20061905 Ver 1_Year 7 Monitoring Report_20150414

Mason Property Wetland Mitigation Project
Hyde County, NC
2014 Supplemental Monitoring Report — Post Closeout
Year 7
NCEEP Project Number D06001
Tar - Pamlico River Basin CU: 03020105
Submitted to
NCDENR/Ecosystem Enhancement Program
2728 Capital Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604
Date: December, 2014
Monitoring:
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
P. O. Box 176
Fairfield, NC 27826
Ecasystern

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................ ............................... 1
I. Project Background .............................................. ............................... 2
1.0 Project Objectives ................................ ............................... 2
2.0 Project Structure, Restoration Type and Approach ......................... 2
3.0 Location and Setting ............................. ............................... 3
4.0 Project History and Background ................ ............................... 5
II. Project Condition and Monitoring Results ................... ............................... 7
1.0 Vegetation Assessment .......................... ............................... 7
List of Tables
Table E -S 1. Project Success Summary ........................... ..............................1
Table I. Project Restoration Components ......................... ..............................3
Table II. Project Activity and Reporting History ................. ..............................5
List of Figures
Figure 1. Composite Vicinity Map ................................ ............................... 4
Figure 2. Monitoring Plan View: Gauges and Vegetation Plots ............................. 7
Appendices
Appendix A. Vegetation Data and Site Photos
ii

Executive Summary
The Mason Property Wetland Mitigation Site went to closeout in the spring of 2013. Hydrology
was more than adequate but tree survival was suffering due to the damage done by Hurricane
Irene in 2011. As a result, the Interagency Review Team agreed with Albemarle Restorations
recommendation that the site be replanted and monitored for an additional three years for
vegetation success. The IRT suggested that one hydrology monitoring gauge be maintained for
reference. Portions of the project area were disked to facilitate planting in September of 2013
and in November of 2014 the project area was replanted to varying densities as needed to bring
stocking levels up.
The Mason Project is a riverine and non - riverine wetland restoration project located on U. S. Rt.
264 at Rose Bay in Hyde County, North Carolina. It was constructed by Albemarle Restorations,
LLC, under contract with EEP to provide compensatory wetland mitigation credits in the Tar -
Pamlico River Basin. Construction activities, in accordance with the approved restoration plan,
began March 14, 2007, and were completed on May 14, 2007. The resulting features include a
main swamp run and adjacent areas of lower elevation that retain flood water for extended
periods.
Four vegetative monitoring plots are installed and permanently monumented. Due to the disking
activities, the plots had to be re- installed but they are all at or very near their original locations
which ensure an accurate sampling of the entire vegetative community. Each plot is a I Om X
10m square, as recommended by the CVS -EEP Protocol for recording vegetation sampling. In
this sixth year of monitoring, all four plots met the Year 5 success criterion of 260 living planted
stems per acre.
Table ES -1 shows the levels of success attained by each of the vegetation plots since monitoring
began. Success criterion for the vegetation plots is 260 live stems per acre (the year 5 criterion
for survival). Average stocking for the entire project at the end of 2014 was 392 stems per acre.
A hydrology gauge was left on site but malfunctioned sometime during the monitoring season
and its data had not been recovered as of the submission of this report. As can be seen from the
photos at the end of this report, hydrology as not changed and the site continues to be very wet.
Table ES 1.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report
Stems per acre for
these years:
Plot
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1
364
445
454
412
0
412
371
2
324
445
371
330
206
495
454
3
243
405
495
495
41
412
412
4
40
405
1 371
1 330
1 82
1 330
330
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report

