Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190159 Ver 1_Year 1 Monitoring Report_Buffer_2022_20230215Mitigation Project Information Upload ID#* 20190159 Version* 1 Select Reviewer: * Katie Merritt Initial Review Completed Date 02/15/2023 Mitigation Project Submittal - 2/15/2023 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Is this a Prospectus, Technical Proposal or a New Site? * 0 Yes O No Type of Mitigation Project:* Stream Wetlands Buffer Nutrient Offset (Select all that apply) Project Contact Information Contact Name: * Email Address: * Jeremiah Dow jeremiah.dow@ncdenr.gov Project Information ID#:* 20190159 Existing ID# Project Type: Project Name: County: • DMS Mitigation Bank Strawberry Hill Mitigation Site Johnston Document Information Mitigation Document Type: * Mitigation Monitoring Report File Upload: Signature ............................................ Print Name: * Signature:* Version:* 1 Existing Version StrawberryHill_100094_MY1_Buffer_2022.pdf 12.32MB Please upload only one PDF of the complete file that needs to be submitted... Jeremiah Dow [ /4 05:49 (MYI) FINAL MONITORING REPORT — Riparian Buffer Mitization STRAWBERRY HILL MITIGATION PROJECT Johnston County, North Carolina Neuse River Basin HUC 03020201 NCDMS Project 9100094 (Contract 97745) USACE Action ID: SAW-2019-00124 DWR Project 92019-0159 Provided by: fires Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC for Environmental Banc & Exchange — Neuse I, LLC (EBX-Neuse I) Provided for: NC Department of Environmental Quality Division of Mitigation Services 1652 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1652 February 2023 ,fires February 2, 2023 Jeremiah Dow NC DEQ Division of Mitigation Services 217 West Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27604 3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27612 Corporate Headquarters 6575 W Loop S #300 Bellaire, TX 77401 Main: 713.520.5400 RE: DMS Comments on the MY1 Report Strawberry Hill, Project ID #100094, DMS Contract 7745 Listed below are comments provided by DMS on January 31, 2023 regarding the Strawberry Hill Stream and Riparian Buffer Mitigation Project Year 1 Monitoring Reports and RES' responses. Stream Report Comments: 1. Section 1.5.2 (1st paragraph) seems to have mixed up the flow gauge location and stage recorder location in the discussion. The stage recorder is identified as being on JH1-A and flow gauge on JH1-B when it should be the opposite. Please correct. This has been revised accordingly. 2. Please remove Section 1.5.4 from the stream report since it exclusively deals with the buffer - only section of the project. The section has been removed. 3. Recommend removing Figure 2b from the stream report. Figure 2b was included in the report in order to satisfy a previous DMS Digital File Comment from the MYO report (See excerpt below from the MYO Comment Response Memo): ital File Comments: 1. It is not possible to ensure the easement is accurate when compared to the CCPV in the stream asset baseline report, the CCPV does include the entire easement. The digital easement submitted does represent the DMS recorded easement. A requirement of the CCPV is to include the easement boundary, please revise the CCPV in the Stream Baseline Report to include the entire easement boundary. It is complete in the Buffer Baseline Report. Figure 2 has been divided into Figure 2a and 2b so that monitoring devices are legible on 2a and the entire conservation easement is visible on 2b. Therefore, at this time, RES prefers to include the figure per the previous comment; however, if DMS concludes that the previous comment is erroneous, then RES can remove it in future years' monitoring reports. res.us 4. In Appendix A, please remove any photos from the buffer -only easement from the stream report. The photo pertaining to the buffer -only portion of the easement has been removed from Appendix A. 5. On Flow Gauge JH1-A hydrograph, recommend adding number of days of flow after the date range, i.e., 2/16/2022 - 4/4/2022 (47 days). Number of days have been added to the hydrograph accordingly. Buffer Report Comments: 6. Please update Section 1.3 with the correct riparian buffer restoration credits as reported in the MYO report. The restoration credits should be 642,070.977 and total credits should be 650,162.286. RES apologizes for the mistake. A previous version of Table 1 was accidentally copied -and -pasted into this report. The final report has been revised to include the accurate credits and correct version of Table 1 (also refer to comment #8 below). 7. Please remove Section 1.5. We would only expect a discussion of as -built condition in the MYO Baseline report. The Section has been deleted. Note that previous Section 1.6 is now Section 1.5. 8. Replace/update Table 1 in Appendix A so the correct credits are displayed As mentioned in the above response to comment #6 above, the correct table has been included in Appendix A of the final report. 9. The veg plot field sheets located after Table 7 do not need to be included in the report The field sheets have been removed from Appendix B. 2 Table of Contents 1 Project Summary.................