazardous Materials................................................................................................12 4.0 Reference Wetland.................................................................................................................13 4.1 Hydrologic Characterization................................................................................................13 4.2 Soil Characterization of Reference Wetland.......................................................................14 4.3 Plant Community Characterization.....................................................................................14 4.3.1 Community Description...........................................................................................14 5.0 Project Site Restoration Plan................................................................................................15 5.1 Restoration Project Goals and Objectives...........................................................................15 5.2 Proposed Wetland Mitigation Units.....................................................................................16 5.3 Qualifiers for Mitigation Approach.....................................................................................17 5.3.1 Enhancement Areas.................................................................................................18 5.3.2 Hydrologic Trespass.................................................................................................18 5.4 Proposed Hydrologic Modification......................................................................................19 5.4.1 Re -Establishment Area............................................................................................19 5.4.2 Enhancement Areas.................................................................................................20 5.4.3 Wetland Water Budget Analysis..............................................................................20 5.5 Soil Preparation & Grading..................................................................................................21 5.6 Natural Plant Community Restoration................................................................................22 5.6.1 Plant List..................................................................................................................23 5.6.2 Plant Sources............................................................................................................25 5.6.3 Plant Care and Installation.....................................................................................25 Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 5.6.4 Schedule...................................................................................................................25 5.6. 5 Stabilization..............................................................................................................26 5.6.6 Planting Review........................................................................................................26 6.0 Integration of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP)...............................................................26 6.1 Construction Sequencing and Methods...............................................................................26 6.2 WMU Credit with Temporary Easement............................................................................27 7.0 Monitoring and Performance Criteria.................................................................................28 7.1 Wetland Success Criteria......................................................................................................28 7.1.1 Hydrology.................................................................................................................28 7.1.2 Vegetation.................................................................................................................29 7.2 Schedule / Reporting..............................................................................................................30 8.0 Financial Assurances.............................................................................................................30 9.0 Ownership Agreements and Long Term Strategy ..............................................................30 10.0 References...........................................................................................................................31 Tables Table 1. Land Owner Information Table 2 Proposed Wetland Mitigation Units Table 3A-3C Plant List Figures Figure I USGS Quadrangle — Four Oaks, North Carolina Figure 2 Johnston County NRCS Soil Survey Map (Sheet 11) Figure 3 Existing Wetland Delineation Exhibit Figure 4 8 — Digit HUC Map (Neuse 03020201) Figure 5 14-Digit Aerial HUC Map w. Floodplain Figure 6 Site Drainage Area Map Figure 7 Lowlands Site Concept Plan with Gauge Locations Figure 8 Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) 50-ft ROW Cross -Section Design Sheets Sheet CS1: Cover Sheet Sheets CI-C4: Existing Conditions Sheets Sheets G 1-G2: Grading Plans Sheets LS1-LS3: Planting Plans Appendices Appendix A Project Site Photographs Appendix B Historical Aerial Photos Appendix C Soils Analysis / USACE Wetland Determination Forms Appendix D Regulatory Correspondence Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Appendix E Hydrologic Monitoring Well Summary, Groundwater and Rainfall Information Appendix F Water Budget Analysis Appendix G Meeting Minutes Appendix H EDR Report Appendix I Property Owner Agreements Appendix J Proposed Project Implementation Timeline Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Executive Summary The Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site ("Site") is located approximately one mile northeast of the intersection of Devils Racetrack Road (SR 1009) and Guin Road (SR 1184) in Johnston County, North Carolina (35.421' N; 78.348' W). The Site is located within the Neuse River Basin, 8 digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03020201, more specifically within the 14 digit HUC 03020201150050. The project area is approximately 71.2 acres, of which 65.3 acres will include some form of wetland re-establishment, enhancement, or preservation with the remaining 5.9-acres of uplands and non-credit area to be included within the overall conservation easement as an upland buffer (Fig. 7). The purpose of the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site is to provide wetland mitigation credits to Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc. (DETI) as part of DETI's Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan (PRM) to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands associated with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project (ACP), within the Hydrologic Unit 03020201 (Meuse 01) service area. All wetland mitigation units generated within the Site are to be utilized by DETI for the ACP within this service area. The Site is comprised of two parcels, with the parent parcel being owned by Mr. James Clifton Rhodes (Rhodes parcel) and the western parcel owned by Mr. Chad M. Stewart (Stewart parcel). The parent Rhodes parcel of approximately 58-acres includes 52.9-acres of the project area, and the western Stewart parcel of approximately 86-acres ) provides an additional 18.46-acres of the project area. Within the 58-acre Rhodes parcel, a 25-acre agricultural field is located on lands that have historically been ditched, drained, and utilized for agricultural row crop production. Approximately 23-acres of the agricultural field is proposed for wetland re-establishment. Within a 60-year old forested stand to the south of the agricultural field is an area of higher quality jurisdictional old growth bottomland/headwater hardwood forest, consisting of willow oak, swamp chestnut oak, American holly, and black gums dominating the canopy. This 22.8-acre jurisdictional wetland area has been deemed suitable as a preservation area, since this is an increasingly rare and important habitat still remaining within this farming region dominated by monoculture pine plantations. Land use within the Rhodes parcel has remained essentially unchanged since at least 1937 based on review of historic aerial photographs and conversations with the land owner (Appendix B). An existing 19.4-acre wetland area within the Stewart and Rhodes parcels can be characterized as a scrub/shrub cutover of highly impacted understory from the most recent timber harvesting of the Stewart and Rhodes parcels in these areas. This area of the Site is proposed for wetland enhancement in order to restore, native forested wetland canopies. Clearwater Mitigation Solutions (CMS) proposes to re-establish 23.1-acres of riparian wetlands, enhance 5.1 acres of riparian and 14.3 acres of non -riparian wetlands, and preserve 22.8-acres of non -riparian wetlands within the Site producing 24.25 riparian and 9.33 non -riparian wetland mitigation units (WMUs). Clearwater Mitigation Solutions has signed a contractual agreement with DETI to provide wetland mitigation units generated from the Site to offset unavoidable I 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 impacts to wetlands associated with the ACP. The ACP and its permanent 50-ft Right of Way (ROW) are proposed to bisect the Site as noted on the Concept Plan (Fig. 7) with pipeline construction scheduled for 2019. Appropriate measures and considerations will be made to allow for the integration and construction of the ACP within the Site as previously discussed during our pre -application meeting November 7, 2016 attended by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE), DETI representatives, and CMS, and subsequent Site visit December 19, 2016 attended by the USACE, DETI representatives, and CMS . Ultimately, the wetland mitigation project will improve the overall function, habitat, and integrity of the degraded and drained wetlands, with primary goals to: 1. Restore the primary wetland functions and values appropriate for this section of the Neuse River Lowlands. 2. Improve sediment retention and capacity for nutrient removal to offset historic agricultural practices. 3. Restoration of the attendant hydrologic and biologic functions of a bottomland hardwood forest. 4. Restore and enhance native bottomland hardwood forest. 5. Permanently protect existing higher quality bottomland hardwood forest, in addition to the remainder of the project area. CLEARWATER iJ W A DA MS MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 1.0 Project Site Identification and Location 1.1 Directions to Project Site The Lowlands Wetlands Mitigation Site ("Site") is in Johnston County, North Carolina. Directions to the site from Raleigh, North Carolina begin by heading east on I-40 toward I-95. On I-40, take exit 328B to I-95 and head north on I-95. Continue north on I-95 for 6.5 miles, and take exit 87 toward Four Oaks. Turn right on Keen Road for 2.3 miles, and then turn right on US-701 S. After 1.3 miles, turn left on Stewart Road. After 1.0 mile, turn left on Devils Racetrack Road. Take an immediate right on Guin Road, and the site will be on your right. (Fig. 1). 