I. Proiect Background
1.0 Proiect Obiectives
The goal of the Mason Property Mitigation Project was to create both riverine and non - riverine
wetland systems that will accomplish several goals. Primary among those goals is the
establishment of functioning wetlands that will aid in flood attenuation and improve water
quality on site and downstream. The project is to serve as compensation for wetland loss in the
Tar - Pamlico River Basin. The restoration plan was developed and implemented to eliminate
pattern drainage and restore topography and hydrology that more closely resembled that of
similar undisturbed land. Construction resulted in the development of a broad, frequently
flooded swamp run following the historical path as evidenced by aerial photographs and
signature topography. Subsequent planting was designed to restore a wetland forest ecosystem
that is typically found in the immediate area characteristic of similar soils, topography and
hydrology.
The specific project goals and objectives include:
1) Provide floodflow attenuation.
2) Water quality improvement through sediment, toxicant, and nutrient retention and
reduction.
3) Slow over bank flow rates and provide storage and desynchronization of flood waters.
4) Alleviate downstream flooding issues by lessening the effect of pulse or flashy flows.
5) Provide shading through forest cover to reduce algae growth and associated low
dissolved oxygen levels in surface water moving through the site.
6) The production and export of food sources.
7) The creation of wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
2.0 Proiect Structure, Restoration Type, and Approach
Table I lists the estimated wetland acreage by community type to be restored on the Mason
Property. The mitigation plan provides for the restoration of 16.0 acres of riverine wetlands and
20.0 acres of non - riverine wetlands. The 36.0 acre easement area is located within the
boundaries of the larger Mason farm which has been used for row crop production. The project
area was bisected by a deep drainage ditch that acted as a stream that ran from north to south
through the property. Degradation to the channel and surrounding areas by past agricultural
activities, including channel straightening and planting of row crops up to the channel edges had
eliminated any significant natural habitat on the site and allowed excessive nutrient and sediment
accumulation in the channel. Construction, in accordance with the approved restoration plan,
began in March of 2007 and was completed in May of 2007. The resulting features and
topography allow for frequent over bank flooding of the newly created swamp run, which in turn
allows for adjacent areas that are lower in elevation to retain water even after stream flow returns
to normal.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report 2

Table I. Project Restoration Components
Mason Prop rty Wetland Mitigation Site /EEP #D06001
Post
Community
Pre - Existing
Construction
Credit Ratio
Mitigation
Type
Acreage
Acreage
(Restoration WMU)
Units
Riverine
Wetland
0.0
16.0
1:1
16.0
Non - Riverine
0.0
20.0
1:1
20.0
Wetland
Total
36.0
3.0 Location and Setting
The Mason Property Mitigation Site is located in Hyde County, on the north side of U.S.
Highway 264, approximately 1 mile northwest of Rose Bay, NC (intersection of Turnpike Rd.
and U.S. 264). The easement area is situated in the center of the Mason property and lies along
the mid and upper reaches of an unnamed tributary to Rose Bay, referred to locally as the
"Mason Ditch." Downstream from this site, the tributary flows almost exclusively through
wooded areas containing extensive wetland communities before joining the main run of Rose
Bay Creek. The surrounding area is primarily forest and agricultural land with residential
properties as a minor component.
Figure 1 is a location map for the project area. Directions to the site are as follows: travel west
from Rose Bay on U.S. Hwy. 264 approximately 1 mile and turn right (north) onto the property.
Access to the site is via a farm path.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report 3

Figure 1. Composite Vicinity Map
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Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report 4

4.0 Proiect History and Background
Table II provides the history of data collection and actual completion of various milestones of
the Mason Property Wetland Mitigation Site.
Table IL Project Activity and Reporting History
Mason Property Wetland Miti ation Pro'ectlEEP #D06001
Activity or Report
Data Collection
Complete
Actual Completion
or Deliver
Restoration Plan
June 2006
November 2006
Final Design -90%
June 2006
November 2006
Construction
N/A
May 2007
Temporary S & E mix applied to entire project area
N/A
May 2007
Permanent seed mix applied to entire project area
N/A
May 2007
Containerized and Bare Root Planting
N/A
May 2007
Mitigation Plan/As -built (Year 1 monitoring - baseline)
Oct. 07 /Sept. 08
December 2008
Year 2 monitoring
September 2009
January 2010
Year 3 monitoring
September 2010
December 2010
Year 4 monitoring
September 2011
September 2011
Year 5 monitoring
September 2012
December 2012
Year 6 monitoring (post closeout)
November 2013
November 2013
Year 7 monitoring (post closeout)
December 2014
December 2014
Figure 2 provides a plan view of the site showing the location of the four vegetation monitoring
plots and the location of the rain gauge and single hydrologic gauge.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report

Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report

II. Proiect Condition and Monitoring Results
1.0 Vegetation Assessment
The vegetation success criterion was developed in accordance with the CVS -EEP protocol. The
Mason project was planned to include various topographies and a contiguous plant community
consistent with those found naturally occurring along swamp runs and associated broad
hardwood flats. The original species mix was based on the vegetation noted at the reference site.
At the end of the 2012 growing season only Plot 4 had a significant number of live stems.
Mortality in 2012 across the site was due to salt water intrusion caused by high tides during
Hurricane Irene.
In September of 2013 portions of the site were disked to reduce the heavy cattail cover and
facilitate planting. In November of 2013 6,000 containerized bald cypress (T. distichum) were
planted. Bald cypress was chosen as it has proven to be the best suited species for the site given
the frequency and duration of high water and the possibility of future salt water intrusion. The
disking prior to replant appears to have enhanced the survival of the replant material. On
average, the trees range in height from four to five feet and stocking levels across the site are still
very good at an average 392 stems per acre at the end of 2014.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report 7

Appendix A
Vegetation Data Tables
Site Photos
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report

Table 1. Project Summary
Report Prepared By
Ashby Brown
Date Prepared
12/08/14
DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHEETS
Metadata
Description of database file, the report worksheets, and a summary of project(s) and project data.
Vigor by Spp
Frequency distribution of vigor classes listed by species.
Damage by Spp
Damage values tallied by type for each species.
Damage by Plot
Damage values tallied by type for each plot.
ALL Stems by Plot and spp
A matrix of the count of total living stems of each species (planted and natural volunteers combined) for
each plot; dead and missing stems are excluded.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Project Code
D06001
Project Name
Mason Riverine
Description
Mason Riverine wetland project in Hyde county, NC
River Basin
Tar- Pamlico
Sampled Plots
4
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report

Table 2. Vigor by Species
Table 3. Damage by Species
Species
CommonName
4
3
2
1
0
Missin
Unknown
TOT:
Taxodium distichum
bald cypress
28
10
15
9.5
D06001 -ABET- 0004- year:6
12
10
TOT:
I 1
1
28
1 10
1
9
12
10
Table 3. Damage by Species
Table 4. Damage by Plot
Species
CommonName
Count of Damage Categories
(no damage)
D06001 -ABET- 0001- year:6
Taxodium distichum
bald cypress
0
50
TOT:
1
1
0
50
Table 4. Damage by Plot
Table 5. Stem Count by Plot and Species
Plot
Plot
Count of Damage Categories
(no damage)
Total Stems
D06001 -ABET- 0001- year:6
0
10
2
D06001 -ABET- 0002- year:6
0
15
Taxodium distichum
D06001 -ABET- 0003- year:6
0
15
9.5
D06001 -ABET- 0004- year:6
0
10
TOT:
4
0
50
Table 5. Stem Count by Plot and Species
Plot
Species
CommonName
Total Stems
#
plots
avg#
stems
1
2
3
4
Taxodium distichum
bald cypress
38
4
9.5
9
11
10
8
TOT:
1
1
38
1
9
11
10
8
Average per Acre
1 371
1 454
LjILJ
330
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report 10

Cypress are still doing well
Cypress stems
Another photo of cypress growth.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project —Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report

These two photos taken in December 2014, show that the hydrology has not been altered by the
site prep and has not changed over time. The site is still extremely wet and standing water
throughout the year is still common. Top photo is on the west side of the project. Bottom photo
is of the swamp run at the outfall.
Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report 12

Albemarle Restorations, LLC
Mason Wetland Project — Hyde County, NC
2014 — Year 7 Post Closeout Supplemental Report