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Location and Description.............................................................................................. I 1.2 Monitoring Protocol and Project Success Criteria....................................................................1 1.3 Project Components.................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Riparian Mitigation Approach................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Monitoring Performance (MY 1)............................................................................................... 3 2 Reference................................................................................................................................................4 Annendix A: Background Tables and Site Mans Figure 1: Site Location Map Figure 2: Current Conditions Plan View Map Table 1: Buffer Project Areas and Assets Table 2: Summary: Goals, Performance and Results Table 3: Project Attributes Table 4: Project Timeline and Contacts Appendix B: Vegetation Assessment Data Table 5: Plant Species Summary Table 6: Vegetation Plot Mitigation Success Summary Table Table 7: Stem Count Total and Planted by Plot Species Appendix C: Photos Vegetation Monitoring Plot Photos General Site Photos i 1 Proiect Summary 1.1 Project Location and Description The Strawberry Hill Project is within the Neuse River Basin within the 8-digit HUC 03020201, 14-digit HUC 03020201140010 and DWR Sub -basin Number 03-04-02. The Strawberry Hill Project is located in Johnston County in Smithfield, NC at the crossroads of Yelverton Grove Road and Brogden Road (Figure 1). To access the Project from Raleigh, take I-40 East to US-70 East. Then take US-70 BUS West until taking a right onto South 31d Street in downtown Smithfield. Then take a left onto Brogden Road. Follow Brogden Road for 2.9 miles and the downstream extent of reach JH1-B will be on your left. The coordinates are 35.469579 °N and-78.323896 'W. Environmental Banc & Exchange — Neuse I, LLC (EBX-Neuse I), a wholly -owned subsidiary of Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), is pleased to provide this Year 1 Monitoring Report as a component of the Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project (Project), a full -delivery stream and buffer mitigation project for the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) (DMS # 100094). This buffer component of the Project is designed to provide riparian buffer mitigation credits for unavoidable impacts due to development within the Neuse River Basin, United States Geological Survey (USGS) 8-digit Cataloguing Unit 03020201 (Neuse 01) (Figure 1). This Buffer Project provides mitigation in accordance with the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295 and Nutrient Offset Credit Trading Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0703. The Strawberry Hill Project also entails a stream mitigation component, generating stream mitigation credits through stream restoration. Conditions pertaining to the stream mitigation component of this Project will be provided in a separate baseline monitoring report. The conservation easement of the Strawberry Hill Project totals 22.12 acres and includes two unnamed tributaries and three ditches that drain into Polecat Branch and eventually the Neuse River. Previous land use within the Project was primarily crop production and disturbed riparian forest. The Project area was used extensively for agricultural and forestry purposes for over 80 years. Land use adjacent to and surrounding the Project is either crop production or forest regeneration. Water quality stressors affecting the Project include pollution from crop production and lack of forested riparian buffer. Previous buffer conditions demonstrated significant degradation with the loss of stabilizing vegetation because of continued crop production and recent clear cut of adjacent riparian forest. The goal of the buffer component of the Project is to restore and preserve ecological function to the existing streams and their associated riparian buffer areas by establishing appropriate plant communities while minimizing temporal and land disturbing impacts. Buffer and surrounding riparian area improvements will filter runoff from agricultural fields, thereby reducing nutrient and sediment loads to Project channels and provide water quality benefit to the overall watershed. Project attributes are summarized in Table 1. 