20201146 Ver 1_Mitigation Evaluation_20220211

From: Davis. Erin B
To: Baker. Caroline D
Subject: FW: [External] SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mitigation Site initial evaluation letter
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 11:38:37 AM
Attachments: SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mit Bank Initial Evaluation Letter.odf
Laserfiche Upload: Email & Attachment
DWR#:20201146 v. 1
Doc Type: Mitigation Evaluation
From: Jessop, Jordan E CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)[mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2022 10:50 AM
To: Katie Webber <[e-mail]>; Bradley Breslow <[e-mail]>; Kasey Carrere
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>; Kim Browning
<[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey M CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Bowers, Todd
<[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Dunn, Maria T.
<[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Gledhill-earley,
Renee <[e-mail]>; Twyla Cheatwood - NCAA Federal
<[e-mail]>; Mickey Sugg <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] SAW-2020-01123 Newman Ranch Mitigation Site initial evaluation letter
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Hi Ms. Webber,
Please find the attached initial evaluation letter for the Newman Ranch Mitigation Site, first site of
the proposed RES Cape Fear 04 Umbrella Mitigation Bank. Please proceed with submitting the draft
mitigation plan. Let me know if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Jordan

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
February 11, 2022
Regulatory Division
Action ID. SAW-2020-01123
Res Aster, LLC
3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27612
Dear Ms. Webber:
This letter confirms the initial Interagency Review Team's (IRT) evaluation and
comments received during the Public Notice of your prospectus detailing the creation of
the RES Cape Fear 04 Umbrella Mitigation Bank, with the first site being the wetland
and stream mitigation site, known as the Newman Ranch Mitigation Site. The proposed
easement area is an approximately 418-acres tract across four parcels. The project
area is located in the Anderson Creek Township, north of Shady Grove Road, east of
NC-210, approximately 9.5 miles northeast of Spring Lake, Harnett County, North
Carolina. The project coordinates are 35.2340,-78.9080.
Pursuant to 33 CFR Part 332.8(d)(5) Compensatory Mitigation For Losses of Aquatic
Resources, our office is providing our initial evaluation as to the potential of your
proposed Bank modification, or site addition, for providing appropriate compensatory
mitigation for activities authorized by Department of the Army (DA) permits.
Based on our review, coordination with the IRT, and the onsite inspection, it is our
position that the proposed Bank has potential for appropriately providing compensatory
mitigation for DA authorizations. Consequently, our office confirms proceeding with the
development of a mitigation plan and the Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI). This
mitigation plan and MBI must be approved prior to the release of any credits. As
discussed onsite concerns are as follows:
1) Please provide additional information on the size of the drainage areas for each
stream restoration segment proposed.
2) Please provide any available well data and field observations to demonstrate
drainage effects and potential for hydrological uplift.
3) Please identify reference wetlands to monitor, which you indicated you have on -
site.

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4) Please identify reference headwater stream systems with similar soils and
drainage areas.
5) Please provide information on the proposed long term steward
6) Section 4.1.3 Monitoring indicates a blanket 12% hydroperiod as a performance
standard, this should be specific to each wetland soil type and landscape setting,
please refer to district guidance.
7) Please provide the full NCWAM and NCSAM forms.
7) Are there any concerns over the stability of the stream channel in the old pond
bed? Is the material present suitable and stable?
8) Where appropriate, please make sure the 2016 success criteria for zero -order
systems area incorporated into the proposal.
10) Please clarify the areas where vegetation restoration work is proposed.
11) Please integrate the 2016 tree vigor performance standards into the proposal.
12) Please provide additional information and analysis to address concerns about
potential future development outside and around the bank area (e.g. road
widening), and how you propose to address these concerns.
13) Are there any plans to remove or improve the culvert leading into MF4B?
14) Please provide additional details about which roads on -site will be kept intact
and to what extent.
15) What is the status of Buddy Barefoot Road? Have there been any developments
on the possibility of it becoming a private road?
Other components were also covered during the on -site IRT meeting and all
discussed topics should be considered and incorporated in your bank planning and
development of the mitigation plan. If you have any questions regarding the banking
process or moving forward with the establishment of your proposal, please do not
hesitate to contact me at the Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, telephone (910) 251-
4810 or [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Jordan Jessop, Project Manager
Wilmington Regulatory Field Office

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Copies furnished via email:
Mr. Brad Breslow, RES Inc. [e-mail]
Ms. Katie Webber, RES Inc. [e-mail]
Ms. Kasey Carrere, RES Inc. [e-mail]
Ms. Kathy Matthews, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, [e-mail]
Mr. Todd Bowers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [e-mail]
Ms. Erin Davis, NC Department of Environmental Quality [e-mail]
Mr. Travis Wilson, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission
[e-mail]
Ms. Maria Dunn, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission
[e-mail]
Renee Gledhill -Earley, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, State Historic
Preservation Office [e-mail]
Ms. Twyla Cheatwood, Southeast Region, Habitat Conservation Division
[e-mail]