20191132 Ver 1_E Buffalo Planting_20220225

From: Davis, Erin B
To: Baker, Caroline D
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
Date: Friday, February 25, 2022 8:35:50 AM
Attachments: image007.pno
imaae008.Dna
image009.pno
imaae011.Dna
URL Verdict NeutralNon-DoD Source RE External E Buffalo planting.msa
URL Verdict NeutralNon-DoD Source RE External E Buffalo 0antina.msa
imaae001.pna
Laserfiche upload: Email & Attachments
DWR#: 20191132 v.1
Doc Type: Mitigation Information
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 10:41 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <[e-mail]>
Cc: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>;
Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Hamstead, Byron A <[e-mail]>; Tugwell,
Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>; Kim Browning
<[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey M CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Joe,
Attached/below are the comments received. Overall the IRT is supportive of your proposal, but
please respond to comments regarding Table 3 and the summary of work in future monitoring
reports. Feel free to contact me with any questions and we look forward to visiting this site next
Thursday (I'll be in touch with Wildlands about timing soon).
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://reguIatory.ops.usace.army.miI/customer-service-survey/ to complete the survey

mesf@T-j
From: Bowers, Todd <bowers.toddPepa.gov>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 8:51 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.KichefskiPusace.army.mil>; Andrea
Leslie (Andrea.LeslieCcDncwildlife.org) <Andrea.LesliePncwildlife.or9>; travis.wilsonPncwildlife.org;
Davis, Erin B <erin.davisPncdenr.gov>; Byron Hamstead (bvron_hamsteadpfws.gov)
<bvron hamsteadPfws.gov>
Cc: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Todd.J.Tugwellpusace.army.mil>, Browning,
Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Kimberly.D.BrowningPusace.army.mil>; Haywood, Casey M
CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)<Casey.M.HaywoodPusace.army.mil>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Steve,
Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the East Buffalo Mitigation
Site (Wildlands Little Tennessee UMB) Adaptive Management Plan dated January 2022.
Wildlands is proposing the supplementally plant non -preservation portions of the site due to
abnormally high amounts of mortality likely caused by wetter than expected conditions
across much of the site. This high rate of planted vegetation was evidenced by several
vegetation plots failing to meeting interim performance standards during MY1 data analysis.
Basically, Wildlands is proposing to supplementally plant the entire site with species more
appropriate for the observed soil hydrology conditions in the riparian buffer areas, the
wetland areas and the utility ROW.
I concur with the Adaptive Management Plan proposed by Wildlands. Supplemental
planting is proposed to be completed by March 15, 2022 and I encourage the sponsor to
meet this time frame. I am also impressed by the continued high diversity of species
proposed for supplemental planting. I understand that availability is on ongoing issue and
Wildlands is working diligently to produce sites with the most diverse and appropriate
species for their sites. Lastly, I would like to see a detailed discussion of the corrective
actions, updated planting lists and an analysis of the expected extent of wetlands and any
anticipated adjustments in wetland credits (if this is an option) in the next Monitoring Year
report.
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide feedback and comments on the AMP for the
East Buffalo Mitigation Site.
Best Regards,
Todd B.
Todd Allen Bowers
US EPA Region 4 Oceans, Wetlands and Streams Protection Branch
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.562.9225**

Bowers.todd(a e�na.gov
"Note: I am currently teleworking and away from the office. Please contact me via email or at 919.523.2637.
"Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.
— Wendell Berry
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski(@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 12:26 PM
To: Andrea Leslie (Andrea. Leslie(@ncwildlife.org)<Andrea.Leslie(@ncwildlife.org>;
travis.wilson(@ncwildlife.org; Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Bowers, Todd
<bowers.todd(@epa.gov>; Byron Hamstead (bvron_hamstead(@fws.gov)
<bvron_hamstead(@fws.gov>
Cc: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Todd.J.Tugwell(@usace.army.mil>; Browning,
Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Kimberly.D.Browning(@usace.army.miI>; Haywood, Casey M
CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Casey.M.Haywood(@usace.army.mil>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
Good afternoon IRT,
Forwarding a supplemental planting plan for the Wildlands Little Tennessee UMB - East Buffalo
Mitigation Site (SAW-2019-01296) for your review/comment. This planting is in between what I
would consider a routine maintenance planting and a full replanting deserving formal adaptive
management review, so I wanted to provide the IRT with a chance to offer comment. In order to
ensure the comments are received in time to order and plant within our dormant season window
the comment time is short (I have commented to them regarding providing more time for IRT
feedback in the future).
Essentially, Wildlands (WEI) is proposing to plant the entire, non -preservation portion of the site in a
low density. Seems half their veg plots did not meet performance standards and they believe it is
due to hydrology on -site developing differently than anticipated. They have adjusted the proposed
planting list based on these hydrology adjustments. WEI is also having trouble procuring several
species for planting causing more adjustments to the planting list.
Andrea and I have already provided some feedback as seen in the email chain below. Please respond
by close of business this Friday, February 11th or reach out to me with concerns or additional time
requests.
Regards,

Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey1 to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimerCu�wildlandseng.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 3, 2022 10:20 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski [e-mail]>; Leslie,
Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Cc: Jake McLean <imclean(@wildlandseng.com>; Jessica Waller<iwaller(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: [URLVerdict: Unknown][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve,
I have attached the AMP. It took me more back and forth with the contractor and nurseries than I
expected. I tried to include as much relevant information as possible without going overboard. I can
supply other information if anyone requests it. In general, I'd say that this planting is likely beyond
what we'd need to do to achieve our success criteria. I hope that the extent of the planting, well
beyond the high mortality areas, is taken as us trying to improve the establishing plant communities'
structure and diversity.
I have removed sugar maple from the list and decreased the sycamore rate. I adapted some of the
other quantities slightly to accommodate this change.
Lastly, I didn't include this in the AMP but I thought it would be relevant to include the list of species
that we attempted to source. The species listed in red with a strikethrough were unavailable.
Hopefully that can help explain why certain species weren't included.
Thank you for distributing this quickly,
Joe
Potential species list

sycamore
black cherry
persimmon
N red oak
boxelder
slippery elm
sweet birch
paw paw
tulip tree
spicebush
beech
witch hazel
ironwood
yellow buckeye
tag alder
black willow
strawberry bush
sugar maple
silky dogwood
elderberry
silky willow
red mulberry
hop hornbeam
vdeee�
sweetshrub
Carolina silverbell
black gum
silky dogwood
ninebark
buttonbush
possumnhaw viburnum
red eht)keberi-y-
LITCTTITQLIC

From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:52 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerCu�wildlandseng.com>; Leslie, Andrea J
<andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks for the feedback. That helps me understand the situation. I'm out of the office Wed -Fri, but
will look for your email so I can forward to the rest of the IRT for comment. Erin is out of office until
next week so I would not expect her response until mid -week. Feel free to follow up with me next
week if you have not heard anything.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey( to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerCu�wildlandseng.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:17 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.miI>; Leslie,
Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the response. I should be able to get something out today or at least by Thursday as long
as things go smoothly with the proposed changes in the list- sourcing appropriate species for this
type of site is challenging.
Good to hear that it should be a quick turnaround. We did a closer look at the trees across the site
during a visit after our walk (when is wasn't pouring!). We also reviewed the monitoring data and
decided that we should do this type of planting to make up for some mortality and for the
cottonwood on the site- it survived better than anything else in MY1. It also took a while to sort out

which species could be sourced. That's why this is happening late in the dormant season. I agree that
this would have ideally been discussed earlier.
Thanks,
Joe
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:59 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>; Joe Lovenshimer
<iovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks for your feedback Andrea.
Joe — let me know when you expect to have a adaptive management email ready and your thoughts
to Andrea's comments. Again the summary you email for IRT response can be very brief and with
Andrea and I already commenting, I expect it would be a quick turnaround.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survev/ to complete the survey
online.
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:20 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski Pusace.army.mil>; Joe
Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng.com>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve -

The planting plan is pretty diverse and has a bunch of species I'm excited (yes!) about. I
am OK with sycamore being on the list - it was already in the planting plan, which was
reviewed and approved. I'd rather the buffer percentage not be as high as 10%; that's
higher than the 5% that's in the final plan. I'd recommend that the % be knocked back
down a bit.
Good question on sugar maple. I'm sorry I didn't catch and comment on that, Joe. When I
saw it, I was just so glad it wasn't red maple. But it's true - I would expect sugar maple
only at higher elevations in Graham County - don't normally see it at this elevation. So, I'd
recommend keeping it out of the plan unless Joe has seen it on site nearby already.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.or�
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From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.KichefskilaDusace.army.mil>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 4:05 PM
To: Joe Lovenshimer<jlovenshimerlaDwildlandseng.com>; Leslie, Andrea J
<andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Hey Joe - Looking at the map makes it seem like heavy supplemental planting even for some areas
being wetter than expected... was there an problem with survival in the MY1 report? I don't recall
much of an issue during the site visit, but I guess woody stems were too small to evaluate and we
were mainly looking at ground cover. Just looking at the stem count maybe it is not too heavy, just
wide distribution.
Either method of notification for supplemental planting works, but if you want a quick response
from IRT then I would put together a short adaptive management summary and email it to me for
distribution to the IRT for comment. Since you have already run it by Andrea and I, hopefully we can
quickly get you feedback in time for your order. If just including in the MY1 report, it would be too