1.2 Landowner Information The Site is located on two adjacent parcels, each with single ownership. Table 1 lists the landowner's name, parcel identification number, deed book, page number, and landowner's address associated with each parcel. Landowner authorization forms can be found in Appendix I. Clearwater Mitigation Solutions has signed and recorded option agreements with each of the landowners to record conservation easements on all land proposed within Site. Table 1: Land Owner Information Current Owner Address Parcel ID No. Total Acreage Deed Book/ Page No. County James Clifton Rhodes 2009 Devils 169000-48- 58.25 2344/794 Johnston Racetrack Road 1394 Four Oaks, NC 27524 Chad M Stewart 121 Dogwood 169000-27- 86.23 4934/113 Johnston Lane, Four Oaks, 5572 NC 27524 2.0 Watershed Characterization 2.1 Watershed Overview and Land Use The Site is located within the Neuse River Basin, 8 digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03020201, and more specifically within the Lower Mill Creek watershed (14 digit HUC 03020201150050) and NCDWR Subbasin 03-04-04 (Figs. 4-5). The Site and Lower Mill Creek is located within the NC Division of Mitigation Services Targeted Local Watershed (TLW). In 3 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 2010, the then NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) produced a report in 2010 describing existing uses within the Lower Mill Creek as follows: "The Lower Mill Creek HU spans 35 square miles of the Southeastern Floodplains and Terraces and the Rolling Coastal Plain ecoregions. Ninety-four miles of streams flow through the watershed with a relatively low percentage that are unbuffered (14%). There is very little development or imperviousness in this watershed. Sixty-six percent of the area is forested or forested wetland with 13 square miles of un-fragmented forest. Soils are predominantly hydric with 46% type A and 27% type B. Thirty-one percent of land is used for agriculture. There are 42 permitted livestock production facilities within the watershed including 26 swine farms. There are over five square miles of designated Significant Natural Heritage Areas (SNHA) and 19 NHEOs have been documented within the watershed. Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) and NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) have each constructed two projects in the watershed. There are also two significant agricultural BMPs built in Lower Mill Creek Preservation opportunities that augment the existing assets of SNHAs and un-fragmented forests are high priority. Projects that reduce the water quality impacts of row crops and livestock productions are also highly recommended" (NCEEP 2010). The primary land use within the project area is agricultural and pasture land, however, pine plantations and forested lands occur along the Site boundaries. This region of Johnston County, which lies just east of I-95 and south of Smithfield and just across the Wayne County line, is known as the Neuse River Lowgrounds or Lowlands as referenced in the naming of the mitigation site. The Neuse River Lowgrounds stretches across a vast floodplain, four miles wide in places, which contains wetlands, streams, sloughs, levees, and relic ox-bows of the Neuse River. The soil characteristics, vast floodplains, and poor drainage have been a limiting factor in the residential and commercial development of this region, which is likely to continue into the future. Additionally, there are several areas of conservation lands, including the Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, within the Mill Creek watershed. 2.2 Surface Water Classification / Water Quality The Site is located within the Neuse River watershed, and is further located in a DMS targeted watershed (HUC 03020201150050). The site drains through several unnamed tributaries within the Lower Mill Creek watershed and eventually to Mill Creek (Moorewood Pond) and then to the Neuse River. The Site is approximately one-half mile south of the Neuse River. Mill Creek is designated C; NSW (Stream Index # 27-52-(1)). The Neuse River at the confluence with Mill Creek was listed on the 2014 303(d) list as impaired for turbidity, but is on the current draft to be delisted in 2016 (Figs 4-5). 4 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 2.3 Physiography, Geology, and Soils The Site is located in the Southeastern Plains physiographic province and is situated in the Southeastern Floodplains and Low Terraces ecoregion which consists of major river floodplains and associated low terraces. In addition, this ecoregion consists of low gradient streams with sandy and silty substrates, swamps, and oxbow lakes. According to the N.C. Division of Land Resources (NCDLR 1985), the Site is underlain by quaternary alluvial gravelly sand, sandy gravel, silt, and clay. 3.0 Project Site —Existing Conditions The Site is comprised of two adjacent parcels. The Rhodes parcel of approximately 58-acres includes 52.9-acres of the project area, and the western Stewart parcel of approximately 86-acres provides an additional 18.46-acres of the project area (Sheet C1-4/ Fig. 7). 3.1 Historical Land Use 3.1.1 Rhodes Parcel The Rhodes parcel, has been owned by the Rhodes family since the early 1900's, and now owned solely by Mr. J.C. Rhodes. While the original homestead of the current owner, Mr. Rhodes, was once located on the property adjacent to Guin Road, land use within the Rhodes parcel has remained essentially unchanged since at least 1937 based on review of historic aerial photographs and conversations with the land owner (Appendix B). Within the 58-acre Rhodes parcel, a 25-acre agricultural field is located on lands that have historically been ditched, drained, and utilized for agricultural row crop production for over 75 years. Approximately 23-acres of the agricultural field is proposed for wetland re-establishment as detailed in the restoration plan below (Fig. 7). Rim ditches along the western and southern boundary of the Rhodes parcel help to drain the agricultural fields for row crop production. In Addition, several lateral ditches within the agricultural fields empty into larger ditches, which drain into unnamed tributaries. A 60-year old forested stand to the south of the agricultural field is an area of higher quality jurisdictional old growth bottomland/headwater hardwood forest with deep hydric soils. The canopy is dominated by willow oak (Quercus phellos), swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii), American holly (Ilex opaca), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) (Appendix A). This 22.8-acre jurisdictional wetland area has been deemed suitable as a preservation area, by the USACE during our December 19, 2016 Site visit. since this is an increasingly rare and important bottomland hardwood / headwater forest habitat still remaining within this farming region dominated by monoculture pine plantations. 5 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 3.1.2 Stewart Parcel The Stewart parcel has been family owned for over 200 years and is now owned by Mr. Chad Stewart. The southwestern portions of the Stewart parcel, which consists of a more productive Dogue soil series, has been historically utilized as pasture land and agricultural activities. While the remainder of the parcel is comprised of the Leaf soil series, with characteristics of poor drainage and low productivity. The areas within the Leaf Soils series has been limited to only marginal silviculture activities. The existing wetland areas within the Stewart parcel can be characterized as a scrub/shrub cutover of highly impacted understory from the most recent timber harvesting. There are two existing wetland areas within the Stewart Parcel proposed for wetland enhancement, Enhancement Area I and Enhancement Area 2.. Ditch 3 bisects Enhancement Area 2 on the Stewart parcel and continues to flow into the Rhodes parcel (Fig. 7). Existing vegetation within this area consists of primarily early successional species dominated by the following: Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), common greenbrier (Smilax rotundafolia), giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea), red maple (Acer rubrum), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia), swamp rose (Rosa palustris), and blackberry (Rubus argutus). It should be noted that the 12.1-acre non -riparian wetland area on the west side of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) right of way was recently added to the overall Site boundary, and has similar vegetation, hydrology, and soils to the other previously impacted wetland areas within the Stewart parcel. A photograph of the soils and vegetation taken from the northeast corner of the 12.1-acre addition can be found in Appendix B. 3.2 Existing Hydrological Characterization Proposed Re -Establishment Area: The agricultural land proposed for riparian wetland restoration has been hydrologically modified through ditching and crowning practices to facilitate off -Site drainage of surface and sub -surface waters. These land modification practices have allowed for agricultural row crop production for over 75 years within the area proposed for riparian wetland restoration. There are several rim ditches adjacent to the agricultural field within the Site and several drainage features bisecting the Site that have been determined to be non jurisdictional ditches by the USACE. These modifications have eliminated conditions required to maintain wetlands and have led to the conversion of on -site wetlands to a non -wetland state. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (MRCS) in March of 1990, deemed the entire 25-acre agricultural portion of the Site to be Prior Converted Wetlands (PC), which denotes areas currently in agricultural production, that may have met the definition of being a wetland, but due to historic ditching and alteration, have been converted into agricultural row crop production (Appendix D). The Site is being farmed annually for soy bean production. 0 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Ditches 1, 2, and 3 have been maintained annually by the owner, Mr. Rhodes, for at least the last 40 years. These ditches have been historically excavated in the spring each year to an elevation of 3 to 4-ft below the surface of the adjacent agricultural fields. The owner then took the spoils from these ditches to crown off the fields in efforts to direct surface drainage back into the maintained drainage ditches, as depicted in the existing conditions exhibit (Fig.3 / Sheets C 1- C4). The owner has also placed several lateral ditches within the fields to direct surface drainage to the main drainage ditches. While ditches 1, 2, and 3 are located within topographic lows, the rim ditch along the western and southern boundary of the Rhodes parcel is at a higher elevation and has been excavated to a depth of 1 to 2-ft below grade. This rim ditch is utilized to capture surface and sub -surface water from the adjacent forested wetland area to the south before it can reach the agricultural fields. Current agricultural areas within the Site containing Leaf soils were determined to be hydric. According to Wes Newell, a licensed Soils Scientist, the depth of the ditches, excavated down 3 to 4-ft, likely has broken through the "hard pan" of the B-horizon exhibited within the Leaf soils in this region.. This hard pan within the soil helps maintain soil saturation near or at the surface. When it is breached with a network of drainage ditches, it is similar to pulling the drain plug in a sink, causing sub -surface, lateral drainage within the soil layers, further wicking water from the agricultural fields. The agricultural land proposed for riparian wetland restoration has been hydrologically modified through ditching and crowning practices to facilitate off -Site drainage of surface and sub -surface waters. These land modification practices have allowed the proposed riparian wetland restoration area to be within agricultural production for over 70 years. Other hydrologic indicators within the current agricultural areas include: noticeable rack lines from the system extending into agricultural fields, subtle ponding of water and moist soils within micro - depressions. Proposed Wetland Preservation Area: The 22.8-acre wetland preservation area will also be utilized as a reference wetland system for the wetland re-establishment portion of the project. The Preservation area is relatively flat and contains hydric mineral soils with the primary hydrologic driver of the system being groundwater. Vegetative and soil indicators indicate that the system becomes seasonally saturated and is intermittently inundated during the winter, spring, and early summer months. Water stained leaves are present within micro -depressions and oxidized roots were observed within the upper 16-inches of the soil profile. Faint water marks were observed on tree trunks indicating water inundation for relatively long durations. Vegetative morphological adaptations observed include: shallow roots, hypertrophied lenticels, subtle buttressing of tree trunks, and few individual vegetative species exhibit multi -trunks (Appendix A). 