20071212 Ver 1_Restoration Plan Review_20070727

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July 27, 2007
Mr. M. Randall Turner
Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes St., Suite 107
Raleigh, NC 27604
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Coleen H. Sullins,. Director
Division of Water Quality
Re: Proposed Brown Marsh Swamp Stream and Wetland Restoration Project
Robeson County, NC
NQDiJVQ #07-1212
Dear. Mr. Turner:
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has reviewed your response to our July 24, 2007 letter.
The response regarding the bankfull discharge discrepancy is acknowledged.
However, the response regarding the valley slope appears inconsistent with general stream restoration
design practices. Valley slope is a landscape-scale measurement, much like valley length and bankfull
discharge. DWQ consulted with Barbara Doll of the North Carolina State University Stream
Restoration Institute, who concurred that valley slope is a constant, and should not change as a result of
the restoration project.
Your use of the stream channel invert to calculate valley slope is not consistent with accepted stream
assessment and design practices. If the stream is incised at the downstream end and there is a headcut
working up the system, but it has not made it's way up the entire valley, then by using the channel invert
to measure valley slope, you would report an artificially steep valley slope.
Valley slope should be measured using top of bank elevations or elevations on the floodplain or terrace,
which would give a more accurate elevation of the slope of the valley. In addition, measurements for
valley slope should be taken at the most upstream and downstream extents of the project reach to
provide an accurate measurement of the slope of the valley throughout the project reach, and not just a
portion of the stream reach.
Please provide corrected data on valley slope for the entire valley for each of the proposed restoration
reaches.
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Cazolina 27604
Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Internet: htto://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
Noe Carolina
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An Equal OpportunitylAffirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled110% Post Consumer Paper

Mr. Turner
Restoration Systems, LLC
Proposed Morgan Creek Stream and Wetland Restoration Site
Page 2
Please feel free to contact Eric Kulz at [phone] if you have any questions regarding this project
or our comments.
Sincerely,
~~
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Eric Kulz)
Central Files
Kim Garvey - USACE Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
Ken Averitte - DWQ Fayetteville Regional Office

401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Cazolina 27604
Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Internet: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
NO ` Carolina
~tura!!y
An Equal OppoRunitylAffirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled110% Post Consumer Paper