late for the comment to apply to the plant order and likely planting date. In the future try to give
more time for IRT feedback on the plant list.
I recommend still mentioning in the MY1 report of your proposal for supplemental planting this
dormant season with brief description of why.
Andrea —Are you good with the existence and density of Sycamore and sugar maple on the list for
Graham County?
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey1 to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimerCu�wildlandseng.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 3:01 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslieCo�ncwildlife.org>; Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<Steven.L.KichefskiCcDusace.army.mil>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks Andrea.
Steve- we are planning on replanting the majority of the originally planted area to make up for some
species composition issues- cottonwoods, and more upland species in original mix. The site has also
trended wetter than we originally thought and the new planting lists and zones reflect that.
We are under the gun a bit on getting stems sourced and in the ground this season. I am planning on
drafting an adaptive management plan for this and would like to get your thoughts on when/how to
submit it. I could draft and submit to you ASAP or we could do it as an appendix to the monitoring
report (submitted by mid -February). The AMP would be fairly simple and mostly describe our
planting lists, zones, and rates. We will also work with the soils based on results from some pending

soil tests. We're hoping to limit any changes to the plant lists since our order is already in the works.
Please let me know if you have any questions on this. I'm available over the phone for the rest of the
week (828.443.1877).
Thanks,
Joe
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 2:14 PM
To: Steve Kichefski <Steven. I.kichefski(@usace.army.miI>
Cc: Joe Lovenshimer <iovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
Howdy Steve,
I just met with Joe for a quick bit to take a look at what Wildlands is proposing for planting
at the East Buffalo site. Rather than plant only the areas with poor survival, they are
intending on covering the whole site with planting (and he can better describe their
thought process here). I've taken a look at the plant list and the percentages, and they look
good to me. Joe is going to follow up with you on the adaptive management plan.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
f 11110 �-*u
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From: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimerCcDwildlandseng.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 1:44 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslieCo�ncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an

attachment to Report Spam.
Here are the plant lists and map. The plant list spreadsheet has a tab showing which plants we could
actually source (strikethroughs were unavailable). We wanted to plant a base of new stems across
the site to make up for some of the spp. composition issues out there (cottonwood...). The areas
slated for higher replanting are based off of veg plot data we got. I can discuss what we think some
of the issues for plant survival are but a big one was that the site trended wetter than we originally
thought it would. These new plant lists and replanting areas reflect that shift.
Talk to you soon.
-Joe
From: Joe Lovenshimer
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:43 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks Andrea. 2:00 will work well. I'll send over the materials ahead of time.
Also, realized I never passed this Bradford pear article to you-
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/us/bradford-pear-tree-south-carolina.html
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:41 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Can do, Joe. How about afternoon, say 2:00? I'm in my office today (828 803-6054).
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
8+ f L6
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parties.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:39 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Subject: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Hi Andrea,
Hope all is well with you. Would you have any time today to talk about some supplemental planting
we are planning at East Buffalo to make up for some mortality out there and to replace the
cottonwoods? We're on a bit of a time crunch to get all of the stems ordered and it'd be great to talk
it over with you to make sure we're on the same page with the planting list.
Thanks,
Joe
Joe Kraus Lovenshimer I Stewardship Manager
0: 919.851.9986 x108
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
312 West Millbrook Road, Suite 225
Raleigh, NC 27609

From:
Leslie, Andrea J
To:
Bowers. Todd; Steve Kichefski; Wilson. Travis W.; Davis. Erin B; Hamstead. Byron A
Cc:
Tuawell. Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Kim Browning; Haywood. Casey M CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
Subject:
[URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Date:
Thursday, February 10, 2022 10:27:22 AM
Attachments:
imaae001.wa
imaae002.wa
imaae003.wa
imaae005.wa
imaae006.ono
Hi Steve,
We've had previous discussions on this one, and I'll let those stand. But I'm a bit confused
by Table 3 which has the mit plan's riparian planting zone list & percentage, the as -built
percent, and then an "as -built (% for substitutes)". I really don't understand what the last
column is does that mean "% with substitutes"? That last column is not included for the
wetland or utility ROW areas, which is confusing.
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.orQ
Get NC Wildlife U12date delivered to your inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties.
From: Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 8:51 AM
To: Steve Kichefski <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J
<[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Davis, Erin B
<[e-mail]>; Hamstead, Byron A <[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]>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Steve,