3.2.1 Hydrologic Monitoring Well Data Summary The Site design will reference water level monitoring well data gathered from within the existing agricultural fields proposed for re-establishment and reference wetland locations within the CLEARWATER iJ W A DA MS MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 preservation area of the Site to supplement design parameters. The approach of restoring wetland hydrology within the proposed re-establishment area will utilize a comparison of baseline data gathered from the re-establishment area with observable wetland hydrology and data gathered from the preservation area and adjacent areas of the Site. Onset HOBO U20-001-01 Water Level Loggers were deployed on January 8, 2016, at six monitoring well locations throughout the proposed re-establishment portion of the Site and included an additional barometric logger for on -site barometric compensation data. Care was taken to install the monitoring wells in accordance with the "Technical Standard for Water Table Monitoring of Potential Wetland Sites" (ERDC TN-WRAP-05-2, June 2005) document. The six wells within proposed re-establishment were strategically placed to capture variations in topography which include the higher crowned elevations of the agricultural fields, with wells 2, 4, 5, and 6 forming a transect (Fig. 7). Temporal ranges for well data presented in Appendix Eare from January 8, 2016, through April 20, 2017. All wells were placed at approximately 5-ft below the surface. The wells were installed in the dormant winter months of the agricultural field, but farming and planting activities resumed in the spring of 2016, where farming activity, including tractors traversing the Site could have affected the accuracy of the monitoring well data. The comparison suggests that modification of surface water hydrology of the proposed re- establishment area through ditching and crowning activities has removed wetland hydrology from the proposed re-establishment area. The monitoring well data comparison provided in Appendix E substantiates this assessment of a lateral draining effect from the ditches. While groundwater elevations for monitoring wells 1-6 were at or near the surface during certain periods of the growing season, they were not within 12" of the surface for 24 consecutive days, which is 10-12% of the total number of days in the growing seasons for the Site. Well 6 was placed just within what was identified as a more upland soil with hydric characteristics below 12" of the surface. The initial groundwater data from well 6, seem to indicate this location would be close to the approximate boundary of the area proposed for re-establishment. The data logger from well 6 was needed in another location and removed on March 17, 2016, and re -located to a new monitoring well location just inside of the tree line adjacent to the re-establishment area on May 10, 2016, and is known as monitoring well north (MW North) (Fig. 7/Appendix E). It is believed that MW North well breached the hard pan layer, based on the groundwater level approximately 4-inches below the surface when MW North was installed, and sharp decline immediately after well installation. Another reference groundwater monitoring well was installed to a depth of approximately 2-feet below the surface within the center portion of the preservation area on May 3, 2017. It was noted that the groundwater level at this location was approximately 2-inches below the surface at the time of installation. Groundwater data from this well installed on May 3, 2017, will also be collected and utilized as a reference and comparison to post -construction well data. 1 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 3.3 Drainage Area The Site is approximately 71.2 acres, of which, 65.3 acres included some form of wetland re- establishment, enhancement, or preservation. The onsite Points of Analysis (POA) have a combined drainage area of approximately 395-acres. The drainage area is very flat and its land use consists primarily of agricultural and wooded areas (Fig 6). The Site has three hydrologic inputs in the form of culverts under Guin Road to the north of the Site. All three culverts consist of two (2) 30-inch reinforced concrete pipes that drain to onsite drainage features identified as Ditches #1, #2, and 43. There are two POAs for the Site. Ditch #1 (furthest to the east) drains to POA #1, and Ditch #2 confluences with Ditch #3 onsite and then drain to POA #2. 3.4 Existing Soil Characterization Based on the Soil Survey of Johnston County, (Fig. 2), Leaf soils, very deep, poorly drained soils, are the dominant soil series within the Site's conservation easement boundary, with a small area of Dogue soils series, moderately well drained soils, on the eastern edge. Scott Mitchell, an NC Licensed Soils Scientist with Mitchell Environmental, P.A. determined that all borings (borings 1, 2, and 3) within the Leaf soil unit to be Hydric per the Natural Resource Conservation Service (MRCS) Hydric Soils Indicators List. Further, all of the soil borings were found to meet Indicator "173- Depleted Matrix." The single boring located within the mapped Dogue soil series (boring 4) did not meet any of the hydric soil indicators. The Dogue soil series areas are within the proposed easement, but not proposed for riparian wetland restoration. The areas mapped and confirmed as Leaf soil series are proposed for riparian wetland restoration. The combination of the Leaf soil series' shallow, low chroma redoximorphic features and shallow expansive clay mineralogy makes it a primary soil type for wetland restoration. Furthermore, the NRCS in March of 1990, deemed all five areas within the proposed wetland restoration area on Farm 6974, Tract 4443, as Prior Converted Wetlands (PC), which means this area no longer meets the definition of jurisdictional wetlands (Appendix D). 3.5 Plant Community Characterization The plant communities located within the proposed preservation area of the Site include Bottomland Hardwood and Non-Riverine Swamp Forest communities with mature canopy trees. The dominant forested canopy tree species is the willow oak followed by lesser dominant canopy species of water oak (Quercus nigra), cherry bark oak (Quercus pagoda), pin oak (Quercus palustris), and loblolly pine. Other scattered canopy species include swamp chestnut oak, southern red oak (Quercus falcata), white oak (Quercus alba), and swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor). To a lesser extent, there are secondary canopy species comprised of black gum, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), American elm (Ulmus americana), and red maple. Understory 9 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 shrub species include the primary and secondary tree species in addition to American holly, ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). The herbaceous and vine layer is limited and included netted chain fern (Woodwardia areolata) and some common greenbriar. The plant community keyed out on the Cowardin wetland classification system to be Palustrine Forested Broad -Leaved Deciduous Seasonally Saturated (PFOIE) and a Headwater /Bottomland Hardwood Forest with the NC WAM classification system. The agriculture fields have been planted in soy beans for the past 10 years, but are currently planted in grasses with some early successional species. The proposed enhancement area of the Site contains highly impacted understory from recent timber harvesting and can be characterized as a scrub/shrub cutover area. Existing vegetation within this area consists of primarily early successional species dominated by the following: Japanese honeysuckle, common greenbrier, giant cane, red maple, loblolly pine, sweet gum, wax myrtle, groundsel tree, swamp rose, and blackberry. 3.6 Jurisdictional Wetland Determinations McAdams conducted a Jurisdictional Wetland and Stream Delineation within the project site. A Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (SAW-2015-01815) was issued on October 23, 2016, for the portion of the Site located within Johnston County PIN 4700862. Since October 23, 2016, the Site expanded and included Johnston County PIN 4632929. A Preliminary Jurisdictional Wetland Determination request that included both parcels was submitted on May 3, 2017 (Appendix D). Based on the Jurisdictional Wetland and Stream Delineation, no jurisdictional streams were identified within the Site. However, there are three (3) ditch systems and one (1) rim ditch systems located within the Site as shown on the attached Lowland Mitigation Site Concept Plan (Fig. 7). Three (2) jurisdictional wetland areas have been identified within the Site. One (1) open water (ponded area) was identified within the Site totaling approximately 0.03 acres. A Neuse River Buffer Determination was issued on August 26, 2015 (NBRRO# 15-334) confirming that Neuse River Buffers are not applicable to the Site (Appendix D). It should be noted that the 12.1-acre non -riparian wetland area on the west side of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) right of way was recently added to the overall Site boundary, and has similar vegetation, hydrology, and soils to the other previously impacted wetland areas within the Stewart parcel. It was not included with the original PJD submittal, a photograph of the soils and vegetation taken from the northeast corner of the 12.1-acre addition can be found in Appendix B. DETI has also delineated jurisdictional wetlands and waters within the study corridor of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) right of way, including the study corridor which traverses the Lowlands Site, which took place prior to the most recent PJD submittal by CMS. It should be noted that CMS has revised a small portion of wetland boundary in the vicinity of the ACP study 10 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 area on the Rhodes parcel for consistency, and concurs with the original wetland boundary findings of DETI staff (Fig. 7). It should be noted that the 12.1-acre wetland area on the west side of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) right of way was recently added to the overall Site boundary. 3.7 Threatened & Endangered Species According to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus — Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act), red -cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis — Endangered), dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon — Endangered), Tar River spinymussel (Elliptio steinstansana — Endangered), and Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii — Endangered) are listed as potentially occurring in Johnston County (USFWS, 2010). In addition, the N. C. Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) identifies the following eight (8) state endangered species: yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata), Atlantic pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni), yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis radiate), green floater (Lasmigona subviridis), globe -fruit seedbox (Ludwigia sphaerocarpa), Carolina bogmint (Macbridea caroliniana), southern skullcap (Scutellaria australis), Virginia least trillium (Trillium pusillum var. virginianum) as potentially occurring in Johnston County. NCNHP also identifies the following eight (8) state threatened species: triangle floater (Alasmidonta heterdon), Roanoke slabshell (Elliptio roanokensis), eastern lampmussel (Lampsilis radiata), creeper (Strophitus undulatus), thick -pod white wild indigo (Baptisia alba), kidney sedge (Carex reniformis), least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera), Carolina madtom (Noturus furiosus). A review of the NCNHP database of documented occurrences did not reveal the presence of any of the aforementioned species within a '/2 -mile radius of the Site. Preliminary field investigations did not identify suitable habitat for any of the aforementioned species. Correspondence was received from USFWS on July 14, 2016, stating that it appears that the proposed action is not likely to adversely affect any federally- listed endangered or threatened species, their formally designated critical habitat, or species currently proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act (Appendix D). 3.8 Cultural Resources A review of properties to be determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) was conducted for the Site and surrounding areas. According to the files, there are no National Register properties within a one -mile radius of the Site. In addition, the SHPO Archaeological Section was contacted in order to determine if documented archaeological sites occur at or near the Site. No archaeological sites were identified within a one -mile radius of the project site. Correspondence was received from SHPO on July 1, 2016, stating that SHPO is not aware of any historic resources which would be affected (Appendix D). II 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 3.9 Potential Constraints 3.9.1 Property Ownership and Boundary The Site is located on two adjacent parcels, each with single ownership. Table 1, on page 3, lists the landowner's names, parcel identification number, deed book, page number, and landowner's address associated with each parcel. Landowner authorization forms can be found in Appendix I. Clearwater Mitigation Solutions has signed and recorded option agreements with each of the landowners to record conservation easements on all land proposed within Site. 3.9.2 Site Access The Site lies adjacent to Guin Road, a state maintained two lane secondary road. Construction equipment may access the site directly from Guin Road using an existing driveway. The designer does not anticipate significant access limitations. The Site itself has been traversed for farming operations and should be accessible to construction equipment. 3.9.3 Utilities The survey provided to McAdams by K2 Design Group located an overhead power line and associated easement along Guin Road. The work proposed on this site should not interfere with the existing overhead utility. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and its permanent 50-ft Right of Way (ROW) are proposed to bisect the Site as noted on the Concept Plan (Fig. 7/Sheet C1) with pipeline construction within the project area scheduled for 2019. Appropriate measures and considerations will be made to allow for the integration and construction of the ACP within the Site as previously discussed during our pre -application meeting November 7, 2016, and subsequent site visit December 19, 2016. Integration of the ACP into the Site is discussed in further detail within section 6.0 below. 3.9.4 FEMA A portion of the Site is located within the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 100-year flood boundary (Map Number (3720073400J & 3720073300J; revised 05/02/06)). These areas are inundated by the 100-year flood where base flood elevations have been determined. Figure 5 shows the flood zone delineations. A floodplain impact development permit will be required from Johnston County. 3.9.5 Hazardous Materials The Environmental Database Resource (EDR) report did not identify any hazardous issues on, near, or adjacent to the Site. The search area radius used ASTM Standard E1527-13 standards for 12 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 available databases and indicated no potential hazardous materials. A field review of the Site revealed no visible evidence of any current or past hazardous material potential on the Site. The property has been and is currently used for agriculture. The landowner has applied agricultural chemicals including pesticides and fertilizers to the Site. Evidence was not observed that these chemicals were not used and applied according to the manufacture labels or based on the local agricultural extension agent recommendations. Evidence was not observed of any chemical transfer points, storage facilities, or discarded agricultural chemical containers on Site. 4.0 Reference Wetland The approximately 22.8-acre palustrine forested wetland located in the southern section of Site is proposed as a reference wetland to aid and confirm restoration design of the restored wetlands. The reference wetland is proposed for preservation (Fig. 7). 4.1 Hydrologic Characterization The wetland system is relatively flat and contains hydric mineral soils with the primary hydrologic driver of the system being groundwater. Vegetative and soil indicators indicate that the system becomes seasonally saturated and becomes intermittently inundated during the winter, spring, and early summer months. Water stained leaves are present within micro -depressions and oxidized roots were observed within the upper 16-inches of the soil profile. Faint water marks were observed on tree trunks indicating water inundation for relatively long durations. Vegetative morphological adaptations observed include: shallow roots, hypertrophied lenticels, subtle buttressing of tree trunks, and few individual vegetative species exhibit multi -trunks. 4.1.1 Reference Wetland —Monitoring Well Data Data loggers have been installed in the reference wetlands to provide reference values to compare the reference and restoration wetland groundwater hydrology for the purpose of measuring restoration success. As noted above, current agricultural areas within the Site that contain Leaf soils were determined to be hydric, however given the depth of the ditches, excavating down 3 to 4-ft likely has broken through the "hard pan" of the B-horizon, causing sub -surface, lateral drainage within the soil layers, further wicking water from the agricultural fields. It is believed that Monitoring Well North (MW North) breached this hard pan layer, based on the initial groundwater level of approximately 4-inches observed when MW North was installed, and the sharp decline in the groundwater level immediately after installation. Another reference groundwater monitoring well was installed in the center portion of the reference wetland on May 3, 2017, in order to give a more comprehensive representation of groundwater levels within the preservation area. This additional reference well was installed to a depth of approximately 2-feet to evaluate the groundwater level in an area above this hard pan layer. The groundwater level at this location was approximately 2-inches below the surface at the time of installation on May 3, 2017. The surface elevation within the reference well location is at 108.4- feet. The surface elevations within the preservation area range from 107.6 to 108.8. The 13 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 groundwater level monitoring wells installed in the reference wetlands will be used to help determine the parameters of the restored wetland, such as the proposed grade. Following construction, reference and restoration wetland groundwater hydrology will be compared for the purpose of measuring restoration success. 4.2 Soil Characterization of Reference Wetland The soils within reference wetlands are mapped within the U.S. Department of Agriculture — Soil Conservation Service Soil Survey of Johnston County, NC, as the hydric, Leaf Soils series. A previous assessment of the soils within the reference wetland by Wes Newell, Licensed Soils Scientist and George Buchholz, Professional Wetland Scientist, confirmed the hydric Leaf soil series which exhibits shallow, low chroma redoximorphic features and shallow expansive clay mineralogy. The soils' assessment of Mr. Newell and Mr. Buchholz were also confirmed by the USACE during the December 19, 2016, Site visit. Figure 2 and USACE Wetland Determination Forms within Appendix C describe the soils within the reference wetlands. 4.3 Plant Community Characterization The following plant community descriptions reflect Schafale's fourth approximation of North Carolina Natural Communities. With restoration design, the landscape of the restoration site should support several hardwood communities including Bottomland Hardwood and Non- Riverine Swamp Forest communities. The existing on -site forested areas and off -site areas in the vicinity of the site contain natural communities that will serve as reference for design. 4.3.1 Community Description The plant communities located within the proposed reference wetland / preservation area of the Site include Bottomland Hardwood and Non-Riverine Swamp Forest communities with mature canopy trees. The dominant forested canopy tree species is the willow oak followed by lesser dominant canopy species of water oak, cherry bark oak, pin oak, and loblolly pine. Other scattered canopy species include swamp chestnut oak, southern red oak, white oak, and swamp white oak. To a lesser extent, there are secondary canopy species comprised of black gum, green ash, American elm, and red maple. Understory shrub species include the primary and secondary tree species in addition to American holly, ironwood, highbush blueberry, and eastern red cedar. The herbaceous and vine layer is limited and included netted chain fern and some common greenbrier. The herbaceous and vine layers are not dense and very open for this type of plant community, which can be correlated to the older, mature canopy within this area of the Site. 14 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 5.0 Project Site Restoration Plan 5.1 Restoration Project Goals and Objectives The purpose of the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site is to provide wetland mitigation credits to Dominion Transmission, Inc. as part of Dominion's Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan (PRM) to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands associated with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), within the Hydrologic Unit 03020201 (Meuse 01) service area. The proposed wetland mitigation project will provide numerous ecological benefits within the Neuse River Basin. Project benefits range from being site specific (e.g. local aquatic and terrestrial habitat) to those that impact the watershed as a whole (e.g. reduction in nutrient and sediment loads). The project goals and related objectives are described below. Project goals are desired project outcomes and are verifiable through visual assessment and/or measurement. Objectives are activities that will result in the accomplishment of goals. The project will be monitored after construction to demonstrate success. A detailed monitoring program is described below in Section 7.0. Ultimately, the wetland mitigation project will improve the overall function, habitat, and integrity of the degraded and drained wetlands, while preserving existing higher quality wetlands, with primary goals to: 1. Restore the primary wetland functions and values appropriate for this section of the Neuse River Lowlands. Objective: Re-establishment and conversion of the existing agricultural fields exhibiting hydric soil characteristics to a bottomland hardwood wetland. 