WEI MCF Daniels Creek MY 2 Comment Memo

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
CESAW-RG/Isenhour
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
February 1, 2023
SUBJECT: Action ID # SAW-2017-00998, NCIRT Review Comments on the Wildlands
Middle Cape Fear Umbrella Mitigation Bank, Daniels Creek Year 2 Monitoring Report
Kim Isenhour USACE:
1. Six vegetation plots did not meet stem density, mostly due to Bermudagrass
competition. On future projects, it's advised to treat the pasture grasses prior to
planting. Section 2.2 states that species composition, density and locations will
be approved by the IRT prior to implementation. If the re -plant area is below the
20% threshold for an adaptive management plan, and you are using approved
species from the final mitigation plan, it's not necessary to coordinate with the
I RT.
a. Please plan to put random veg plots in the supplemental planted areas.
b. Do you plan to add additional live stakes to the banks?
2. Did the Murdannia have any effect on stem survival? It appears that only veg
plots 6 and 19 did not meet success criteria and were in treated areas.
a. When you treated Murdannia in the channels, was streambank stability
affected? The photos look like the banks are stable, but it's unclear if
these were taken prior to treatment. I'm curious if treatment efforts on this
site were different than those used at Bug Headwaters for Murdannia.
3. The intent of a modified growing season is to establish a growing season based
on soil temperature and vegetative indicators, both in the beginning and end of
the growing season, and to use those established dates for all seven years of
monitoring. You should continue to use March 1 — November 20 as your growing
season for the remainder of monitoring.
4. Six out of 18 groundwater gauges did not meet success. Gauges 10 and 17 are
potentially a concern since the stream channels were not raised in these areas.
Below average rainfall contributed to decreased wetland hydrology this year, but
let's keep an eye on gauges 1, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 17 since they have not met
success criteria either year.
Ki m berly T. Digitally signed by Kimberly
T.Isenhour
Isenhour Date: 2023.02.01 13:53:32
05'00'
Kim Isenhour
Mitigation Project Manager
Regulatory Division