Thank you for the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the East Buffalo Mitigation
Site (Wildlands Little Tennessee UMB) Adaptive Management Plan dated January 2022.
Wildlands is proposing the supplementally plant non -preservation portions of the site due to
abnormally high amounts of mortality likely caused by wetter than expected conditions
across much of the site. This high rate of planted vegetation was evidenced by several
vegetation plots failing to meeting interim performance standards during MY1 data analysis.
Basically, Wildlands is proposing to supplementally plant the entire site with species more
appropriate for the observed soil hydrology conditions in the riparian buffer areas, the
wetland areas and the utility ROW.
I concur with the Adaptive Management Plan proposed by Wildlands. Supplemental
planting is proposed to be completed by March 15, 2022 and I encourage the sponsor to
meet this time frame. I am also impressed by the continued high diversity of species
proposed for supplemental planting. I understand that availability is on ongoing issue and
Wildlands is working diligently to produce sites with the most diverse and appropriate
species for their sites. Lastly, I would like to see a detailed discussion of the corrective
actions, updated planting lists and an analysis of the expected extent of wetlands and any
anticipated adjustments in wetland credits (if this is an option) in the next Monitoring Year
report.
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide feedback and comments on the AMP for the
East Buffalo Mitigation Site.
Best Regards,
Todd B.
Todd Allen Bowers
US EPA Region 4 Oceans, Wetlands and Streams Protection Branch
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.562.9225**
Bowers.todd(a_epa,gov
**Note: I am currently teleworking and away from the office. Please contact me via email or at 919.523.2637.
"Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.
Wendell Berry
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.KichefskiPusace.army.mil>
Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 12:26 PM
To: Andrea Leslie (Andrea.LesliePncwildlife.org) <Andrea.LeslieCcDncwildlife.org>;

travis.wilson(@ncwildlife.org; Davis, Erin B <erin.davis(@ncdenr.gov>; Bowers, Todd
<bowers.todd(@epa.gov>; Byron Hamstead (bvron_hamstead(@fws.gov)
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>; Browning,
Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Kimberly.D.Browning(@usace.army.miI>; Haywood, Casey M
CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Casey.M.Haywood(@usace.army.mil>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
Good afternoon IRT,
Forwarding a supplemental planting plan for the Wildlands Little Tennessee UMB - East Buffalo
Mitigation Site (SAW-2019-01296) for your review/comment. This planting is in between what I
would consider a routine maintenance planting and a full replanting deserving formal adaptive
management review, so I wanted to provide the IRT with a chance to offer comment. In order to
ensure the comments are received in time to order and plant within our dormant season window
the comment time is short (I have commented to them regarding providing more time for IRT
feedback in the future).
Essentially, Wildlands (WEI) is proposing to plant the entire, non -preservation portion of the site in a
low density. Seems half their veg plots did not meet performance standards and they believe it is
due to hydrology on -site developing differently than anticipated. They have adjusted the proposed
planting list based on these hydrology adjustments. WEI is also having trouble procuring several
species for planting causing more adjustments to the planting list.
Andrea and I have already provided some feedback as seen in the email chain below. Please respond
by close of business this Friday, February 11th or reach out to me with concerns or additional time
requests.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-surveyt to complete the survey
online.

From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 3, 2022 10:20 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski(@usace.army.miI>; Leslie,
Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Cc: Jake McLean <imcleanCcDwildlandseng.com>; Jessica Waller <iwaller(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Unknown][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve,
I have attached the AMP. It took me more back and forth with the contractor and nurseries than I
expected. I tried to include as much relevant information as possible without going overboard. I can
supply other information if anyone requests it. In general, I'd say that this planting is likely beyond
what we'd need to do to achieve our success criteria. I hope that the extent of the planting, well
beyond the high mortality areas, is taken as us trying to improve the establishing plant communities'
structure and diversity.
I have removed sugar maple from the list and decreased the sycamore rate. I adapted some of the
other quantities slightly to accommodate this change.
Lastly, I didn't include this in the AMP but I thought it would be relevant to include the list of species
that we attempted to source. The species listed in red with a strikethrough were unavailable.
Hopefully that can help explain why certain species weren't included.
Thank you for distributing this quickly,
Joe
Potential species list
sycamore
black cherry
White bassweed
persimmon
N red oak
boxelder
slippery elm
sweet birch
paw paw
tulip tree
spicebush
beech
witch hazel
ironwood
yellow buckeye
black willow

