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Home My WebLink About20220293 Ver 2_2023.04.24 Britt + Hales Notification Letter_20230425ID#* 20220293 Version* 2 Select Reviewer: Katie Merritt Initial Review Completed Date 04/27/2023 Mitigation Project Submittal - 4/25/2023 Is this a Prospectus, Technical Proposal or a New Site?* Yes No Type of Mitigation Project:* Stream Wetlands Buffer Nutrient Offset (Select all that apply) Project Contact Information Contact Name: * Email Address: Michael Beinenson mitigation@ecoterra.com Project Information ID#: * 20220293 Version:* 2 Existing ID# Existing Version Project Type: DMS Mitigation Bank Project Name: Britt & Hales Mitigation Site County: Wayne Document Information Mitigation Document Type:* Mitigation As -Built Plans File Upload: 2023.04.24 Britt + Hales Notification Letter.pdf 17.11 MB Please upload only one PDF of the complete file that needs to be submitted... Signature Print Name:* Kerry Bray Signature: C4 �taJ 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com April 24, 2023 To: Katie Merritt, Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator NC Division of Water Resources 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 From: Michael Beinenson, President Eco Terra, LLC 117 Centrewest Court Cary, NC 27513 Re: Notification & Request for Site Visit MBI Task 2 Site Visit Britt & Hales Nutrient Offset & Riparian Buffer Mitigation Site Neuse River Basin HUC 03020201 (excluding the Falls Watershed) Wayne County, NC NCDWR Project #: 2022-0293 v2 Eco Terra is providing written notification that all nutrient offset and riparian buffer activities have been completed at the Britt & Hales Nutrient Offset & Riparian Buffer Mitigation Site per the requirements of the approved Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI). Eco Terra is requesting a site visit by DWR to complete the requirements of MBI Task 2 for credit release. The Britt & Hales Nutrient Offset & Riparian Buffer Mitigation Site (Parcel) is located near Mount Olive, NC, in the Upper Falling Creek watershed of the Neuse River Basin. The project site is approximately 6.5 miles northwest of the Town of Mount Olive and 1.7 miles south of US Highway 13 on McArthur Pond Road in Wayne County, NC (Figure 1). The Parcel is approximately 24.7 acres (1,076,524 sf) of a 180-acre tract that encompasses a series of forked, interconnected ditches and unnamed tributaries to Falling Creek. The Parcel was restored to provide ecological and water quality enhancements to the Neuse River Basin HUC 03020201, excluding the Falls Watershed (Figure 2) by restoring and preserving riparian buffers and adjacent riparian areas along three unnamed tributaries (UT1, UT2 and UT3) and three ditches (Ditch A1, B1 and B2). The Parcel provides riparian buffer mitigation credits by protecting the riparian area from top of bank to a minimum 30-foot width and maximum 100-foot width along the 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com streams (UT1, UT2 and UT3). Buffer mitigation credits are also generated through preservation of a riparian area adjacent to UT1 for a minimum 30-foot width and maximum 200-ft width. The Parcel provides nutrient offset credits by protecting the riparian area from the 100-foot offset from top of banks along the streams and minimum 50-foot width along the ditches, to a maximum 200-foot width (Figure 7). Tables 1 and 2 provide project attributes and viability information. Table 1: Project Attributes Project Name Britt & Hales Nutrient Offset & Riparian Buffer Mitigation Site Hydrologic Unit Code 03020201 River Basin Neuse Service Area Neuse 03020201, excluding the Falls Watershed Geographic Location (Lat, Long) 35.254653, -78.164589 Site Protection Instrument MB P, PG 82-I Type of Credits Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Total Credits 334,369.784 RBC1 33,149.707 NOC2 BPDP Date April 2023 Initial Planting Date April 2023 Baseline Report Date May 2023 MY1 Report Date December 2023 MY2 Report Date December 2024 MY3 Report Date December 2025 MY4 Report Date December 2026 MY5 Report Date December 2027 1 Riparian Buffer Credit (RBC) 2 Nutrient Offset Credit (NOC) Table 2: Project Features and Viability Feature Name Classification Riparian Buffer Credit Viable Nutrient Offset Viable UT1 (A*) Stream Yes Yes UT2 (B*) Stream Yes Yes UT3 (C*) Stream Yes Yes Ditch A1 Ditch>3’ No Yes Ditch B1 Ditch>3’ No Yes Ditch B2 Ditch>3’ No Yes * Feature Name per NC DWR letters 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com The Parcel was planted between March 30 and April 1, 2023, in accordance with the approved Bank Parcel Development Package (BPDP) and MBI. The entire area proposed for restoration and development of nutrient offset and riparian buffer credits was planted with native tree species and permanent seeding. The land within the Parcel had historically been used for agricultural row crop production, therefore minimal soil disturbance was required to install the plants. Planting activities utilized both mechanical and manual methods. Soil ripping occurred in mechanically planted rows to break up plow pans and compacted soils and where farm paths were planted. Areas immediately adjacent to the top of banks were not ripped to prevent soil erosion and runoff