1.2 Monitoring Protocol and Project Success Criteria Annual vegetation monitoring and visual assessments are being conducted. Riparian vegetation monitoring is based on the "Carolina Vegetation Survey -Ecosystem Enhancement Program Protocol for Recording Vegetation: Level 2 Plot Sampling Only Version 42". Monitoring plots were installed a minimum of 100 meters squared in size and cover at least two percent of the planted mitigation area. These plots were randomly placed throughout the planted riparian buffer mitigation area (15.13 acres) and are representative of the riparian restoration conditions. The following data is recorded for all trees in the plots: species, height, planting date (or volunteer), and grid location. All stems in plots are flagged with flagging tape. Data is processed using the CVS data entry tool. In the field, the four corners of each plot were permanently marked with PVC at the origin and metal conduit at the other corners. Photos of each plot are to be taken from the origin each monitoring year. There are 13 fixed vegetation monitoring plots (Figure 2). Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project 1 MY I Monitoring Report — Riparian Buffer Project 9100094 February 2023 Photos are being taken at all vegetation plot origins each monitoring year and be provided in the annual reports. Visual inspections and photos are taken to ensure that areas are being maintained and compliant. The measures of vegetative success for the Project are the survival of at least four native hardwood tree species, where no one species is greater than 50 percent of stems, at a density of at least 260 stems per acre at the end of Year 5. Native volunteer species may be included to meet the performance standards as determined by NC Division of Water Resources (DWR). A visual assessment of the conservation easement is also performed each year to confirm: • Easement boundary markers/signage are in good condition throughout the site; • No encroachment has occurred; • No invasive species in areas were invasive species were treated, • Diffuse flow is being maintained in the conservation easement areas; and • There has not been any cutting, clearing, filling, grading, or similar activities that would negatively affect the functioning of the buffer. Component/ Monitoring Maintenance through project close-out Feature Vegetation Annual Vegetation shall be maintained to ensure the health and vigor of the targeted plant vegetation community. Routine vegetation maintenance and repair activities may include monitoring supplemental planting, pruning, mulching, and fertilizing. Exotic invasive plant species shall be treated by mechanical and/or chemical methods. Any vegetation requiring herbicide application will be performed in accordance with NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA) rules and regulations. Vegetation maintenance activities will be documented and reported in annual monitoring reports. Vegetation maintenance will continue through the monitoring period. Invasive and Nuisance Visual Invasive and noxious species will be monitored and treated so that none become Vegetation Assessment dominant or alter the desired community structure of the Project. Locations of invasive and nuisance vegetation will be mapped. Project Boundary Visual Project boundaries shall be identified in the field to ensure clear distinction between the Assessment mitigation project and adjacent properties. Boundaries are marked with signs identifying the property as a mitigation project and will include the name of the long-term steward and a contact number. Boundaries may be identified by fence, marker, bollard, post, tree - blazing, or other means as allowed by Project conditions and/or conservation easement. Boundary markers disturbed, damaged, or destroyed will be repaired and/or replaced on an as -needed basis. Easement monitoring and staking/ signage maintenance will continue in perpetuity as a stewardship activity. Road Crossing Visual Road crossings within the Project may be maintained only as allowed by conservation Assessment easement or existing easement, deed restrictions, rights of way, or corridor agreements. Crossings in easement breaks are the responsibility of the landowner to maintain. 1.3 Project Components This Project generates 642,070.977 riparian buffer restoration credits on pre-existing non -forested land, and 8,091.309 buffer preservation credits. The total area of riparian preservation is less than 25 percent of the total area of riparian buffer mitigation in accordance with 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (o)(5). The total riparian buffer mitigation credits that the Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project generate are summarized below, but the detailed Project credit breakdown, including buffer credits that are convertible to nutrient offset credit, utilizing the DWR "Project Credit Table Template (Updated February 2022)," is provided in Table 1; Appendix A. Mitigation Totals Area Square Feet Credits Restoration 652,991 642,070.977 Preservation 81.431 8.091.309 Total Riparian Buffer 734,422 650,162.286 Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project 2 MY 1 Monitoring Report — Riparian Buffer Project 9100094 February 2023 1.4 Riparian Mitigation Approach The buffer mitigation is in accordance with the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295 and Nutrient Offset Credit Trading Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0703. In addition to traditional riparian restoration, the Project also incorporates