strawberry bush
Vialgiblia sweets
sugar maple
silky dogwood
elderberry
silky willow
red mulberry
hop hornbeam
sweetshrub
Carolina silverbell
black gum
silky dogwood
ninebark
buttonbush
possumnhaw viburnum
E I_ _ ._ _ I _ _ I .
R
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski(@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:52 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>; Leslie, Andrea J
<andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks for the feedback. That helps me understand the situation. I'm out of the office Wed -Fri, but
will look for your email so I can forward to the rest of the IRT for comment. Erin is out of office until
next week so I would not expect her response until mid -week. Feel free to follow up with me next
week if you have not heard anything.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office

151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at htt sp.//regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey1 to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimer(cDwildlandseng.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:17 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (cDusace.army.mil>; Leslie,
Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the response. I should be able to get something out today or at least by Thursday as long
as things go smoothly with the proposed changes in the list- sourcing appropriate species for this
type of site is challenging.
Good to hear that it should be a quick turnaround. We did a closer look at the trees across the site
during a visit after our walk (when is wasn't pouring!). We also reviewed the monitoring data and
decided that we should do this type of planting to make up for some mortality and for the
cottonwood on the site- it survived better than anything else in MY1. It also took a while to sort out
which species could be sourced. That's why this is happening late in the dormant season. I agree that
this would have ideally been discussed earlier.
Thanks,
Joe
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:59 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>; Joe Lovenshimer
<ilovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks for your feedback Andrea.
Joe — let me know when you expect to have a adaptive management email ready and your thoughts
to Andrea's comments. Again the summary you email for IRT response can be very brief and with

Andrea and I already commenting, I expect it would be a quick turnaround.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://reguIatory.ops.usace.army.miI/customer-service-survey to complete the survey
online.
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.leslieCcDncwildlife.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:20 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>; Joe
Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve -
The planting plan is pretty diverse and has a bunch of species I'm excited (yes!) about.
am OK with sycamore being on the list - it was already in the planting plan, which was
reviewed and approved. I'd rather the buffer percentage not be as high as 10%; that's
higher than the 5% that's in the final plan. I'd recommend that the % be knocked back
down a bit.
Good question on sugar maple. I'm sorry I didn't catch and comment on that, Joe. When I
saw it, I was just so glad it wasn't red maple. But it's true - I would expect sugar maple
only at higher elevations in Graham County - don't normally see it at this elevation. So, I'd
recommend keeping it out of the plan unless Joe has seen it on site nearby already.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752

828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
Get NC Wildlife U12date delivered to your inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties.
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.miI>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 4:05 PM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>; Leslie, Andrea J
<andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Hey Joe - Looking at the map makes it seem like heavy supplemental planting even for some areas
being wetter than expected... was there an problem with survival in the MY1 report? I don't recall
much of an issue during the site visit, but I guess woody stems were too small to evaluate and we
were mainly looking at ground cover. Just looking at the stem count maybe it is not too heavy, just
wide distribution.
Either method of notification for supplemental planting works, but if you want a quick response
from IRT then I would put together a short adaptive management summary and email it to me for
distribution to the IRT for comment. Since you have already run it by Andrea and I, hopefully we can
quickly get you feedback in time for your order. If just including in the MY1 report, it would be too
late for the comment to apply to the plant order and likely planting date. In the future try to give
more time for IRT feedback on the plant list.
I recommend still mentioning in the MY1 report of your proposal for supplemental planting this
dormant season with brief description of why.
Andrea —Are you good with the existence and density of Sycamore and sugar maple on the list for
Graham County?
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208

Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at htt sp.//regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey1 to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 3:01 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>; Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.miI>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks Andrea.
Steve- we are planning on replanting the majority of the originally planted area to make up for some
species composition issues- cottonwoods, and more upland species in original mix. The site has also
trended wetter than we originally thought and the new planting lists and zones reflect that.
We are under the gun a bit on getting stems sourced and in the ground this season. I am planning on
drafting an adaptive management plan for this and would like to get your thoughts on when/how to
submit it. I could draft and submit to you ASAP or we could do it as an appendix to the monitoring
report (submitted by mid -February). The AMP would be fairly simple and mostly describe our
planting lists, zones, and rates. We will also work with the soils based on results from some pending
soil tests. We're hoping to limit any changes to the plant lists since our order is already in the works.
Please let me know if you have any questions on this. I'm available over the phone for the rest of the
week (828.443.1877).
Thanks,
Joe
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.leslieCcDncwildlife.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 2:14 PM
To: Steve Kichefski <Steven. I.kichefskiPusace.army.miI>
Cc: Joe Lovenshimer <iovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
Howdy Steve,

