20100857 Ver 1_Monitoring Report_20131125

November 25, 2013
Mr. Eric Kulz
NCDENR — Division of Water Quality
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650
Subject: Butlers Branch Year 4 (2013) Monitoring Report
Dear Mr. Kulz:
16 -051
Restoration Systems, LLC has completed the fourth year of monitoring (2013) for the Butlers
Branch Buffer Restoration Project for the City of Raleigh. As stipulated in our contract with the
City of Raleigh, the City requires the Division of Water Quality to acknowledge that the project
is still in conformance with the Mitigation Plan prior to approving invoices resulting from annual
monitoring efforts.
As a whole, the densities of vegetation plots across the Site were above the required 320 stems
per acre with an average of 840 planted stems per acre. In addition, each individual plot met
success criteria based on planted stems alone with the exception of Plot 2. However, when
counting an additional stem of naturally recruited green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and
sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Plot 2 had a density of 324 stems per acre.
If you feel that our project is in conformance with the Mitigation Plan, please provide me with a
letter indicating such at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions concerning this
report please contact me at 919 - 604 -9314.
Sincerely,
Raymond Holz
Restoration Systems, LLC
Attachments (1)
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V NR ER DUALITY
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1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Ph 919.755.9490 • Fx 919.755.9492

ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT
YEAR 4 (2013)
BUTLERS BRANCH NUTRIENT BUFFER RESTORATION PROJECT
NEUSE RIVER NITROGEN ABATEMENT
CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepared for:
THE CITY OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepared by:
Restoration Systems, L.L.C.
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
And
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
November 2013
Axiom Environmental. Inc.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Restoration Systems, LLC has completed riparian buffer restoration at the Butlers Branch Nutrient Buffer
Restoration Site (hereafter referred to as the "Site ") for the City of Raleigh's wastewater treatment facility
on the Neuse River (NPDES Permit NC0029033) Within the Site, approximately 54 acres of headwater
buffer habitat were restored providing 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater than 122,742
pounds of nitrogen offsets over 30 years to the City of Raleigh The Site is located approximately 17
miles east of the Town of Kinston in Craven County within United States Geological Survey Hydrologic
Unit 03020202080020 (North Carolina Division of Water Quality Subbasin 03- 04 -08) of the Neuse River
Basin
The Site includes three main tributary systems that drain directly to the Neuse River (Village Creek and
two unnamed tributary systems) Prior to construction, the Site was characterized by agricultural fields
and disturbed forest, and Site streams were regularly dredged and cleared of vegetation Land use
practices including the maintenance and removal of vegetation, regular plowing, and use of agricultural
chemicals had resulted in degraded water quality
The goals and objectives of this project focused on improving local water quality, improving bank
stability, supporting in- stream habitat through the contribution of large woody debris, and maintaining
wildlife passage corridors These goals were accomplished by the following
1 Removing nonpoint sources of pollution associated with agriculture production by a) ceasing the
application of agricultural herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials into
and adjacent to Site ditches and open waterways and b) providing a vegetative buffer adjacent to
ditches and waterways to treat surface runoff that may be laden with sediment and/or agricultural
pollutants
2 Reducing sedimentation/siltation within on -Site and downstream receiving waters by a)
increasing retention time for surface waters entering and leaving the Site, b) reducing erosion
associated with vegetation maintenance and agricultural plowing to Site ditches, and c) planting a
forested vegetative buffer adjacent to Site ditches and waterways
3 Promoting floodwater attenuation by ripping compacted soils and revegetating the Site to increase
frictional resistance on floodwaters crossing the Site
4 Providing terrestrial wildlife habitat including a forested riparian corridor within an area that was
previously cleared and highly dissected by agricultural land use
This project was constructed in late winter /early spring 2010 As a whole, the densities of vegetation
plots across the Site were above the required 320 stems per acre with an average of 840 planted stems per
acre in the Fourth Monitoring Year (2012) In addition, each individual plot met success criteria based on
planted stems alone with the exception of Plot 2 which was two stem shy, however, when counting an
additional stem of naturally recruited green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and sycamore (Platanus
occidentahs) this plot had 324 stems per acre
Annual Monitoring Report Executive Summary
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i
10
INTRODUCTION 1
1 1
Location and Setting 1
1 2
Project Goals and Objectives 1
1 3
Project Structure, Restoration Type, and Approach 1
2 0
MONITORING PLAN 2
2 1
Vegetation Success Criteria 2
22
Maintenance and Contingency 3
23
Vegetation Sampling Results and Comparison to Success Criteria 3
30
CONCLUSIONS 3
40
REFERENCES 5
APPENDICES
Appendix A Figures
Figure 1 Site Location
Figure 2 Monitoring Plan View
Appendix B Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photographs
Annual Monitoring Report Table of Contents
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Location and Setting
Restoration Systems, LLC has completed riparian buffer restoration at the Butlers Branch Nutrient Buffer
Restoration Site (hereafter referred to as the "Site ") for the City of Raleigh's wastewater treatment facility
on the Neuse River (NPDES Permit NC0029033) Within the Site, approximately 54 acres of headwater
buffer habitat were restored providing 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater than 122,742
pounds of nitrogen offsets over 30 years to the City of Raleigh The Site is located approximately 17 miles
east of the Town of Kinston in Craven County within United States Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit
03020202080020 (North Carolina Division of Water Quality Subbasin 03- 04 -08) of the Neuse River Basin
(Figure 1, Appendix A)
Directions to the Site from Kinston, North Carolina
➢ Take NC- 11/NC -55 North out of Kinston
➢ Turn right at NC -55 and travel approximately 16 miles
➢ Turn left onto Biddle Farm Road and travel for approximately 12 miles
➢ The Site is on the right
➢ Site coordinates
o Latitude 35 29250 °N, Longitude 77 30624 °W (NAD83/WGS84)
1.2 Project Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of this project focused on improving local water quality, improving bank stability,
supporting in- stream habitat through the contribution of large woody debris, and maintaining wildlife
passage comdors These goals were accomplished by the following
1 Removing nonpoint sources of pollution associated with agriculture production by a) ceasing the
application of agricultural herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural materials into
and adjacent to Site ditches and open waterways and b) providing a vegetative buffer adjacent to
ditches and waterways to treat surface runoff that may be laden with sediment and/or agricultural
pollutants
2 Reducing sedimentation/siltation within on -Site and downstream receiving waters by a) increasing
retention time for surface waters entering and leaving the Site, b) reducing erosion associated with
vegetation maintenance and agricultural plowing to Site ditches, and c) planting a forested
vegetative buffer adjacent to Site ditches and waterways
3 Promoting floodwater attenuation by ripping compacted soils and revegetating the Site to increase
frictional resistance on floodwaters crossing the Site
4 Providing terrestrial wildlife habitat including a forested riparian corridor within an area that was
previously cleared and highly dissected by agricultural land use
1.3 Project Structure, Restoration Type, and Approach
The Site includes three main tributary systems that drain directly to the Neuse River (Village Creek and
two unnamed tributary. systems) Prior to construction, the Site was characterized by agricultural fields and
disturbed forest, and Site streams were regularly dredged and cleared of vegetation Land use practices
including the maintenance and removal of vegetation, regular plowing, and use of agricultural chemicals
had resulted in degraded water quality
Annual Monitoring Report Page 1
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

