20141149 Ver 8_credit release task 8 - rockytop_20220524

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. B1SER
Secretary
RICHARb E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
May 24, 2022
DWR Project #: 2014-1149v8
George Howard Alamance County
Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Raleigh, NC 27604
(via electronic mail: georgegrestorationsystems.com )
Re: RS Haw River Subwatershed — Phase 1 Neuse Buffer & Nutrient Offset Umbrella
Mitigation Banking Instrument (UMBI)
Rocky Top Bank Parcel Credit Release — Task 8
Dear Mr. Howard:
On November 12, 2021, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) received a Year 4 Monitoring
Report for the subject site from Restoration Systems, LLC. Overall, site conditions appear to look
good and vegetation data results show stem densities higher than the required 260 stems/acre
throughout most of the site. Of most concern is Plot 3, where all planted stems reveal very short
heights in comparison to what is common by Year 4. Most stems are smaller than 3 feet. Even
though there is no standard height requirement, the lack of good stem height can be due to
environmental factors that RS is responsible to address when practical.
On April 4, 2022, RS provided a response to concerns noted by DWR regarding stem heights in Plot
3. The response from RS included a Site Index for the site. According to results, RS indicated stem
heights for hardwood species are shorter in and around Plot 3 than what is common on other
mitigation sites in different soil conditions, but that the stem heights for the hardwood species, even
though short, are expected in this area given the Site Index data. Other than natural soil conditions
typical of the rocky slopes present around Plot 3, RS did not acknowledge any other significant
contributors affecting low stem heights or recommend providing supplemental planting or soil
amendments. Lastly, no encroachment within the easement boundaries was observed.
It should be noted, that DWR will be inspecting the site for potential closeout in late 2022 or early
2023, and if site conditions worsen or other factors are observed to be contributing to poor
performance standards of vigor, stem density or stem diversity, RS may be required to implement an
adaptive management plan that may delay closing out the site in Winter 2022/2023.
DWR received a continuation certificate and rider for the performance bond (#22BSBHY3327) in the
amount of $40,000 issued to RS from Hartford Fire Insurance Company, to cover monitoring and
maintenance at the subject site. The term of this bond applies beginning April 8, 2022 and ending
with the approval of the Year 5 Monitoring Report by DWR. Future credit releases will be
dependent on both the renewal of this performance bond and the annual monitoring reports.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NOR1H CAROL Na 919.707.9000

Rocky Top
RS
May 24, 2022
In accordance with the UMBI and BPDP, signed on October 25, 2017 and approved on January 22,
2018 respectively, the following Project Milestones have been met and the corresponding credits
shall be released:
Task/Milestones
8) Monitoring Report #4: Approved by the DWR
Credit
5%
By copy of this correspondence, DWR confirms that you have satisfied the above requirements for
the above -referenced tract. Therefore, 5% of your Jordan Lake riparian buffer Restoration credits
(0.05 x 102,471.10 ft2 = 5,123.555 ft2) and 5% of your Jordan Lake riparian buffer Enhancement
credits (0.05 x 20,431.48 ft2 = 1,021.57 ft2) are now released.
Additionally, 5% of your generated nitrogen offset credits (0.05 x 2,451.80=122.59 lb-N) and 5%
of your generated phosphorus credits (0.05 x 156.75 = 7.84 lb-P) are now released. Generated
credits are credits that have not been applied to the appropriate delivery factor.
The delivery factors applied to this bank due to its location in the 14-digit HUC 03030002050050 are
71% for nitrogen and 67% for phosphorous. Therefore, the total amounts of delivered nutrient offset
credits for this site are 1,740.78 lb-N and 105.02 lb-P. By copy of this correspondence, 5% of your
delivered nitrogen offset credits (0.05 x 1,740.78 lb-N = 87.04 lb-N) and 5% of your delivered
phosphorus credits (0.05 x 105.02 = 5.25 lb-P) are now available for sale.
Please note that only the delivered nutrient offset credits can be sold from this bank and used
for impacts in the Haw River Arm of Jordan Lake within the Cape Fear River Basin.
Additionally, riparian buffer credits can only be used to offset impacts located in the Haw
River Sub Watershed of Jordan Lake according to 15A NCAC 02B .0295, which became
effective on November 1, 2015.
Please feel free to call [phone] if you have any questions regarding this correspondence.
cc:File Copy (Katie Merritt)
Barrett Jenkins RS (via electronic Mail)
Sincerely,
E
Do,•cuuS-igneedd Aby-
lW /1'
A43C72700BD543E...
Katie Merritt
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
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