2022-11-23 SAW 2022-02399_Devils Alley Site Visit _ IRT Cmts

CLEARWATER MITIGATION
S O L U T z O N S
November 23, 2022
MEETING MINUTES
Devils Alley - IRT Site Visit
Corps Action ID: SAW-2022-02399
DWR Project # 20221569
Site Visit Date: 11/15/2022
On November 15, 2022, the USACE, NCDWR, NCDMS, Axiom Environmental, and Clearwater
Mitigation convened on -site, at 1:00pm to review the Devils Alley mitigation site. The Site is
located in Chatham County, 1.8 miles southeast of the Town of Liberty. The property is situated
just northeast of Flynt Road and Albright Road. Below is a list of attendees and general site visit
notes.
Attendees:
USACE
Todd Tugwell
NCDWR
Erin Davis
NCDMS
Lindsay Crocker
NCDMS
Jeremiah Dow
Axiom
Grant Lewis
Clearwater
Kevin Yates
Site Visit Notes:
The overall mitigation concept seemed accepted by the IRT. Comprehensive Site notes include
the following.
1) All headwater tributaries will need flow gauges installed in the upper third of the
channels to monitor consecutive days of flow. This includes UT 1, UT 3, UT 4, and UT
5.
2) Wetland Reestablishment and Wetland Rehabilitation areas will require preconstruction
groundwater monitoring gauges to collect baseline measurements prior to Site
modifications.
3) Wooded reaches of the Site may have understory planting conducted without success
criteria being tied to the mitigation activity. Monitoring of understory planting will be
conducted for information purposes only.
4) Stream Enhancement (level II) will require livestock removal and minor bank
stabilization. Area of wooded reaches (or reaches with a narrow riparian fringe) will
require more significant bank work to justify a 2.5:1 ratio.
5) Wetland Enhancement areas must have some gauges and/or vegetation plots to
monitoring functional uplift.
UT 1
1) A flow gauge has been requested in the upper reaches of UT 1 to track consecutive days
of flow. The gauge should be located near the spring box at the upstream end of the Site.
2) The appropriate approach (wetland re -habilitation vs. wetland enhancement) for the
wetland on the left bank near the confluence with UT 5 will be determined upon issuance
of the jurisdictional determination.
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CLEARWATER MITIGATION
S D L 1U T 1 O N S
3) The crossing at the downstream extent of UT 1 is currently located in an easement break
which would allow livestock to seek shade immediately downstream from the Site. The
IRT would prefer the crossing to be internal and/or the easement to be extended
downstream to the crossing to eliminate livestock access to the stream. Landowner
negotiations will occur to determine if this is feasible.
UT 2
1) UT 2 was determined to not be eligible for stream mitigation credit. This reach was
determined to be a functioning wetland and therefore not suitable for stream restoration.
UT 3
1) The IRT expressed concern that UT 3 was not a jurisdictional stream. This tributary will
be evaluated during a formal JD with the US Army Corps of Engineers to determine its
jurisdictional status. If the stream is determined to be jurisdictional, a stream gauge will
be required to track flow status.
UT 4
1) UT 4 is an incised headwater tributary that will require a flow gauge to be installed in the
upper reaches.
UT 5
1) UT 5 is a headwater tributary that has been cleared on each bank. Enhancement Level II
will occur in this reach and a flow gauge will be installed in the upper reaches.
UT 6
1) The upper reaches of UT 6 have been impounded by an agriculture crossing. Removal of
the crossing and elimination of the impoundment serves as the primary restoration
activity in this upper reach. If the impoundment and/or restoration measures do not
extend upstream to the easement boundary, the portion of the reach which is not
impounded will be changed to Enhancement (Level II).
2) The lower Enhancement (Level II) reach will require bank work (sloping, matting,
stabilization) to warrant a 2.5:1 ratio.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions at 919-624-6901.
Kevin Yates
Clearwater Mitigation Solutions
604 Macon Place
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-624-6901
[e-mail]
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