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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRipshinBranchCloseoutReport_20170701Tate Farm Stream and Wetland Restoration Project Ashe County, NC DMS Project No. 372 USACE Action 1D# SAW-2007-1244-305 DWR 401 # - deemed issued April 2007 Design -Bid -Build Project CLOSEOUT REPORT: STREAM AND WETLAND Project Setting & Classifications Meeting Coordinates: 36.573978° N, 81.612512° W County Ashe General Location �1 mile south of the Virginia state line & 3 miles east of the Tennessee state line Basin New Physiographic Region Blue Ridge Ecoregion Southern Crystalline Ridges and Mountains USGS Hydro Unit 05050001010050 NCDWQ Sub -basin 05-07-02 Wetland Classification Ri arian Thermal Regime Cold Trout Water Yes Project Performers Source Agency NCDMS Provider NCDMS Designer: Ecologic Associates Monitoring Finn Axiom Environmental Approved for Transfer to Stewardship Yes Stewards NCDEQ Stewardship Program Project Activities and Timeline Milestone Month -Year Project Instituted May 2004 Restoration Plan March 2007 Permitted June 2007 Final Design —Construction Plans September 2009 Enhancement reach buffer planting May 2011 Construction Complete August 2011 Construction Area Planting December 2011 Year 1 Monitoring October 20t2 Year 2 Monitoring August 2013 Year 3 Monitoring July 2014 Year 4 Monitoring July 2015 Year 5 Monitoring August 2016 Close Out Submission July 2017 Note — Monitoring Year Dates reflect mo/yr of data completion Page 1 of 33 Watershed Plannin¢ Summary The Tate Farm (Ripshin Branch) restoration project is located within 14UC 05050001010050, the Big Horse Creek & Little Horse Creek watershed, which is listed as a Targeted Local Watershed (TLW) in the 2009 New River Basin Restoration Priorities (RBRP) plan. The Tate Farm restoration project is currently the only DMS project in this TLW. The project's main stem reach is on Ripshin Branch, a tributary to Big Horse Creek. Ripshin Branch is classified as a Class C Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) by the NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR). The ORW designation is intended to protect unique and special waters having excellent water quality and being of exceptional state or national ecological or recreational significance. Class C waters are protected for uses such as secondary recreation, fishing, wildlife, fish consumption, aquatic life including propagation, survival and maintenance of biological integrity, and agriculture. The 2009 RBRP indicates that the Big Horse Creek & Little Horse Creek watershed contains other High Quality Waters (HQWs) in addition to ORWs, a large portion of which are Trout streams (Tr). The watershed also includes eight Natural Heritage Element Occurrences (NHEOs), which represent Natural Heritage Program (NHP) - documented locations of rare and endangered species and/or unique natural communities. Land cover in the watershed is predominantly forested (81%), with 15% agricultural land cover and several animal operations. Nearly 30% of the riparian buffers in the watershed are degraded (non -forested). The major stressor to the Big Horse Creek & Little Horse Creek watershed is habitat degradation. The 2009 New River RBRP recommends stream, wetland, and buffer restoration and enhancement projects, as well as headwaters preservation projects, to protect instream and riparian habitat. It also recommends the implementation of agricultural and urban Best Management Practices (BMPs) to maintain and enhance water quality and protect habitat. The goals of the Tate Farm project are consistent with DMS watershed planning goals. The project improves stream water quality and habitat by excluding livestock, establishing stable channel geomorphology, and restoring riparian buffer. The restored channel maintains sediment transport and experiences reduced bank scour, both of which improve benthic habitat. Riparian buffers stabilize the stream channel, intercept sediment and nutrient