the alternative buffer mitigation options: Preservation of Buffers on Subject Streams, as outlined in 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (o) (5), and Restoration and Enhancement of Ditches, as outlined in 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (o) (8). Riparian restoration along the Project streams and ditches is accomplished through the planting, establishment, and protection of a hardwood forest community. Restoration activities included planting a composition of native bare -root tree species along streams and ditches based on reference data. The result will be a riparian area that functions to mitigate nutrient and sediment inputs from the surrounding uplands. Preservation occurs in some areas along Reach JH1-A and JH1-B. Some of these preservation areas were associated with stream restoration under the stream mitigation component of the Project; therefore, some of the areas were cleared during construction of the new stream corridor. However, these impacted areas were planted under the same criteria as restoration areas. 1.5 Monitoring Performance (MYI) Year 1 monitoring of 13 fixed vegetation plots was completed on November 16t1', 2022. Vegetation tables are in Appendix B and associated photos are in Appendix C. MY monitoring data indicates that all plots are exceeding the success criteria of 260 planted stems per acre. Planted stem densities ranged from 324 to 809 planted stems per acre with a mean of 563 planted stems per acre across all plots. A total of 12 species were documented within the plots. One volunteer species (Sambucus canadensis, or common elderberry) was noted in one of the vegetation plots, while more volunteers are expected to establish in upcoming years. The average tree height observed was 1.5 feet. Visual assessment of vegetation outside of the monitoring plots indicates that the herbaceous vegetation is becoming well established throughout the project and no invasive species were observed. Easement boundary markers and signs are clearly visible and in good condition. However, there was some encroachment observed. RES identified some encroachment associated with ditches JH2 and JH3 along Stevens Sausage Road. One encroachment involves a path being actively driven parallel to ditch JH2 and is impeding vegetation growth. RES will be installing additional t-post markers along with horse tape to provide a physical barrier to prevent future encroachment here and will also be replanting the driving path footprint with containerized trees to ensure adequate tree density and vigor. The other encroachment involves two easement corners, on JH2 and JH3, that are being driven through by farm equipment as the farmer is attempting to access the adjacent cropland. RES is actively resolving the issue with the landowner and farmer and will also be coordinating the relocation of a roadside ditch crossing that will enable the farm equipment to access the fields at another location, away from the easement. All activities and resulting outcomes will be communicated in the next (MY2) monitoring report. Locations of encroachment areas are depicted in Appendix A, Figure 2 and some photos of encroachment and other general site photos are in Appendix C. Additionally, there is no undocumented concentrated flow in the easement area. Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project 3 MY 1 Monitoring Report — Riparian Buffer Project 9100094 February 2023 2 Reference Lee Michael T., Peet Robert K., Roberts Steven D., and Wentworth Thomas R., 2008. CVS-EEP Protocol for Recording Vegetation Level. Version 4.2 NC Environmental Management Commission. 2014. Rule 15A NCAC 02B.0295 - Mitigation Program Requirements for the Protection and Maintenance of Riparian Buffers. NC Environmental Management Commission. 2020. Rule 15A NCAC 02B.0714 — Neuse River Basin: Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy: Protection and Maintenance of Existing Riparian Buffers. Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC (2020). Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project — Final Mitigation Plan — Appendix A — Final Buffer Mitigation Plan. Schafale, M.P. 2012. Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina, Fourth Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, NCDENR, Raleigh, NC. Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project 4 MY 1 Monitoring Report — Riparian Buffer Project 9100094 February 2023 Appendix A Proj ect Background Tables and Site Maps A 100 �a se 0 QGreen Chapel Missionary o " Baptist Church Brpy n z— Qom Stevens Sausage Co., Inc , 0 t m d CeseY tid MONO. 2-- 111111110 Durham 0 0 apel Hill Raleigh o Br A ogyM Rd a Cnrnmul KD's Carts19 zsoe Project Coordintates: 35.469579,-78.323896 ®CI Wilso Le Strawberry HillLT Proposed Easement Mitigation Project CO^ Neuse River Basin - 03020201 (Excluding Falls Lake Watershed) ►'l Fayetteville " Figure 1 - Site Location Date: 3/24/2022 w - e Strawberry Hill Drawn by: MDD res S Mitigation Project Checked by: JRM 0 500 1.000 Feet Johnston County, North Carolina 1 inch = 1,000 feet 0 •0 C C m p 0 0 V Y z o To o U N N N m O N 0 C U O O O N N LL d M. o N C O R O O O O LL C N L d d din d d p K O1 Q a K K K O K K ON Z¢¢ vt Q > ■ cc 0 0 ■ ■ ■ E • w I a• � l ` 0 4 0 c m E e c E Q E g `o $ v E, o G F a Z V o a � � ¢ a sanadg anIsenuI !