I just met with Joe for a quick bit to take a look at what Wildlands is proposing for planting
at the East Buffalo site. Rather than plant only the areas with poor survival, they are
intending on covering the whole site with planting (and he can better describe their
thought process here). I've taken a look at the plant list and the percentages, and they look
good to me. Joe is going to follow up with you on the adaptive management plan.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
Get NC Wildlife U12date delivered to your inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 1:44 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Here are the plant lists and map. The plant list spreadsheet has a tab showing which plants we could
actually source (strikethroughs were unavailable). We wanted to plant a base of new stems across
the site to make up for some of the spp. composition issues out there (cottonwood...). The areas
slated for higher replanting are based off of veg plot data we got. I can discuss what we think some
of the issues for plant survival are but a big one was that the site trended wetter than we originally
thought it would. These new plant lists and replanting areas reflect that shift.
Talk to you soon.
-Joe
From: Joe Lovenshimer
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:43 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslieCo�ncwildlife.org>

Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks Andrea. 2:00 will work well. I'll send over the materials ahead of time.
Also, realized I never passed this Bradford pear article to you-
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/us/bradford-pear-tree-south-caroIina.htmI
From: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslielaDncwildlife.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:41 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng.com>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Can do, Joe. How about afternoon, say 2:00? I'm in my office today (828 803-6054).
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
www.ncwildlife.org
Get NC Wildlife U12date delivered to your inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <iovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:39 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Hi Andrea,
Hope all is well with you. Would you have any time today to talk about some supplemental planting
we are planning at East Buffalo to make up for some mortality out there and to replace the
cottonwoods? We're on a bit of a time crunch to get all of the stems ordered and it'd be great to talk
it over with you to make sure we're on the same page with the planting list.

Thanks,
Joe
Joe Kraus Lovenshimer I Stewardship Manager
0: 919.851.9986 x108
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
312 West Millbrook Road, Suite 225
Raleigh, NC 27609

From:
Davis. Erin B
To:
Steve Kichefski
Subject:
[URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Date:
Friday, February 11, 2022 8:46:26 AM
Attachments:
imaoe001.Dno
imaae002.Dna
imaoe001ono
imaae005.Dna
Hi Steve,
I reviewed WEI's East Buffalo supplemental planting plan. I appreciate the level of detail WEI
provided. I have no major concerns with the proposal. I do agree with Andrea that the some of the
tables were confusing. And I also agree with Todd Bowers about wanting to see a summary of the
work completed in the next monitoring report. I am glad we will be getting out to see this site soon.
Many thanks,
Erin B. Davis, PWS
Stream & Wetland Mitigation Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
Division of Water Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
919-817-0360 cell
erin.davisCq-)ncdenr.gov
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 12:26 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>;
Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>; Hamstead, Byron A
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>; Kim Browning
<[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey M CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<Casey.M.Haywood @ usace.army.miI>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.
Good afternoon IRT,
Forwarding a supplemental planting plan for the Wildlands Little Tennessee UMB - East Buffalo
Mitigation Site (SAW-2019-01296) for your review/comment. This planting is in between what I
would consider a routine maintenance planting and a full replanting deserving formal adaptive
management review, so I wanted to provide the IRT with a chance to offer comment. In order to
ensure the comments are received in time to order and plant within our dormant season window
the comment time is short (I have commented to them regarding providing more time for IRT
feedback in the future).

Essentially, Wildlands (WEI) is proposing to plant the entire, non -preservation portion of the site in a
low density. Seems half their veg plots did not meet performance standards and they believe it is
due to hydrology on -site developing differently than anticipated. They have adjusted the proposed
planting list based on these hydrology adjustments. WEI is also having trouble procuring several
species for planting causing more adjustments to the planting list.
Andrea and I have already provided some feedback as seen in the email chain below. Please respond
by close of business this Friday, February 11th or reach out to me with concerns or additional time
requests.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey1 to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimerCu�wildlandseng.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 3, 2022 10:20 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski [e-mail]>; Leslie,
Andrea J <[e-mail]>
Cc: Jake McLean <[e-mail]>; Jessica Waller <[e-mail]>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Unknown][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve,
I have attached the AMP. It took me more back and forth with the contractor and nurseries than I
expected. I tried to include as much relevant information as possible without going overboard. I can
supply other information if anyone requests it. In general, I'd say that this planting is likely beyond
what we'd need to do to achieve our success criteria. I hope that the extent of the planting, well
beyond the high mortality areas, is taken as us trying to improve the establishing plant communities'
structure and diversity.
I have removed sugar maple from the list and decreased the sycamore rate. I adapted some of the