inputs, provide terrestrial habitat, and enhance benthic habitat by introducing woody debris to the channel. Proieet Setting and Background Summary Prior to Site implementation, the Site streams were impaired as the result of poor land management, livestock intrusion, upstream disturbances, and human impacts. Most of the farm, excluding the project areas and DMS's conservation easement, are under a farm easement in perpetuity with the Blue Ridge Conservancy. The DMS project area conservation easement, combined with the Blue Ridge Conservancy's farm easement, provide a unique tandem approach to site wide protection of streams and wetlands from future development. The NCWRC designates this area of Ashe County, including Ripshin Branch, as home to native brook trout. The receiving waters of Big Horse Creek just downstream are also a hatchery -supported, public access fishery. The surrounding area to the project is characterized by mountains with steep forested slopes, with small inclusions of farm and pastureland in the floodplains. Mapped county rock types (sedimentary and metamorphic) include Metafelsite (symbol Zmf), a lightcolored, porphyritic extrusive rock and Metagraywacke interlayered with metaconglomerate, laminated metasiltstone, and slate (symbol Zml), with minor inclusions of calcareous metasandstone, greenstone, and metarhyolite. The soils observed in the proposed wetland restoration areas are typically inclusions of Iotla, which is a somewhat poorly drained soil, or Toxaway, which is a poorly drained or very poorly drained soil, Depths to a cobble layer were somewhat shallow for these series. Toxaway soils are typical of wetlands in the area. Iotla soils are not hydric, but have very good potential for wetland creation, and in some cases may be present in wetlands in this area. The extent of these soils was confirmed in the field and used as the basis of restoration strategies. Along both the Unnamed Tributary and Ripshin Branch there are wetlands located in the floodplains adjacent to the streams. In all cases, these wetlands have been impacted by livestock, agriculture, ditching, draining and filling. There are at least two areas along the Unnamed Tributary and three locations along Ripshin Branch that have been delineated according to the 1987 USACE Wetland Manual. These areas were flagged and mapped using a mapping grade GPS unit. On February 21, 2007, Amanda Jones of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers visited the site and confirmed the wetland identifications and boundaries established by DMS. Stream visual assessments indicate that the stream is functioning as designed. Over the course of the project, cross-section 8 on the Unnamed Tributary exhibited some thalweg movement. This Page 2 of 33 was documented in the annual cross-section data as well as photographs. Prior to year 1 (2012) a gravel bar formed in the riffle at cross-section 8. Several high energy flow events during years 2 (2013) and 3 (2014) pushed much of this gravel downstream. This resulted in the thalweg migrating to the left bank of the stream and becoming slightly scoured at cross-section 8. The sediment was transported downstream and deposited in pools, which is captured in the cross- section 7 data. Though slight changes were observed in the cross -sectional area and thalweg position of these cross -sections, the channel movement is natural and does not indicate instability. Bankfall width remains within 10 percent of the design value. In addition, 11 bankfull events were documented throughout the course of the monitoring period with at least one event occurring in four separate monitoring years. While baseline as built conditions were surveyed as part of the construction contract, a baseline report was not performed for this project. Because the designer was not scoped for a baseline report, and refused to accept additional services associated with MYO-MY5, the onset of monitoring was delayed and the monitoring contract timeline was started concurrent