2. Improve sediment retention and capacity for nutrient removal to offset historic agricultural practices. Objective: Filling discharge ditches, traditionally used in nutrient -enriched row crop production. Planting with native bottomland hardwood species to prevent sediment loss and provide for nutrient uptake. 3. Restoration of the attendant hydrologic and biologic functions of a bottomland hardwood forest. Objective: Restoration of appropriate bottomland hardwood wetland hydrology through filling of site ditches and restoring connectivity with adjacent surface. Improve surface water storage by integrating temporary pools. 4. Restore and Enhance native bottomland hardwood forest. Objective: Plant native tree and understory species, including Atlantic White Cedar and Bald Cypress, within re-establishment and enhancement portions of the Site. 15 CLEARWATER iJ W A DA MS MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 5. Permanently protect existing higher quality bottomland hardwood forest, in addition to the remainder of the project area. Objective: Establish a perpetual conversation easement over the Site. 5.2 Proposed Wetland Mitigation Units The Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site is approximately 71.2 acres, of which 65.3 acres include some form of wetland re-establishment, enhancement, or preservation with the remaining 5.9- acres of uplands to be included within the overall conservation easement as an upland buffer. Clearwater Mitigation Solutions (CMS) proposes to re-establish 23.1-acres of riparian wetlands, enhance 5.1 acres of riparian and 14.3 acres of non -riparian wetlands, and preserve 22.8-acres of non -riparian wetlands within the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site producing 24.25 riparian and 9.33 non -riparian wetland mitigation units (WMUs). Table 2, below, provides a breakdown of proposed wetland mitigation units on the Site: Table 2. Proposed Wetland Mitigation Units Mitigation Type Acreage Mitigation Wetland Mitigation Unit Factor Re -Establishment 22.0 1.1 22.0 riparian (agricultural field) Re -Establishment * 1.1 2:1 0.55 riparian (temporary ACP easement) Enhancement Area 1 14.3 3:1 4.77 non -riparian Non -riparian Enhancement Area 2 5.1 3:1 1.70 riparian Preservation 22.8 5:1 4.56 non -riparian Non -Riparian Upland 5.9 - - Riparian 28.2 24.25 Non -Riparian 37.1 9.33 F__T0TAL 71.2 - 33.58 * Temporary construction easement for ACP will be fully restored to a wetland after construction of gas line is complete. The Mitigation factor for this area was agreed to during the December 19, 2016, meeting with USACE detailed in section 6.0 below. 16 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 5.3 Qualifiers for Mitigation Approach The federal mitigation rule includes terminology that describes various categories or levels of wetland mitigation activities that are based on the condition of the proposed wetland mitigation site (33 CFR Part 332.2/40 CFR 230.92). These terms, along with the proposals at the Site, are as follows: Restoration is the manipulation of the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic functions to a former or degraded aquatic resource. Restoration in the form of re-establishment is proposed for applicable portions of the existing agricultural field. Re-establishment: the manipulation of the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic functions to a former aquatic resource. Re- establishment results in rebuilding a former aquatic resource and results in a gain in aquatic resource area and functions. Proposed Re-establishment Area: Through ditching and crowning, the landowner has historically modified the landscape of the Site to facilitate drainage of surface waters for the purposes of agricultural production within the area of the Rhodes parcel proposed for wetland re-establishment. These modifications have eliminated conditions required to maintain wetlands and have led to the conversion of on -site wetlands to a non -wetland state. This existing non - jurisdictional wetland determination for the area proposed for re-establishment has been verified through collection of monitoring well data, a USACE Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination by Mr. John Thomas in 2016, and a Prior -Converted Wetlands (PC) determination by the NRCS in 1990. The Site modifications proposed for this area will rebuild the former aquatic resource with a gain in aquatic resource area and functions as detailed below in Section 5.4.1. Enhancement is the manipulation of the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of an aquatic resource to heighten, intensify or improve a specific aquatic resource function, but may also lead to a decline in other aquatic resource function(s). Enhancement does not result in a gain in aquatic resource area. Proposed Enhancement Areas: The existing wetland areas within the Stewart parcel proposed for wetland enhancement can be characterized as a scrub/shrub cutover of highly impacted understory from the most recent timber harvesting in these areas. Ditch 3 bisects Easement Area — 2 on the Stewart parcel and continues to flow into the Rhodes parcel. Enhancement Areas I and 2 currently contain hydric soils, however are choked out with successional vines and opportunistic red maples, swamp rose, giant cane, and sweet gum. This area of the Site is proposed for wetland enhancement in order to improve the physical and biological characteristics of the aquatic resource function in these locations as detailed below in Section 17 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 5.4.2. Proposed credit ratios for the enhancement areas were confirmed by Ms. Sam Dailey on December 19, 2016. Preservation is the removal of threat to, or preventing the decline of, aquatic resources by an action in or near those aquatic resources. This term includes activities commonly associated with the protection and maintenance of aquatic resources through the implementation of appropriate legal and physical mechanisms. Establishment results in a gain in aquatic resource area and functions. Proposed Preservation Area: Within the 60 year old forested stand to the south of the agricultural field proposed for re-establishment is an area of higher quality jurisdictional old growth bottomland/non-riverine hardwood flat forest with deep hydric soils, consisting of willow oak (Quercus phellos), swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii), American holly (Ilex opaca), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) that dominate the canopy. This 22.8-acre jurisdictional wetland area has been deemed suitable as a preservation area, since this is an increasingly rare and important bottomland/ hardwood flat habitat still remaining within this farming region with predominantly monoculture pine plantations. The proposed preservation area is also not subject to the Neuse Buffer Rules or any encumbrance and could be logged anytime in the future. The herbaceous and vine layers are not dense and very open for this type of plant community, which can be correlated to the older, mature canopy within this area of the Site. Proposed credit ratios for the preservation area was confirmed by Ms. Sam Dailey on December 19, 2016 5.3.1 Enhancement Areas Several target communities exist on the Site. The majority of the design for Re-establishment and Enhancement areas of the Site uses the Bottomland Hardwood communities as a template, with the goal of these areas having similar biological and hydrological characteristics as the proposed Preservation Area. The wettest portions of the landscape that lie within lower micro - depression areas will use Riparian Non-Riverine Swamp Forest as a template. 5.3.2 Hydrologic Trespass The areas adjacent to the Site with the potential to experience hydrologic trespass include the properties north of Guin Road. The inverts of the three culverts under Guin Road range from elevation 105.32 feet to 106.33 feet. The proposed pooling elevation of 106 feet will allow temporary inundation of two of the three culverts, however this is typical of the region. There is a small area of approximately 30 square feet on the upstream side of the two culverts, which could expect temporary inundation within an existing drainage ditch, however, it is not anticipated to have an adverse impact to off -Site adjacent properties. The culverts are reinforced concrete and the temporary inundation should not cause any long term negative impacts. 18 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 5.4 Proposed Hydrologic Modification 5.4.1 Re Establishment Area Through ditching and crowning, the landowner has historically modified the landscape of the Site to facilitate drainage of surface waters for the purposes of agricultural production. These modifications have eliminated conditions required to maintain wetlands and have led to the conversion of on -site wetlands to a non -wetland state. The designer has designed the Site to reverse the hydrologic alterations and restore hydrology required to support and maintain wetlands. To achieve this goal, the restoration design diminishes the capacity of the Site to remove hydrology through the removal of ditches, and spot grading to remove crowns. Restoration of the hydrology should restore hydric character to site soils and provide the environment necessary to support reforestation of wetland vegetation. The primary hydrologic inputs for the Site are overland flow from the three culverts under Guin Road and precipitation. The design will not significantly alter inputs from overland flow or precipitation. These inputs should continue to function as they do in the existing condition. The design will increase the hydrologic detention time through limiting the conveyance of surface water off the Site by the existing ditch network and creating microtopography to store pockets of water, and eventually intercepting the groundwater table. The design proposes to fill ditches 1, 2, 3, and the rim ditch with a combination of channel fill and clay channel blocks. Two earthen berms or ditch plugs with emergency rip -rap spillways located at the downstream end of ditches 1 and 2 will control the flow of water leaving the Site. The spillway elevation has been set to 106 feet for both spillways. Holding water at this elevation will allow detention of surface water for periods adequate to support wetland hydrology, but not long-term inundation of the Site. The design uses a spillway as a hydrologic detention device for several reasons. The spillway is stable and able to withstand stresses during flood flows and from the 3 foot or greater drop in elevation between the wetland grade and the bottom of the lateral ditch. The spillway will also require less maintenance than other water control devices. Depending on the location within the project site landscape, the design grades isolated spots to base elevations ranging from 105.5 to 108 feet. The spot grading will remove crowns and related features that accelerate surface runoff off Site. The design calls for grading in microtopography such as local depressions and sloughs. The grading will be limited to the upper 18 inches of soils to limit exposing and infiltrating hardpan layers and to maintain fertile topsoil. Some higher elevations within the restoration area will not be graded to the design base elevations due to the grading depth limits. The design uses topographic data provided by K2Design acquired in May of 2017. Groundwater inflows and outflows will likely be limited because the soils have a high clay content and low conductivity in the upper surface. The attached design drawings (Sheets Gl-G2) provide schematic details for the proposed hydrologic modifications. Metrics for restoring Site wetland hydrology relies on the comparison of the Site with adjacent reference areas with observable wetland hydrology. Groundwater monitoring wells installed by 19 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Clearwater Mitigation Solutions on the Site and in the adjacent reference wetlands provide a good indication of the influence of the drainage ditches to the groundwater levels. The comparison suggests that modification of Site surface water hydrology through ditching and crowning have removed Site wetland hydrology. Removal of the Site's historic modifications should restore wetland hydrology over time. The gages installed in the reference wetlands will be used to help determine the parameters of the restored wetland, such as the proposed grade. Following construction, groundwater hydrology data from reference wetland locations and restoration areas will be compared for the purpose of measuring successful hydrology restoration metrics. 