� n - ` c; 11; u _0 \ 737a0 z ``| 2- , .2WE.2 �)§@§JR kK) Table 2: Summarv: Goals. Performance and Results Goal Objective/Treatment Likely Functional U lift performance Criteria Measurement Cumulative Monitoring Results Survival of at least Reduction in floodplain four native hardwood Established and increased forested riparian sediment inputs from tree species, where no Restore and preserve native floodplain and buffers to 50 feet and greater along both sides of runoff, increased bank one species is greater streambank vegetation. the channel along the project reaches with a stability, increased LWD than 50 percent of 13 fixed vegetation plots 13/13 passed - MY1 hardwood riparian plant community; and organic material in stems, at a density of streams, at least 260 stems per increased acre at the end of Year 5. Table 3. Project Attributes Project Name Strawberry Hill Mitigation Project County Johnston Project Area (acres) 22.12 Project Coordinates (latitude and longitude) 35.469579,-78.323896 Planted Acreage (Acres of Woody Stems Planted) 19.73 Project Watershed Summary Information Physiographic Province 65m - Rolling Coastal Plain River Basin Neuse USGS Hydrologic Unit 8-digit 03020201 USGS Hydrologic Unit 14-digit 03020201140010 DWR Sub -basin 03-04-02 Project Drainage Area (Acres and Square Miles) 383 ac 0.60 mil Project Drainage Area Percentage of Impervious Area 2% CGIA Land Use Classification Bottomland Forest, Cultivated, Evergreen Shrubland, Southern Yellow Pine, Unconsolidated Sediment Table 4. Proiect Timeline and Contacts Activity or Deliverable Data Collection Complete Task Completion or Deliverable Submission Project Institute NA Dec-20 Mitigation Plan Approve NA Nov-20 Construction (Grading) Completed NA 20-Jan-22 Planting Completed NA 07-Mar-22 As -built Survey Completed NA May-22 MY-0 Baseline Report Mar-22 Ma -22 Encroachment Areas noted in Nov-22. Hunting driving path continued use and farm equipment cutting corners.RES is actively resolving. MY1+ Monitoring Reports Nov-22 Jan-23 Remediation Items (e.g. beaver removal, supplements, repairs etc.) Strawberry Hill #100094 Provider RES / 3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27612 Mitigation Provider POC Jamey Mceachran (919) 623-9889 Designer RES / 3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27612 Primary project design POC Ben Carroll, PE (336) 514-0927 Construction Contractor RES / 3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 7612 [acy Construction contractor POC Kirkpatrick Appendix B Vegetation Assessment Data Appendix B. Vegetation Assessment Data Table 5. Strawberry Hill Riparian Buffer Planted Species Summary Common Name Species % Zone 1 % Zone 2 Total Planted Amount River birch Betula ni ra 10 10 1,600 Buttonbush Ce halanthus occidentalis 5 5 800 Yellow poplar Liriodendron tuli i era 10 10 1,600 Wax Myrtle Morella ceri era 5 10 1,000 Swamp tupelo N ssa bi ora 5 5 800 Americansycamore Platanus occidentalis 10 10 1,600 Laurel oak Quercus lauri olia 5 10 1,000 Overcup oak Quercus l rata 10 10 1,600 Swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii 10 10 1,600 Water oak Quercus ni ra 10 10 1,600 Willow oak Quercus phellos 10 10 1,600 Bald cypress Taxodium distichum 10 L 0 1,000 TOTAL 15,800 Table 6. Strawberry Hill Riparian Buffer Vegetation Plot Mitigation Success Summary Plot # Planted Stems/Acre Volunteer Stems/Acre Total Stems/Acre Success Criteria Met? Average Planted Stem Height 1 607 0 607 Yes 1.3 2 567 81 647 Yes 1.7 3 607 0 607 Yes 1.4 4 647 0 647 Yes 1.5 5 809 0 809 Yes 1.3 6 567 0 567 Yes 1.4 7 526 0 526 Yes 1.3 8 445 0 445 Yes 1.2 9 728 0 728 Yes 1.6 10 647 0 647 Yes 1.6 11 324 0 324 Yes 1.5 12 486 0 486 Yes 1.6 13 364 0 364 Yes 2.0 Project Avg 563 6 570 Yes 1.5 $ ' r �a o = I T o o e a o o r � ~ d o o c~ a g o r p a o ~ $ r a N N a ' a N i � a N o ~ a g o r � N � N m i ° o N O C � S a N 8 r l0 N ri C l0 I� a o ~ e � a u o o r M i o O o ~ c a ro m o �o o r � 0 ~ 0 a � or `O o `O o i o 0 ~ 0 a � g o r � ' C I7 r O77a c a 77 n o ~ n O n $ r o i � o ^ o 0 ~ 0 a � m E a< y a a am£ o o m o a Z o o `m o u a `o a E a E n E = 3 �_ E o¢- o o 2- o r 0 E a o 3 Y Z 3 o a .3 a- a a £ Z ° ° E ` a_o o a`o - o- m 2 u - E oo - - E - Q m u o o N z a U� U� U� U� E 'o n ro c �o N o c o N w m n ro c �o N o c o O y i � O g in w m n ro c �o N o c o� as y i M O N N C d o m � o n a 0 n � p N C a g cc o n o e r o m y o m E a< y a a o o o Z tj o m _ £_ = = o a r ¢ Y o o = � a o o 2' o a y a T n E u 2 E u° � .�. o ¢-° 0 3 3 3 a 0 Z a o - o o - m uw n o o 'a^ z a `a `a U� U% `a `a U� U� a U� ,n o Appendix C Photos i i 1-2 i OM- i Vegetation Plot 13 (11/16/2022) Strawberry Hill General Site Buffer Photos (MY1) Vegetation along JH1-A (11/16/2022) JH1-A looking upstream (11/16/2022) Vegetation along JH1-B (11/16/2022) JH1-B looking downstream (11/16/2022) E N