other quantities slightly to accommodate this change.
Lastly, I didn't include this in the AMP but I thought it would be relevant to include the list of species
that we attempted to source. The species listed in red with a strikethrough were unavailable.
Hopefully that can help explain why certain species weren't included.
Thank you for distributing this quickly,
Joe
Potential species list
sycamore
black cherry
persimmon
N red oak
boxelder
slippery elm
sweet birch
paw paw
tulip tree
spicebush
beech
witch hazel
ironwood
yellow buckeye
tng mider
black willow
strawberry bush
sugar maple
Fraser &iiag&ielizi
silky dogwood
elderberry
silky willow
red mulberry
hop hornbeam
yellewwe-04
sweetshrub
Carolina silverbell
v�interbert-7
black gum

silky dogwood
ninebark
buttonbush
possumnhaw viburnum
red eht)keberry-
L1TCRnIILIC
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski CCD usace.army.miI>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:52 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer<jlovenshimerCcDwildlandseng.com>; Leslie, Andrea J
<andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks for the feedback. That helps me understand the situation. I'm out of the office Wed -Fri, but
will look for your email so I can forward to the rest of the IRT for comment. Erin is out of office until
next week so I would not expect her response until mid -week. Feel free to follow up with me next
week if you have not heard anything.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://reguIatory.ops.usace.army.miI/customer-service-survey to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:17 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski Pusace.army.mil>; Leslie,
Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the response. I should be able to get something out today or at least by Thursday as long
as things go smoothly with the proposed changes in the list- sourcing appropriate species for this
type of site is challenging.
Good to hear that it should be a quick turnaround. We did a closer look at the trees across the site
during a visit after our walk (when is wasn't pouring!). We also reviewed the monitoring data and
decided that we should do this type of planting to make up for some mortality and for the
cottonwood on the site- it survived better than anything else in MY1. It also took a while to sort out
which species could be sourced. That's why this is happening late in the dormant season. I agree that
this would have ideally been discussed earlier.
Thanks,
Joe
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:59 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>; Joe Lovenshimer
<iovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks for your feedback Andrea.
Joe — let me know when you expect to have a adaptive management email ready and your thoughts
to Andrea's comments. Again the summary you email for IRT response can be very brief and with
Andrea and I already commenting, I expect it would be a quick turnaround.
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://re ulg atory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey1 to complete the survey
online.

From: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslielaDncwildlife.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:20 AM
To: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>; Joe
Lovenshimer<ilovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Hi Steve -
The planting plan is pretty diverse and has a bunch of species I'm excited (yes!) about. I
am OK with sycamore being on the list - it was already in the planting plan, which was
reviewed and approved. I'd rather the buffer percentage not be as high as 10%; that's
higher than the 5% that's in the final plan. I'd recommend that the % be knocked back
down a bit.
Good question on sugar maple. I'm sorry I didn't catch and comment on that, Joe. When I
saw it, I was just so glad it wasn't red maple. But it's true - I would expect sugar maple
only at higher elevations in Graham County - don't normally see it at this elevation. So, I'd
recommend keeping it out of the plan unless Joe has seen it on site nearby already.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
httj2:-/-/www.ncwildlife.org
Get NC Wildlife U12date delivered to your inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties.
From: Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <Steven.L.Kichefski Pusace.army.mil>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2022 4:05 PM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimer(@wildlandseng.com>; Leslie, Andrea J
<andrea.leslie(c)ncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an
attachment to Report Spam.