5.4.2 Enhancement Areas Ditch-3 within Enhancement Area 2, has historically modified the landscape of the Site to facilitate drainage of surface waters for the purposes of enabling agricultural and silviculture production. Although there is no pre-existing monitoring well data within Enhancement Area 2, hydric soils do exist throughout, suggesting historic hydrology in this area sufficient to support wetland vegetation. It is proposed to fill ditch-3 within this area to match existing surface elevations based on survey data from K2 Design. The design will increase the hydrologic detention time through limiting the conveyance of surface water off the Site by the existing ditch 3 and creating microtopography to store pockets of water. Shallow water pools will exist throughout the wetlands. Filling of ditch 3 should restore a more robust hydric character to site soils and provide the environment necessary to support reforestation of wetland vegetation within Enhancement Area 2 (Sheets G1-G2). There are no plans to alter or modify hydrology within Enhancement Area 1, as this area has not been historically ditched and drained, and currently exhibits hydrology sufficient to support re- forestation of wetland vegetation. 5.4.3 Wetland Water Budget Analysis An essential component of the Lowlands Mitigation Site project is the sustained presence of wetland hydrology throughout the restoration area. This study analyzed the ability of proposed site modifications and grading to maintain ponded water or high groundwater elevations during an extended drought period with no precipitation. This analysis compared existing conditions field data and proposed conditions water balance modeling results. Modeled areas included three areas throughout the site: two ditches and one proposed circular ponding area. Existing groundwater conditions were assessed using groundwater elevation data described in 3.2.1 and 4.1.1 of this plan. From this data, field monitoring data from time periods 9/1/2016 to 9/22/2016 and 10/7/2016 to 12/8/2016 were selected for analysis of Site existing conditions due to a lack of precipitation during these time periods. This approach helps reveal groundwater recession processes in the absence of precipitation inputs. To assess proposed conditions on the 20 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 site, a water balance model was developed to water elevations in ponding areas during a 31-day extreme drought condition. Ponding areas (see grading plan for ponding area location) included the 0.5 vertical feet of open water storage and one foot of groundwater storage in the subsurface directly below the bottom of the storage area. Subsurface storage areas only accounted for void - space storage of water using a porosity of 50%, which, was based on typical values for clay/silt listed in Fundamental of Groundwater by Schwartz and Zhang (2003). Groundwater data from monitoring wells at the Lowlands Mitigation Site from January, 2016 to April, 2017 revealed significant fluctuation in the groundwater elevation during the monitoring period. For example, during 9/2/2016 to 9/21/2016, a decrease in groundwater elevation of 1.9- 4.0 feet was observed in the five monitoring wells during this period of no precipitation (Appendix F: Fig. 1). During the dry period following Hurricane Mathew, 10/8/2016 to 11/30/2016, groundwater elevation decreased by 1.1-5.2 feet at the five monitoring wells (Appendix F: Fig 2.). These decreases in groundwater elevation are likely due to onsite drainage through the existing ditches. These data further suggest that current onsite hydrology is not consistent with hydrology typically observed in wetland systems. Water balance modeling of the proposed ponding areas indicated that the Lowland Mitigation Site plan would alter onsite hydrology to be more consistent with wetland hydrology. Specifically, for the three pond areas modeled, water elevations only dropped between 1.24 feet and 1.49 feet during a worst -case scenario. These decreases equate to a 0.7-0.99 foot decrease in groundwater elevation when accounting for the 0.5 feet of surficial water storage in the ponding areas. Based on field data and water balance modeling, the proposed conditions will likely lead to significantly higher groundwater elevations. During above normal rainfall conditions water will spill over the ditch plug and spillway, so as not to cause prolonged ponding and inundation of the site. Furthermore, the proposed site conditions should alter onsite hydrology to a regime consistent with wetland hydrology during low, average, and high conditions (i.e., dry, moderate and wet conditions). Further explanation of methods utilized in water budget analysis is discussed in Appendix F. 5.5 Soil Preparation & Grading The existing Site's soils maintain properties necessary to support wetland function. Within the proposed Re-establishment area, returning wetland hydrology should increase the character and extent of hydric soils. The hydrologic restoration should raise the water table and restore hydric soils to those areas where hydric indicators are currently within 18 inches of the surface. The design calls for limiting disturbance to the upper 18 inches of soils in order to remove existing crowns within the agricultural fields. Any excavated topsoil will remain onsite so that it may be reapplied where appropriate to enhance soil properties and growing conditions. Generous placement of woody debris and disking of the soil is also proposed in order to create a heterogeneous wetland landscape. 21 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Enhancement Areas 1 and 2 currently contain hydric soils, however are choked out with successional vines, opportunistic red maples, swamp rose, giant cane, and sweet gum. It is proposed to conduct a controlled burn within the Enhancement Areas to clear some of the existing "cut -over" and prepare these areas for re -planting. Areas with overburden or spoil materials may be excavated to remove material and re-establish lateral surface connectivity and flow of hydrology. Generous placement of woody debris and disking of the soil will create a heterogeneous wetland landscape. 5.6 Natural Plant Community Restoration The goal of the Site is to provide long-term improvements to ecological functions of the proposed and surrounding wetland forest communities. The restoration plan has been developed to provide these functional uplifts through the re-establishment of target natural communities, within the areas proposed for wetland Re-establishment and Enhancement, as well as adjacent Upland Buffer Zones within the Conservation Easement. The target natural communities have been determined based on comparison of existing site conditions with established type communities with verification of appropriate species from proximate reference natural communities. Based on the Schafale's Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina, the majority of the Site's area most closely correlates to Bottomland Hardwood Forest community, while the lower micro -depression areas correlate to a Non-Riverine Swamp Forest community (Sheets LS1-LS2). The goal of the planting scheme is to establish wetland communities consistent with the reference communities using an approach that accelerates the successional process leading to a mature forest community. The planting plan uses reference plant communities as a base to design a planting scheme and develop a vegetation list. Re -colonization of cleared wetland habitats characteristically begins with an invasion of pioneer species that creates an environment (e.g. shading) suitable for species more typical of a mature community. To initialize the proposed wetland communities, the proposed re-establishment and enhancement areas will be planted with a mix of pioneer species and species found in more mature communities. The design of a planting plan involves several components. The planting zones have been developed considering site hydrology, soils, and disturbance regimes and are referenced to natural communities. Each zone has a unique environment that dictates species selection and community structure. The planting list is developed for each zone to match the vegetation in the reference community and meet the objectives given above. The planting list also reflects which species are readily available and have a reasonable expectation of survival. A plant source and planting type (i.e. bare root) is recommended for each zone. A planting schedule is developed so that site preparation and plant installation occur at the optimal time and season. After installation, the planting will be verified. The maintenance plan is developed to promote long-term success of the planting. These planting plan components are described below. 