As constructed, Site activities restored historic riparian buffer functions by planting the entire 54 -acre Site
with native riparian vegetation The Site will provide 4091 pounds of nitrogen offsets per year for greater
than 122,742 pounds of nitrogen offsets over 30 years to the City of Raleigh The following table outlines
information for project managers, owners, and contractors
Table 1. Project Contacts Table
Designer
Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
919 755 -9490
Planting Contractor
Carolina Silvics
908 Indian Trail Road
Edenton, North Carolina 27932
Dwight McKinney 252 482 -8491
Monitoring Performer
Axiom Environmental, Inc
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
Grant Lewis (919) 215 -1693
2.0 MONITORING PLAN
Monitoring of Site restoration efforts will be performed for vegetation components of the Site for five years
or until success criteria are fulfilled After planting was completed, an initial evaluation was performed to
verify planting methods were successful and to determine initial species composition and density Twelve
sample vegetation plots (10 -meter by 10- meter) were installed within the Site as per guidelines established
in CVS -EEP Protocol for Recording Vegetation, Version 4 0 (Lee et al 2006) In each sample plot,
vegetation parameters to be monitored include species composition and species density Visual
observations of the percent cover of shrub and herbaceous species will also be documented by photograph
2.1 Vegetation Success Criteria
Characteristic Tree Species include woody tree and shrub species planted at the Site (Table 2) or outlined
for the appropriate plant community in Schafale and Weakley (1990) An average density of 320 stems per
acre of Characteristic Tree Species must be surviving after year 5 monitoring
Annual Monitoring Report Page 2
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