with MY1 data collection. Page 3 of 33 Goals and Obiccti%es (from 2007 Restoration Plan) GOALS • Improve stream water quality and ecological function by excluding livestock, restoring pool and riffle sequences, and restoring tree canopy and instream large woody debris. • Enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitat in the stream corridor and adjacent wetlands. • Enhance and/or restore the ecological function of riparian wetlands. • Restore the riparian corridor (forested buffer) for watershed and wildlife benefits. • Enhance habitat for native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and improve fishery potential. • Increase biodiversity of the stream ecology, riparian buffers, and wetlands. OBJECTIVES • Improve channel geomorphology toward reference conditions by providing watershed scaled and Rosgen- typed channel dimension, adding floodplain benches where floodplain access is not feasible, restoring sinuous pattern to straightened reaches where possible, and adjusting profile as needed to restore or maintain sediment transport equilibrium. • Restore stream -side flood prone area where appropriate (increase floodwater access to the floodplain). • Reduce sediment and nutrient loading by reshaping and stabilizing banks, reducing bank scour, excluding livestock, and restoring riparian buffers. • Enhance or restore wetland hydrology and vegetation in former pastures and filled wetlands. Success Criteria (from 2007 Restoration Plan l Success Criterion Measured Criteria Met Parameter Streams • Channel morphology retains the design stream type over the majority of the reach. Yes —Site streams are • Coarsening of riffle bed material in newly constructed reaches. 8 permanent stable and have maintained • Pool/riffle spacing should remain fairly constant. cross -sections (6 design measurements • Maintenance of bankfull width at riffles within 10 percent of riffle and 2 pool); pebble counts throughout monitoring period. Minimal the design. • Maintenance of bank height ratios at 1:1. (cross -sections 4 aggradation/degradation • Bank stability over 90 percent ofaltered channel reaches. 2 monitoring mtoring have occurred. Riffle bed material has coarsened or • Dimension and profile stability over 90 percent of altered reaches; and 17 remained close to channel reaches. permanent photo design/as-built values • No significant channel aggradation or degradation. points throughout the monitoring • Minimal development of instream bars. period. • Biological populations (invertebrate and fish) remain constant or increase and species composition indicates a positive trend. Vegetation Planted stem densities • Minimum of260 stems/acre in year 5 were just 2 stems shy of success criteria in year 5 • Planted vegetation stabilizing at 20 years with distinct canopy, 18 vegetation with an average of 258 subcanopy, and shrub layers. plots measured planted stems/acre • Establishment of herbaceous cover over 75 percent of the soil using the CVS (excluding livestakes), surface in restored wetlands and riparian areas. Level H protocol however when including • Plant biodiversity dominated by native species, with minimal natural recruits, Site stem ecological impact from invasive species. density is 411 stema(acre. Onsite rain gauge Yes — Success criteria were Hydrology and photo met throughout the monitoring period with a • Documentation of two bankfull channel events documentation of total of 11 documented bankfull events bankfull events. Wetland Hydrology Yes — Site groundwater • Hydrologic monitoring indicates groundwater within 12 inches gauge data indicate of the ground surface for 10 percent of the growing season 6 groundwater groundwater within 12 • Increasing wetland vegetation gauges and onsite inches of the ground • Development of hydric soils rain gauge surface for 10 percent of • Fulfill US Army Corps of Engineers (U5ACE) criteria for each growing season in jurisdictional wetlands wetland credit area. Level spreaders were not implemented at designers Stable and discretion; outlet protection effective over along the main stem at the Stormwater Management Devices (Level Spreaders) 80% of their downgradient end of cumulative length culverts below Ripshin Road were implemented, however, and are showing success. Page 4 of 33 d m m m a +* a a a n 2r n n 3 o >> 9 ro a A u N A W W W W N N W N F+ N W F+ DD w 3 n m N n n n 9' yTy++ .r s a � -�• C C f° z z a n � a n 5L v Q c mw��6' 9 3 5 m w io ro' m iu ro N m ro e af0i m m on m S S � d = N I I I • I .mm \ p pOp W 1-+ r O CD IOD O N } N + 1+ F+ } O A + N } N O S +A l�l1 S O 3 N K W A Y+ N 0o N V �+ F+ �l N W 0000 7 O W A ,W W pi pN V 00 O 00 Im 00 N O tin t0n0 O O pd0 w Fm+ \ A d z m M m > > > > v Q a d fD w �° osi � m f° m M m m z m 2 m 2 m I m m m o o 3 m m o m o m o m o m S o n N C N 0 0 d N T m m �. N A F+ O N W t0 W N O1 O A r r N VI N r S o1 N A W r N N N � O O 71 9 p A W N 0~0 T J 00 O 00 CT l0 � 00 A O VI L. 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CURRENT CONDITIONS PLAN VIEW KRJ FIGURE A- En—m —I Date: 2,a5nnw Avenue TATE FARM (AREA 2)Riiielgt,A D (91%21, _1095 3 DMS PROJECT NUMBER 372 Dec. zols LJ 19�9I 215-1693 Ashe County, North Carolina Project: Axiom Environmental, Inc. 12-004.13 0 CT 0 T~ N m rn �Dz c �m0 ' D z rn �nmp Z --IK -AzDO c m�� W W Z N < m AHom EnNnMmBMB� 216 9na. AVBnu6 RN•iyn, NC276N (919)215-1693 Axiom Envlronmentel, fnc. CURRENT CONDITIONS PLAN VIEW TATE FARM (AREA 4) DMS PROJECT NUMBER 372 Ashe County, North Carolina own by KRJ FIGURE Date. Dec. 2016 2 F Project. 12-004.13 L) 1 1 1 i ato � CL w8MMEMi Sdaa e m p a? D z o= R ro w as co Ripshin Branch, XS -1, Rime 62 61 _ 1 60 0 59 58 57 56 0 10 20 30 40 Station (teen �.l1YDl le N,12 -uro2 aeluu �b1Yd]OS,le,l� -M1'DI �-31,10 MYL59,I:IE Ripshis Branch, XS - 2, Pool 67 - b6 - _ 63 - 64 a 63 m G2 • 61 - 1 60 0 LO 20 30 40 Station (feet/ Ripshin Branch, XS - 3, RUM 70 ________________________ _ ____________ _________________- 68 --eNdJl i 66 lalo-lz .mac, -aera2vawu 64 -MM05,1e,N -MY.D#Q?115 -vrmml,le 62 0 10 20 30 40 Station (ftep Ripshin Branch, XS - 4, Rime 82 80 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---'D.M ---- - wala9l�at -an'Dr vs Is,u 76 -ura a.zals ANDS 9,1,10 74 0 10 20 30 40 Stmtan (feet) Page 13 of 33 Rlpshin Branch, XS - 5, Riffle 86 c 84 ------------------------- -----.ry,p PrtrcA® s�—asral zolau { 62 � M•az aauns —M•a5mw19 —arras 9anls my" 04 11 Bo 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Slarion (/eeq Unnamed Tributary, XS - 6, Riffle 82 ----------------------------------------------------------------- r ---•aNEa 0 80 --------------- ------------------------------ -- ---•Fam ]mepAm, �Nr-01 ]O�Iau -arc-02 awIFi3 �`aY-0SMIYN �afY-099:]'IS -NY-059�140 'B 0 10 20 30 Station peer) Unnamed Trlbutary, XS - 7. Pool SS ----------- ---------------- ----- -. ----e amu 66 ----Fmer—Al.. _ —MM wnw _TI-Z —M'42061a11 —a[YO10Y15.19 �a[ras9az�s —a[Ya59'116 84 0 10 _0 Starion (feet) Unnamed Tributary, XS - 8, Riffle 98 96 3• c --- -tlo,er— Aw Page 14 of 33 E E N E a E x ox S S E x E 5 8 F B L � � `8 S s i � E p NN M t Y p 4 w� g k { 8 } i € `e F F r 8 8 8 S T I j E€ ' R } g �� m iiin mn HIM 11111111' iiiii IN 1111111110 II IINI III12 11111 1119� �IB9�10, III IIIII II ��BI 1IIII 1911191110 III Ilfll 19911 �91101m�� III IIIII �III� N�11111' III IIIII Iltl �1191 �919111 III 11910 N��911�� III Iltl 11019 1111111110 �90�1 WI�B991� III Ilrl II IINI III�I 1991111�� IIIII 1@9@I�II� III IIRI 11iii =iii1iia10 IN iini 1 111 INN III11 1111181110 III IIIII III1I 191191191 i iiin imun IIII iiiii IIIIIII1111111110 III 1111111110 I� II III III I I I�II1111111110 1i216 I1@191:@1 11�19 I�@�I@I@ INI@ 1991911�i III III III III ICY III1I 19180111� 1�� I�� 11� IIIII 1911911110 BI��� 11169��1� II��I 1@I�61=�� E ' iwnnin nan���u 101�BI@BN IIIIIIIII� IIIIIIIII� 119911991� III�BI�1@I II��11��11 91�9111�@� 91�9111091 �901i1o@I 09918910@I 91011010@ 1121111011 1111111011 1111111111111 Verification of Bankfull Events - Tate Farm Date of Data Date of Photo (if Method Collection Occurrence available Approximately 3.9 inches of rain documented* at a nearby rain station over June 7, 2013 January 17, 2013 a four day period from Jana 14-17, 2013. Wrack and sediment observe on top of banks after approximately 4.2 inches April 28, 2013 January 3Q 2013 1-3 of rain was documented" at a nearby rain station on January 30, 2013. Approximately 4.34 inches of rain documented over three days at the onsite June 12, 2013 May 7, 2013 rain gauge. --- Wrack observed in the floodplain after approximately 5.92 inches of rain June l2, 2013 May 24, 2013 4 was documented over eight days at the onsite rain gauge, Approximately 4.13 inches of rain documented over two days at the onsite August 13, 2013 July 4, 20] 3 rain gauge. --- Wrack and laid back vegetation observed in the flood plain after August 13, 2013 August 1 Q 2013 5 approximately 3.52 inches of rain was documented at the onsite rain gauge. September 2-8, Wrack observed in floodplain after rainfall totaling 4.37 inches documented October 7, 2014 6 2014 at the onsite rain gauge. Wrack and laid-back vegetation observed on the floodplain after April 26, 2015 April 19, 2015 approximately 2.32 inches of rain documented at an onsite rain guage on 7-8 4119/15 with an additional 3.21 inches documented the preceding 2 weeks. Approximately 4.21 inches of rain documented over two days at the onsite November 5, 2015 July 14, 2015 rain gauge. Approximately 6.38 inches of rain documented over a ten day period at the November 5, 2015 October 3, 2015 --- onsite min gauge. Approximately 2.57 inches ofrain documented in one day after 3,59 inches August 31, 2016 August 8, 2016 of rain was documented over the previous five days at the onsite rain gauge. 'Jefferson Weather Station (Weathemndergmund 2014) Page 19 of 33 Wetland Hvdrolot-v Data — Tate Farm Success Criteria Achieved/Max Consecutive Days During Growing Season Gauge (Percentage) Year 1 (2012)* Year 2 (2013) Year 3 (2014) Year 4 (2015) Year 5 (2016) I Yes/130 Days Yes/34 Days Yes/22 Days Yes/26 Days 81% 21% 14% 16% 2 Yes/160 Days Yes/160 Days Yes/160 Days Yes/160 Days 100% 100% 100% 100% 3 Yes/160 Days Yes/160 Days Yes/160 Days Yes/160 Days 100% 100% 100% 1009% 4 Yes/152 Days No/14 Days** Yes/46 Days Yes/61 Days 95% 8% 29% 38% 5 Yes/160 Days Yes/47 Days Yes/43 Days Yes/60 Days 100% 29% 27% 38% 6 Yes/160 Days Yes/46 Days Yes/114 Days Yes/80 Days 100% 29% 71% 50% * Groundwater Gauges were installed in October 2012; therefore, groundwater monitoring was initiated during the Year 2 (2013) monitoring year. **Gauge 4 malfunctioned at beginning of 2014 growing season resulting in loss of data. A battery failure at the beginning of the growing season resulted in a loss of data. The gauge was replaced and is currently functioning properly, but during a subsequent visit additional data was lost due to a failed Meazura PDA. Based on hydrology of the additional gauges, in addition to abundant precipitation, it is likely that Gauge 4 would have met success for year 3 (2014). Note - Success indicated at 10% per 2007 Restoration Plan. 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H CL N N W W N m 3 a � o N N A N Co 3 y O H Ln A W b oa N W DMS Recommendation and Conclusion DMS recommends that the Tate Farm Site be closed out as proposed to generate 9885.7 Stream Mitigation Units and 4.534 Riparian Wetland Mitigation Units. The vegetation survey results indicated an average site density of 258 planted stems per acre (excluding livestakes) surviving in year five, which is just 2 stems short of the 260 stems per acre success criteria. However, when including naturally recruited species such as river birch (Betula nigra), yellow birch (Betula lenta), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), Site stem densities are 411 stems per acre. Supplemental random survey transects performed in April 2017 indicate high stem densities. One small area of floodplain scour was observed on the downstream portion of Ripshin Branch. However, vegetation, both woody and herbaceous, has been steadily reestablishing in this area, and it appears to be stable. Additionally, little to no invasive species were observed. Groundwater gauge data indicate that wetland hydrology with 10% hydroperiod has been easily achieved throughout wetland restoration and enhancement areas. Wetland areas currently fulfill the USACE requirements for jurisdictional wetlands, and an increase of wetland vegetation was observed. Contingencies None, Page 24 of 33 Pre -Construction Photos Page 23 of 30 Post Construction Photos — Preservation, May 2014 Page 24 of 30 Post Construction Photos - August 2016 Page 25 of 30 Post Construction Photos - August 2016 wpm -ac)� r :.i. ''A + Page 26 of 30 Appendix A: Property Ownership Information & Verification of Protection Mechanism The site protection instrument for this mitigation project includes the following document(s), available at the specified County Register of Deeds office, and is linked to the property portfolio at: http://ncdenr.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs- public/Mitijzation%20Services/Document%20Management%20Librarv/Property/Prope rtv`Yo20Portfolio/372 TateFarm P D 2008.pd# roject Name untyl Grantor Name W ➢tii 11 InN0 , . Tate Farm JAshe JLarry Dale Miller and wife, Karen Miller IDB399,P2311 lConservation Easement ate Farm JAshe Michael N. Tate and wife, Virginia B. Tate DB 390, P 1612 IConservation Easements Long-term stewardship of this property is managed by the NC DEQ Stewardship Program. APPENDIX B: Permits and Jurisdictional Determination U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILMINGTON DISTRICT Action ID. SAW-2007-1244-305 County: Ashe USGS Quad: Park GENERAL, PERMIT (REGIONAL. AND NATIONWIDE) VERIFICATION Property Owner / Authorized Agent: NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program, Attn: Salam Murtada Address: 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1619 Telephone No,: 919-715-1972 Size and location of property (water body, road name/number, town, etc.): 40-acre site adjacent to Ripshin Creek off SR 1361 (Ripshin Road) northwest of Lansing. Description of projects area and activity: Restoration of 35201inear feet, enhancement of 13,000 linear feet and preservation of 10,550 linear feet of perennial stream channel through the restoration/enhancement of natural channel dimension, pattern and profile. Restoration of 4 acres, enhancement of 7.35 acres and preservation of 0.25 acres of wetland. Activities include construction of floodplain benches, restoration of floodprone area, stabilizing stream banks, excluding livestock, excavating a new channel, filling old channel and planting native vegetation. The proposed project will impact approximately 2450 linear feet of existing channel. SPECIAL CONDITION: The permittee will implement, in full, the Ripsbin Branch Stream and Wetland Restoration Plan of March 9, 2007. Applicable Law: X Section 404 (Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1344) ❑ Section 10 (Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 USC 403) Authorization: Regional General Permit Number: Nationwide Permit Number: 27 Your work is authorizcd by the above referenced permit provided it is accomplished in strict accordance with the attached permit conditions and your submitted plans. Any violation of the attached conditions or deviation from your submitted plans may subject the permittee to a stop work order, a restoration order and/or appropriate legal action. This verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below unless the nationwide authorization is modified, suspended or revoked. If, prior to the expiration date identified below, the nationwide permit authorization is reissued and/or modified, this verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below, provided it complies with all requirements of the modified nationwide permit If the nationwide permit authorization expires or is suspended, revoked, or is modified, such that the activity would no longer comply with the