22 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 S. 6.1 Plant List The proposed planting plan was developed by integrating the native plant species observed on Site along with selected species known to inhabit the Bottomland Hardwood and Non-Riverine Swamp Forest community type as described in Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina (Schafale and Weakley, 1990) to institute species diversity. According to the Schafale and Weakley publication, "Very few bottomlands of any significant size remain. While many bottomlands exist as successional forest grown up in abandoned fields, intact Bottomland Forests are among the rarest of communities in North Carolina." Most of the bottomlands that have been cleared or logged in the past are dominated by loblolly pine, red maple, sweetgum, or American sycamore. The Site will be planted in three zones depending on anticipated hydrologic regimes within the zones and moisture requirements of each species. Zone 1 (Non-Riverine Swamp Forest), generally located around the 105.5 to 107.5 foot elevations, is considered the wettest zone and should be dominated by species that require high moisture. Zone 2 (Bottomland Hardwood Forest), generally located around the 107 to 108.5 foot elevations, is considered an intermediate zone and should be dominated by species that require moderate moisture. It is anticipated that there will be less soil saturation within Zone 3, generally located at elevations greater than 108 feet; and therefore, species that require low moisture should dominant this area. The design drawing sheets LS1-LS3 provide a delineation of the designed planting zones. Tree and shrub species utilized within the Site are listed below in Tables 3A through 3C and have been separated into their appropriate zones. Species composition may be adjusted based on local availability. The planting plan is provided on the design sheets LS1-LS3. Plant composition within each zone will consist of at a minimum four (4) tree species and two (2) of the small tree/shrub species list. The goal is to plant 400 to 600 bare -root seedlings per acre, with an approximate 8-foot to 10-foot spacing. Bare root seedlings will be planted during the late fall or early spring seasons, as soon as possible after the completion of the earthwork associated with the Site. During the following fall, supplemental shrub and tree species will be planted if survival rates of previously planted seedlings are below target densities as determined in late summer (August -September). Table 3A. Plant List — Zone 1 (Non-Riverine Swamp Forest) Scientific Name Common Name Trees Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash Po ulus deltoides eastern cottonwood uercus pagoda the bark oak Betula ni ra river birch uercus michauxii swamp chestnut oak uercus phellos willow oak Taxodium distichium bald cypress uercus ni ra water oak Chameaec paris thyoides Atlantic white cedar 23 'J WADAM3 CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Small Trees and Shrubs Ilex glabra Inkberry Ce halanthus occidentalis Buttonbush Magnolia vir iniana sweetbay magnolia Vaccinium corymbosum hi hbush blueberry Alnus serrulata tag alder M rica ceri sera I southern wax myrtle Table 3B. Plant List — Zone 2 (Bottomland Hardwood Forest) Scientific Name Common Name Trees Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash uercus pagoda the bark oak Betula ni ra river birch uercus michauxii swamp chestnut oak uercus phellos willow oak Ulmus americana American Elm uercus ni ra water oak Liriodendron tuli i era tulip poplar N ssa s lvatica black gum Small Trees and Shrubs Ilex glabra Inkberry Cercis Canadensis eastern redbud Ilex o aca American holly Asimina triloba Pawpaw Magnolia vir iniana sweetbay magnolia Vaccinium corymbosum hi hbush blueberry M rica ceri sera southern wax myrtle Persea borbonia I Redba Table 3C. Plant List — Zone 3 (Upland Buffer Area) Scientific Name Common Name Trees Liriodendron tuli i era tulip poplar Carya glabra pignut hickory uercus alcata southern red oak uercus alba white oak Small Trees and Shrubs Cercis Canadensis eastern redbud Ilex o aca American holly M rica ceri sera southern wax myrtle Aesculus s lvatica painted buckeye Amelanchier laevis I Smooth serviceberry 24 'J McADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 Temporary and permanent seed will be applied simultaneously to the disturbed areas. Temporary seed will provide cover until the permanent seed applied becomes established. Temporary cover will consist of millet (Echinochloa crusgalli), rye grain (Secale cereale), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum). Permanent ground cover will consist of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), deertongue (Panicum clandestinman), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and gama grass (Tripsacum dactyloides). 5.6.2 Plant Sources The planting plan utilizes two sources of plants. Nursery stock will be tied directly to the initial planting and will be utilized in numbers to support guidelines. Recruitment will be factored into the selection of species in the plant list. The plant list includes a significant portion of species not likely to establish from natural propagation. Nursery Stock The planting plan will utilize bare roots seedling nursery stock forms. If necessary, containerized, live stakes, and other plant materials may be used after approval from the planting supervisor. Additionally, the planting plan also may use sod or seeds from commercial sources. For the woody forms of vegetation, the planting plan prescribes that they are grown locally under environmental conditions similar to the target environment. Recruitment With the improvements to existing hydrology and soil conditions, the design anticipates that the restoration sites will be populated with species from adjacent communities. The restoration site will be maintained to keep nuisance species to less than 15% and invasive species to less than 10% of the total population. 5.6.3 Plant Care and Installation The plantings will be cared for and installed based on guidelines provided in the construction document. When planted properly, bare root seedlings are the most cost-effective and successful plant material. Containerized plantings, live stakes, and other plant materials will be used based on the needs of the planting zone (e.g. immediate shading) and approval from the planting supervisor. 5.6.4 Schedule The planting will be scheduled between wetland construction activities and the growing season. Special attention will be paid to stabilizing disturbed areas. The final vegetation planting will occur after proper Site preparation (Appendix J) during the appropriate season. Planting should 25 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 occur from late fall to early spring after construction to minimize or eliminate threats from the construction, exotic vegetation treatment, unpredictable weather, and herbivore activity. Any treatment of problem areas should also occur between later fall and early spring. S. 6. S Stabilization Immediately after construction, the contractor will seed all disturbed areas with permanent and temporary seed mixes. Permanent seeding will be completed in conjunction with construction, with temporary seeding applied per NC Division of Energy, Mining, and Land Resources (NCDEMLR) requirements. S. 6.6 Planting Review After the final planting is complete, the planting supervisor will verify that the site was planted properly though inspection of stem counts and condition. The planting contractor will be responsible for replacing damaged plantings. 6.0 Integration of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) The Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project (ACP) and its permanent 50-ft Right of Way (ROW) are proposed to bisect the Site as noted on the Concept Plan (Fig. 7) with pipeline construction through the Site scheduled for 2019. The Site was originally identified by Kevin Yates of Clearwater Mitigation Solutions (Clearwater) in 2011, with Conservation Easement Option agreements recorded with the Johnston County Register of Deeds since that time. Since realizing the Lowlands Site and ACP were destined to cross paths, Clearwater and DETI have been in discussions over the past 10 months, with concessions made so that each parry can utilize the Site for their intended purpose. A pre -application meeting was held at the Raleigh Field Office, Regulatory Division — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Wilmington District on November 7, 2016, with Ms. Samantha (Sam) Dailey, Project Manager Regulatory Specialist for the ACP, other USACE staff, representatives from Dominion Energy and representatives from Clearwater to discuss the proposed Lowlands Mitigation Site, potential for DETI to utilize the Site as part of a Permittee Responsible Mitigation Plan (PRM) for the Neuse-01 service area, and integration of the ACP within the Site. A site visit to the Lowlands Mitigation Site was conducted on December 19, 2016, with Ms. Sam Dailey, representatives from Dominion Energy, and representatives from Clearwater to discuss the merits of the Site and integration of the ACP. Ms. Dailey determined on December 19, 2016, that the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site could be utilized as a PRM Site for the ACP within the Neuse-01 service area. 6.1 Construction Sequencing and Methods Appropriate measures and considerations will be made to allow for the integration and construction of the ACP within the Site as previously discussed during our November 7 and December 19, 2016 pre -application meetings. Construction of the Lowlands Site is proposed for the Fall 2017/Spring 2018, and pipeline construction for the ACP through the Site is scheduled 26 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 for 2019. The ACP within the Site will have a 50-ft wide permanent right-of-way easement (ROW) and a temporary 110-ft wide temporary construction workspace easement. Although the pipeline will not be centered within the 110-ft workspace and is not known exactly where it will be placed within the 110-ft temporary ROW, it is shown as such on the proposed Grading Plan (Sheet G1/G2) to depict the 50-ft permanent ROW and the 110-ft temporary ROW. Staking of the 110-ft workspace ROW will take place before construction begins for the Lowlands Mitigation Site. All necessary grading and planting for the Site will be completed by the Spring 2018, aside from the plantings within the 110-ft workspace to allow for construction of the ACP in 2019. An as -built survey of the final Site elevations will be shared with DETI to be utilized in final construction drawings for the ACP through the Site. Dominion will implement construction methods that are to be utilized when crossing wetlands rather than uplands to construct the ACP through the Site. These methods will include the use of trench breakers (e.g., foam plug technology) along the trench walls so that the open cut trench has a minimal effect on hydrology of the Site, and segregation of topsoil to be utilized for backfill. Representatives from Clearwater will be on -site during ACP construction through the Site to help facilitate as needed. Once construction of the ACP is complete through the Site, Clearwater will work with DETI to re -plant the temporary workspace outside of the 50-ft permanent ROW with appropriate species from the approved plant list for the Site. Measures will be implemented to ensure plant survival and long-term monitoring within the temporary construction easement Following construction, a 50 foot permanent ROW easement would be in place, with 30 feet permanently maintained. The 50 foot permanent ROW will not be utilized to generate wetland mitigation units, nor will it be included within the conservation easement. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requires, within wetlands, a 30 foot maintenance corridor, with 10 feet of the corridor above the pipeline required to be maintained in an herbaceous state, and the remaining 20 feet required to be maintained free of deep-rooted vegetation. No spraying for maintenance would occur, only mowing and hand trimming (Fig. 8). There will be no additional temporary or permanent workspace outside of the 50 foot ROW easement needed following construction of the pipeline. 6.2 WMU Credit with Temporary Easement During the December 19, 2016, Site visit with Ms. Sam Dailey (USACE), it was confirmed that the temporary construction easement would be fully restored to a wetland after construction of the gas line is complete, where such conditions existed prior to construction. Given these conditions and our overall proposal Ms. Dailey agreed to a half -credit or 2:1 mitigation ratio for restored wetlands within the temporary construction easement, which is reflected in the proposed mitigation credit table above. 