Table 2. Planted Woody Vegetation
Species
Quantity
American elm Ulmus amertcana
2700
American holly Ilex o aca
1610
Americansycamore Platanus occidentahs
4563
Bald cypress Taxodium dtstichum
4694
Buttonbush Ce halanthus occidentahs
2280
Cherrybark oak uercus pagoda)
4085
Elderberry Sambucus canadensts
868
Green ash Fraxrnus enns lvanica
6218
Ironwood Ca anus carolnitana
322
Laurel oak Quercus Lauri olta
4085
Overcu oak Quercus 1 rata
4172
Possumhaw viburnum (Viburnum nudum )
434
Red chokebe (Aronta arbuti olia)
1339
River birch (Betula nr ra )
4563
Silky dogwood Cornus amomum
1610
Silky willow (Salix sericea)
434
Swamp chestnut oak ( uercus michauxii)
2700
Sweetba (Magnolia vtr iniana
1350
Water oak ( uercus nt ra )
1080
Willow oak Quercus hellos
4085
Yellow poplar Lrriodendron tuli i era
1620
TOTAL
54,813
2.2 Maintenance and Contingency
In the event that success criteria are not fulfilled, a mechanism for contingency will be implemented If
vegetation success criteria are not achieved based on average density calculations from combined plots
over the entire restoration area, supplemental planting may be performed with tree species approved by
regulatory agencies Supplemental planting will be performed as needed until achievement of vegetation
success criteria
2.3 Vegetation Sampling Results and Comparison to Success Criteria
Quantitative sampling of vegetation was conducted in October 2013 Vegetation success criteria (320
stems per acre) were exceeded for the year 4 (2013) annual monitoring year with an average density of 840
planted stems per acre across the Site In addition, each individual plot met success criteria based on
planted stems alone with the exception of Plot 2 which was two stem shy, however, when counting an
additional stem of naturally recruited green ash (Fraxrnus pennsylvanica) and sycamore (Platanus
occidentahs) this plot had 324 stems per acre
3.0 CONCLUSIONS
The following table summarizes planted stem data throughout the monitoring period
Annual Monitoring Report Page 3
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

Table 3. Summary of Planted Stem Veeetation Plot Results
Plot
Planted Stems /Acre
Year 1
2010
Year 2
2011
Year 3
2012
Year 4
2013
Year 5
2014
1
971
1012
931
971
2
283
324
324
243
3
1052
1012
1012
1012
4
850
809
769
728
5
931
850
850
850
; ' 3Z v `
N
6
890
809
809
769"`
7
1052
1093
1093
1093
8
809
809
769
769
9
890
931
931
931
10
1052
1012
971
971
11
890
971
971
931
12
647
809
809
809
Average Plots 1 -12
860
870
853
840
Annual Monitoring Report Page 4
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

4.0 REFERENCES
Lee, M T , R K Peet, S D Roberts, and T R Wentworth 2006 CVS -EEP Protocol for Recording
Vegetation Version 4 0 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Ecosystem Enhancement Program Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) 2007 Redbook, Surface Waters and Wetlands
Standards North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water
Quality Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) 2008a Draft North Carolina Water Quality
Assessment and Impaired Waters List (2008 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report) (online)
Available http //h2o enr state nc us /tmdUdocumentsB Draft2008303dList pdf [November 10,
2008] North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North
Carolina
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) 2008b Draft Basmwide Planning Program Neuse
River Basinwide Water Quality Plan -June 2008 North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality Raleigh, North Carolina
Schafale, M P and A S Weakley 1990 Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina
Third Approximation North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation,
North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources Raleigh, North
Carolina
United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1974 Hydrologic Unit Map - 1974 State of North Carolina
Annual Monitoring Report Page 5
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

Appendix A.
Figures
Figure 1. Site Location
Figure 2. Monitoring Plan View
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

Directions to the Site
From the City of Kinston
East on US Route 70 - 5 miles
P
Left on Russell Farm Road (into Dover) - 1 mile
Left on Dover Road at Post Office) - 7 miles
Right on NC Route 55 - 2 miles 43
Left on Biddle Farm Road - 1 mile
Site is on Right
Site Location
J;
JAV
f
n*X
7
rOV-'\
qe
Y;
PM"
Wt.—G— I
ft V
AIT
7.
A
0 1 mi. 4 mi.
1:158,400 yfa c4 r'
Source: 1977 North Carolina Atlas and Gazetteer, pp. 66.
41
Dwn. by: WGIL FIGURE
2126 Rowland Pond Dr SITE LOCATION Ckd by:
Willow Sprang, NC 27592 WGIL
919) 215-1693 BUTLERS BRANCH RESTORATION SITE Date:
(919)341 -3839 fax Craven County, North Carolina Apr 2007
Project:
1 05-002.38

- ti TF f01 Ir
AL
if . A
0
- AAL
12
..imp
Plot
Origin
Latitude
Longitude
1
35.295562
- 77.296275
2
35.300265
- 77.305592
3
35.294142
- 77.319724
4
35.291368
- 77.320082
5
35.291470
- 77.321112
6
35.289532
- 77.312046
7
35.289104
- 77.309569
8
35.290676
- 77.306888
9
35.292968
- 77.307146
10
35.292643
- 77.306349
11
35.293566
- 77.303487
12
1 35.295411
- 77.302286
Drawn by:
CLF
Date:
OCT 2010
Scale:
1:7200
Project No.:
10 -001
FIGURE
2

Appendix B.
Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photographs
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

Butlers Branch
Year 4 (2013)
Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos
Taken October 2013
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site

Butlers Branch
Year 4 (2013)
Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos
Taken October 2013
(continued)
Annual Monitoring Report Appendices
Butlers Branch Nitrogen Buffer Restoration Site