MudLickCreek_IRT_AdaptiveManagementRequestMemo_2022

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
MARC RECKTENWALD
Director
DATE: October 25, 2022
TO: IRT Members
FROM: DMS, Jeremiah Dow
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
MEMORANDUM
RE: Mud Lick Creek Project
Request for IRT Approval of Adaptive Management Plan for Supplemental Planting
Mud Lick Creek is a design -bid -build stream project that was instituted on 2/13/2013. Wildlands
Engineering, Inc. prepared the mitigation plan in 2015 and Axiom Environmental, Inc. was contracted to
perform project monitoring. In 2021 DMS contracted Michael Baker Engineering, Inc. (Baker) to manage
invasive and nuisance vegetation. Baker will also provide the supplemental planting services. The
project is currently in monitoring year 5. In MY4, four veg plots — 1, 6, 10, & 11— out of 12 plots did not
meet success criteria
On 6/4/2021, the IRT and DMS conducted a credit release site visit where areas of low density and/or
low vigor were identified. No additional management activities were prescribed at that time and the IRT
recommended continued monitoring of problematic areas with an understanding that supplemental
planting may be necessary. Baker was contracted to manage fescue in low vigor areas and thin sweet
gum on the eastern side of the project to reduce competition with existing planted stems. On August
30, 2022 DMS personnel visited the site to assess the invasive and nuisance vegetation management
efforts and low stem density/vigor areas. During that site visit it was determined that supplemental
planting would be necessary, and targeted planting areas were mapped with GPS.
Due to competition with dense herbaceous vegetation and sweet gum, and evidence of widespread
deer browse, it was decided that the site should be supplementally planted with 1 gallon and 3 gallon
containerized trees. Proposed planting list is attached. All listed species are from the approved
Mitigation Plan.
2.04 acres are proposed for supplemental planting out of 9.6 total acres planted which accounts for 21%
of the total planted area.
D E WA-1 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Mitigation Services
217 West Jones Street 1 1652 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
NORTH CAROLINA
oepam emmEnmronm�lQuslfty /� 919.707.8976

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
MARC RECKTENWALD
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
Supplemental planting will include the following:
Size
Species
Quantity
3 Gall.
Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green Ash)
50
3 Gall.
Platanus occidentalis (Sycamore)
50
3 Gall.
Populus deltoides (E. Cottonwood)
50
3 Gall.
Betula nigra (River Birch)
50
3 Gall.
Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry)
50
1 Gall.
Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)
50
1 Gall.
Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel)
50
1 Gall.
Diospyros virginiana (Persimmon)
50
3 Gall.
Quercus michauxii (Swamp Chestnut Oak)
50
3 Gall.
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Poplar)
50
D E Q � North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Mitigation Services
217 West Jones Street 1 1652 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
NORTH CAROLINA
oepam emmEnmronm�lQusi� 919.707.8976