27 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 7.0 Monitoring and Performance Criteria Initial hydrology and baseline vegetation monitoring, will be initiated following the completion of construction activities (i.e. grading and planting) in order to address any potential problems as they occur. An As -Built document will be generated within 60 days following the completion of construction activities and delivered to DETI and USAGE. The Site will be monitored for seven (7) consecutive years, or if the required success criteria as described in Section 7.1 below has been met in year five (5), monitoring activities may be terminated if written approval is provided by the USACE. Monitoring activities will follow the guidelines presented in USACE Wilmington District October 2016 Guidance documents and the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) Monitoring Requirements and Performance Standards for Stream and/or Wetland Mitigation (November 2011) and will be tailored to the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site. If questions or problems are identified following the submittal of the monitoring reports to the appropriate agency representatives, the recipients of the report are requested to contact Clearwater Mitigation Solutions or its representative for the purpose of discussing the monitoring data and associated success criteria. If the site is not functioning as expected, a site visit will be scheduled with the review agencies so that a remediation plan can be created and implemented. 7.1 Wetland Success Criteria The success of the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site will be measured by comparison of the restored wetlands to similar, more functional wetlands with respect to hydrology and vegetation of the reference wetlands as described in Section 4.0. The success criteria summarized below are based on the USACE October 2016 Guidance documents and the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) Monitoring Requirements and Performance Standards for Stream and/or Wetland Mitigation (November 2011). The success criteria will determine if the Site is meeting its prescribed goals and objectives. 7.1.1 Hydrology The primary rationale for the approach of restoring wetland hydrology on the Site relies on the comparison of the Site with adjacent reference areas with observable wetland hydrology. Monitoring wells and data loggers installed by Clearwater Mitigation Solutions on the Site including the adjacent reference wetlands provide a good indication of the influence of the drainage ditches to the groundwater levels. The comparison suggests that modification of surface water hydrology through ditching and crowning have removed wetland hydrology from the Site. Removal of the Site historic modifications should restore wetland hydrology over time. The gages installed in the reference wetlands will be used to help determine the parameters of the restored wetland, such as the proposed grade. Following construction, groundwater hydrology 28 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 data from reference wetland locations and restoration areas will be compared for the purpose of measuring successful hydrology restoration metrics. Wetland hydrology success will be measured by improvements to the frequency and duration of saturated soils compared to the reference wetlands. Wetland hydrology will be measured daily using installed groundwater data loggers. The data loggers will sample groundwater elevations beneath the soil surface at least once per day throughout the monitoring period. The data loggers will be downloaded on a bimonthly basis during the growing season. The Site contains Leaf soil series which according to the Wetland Saturation Threshold has a saturation/hydroperiod threshold of 10% to 12% of the growing season within 12 inches below the soil surface. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture — Soil Conservation Service Soil Survey of Johnston County, NC there are 232 days per year starting from March 21 through November 8 that are greater than 28 degrees Farenheight. Therefore, successful wetland hydrology is defined as saturation of soils within 12 inches of the soil surface for a period equal to or greater than 24 consecutive days (10% of the growing season) within the growing season. The Site has been historically extensively managed for agricultural production. Therefore, for the first two years of monitoring, successful wetland hydrology will be defined as saturation of soils within 12 inches of the soil surface for a period equal to or greater than 19 consecutive days, or 8%, within the growing season. For year 3 through 7, successful wetland hydrology is defined as saturation of soils within 12 inches of the soil surface for a period equal to or greater than 24 consecutive days within the growing season. 7.1.2 Vegetation Prevalent vegetation should consist of species typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. These species should have the ability to grow, compete, reproduce, and persist in anaerobic soil conditions. Vegetation monitoring plots will be established to show that the composition and density of vegetation in the Site compares favorably to the reference areas. The primary focus of the vegetative monitoring will be on the tree stratum, although shrub and herbaceous species encountered may also be recorded. Vegetation planting success criteria will be based on the survival of a minimum density of 320 planted trees per acre after three (3) years of monitoring. After five (5) years of monitoring, the density should be no less than 260 planted trees per acre. After seven (7) years of monitoring, the density should be no less than 210 planted trees per acre. In addition, planted vegetation must average 10 feet in height in each plot at year seven (7). Vegetation plots will be sampled and reported in years 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. If the height standard is met and the stem density is trending toward success after five (5) years of monitoring, vegetation monitoring on the Site may be terminated if written approval is provided by the USACE. 29 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 7.2 Schedule / Reporting An As -Built Report that includes initial hydrology and baseline vegetation monitoring, will be prepared and submitted within 60 days following the completion of construction activities (i.e. grading and planting). Wetland hydrology will be measured daily by the installed groundwater data loggers and downloaded on a bimonthly basis during the growing season. Vegetation monitoring will occur during the months of September and October following post construction activities. Annual Monitoring Reports detailing the results of the hydrology and vegetation monitoring data, photographs, and site observations will be prepared annually and submitted no later than December 31 of each monitoring year. Monitoring of the Site will occur annually for seven (7) years, or if the required success criteria have been met in year five (5), monitoring activities may be terminated if written approval is provided by the USACE. A final Close Out Report will be made regarding the success of the Site following the collection and evaluation of monitoring data, photographs, and site observations. 8.0 Financial Assurances Within thirty (30) business days of issuance of the USACE permit DETI, Clearwater Mitigation Solutions shall provide the Permittee a non -cancellable ten (10) year insurance policy or a performance bond in an amount equal to the implementation cost of the project and decreasing after construction to only the cost of annual monitoring and maintenance and shall insure the mitigation success of the project. The insurance policy or bond will include construction, monitoring, maintenance and the production of the number of mitigation credits required by this Agreement in satisfaction of USACE permit requirements. This insurance policy or performance bond will be underwritten by a carrier duly authorized to transact business in the State of North Carolina and will be subject to approval by DETI, which approval shall not to be unreasonably withheld. 9.0 Ownership Agreements and Long Term Strategy Clearwater Mitigation Solutions (Clearwater) has signed option agreements with each of the landowners to record conservation easements on all land proposed as the Site (Appendix I) Upon completion of the review process for the Lowlands Wetland Mitigation Site, Clearwater will provide detailed information regarding long term management. Once the final mitigation plan is approved, Clearwater will record conservation easements on the Site, which will be held by Clearwater Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clearwater Mitigation Solutions, LLC, until the conservation easement is turned over to a third party non-profit for long-term management. 30 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 The provider for long term management of the site is anticipated to be Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), which considers the Neuse River Lowlands region a high priority for conservation efforts. TLC is a 5010 nonprofit committed to land conservation through conservation planning and management. The funding mechanism for long term management will be a stewardship endowment funded by Clearwater. 10.0 References Environmental Data Resources, EDR Radius Map Report with GeoCheck, May 17, 2017. McAdams Company, Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination Request, SPEC-16320, May 3, 2017. Meeting Minutes: Pre -Application Meeting: November 7, 2016 / On -site Meeting December 19, 2016. Mitchell Environmental, P.A. Soil Profile Descriptions and Wetland Data Forms for the James Rhodes Property, February 14, 2011. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Determination, March 23, 1990. NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP), Neuse River Basin Restoration Priorities, 2010. NC Division of Land Resources (NCDLR), State Geologic Map, 1985. NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR), Neuse River Buffer Determination, NBRRO# 15- 334, August 26, 2015. NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR), Neuse River Basin Water Resources Plan, July 2010. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Monitoring Requirements and Performance Standards for Stream and/or Wetland Mitigation, November, 2011. US Department of Agricultural Soil conservation Service, Soil Survey of Johnston County, North Carolina, October, 1994. 31 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS Mitigation Plan • Lowlands Mitigation Site SPEC-16320 • Johnston County, North Carolina • August 2017 North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Division of Parks and Recreation, Schafale, Michael P., and Weakley, Alan S. Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina, Third Approximation, 1990. North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program National Flood Insurance Program Flood Insurance Rate Map, Map Number 3720168000J, Map Revised December 02, 2005. North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources State Historic Preservation Office (NCSHPO), The Lowlands Mitigation Bank, Johnston County, NC, July 1, 2016. NC Wetland Functional Assessment Team, NC Wetland Assessment Method User Manual, Version 5, February, 2016. Triangle Land Conservancy, Conservation Assessment of the Neuse River Lowgrounds and Mill Creek Watershed in Johnston County, July 30th, 2010. US Army Corps of Engineers, Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination, SAW-2015-01815, October 23, 2016. US Army Corps of Engineers, Monitoring Requirements and Performance Standards for Compensatory Mitigation in North Carolina, North Carolina Interagency Review Team, February 8, 2031. US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District Stream and Wetland Compensatory Mitigation Update, North Carolina Interagency Review Team, October 24, 2016. US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Wetland and Deepwater Habitats of the United States, December, 1979. US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Lowlands Mitigation Bank — Johnston County, NC, July 14, 2016. 32 'J WADAMS CLEARWATER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS