20190159 Ver 1_Notice of Initial Credit Release_20220818

Hamilton, Ryan
From:Davis, Erin B
Sent:Wednesday, September 7, 2022 1:09 PM
To:Hamilton, Ryan
Subject:FW: \[External\] Notice of Initial Credit Release/ NCDMS Strawberry Hill Mitigation Site/
SAW-2019-00124/ Johnston County
Attachments:Strawberry Hill_100094_NS 01_STR_Initial Release KI.pdf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
Laserfiche Upload: Email & Attachment
DWR#: 20190159 v.1
Doc Date: 8/19/22
Doc Type: Mitigation Evaluation
Doc Name: Same as email subject

From: Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2022 3:36 PM
To: Davis, Erin B <[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>;
Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; [e-mail]; Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>;
Merritt, Katie <[e-mail]>
Cc: Crocker, Lindsay <[e-mail]>; Dow, Jeremiah J <[e-mail]>; Jamey McEachran
<[e-mail]>; Brad Breslow <[e-mail]>; Crumbley, Tyler A CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Fennel, Tommy E CIV USARMY CESAC (USA) <[e-mail]>;
Haywood, Casey M CIV MVP <[e-mail]>; Harmon, Beth <[e-mail]>; Stanfill,
Jim <[e-mail]>
Subject: \[External\] Notice of Initial Credit Release/ NCDMS Strawberry Hill Mitigation Site/ SAW-2019-00124/ Johnston
County

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Good afternoon,

The 15-Day As-Built review for the Strawberry Hill Mitigation Site (SAW-2019-00124) ended August 5, 2022. Per Section
332.8(o)(9) of the 2008 Mitigation Rule, this review followed the streamlined review process. There were no objections
to issuing the initial 30% credit release of 1,115.700 warm stream credits. Please find attached the current signed ledger,
and IRT comments below.

Kim Browning, USACE:
1. Please include a visual observation narrative to supplement the hay bale toe on JH1-A (mainly because this is the
first time we’ve encountered this type of structure). IF this reach is intermittent, what is the long-term stability
of the hay bale? I would think it would need a low-gradient, perennial system to be effective.
2. It looks like there is a lot of pine adjacent to the easement. Please note any thinning efforts in future reports.
3. I’d like to visit this site in MY-2.

Todd Bowers, USEPA:
1

1. Recommend that RES orient the design sheets in the same, or close, cardinal direction of the main project to
maintain some consistency. Many of the sheets are oriented up to180 degrees different (north facing down)
than that of the main project or overview sheets that have north facing up. I have seen this on many other
projects and wanted to bring this to the sponsor’s attention.
2. Stream cross section photos should be dated per DMS recommendation.
3. No changes between design plans and as-built project; no red line items in plan sheets noted.
4. Off-site beaver activity, effects on project, and continued monitoring noted. Photos of culvert at Brogden Road
provided to illustrate this effect were appreciated.
5. It appears that much of the restored stream reaches are choked with algae. Understandably the stream was
constructed in a former agricultural field and the eutrophic effects of excess nutrients may be driving this result.
Please provide explanations in future MY reports if this effect continues. I expect that a maturing riparian buffer
capturing surface runoff and providing shade to the stream should alleviate excessive algal growth.
6. Zero incidence of invasive species and/or encroachment were noted per table in Appendix A . Recommend
adding this result to the narrative.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the report and the work that RES has completed at the site. Having not been able to
visit this location, I really appreciated the detailed ground-level stream photos to illustrate the stream work, veg plots
(with tree stakes) grading and features implemented. I recommend the appropriate credit release (Milestone 2) for
warm stream mitigation units for this monitoring milestone. I have no other substantial comments not requesting a site
visit at this time.

Erin Davis, NCDWR:
1. Compared to the final mitigation plan monitoring figure it appears a few of the fixed veg plots were shifted
closer to the stream. Please make sure to capture the planted outer riparian easement area with the random plots
throughout monitoring.
2. The stream photos showed a significant algae presence which can be indicative of low flow and high nutrient
inputs, something to watch as monitoring kicks off.
3. DWR concurs with DMS regarding ground cover establishment and encourages reseeding this fall where
needed.
4. DWR was glad to see the flow camera added to JH1-A. We also appreciated the inclusion of stream
treatment/structures and crossing photos. We request that the two haybale toe photo locations be included in the MY1
report as well.

Please reach out with any questions.
Thanks,
Kim

Kim (Browning) Isenhour
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers l 919.946.5107

2

River Basin
Cataloging Unit 03020201
Neuse
Date Prepared
Date Project Instituted
Mitigation Project Name
DMS ID 100094
Strawberry Hill Project
DWR Permit
USACE Action ID
1 - For NCDMS, no credits are released during the first milestone (Site Establishment).
2 - For NCDMS projects, the initial credit release milestone occurs when the as-built report (baseline monitoring report) has been approved by the NCIRT
and posted to the NCDMS Portal, provided the following criteria are met:
1) Approval of Final Mitigation Plan;
2) Recordation of the preservation mechanism, as well as a title opinion acceptable to the USACE covering the property;
3) Completion of all physical and biological improvements to the mitigation site pursuant to the mitigation plan;
4) Receipt of necessary DA permit authorization or written DA approval for projects where DA permit issuance is not required.
3 - A 10% reserve of credits is to be held back until the bankful event performance standard has been met.
Signature of Official Approving Credit Release
County Johnston Stream/Wet. Service Area Neuse 03020201
Credit Release Milestone Warm Stream Credits
Project Credits Scheduled
Releases %
Estimated
Scheduled
Release #
Proposed
Released #
Not Approved
# Releases
Approved
Credits
Anticipated
Release
Year
Approved
Release
Date
N/A N/A N/A
2 - Year 0 / As-Built 30.00%1,115.700 1,115.700 0.000 1,115.700 2022 7/16/2022
1 - Site Establishment N/A N/A N/A N/A
2023
4 - Year 2 Monitoring 10.00%371.900 2024
3 - Year 1 Monitoring 10.00%371.900
2025
6 - Year 4 Monitoring 5.00%185.950 2026
5 - Year 3 Monitoring 10.00%371.900
2027
8 - Year 6 Monitoring 5.00%185.950 2028
7 - Year 5 Monitoring 10.00%371.900
2029
Stream Bankfull Standard 10.00%371.900 2026
9 - Year 7 Monitoring 10.00%371.900
Totals 1,115.700
Total Unrealized Credits to Date 0.000
Total Gross Credits 3,719.000
Total Percentage Released 30.00%
Total Released Credits to Date 1,115.700
Notes
Remaining Unreleased Credits 2,603.300
Restoration Type Physical Quantity
Warm Stream Restoration 3,719.000
Contingencies (if any)
Project Quantities
7/16/2022
12/12/2018
2019-0159
2019-00124
Mitigation Type
Strawberry Hill
Neuse 03020201 1 of 2
River Basin
Cataloging Unit 03020201
Neuse
Date Prepared
Date Project Instituted
Mitigation Project Name
DMS ID 100094
Strawberry Hill Project
DWR Permit
USACE Action ID
County Johnston Stream/Wet. Service Area Neuse 03020201
7/16/2022
12/12/2018
2019-0159
2019-00124
Owning Program
Remaining Balance (Released credits)1,115.700
Remaining Balance (Unreleased credits)2,603.300
Total Remaining Balance (Released and Unreleased credits)3,719.000
Converted Credits 0.000
Req. Id TIP #Project Name USACE
Permit #
DWR Permit
#
DCM Permit
#
Beginning Balance (mitigation credits)3,719.000
Released Credits 1,115.700
Unrealized Credits 0.000
Debits
Warm Stream
Restoration
Credits
Strawberry Hill
Neuse 03020201 2 of 2