Hey Joe -Looking at the map makes it seem like heavy supplemental planting even for some areas
being wetter than expected... was there an problem with survival in the MY1 report? I don't recall
much of an issue during the site visit, but I guess woody stems were too small to evaluate and we
were mainly looking at ground cover. Just looking at the stem count maybe it is not too heavy, just
wide distribution.
Either method of notification for supplemental planting works, but if you want a quick response
from IRT then I would put together a short adaptive management summary and email it to me for
distribution to the IRT for comment. Since you have already run it by Andrea and I, hopefully we can
quickly get you feedback in time for your order. If just including in the MY1 report, it would be too
late for the comment to apply to the plant order and likely planting date. In the future try to give
more time for IRT feedback on the plant list.
I recommend still mentioning in the MY1 report of your proposal for supplemental planting this
dormant season with brief description of why.
Andrea —Are you good with the existence and density of Sycamore and sugar maple on the list for
Graham County?
Regards,
Steve Kichefski
Regulatory Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District, Asheville Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 208
Asheville, NC 28801
(828)-271-7980 Ext. 4234
(828)-933-8032 cell
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help
us ensure we continue to do so, please complete the Customer Satisfaction Survey located at our
website at https://regulatory.ops.usace.army.mil/customer-service-survey( to complete the survey
online.
From: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimerCu�wildlandseng.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 3:01 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J<andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>; Kichefski, Steven L CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<Steven.L.Kichefski (@usace.army.mil>
Subject: [URL Verdict: Neutral][Non-DoD Source] RE: [External] E Buffalo planting

Thanks Andrea.
Steve- we are planning on replanting the majority of the originally planted area to make up for some
species composition issues- cottonwoods, and more upland species in original mix. The site has also
trended wetter than we originally thought and the new planting lists and zones reflect that.
We are under the gun a bit on getting stems sourced and in the ground this season. I am planning on
drafting an adaptive management plan for this and would like to get your thoughts on when/how to
submit it. I could draft and submit to you ASAP or we could do it as an appendix to the monitoring
report (submitted by mid -February). The AMP would be fairly simple and mostly describe our
planting lists, zones, and rates. We will also work with the soils based on results from some pending
soil tests. We're hoping to limit any changes to the plant lists since our order is already in the works.
Please let me know if you have any questions on this. I'm available over the phone for the rest of the
week (828.443.1877).
Thanks,
Joe
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 2:14 PM
To: Steve Kichefski <Steven. I.kichefski(@usace.army.miI>
Cc: Joe Lovenshimer<ilovenshimer(@wildlandseniz.com>
Subject: FW: [External] E Buffalo planting
Howdy Steve,
I just met with Joe for a quick bit to take a look at what Wildlands is proposing for planting
at the East Buffalo site. Rather than plant only the areas with poor survival, they are
intending on covering the whole site with planting (and he can better describe their
thought process here). I've taken a look at the plant list and the percentages, and they look
good to me. Joe is going to follow up with you on the adaptive management plan.
Andrea
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
httj2:-/-/www.ncwildlife.org

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From: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 1:44 PM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
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attachment to Report Spam.
Here are the plant lists and map. The plant list spreadsheet has a tab showing which plants we could
actually source (strikethroughs were unavailable). We wanted to plant a base of new stems across
the site to make up for some of the spp. composition issues out there (cottonwood...). The areas
slated for higher replanting are based off of veg plot data we got. I can discuss what we think some
of the issues for plant survival are but a big one was that the site trended wetter than we originally
thought it would. These new plant lists and replanting areas reflect that shift.
Talk to you soon.
-Joe
From: Joe Lovenshimer
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:43 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Thanks Andrea. 2:00 will work well. I'll send over the materials ahead of time.
Also, realized I never passed this Bradford pear article to you-
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/us/bradford-pear-tree-south-caroIina.htmI
From: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.lesliePncwildlife.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:41 AM
To: Joe Lovenshimer <ilovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Subject: RE: [External] E Buffalo planting
Can do, Joe. How about afternoon, say 2:00? I'm in my office today (828 803-6054).
Andrea Leslie
Mountain Habitat Conservation Coordinator

NC Wildlife Resources Commission
645 Fish Hatchery Rd., Building B
Marion, NC 28752
828-400-4223 (cell)
htt12:-/-/www.ncwildljfe.org
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From: Joe Lovenshimer <jlovenshimerPwildlandseng com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2022 11:39 AM
To: Leslie, Andrea J <andrea.leslie(@ncwildlife.org>
Subject: [External] E Buffalo planting
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Hi Andrea,
Hope all is well with you. Would you have any time today to talk about some supplemental planting
we are planning at East Buffalo to make up for some mortality out there and to replace the
cottonwoods? We're on a bit of a time crunch to get all of the stems ordered and it'd be great to talk
it over with you to make sure we're on the same page with the planting list.
Thanks,
Joe
Joe Kraus Lovenshimer I Stewardship Manager
0: 919.851.9986 x108
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
312 West Millbrook Road, Suite 225
Raleigh, NC 27609