terms and conditions of the nationwide permit, activities which have commended (i.e., are under construction) or are under contract to continence in reliance upon the nationwide permit, will remain authorized provided the activity is completed within twelve months of the date of the nationwide permit's expiration, modification or revocation, unless discretionary authority has been exercised on a case -by -case basis to modify, suspend or revoke the authorization. Activities subject to Section 404 (as indicated above) may also require an individual Section 401 Water Quality Certification. You should contact the NC Division of Water Quality (telephone (919) 733-1786) to determine Section 401 requirements. For activities occurring within the twenty coastal counties subject to regulation under the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), prior to beginning work you must contact the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, This Department of the Army verification does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to obtain any other required Federal, State or local approvals/permits. Ifthere are any questions regarding this verification, any of the conditions of the Permit, or the Corps of Engineers regulatory program, please contact Steven Lund at telephone 828-271-7980 x 223. Corps Regulatory Official: Steven Lund ',:Sv -�-- Date: 6/29/2007 Expiration Date of Verification: 6/29/2009 Page 1 of 2 RECEIVED AJ L 5 - 2007 NC ECOSYSTEM EHHRPk1!-h: -AtT PROGRAM Determination of Jurisdiction: Based on preliminary information, there appear to be waters of the US including wetlands within the above described project area. This preliminary determination is not an appealable action under the Regulatory Program Administrative Appeal Process ( Reference 33 CFR part 331). There are Navigable Waters of the United States within the above described project area subject to the permit requirements of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination may be relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. X There are waters of the US and/or wetlands within the above described project area subject to the permit requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)(33 USC § 1344). Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations, this determination may be relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification. The jurisdictional areas within the above described project area have been identified under a previous action. Basis of Jurisdictional Determination: Ripshin Branch is a perennial tributary to Big Horse Creek which is tributary to North Fork New River, a navigable water. Wetlands in the project area are abutting Ripshin Branch. Corps Regulatory Official: Steven Lund ,::& W 4- Date: 6/29/2007 SURVEY PLATS, FIELD SKETCH, WETLAND DELMATION FORMS, PROJECT PLANS, ETC., MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE FILE COPY OF THIS FORM, IF REQUIRED OR AVAILABLE. Copy Furnished: Mr. Mark A. Taylor EcoLogic Associates, PC 4321-A S. Elm -Eugene Street Greensboro, NC 27406 Page 2 of 2 m m a m m m n 3 n 0 55 o m-I>> m tD � m O omi obi eno ene n No A� m m m 3 o f �0000 c 00 (a }a ,m n 0 n (Qp .e. N V V V O W [O 7 rp N A V W D7 W Ol U O .e ; y al n ♦n O O � ry �1 N O V N N N V N N III y O O_ N O N 6 OO�Wap V N_ i^r V O OO J m UO OJ OVf Or ( On ��Wpp UD A(� O Z O J' —I c O= O 3 3 () J J < G rp (� O 9r cn 0 v N 0 m 0 o o � 6? 0 al N (D �. QIn o p m0 -i 0 a�i -� n a M_ o m m (�"p Z Z N O N O N to. -0D 3 O N 5 fN.) Z N W m O V o w 013. O N R w N j Z Op O _ in 0 O ±0 i. oo N A � 0 ee O N p W f O N ro r N A e rUp er V Ba p -nc ' b O O) N IV O O V W U W Y ,O Dhearn A w OWa o O .r"i V W (AT O t ro 0 Enhanceni 0 rn N m N � W ca � beam eW.r W O U O O O � A O u O eOp �reaervdtlen O iparian O a o 0 0 0 0 0 o N N Restoration W O pp A A O 0�1 N 001 O N A Co Riparian Creation Riparian ^� Co UD A Enhance m N pOI A O W m N W NOi U A O Nonriparian Restoration Nonriparian Creation Nonriparian Enhancement Nonripar Preservation Coastal Marsh Restoration Coastal Marsh Creation Coastal Marsh Enhancement OAd;y E- ZKr:o ;0noo lo°,d cc:a m= o A G m aq z z o z co 3 3 m m a a p' 3 �'- - O 6 b6 o m a c N a n m o O m yr bbW Nb � �j N mmm �i rn O V N O m N m N 5 rl W W > > a N m N J Stream EnhancmentlV 0 o o O <p O'& Q� O o mo 0 6r N Shaem Enhencemeltt o a o Stream Presery U' 0 o gog o 0 0 pep Riparian Rasta, q oW Rlparten Creati O Rlparlan Enhanceme W ro A o U W Rlparlan P N -.,Ip.-an RB —ftn Nonrlparlan Creation W Nanrlparlen Enhencamenl N Nonrlparlan Preservation U Coastal Marsh Rastoratlon Coastal Marsh Creation C0851a1 Marsh Enhanoamarn N Coastal Marsh Preservation Appendix D. Additional Data Tate Farm 2017 Vegetation Transects Transect i Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 Transect 6 Dimensions(ft) 20x50 10x100 20x50 25x40 30x33 20x50 Trib to UT1 Upper end of Bottom of Ripshin Br. UTl North W. side Trib to UT1 Area 3 Farm Area 3 inside Floodplain S Description side above E. side below Road trib (S. easement side near plot crossing crossing side) fence 4 Stems 9 2 9 25 10 9 Acres 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.023 0.023 Stems/Acre 392 87 392 1089 436 392 Note :<2ft. not counted Page 29 of 29 TABLE 1 PLANTING PLAN SUMMARY TABLE TATE FARM CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION RIPARIAN BUFFER ENHANCEMENT PLAN N ne ID Area ac S i fl Ste P in Sim Top of bank 8 1.9 10 435 a27 Liner 3116, Dry floodplain C 3.3 10 435 1436 Urw Vie, Wet flood lain D 1.8 1 10 435 7b3 Liner 3He' Wetland enhancement E 1.5 1 10 435 Linef 3116" Min % Compostlon by Stratum, any on"geqjm = 20% Max % Co don by Stratum. any one specles - 40% PlantIn Stratum B C D E CanopySubcan n Na Seiantfie Name Northern Red Oak Quercus rubrum varrubrum x x camore Mm) ,Platanus oaidenralis x x x x Wh[te Oak Mtn 4uescus alba x ' x Blade Walnut Jugians nkpa x x Blade Locust Robinia seuJo "0A x x White Pine Anus wbus x x Canada Hemlock TsWa canadensis x x Red Maple Aw rubrum x x x Whke Basswood Tillie heterophylla x x Sveel Birch BetulaWits x x x x Yellow Birch Betufa aRgharvensis x x River Birch Beftda n' x x x SilveMell Mtn Hekrsia carafirsaa x x x Cucumber Tree Aftgwft ecumvwte x x x Yellow Buckeye Aesculus octarxka x I x Bidemut HIckory CaWa cordlormis x x Mokemut Hickory Cage tomentoss x x Green Ash Proxi ua PLn-yhranica x x x x Wild Plum Prunus amancana x x W tchtwel Hamamelis vw9k-was x x Sounvood Oxydendronarboreum x x Black cherry Proms serchna x x x W. 3aurel KaRnia latlfblla x x Drooping Laucolhoe Lmwttw axftds x x x Dentate VlbWWM IRbumum dentatum x x Serviceberry Ametanctwrarborm x s _ x Sveetshrub Cabocanthusfibndus x x Summarsweet I CleMra athoWta x x Spiosbush L 9we benzan x x x Sweet Azalea Rhododendron earlescons x x Flame Azalea jRftvbd0ndrDn elacndulaceum x x Swamp Azalea "Rhododendron vi WWM x x x Smooth Azalea !Rhododendron arborescerm x x American Holly flex oyaca x ! x x x Chokebe Aroma arbutifolfa x l x x x Blueberry Vaocinium sp. x x Tag alder Alnusaerulata x x x ironwood Cwpkms caralinlana x x x Silky dWwood Comus amomum x x x S1ve Rose Rosa lustds x x vvmer be !lox ven*7lwe x x Hazelnut Colyka americans x x With -rod vibumwncas3ko)des x x 11 r3w EcoLogic COLOR CODE PLANT LIST FOR TATE PROJECT Sycamore (Mtn) Orange/Black River Birch Pink Silverbell (Mtn) Orange/Yellow /00 Green Ash Green / O Witchhazel Green/White y Sourwood Red/Orange qc Black Cherry Black/White 57 Mt. Laurel Orange/White /s Serviceberry Red/White` Spicebush Yellow Ge I Blueberry Blue Ironwood Blue/Orange Silky Dogwood Red/Yellow Hazelnut Orange Persimmon Red Black Gum Pink/Black _5" 7 Carolina Hemlock White ;,00 Pawpaw Yellow/Black %Oo Rhododendron Red/Blue 3S�0 Silky Willow Blue/Yellow Yellow Birch Green/Yellow ~f S Elderberry Pink/Yellow 300 Buttonbush Green/Pink Ninebark Blue/Pink -~ NNI, -in -10 1. -in CD All PREPARED Im McoLoolc ci & V) NORTH CAROLINA TATE FARM A R 0 ECOSYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM RIPARIAN BUFFER ENHANCEMENT z W 14 PLAN