from entering the surface water. A limited number of invasive plants were present and treated with an aquatic-safe herbicide that was applied by a licensed NC pesticide applicator. Bare root trees were well mixed in the bags prior to being planted and installed at a spacing of 6 feet by 10 feet, resulting in a stem density of 720 stems per acre. Table 3 provides a summary of the tree species planted along with their density and composition which matches the proposed planting plan in the approved BPDP. Table 3: Tree Species Planted Scientific Name Common Name Planting Zone* Number + Density Planted % of Total Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam MMF/SSS 1000 (43 stems/acre) 6% Diospyros virginiana Persimmon MMF/SSS 1500 (65 stems/acre) 9% Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash SSS 500 (22 stems/acre) 3% Nyssa biflora Swamp Tupelo SSS 500 (22 stems/acre) 3% Nyssa sylvatica Blackgum MMF 1000 (43 stems/acre) 6% Platanus occidentalis Sycamore MMF/SSS 2000 (86 stems/acre) 12% Quercus lyrata Overcup Oak SSS 1000 (43 stems/acre) 6% Quercus michauxii Swamp Chestnut Oak MMF/SSS 2500 (108 stems/acre) 15% Quercus nigra Water Oak MMF/SSS 1500 (65 stems/acre) 9% Quercus pagoda Cherrybark Oak MMF 1500 (65 stems/acre) 9% Quercus phellos Willow Oak MMF/SSS 2700 (116 stems/acre) 16% Quercus shumardii Shumard Oak MMF 1000 (43 stems/acre) 6% Andropogon gerardi Big bluestem Permanent Seed Mix Panicum virgatum Switchgrass Permanent 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com Seed Mix Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass Permanent Seed Mix *SSS-small stream swamp; MMF-mesic hardwood forest The existing erosion and sink hole noted as areas of concern in the Site Viability for Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset letter dated 6/15/2022 were stabilized with minor bank grading, and temporary and permanent seeding. It was determined that erosion control matting was not necessary which is a deviation from what was proposed for stabilization in the approved BPDP. Bank stabilization was applied to isolated areas along the banks of Ditch B1, UT2 and where the 30-inch RCP culvert was removed and relocated out of the easement. Additionally, the cement, debris and trash noted in the letter was also removed from the riparian preservation area. Following planting, permanent vegetation monitoring plots were established within the restoration areas to document the survival and vigor of planted trees. A total of eighteen (18) plots were positioned within the planted restoration area according to Figure 7 in the approved BPDP. The vegetation plots are marked in the field by PVC pipes installed at each corner of the approximate 10-meter by 10-meter plot. Easement boundaries were marked in the field with 6-foot U-channel posts to ensure clear distinction between the Parcel and adjacent properties. Long-term stewardship signs were attached to the posts and placed at approximate 200-foot intervals along the outer perimeter of the Parcel to identify the conservation easement. There are no changes to the conservation easement boundary nor the amount of Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Credits from what was proposed in the approved BPDP. Photographs were taken within the vegetation plots and at select points to document the conservation easement boundary as depicted in the Monitoring Map (Figure 9). A selection of photographs is attached. Attachments: Photographs Vicinity Map (Figure 1) Credit Service Area Map (Figure 2) Credit Generation and Vegetation Plot Map (Figure 7) Monitoring Map (Figure 9) 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com Veg Plot 1 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 2 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 3 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 4 – 4/3/23 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com Veg Plot 5 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 6 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 7 – 4/3/23 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com Veg Plot 8 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 9 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 11 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 10 – 4/3/23 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com Veg Plot 13 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 14 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 15 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 12 – 4/3/23 117 Centrewest Court, Cary, NC 27513 | EcoTerra.com Veg Plot 16 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 17 – 4/3/23 Veg Plot 18 – 4/3/23 BRITT & HALES NUTRIENT O FFSET &RIPARIAN BUFFER MITIG ATION SITEVICINITY MAP FIG URE1Prepared For:Drawn By: KABDate: 3/2/2023Project No.: ECT22001Scale: Wayne C ounty, N C Legend Conservation Easement UT1 UT2 ± Project Site Wa yn e C ounty 0 0.2 0.40.1 Miles Neuse 03020201, excluding Falls Watershed 1 in = 0.2 miles £¤70 £¤117 §¨¦40 §¨¦95 BRITT & HALES NUTRIENT O FFSET &RIPARIAN BUFFER MITIG ATION SITE CREDIT SERVICE AREA MAP FIG URE2 Prep ared For:Drawn By: KABDate: 3/2/2023Project No.: ECT22001Scale: Wayne C ounty, N C Legend 8-Digit HUC 03020201RBC & NOC Service Area - Neuse 03020201, excluding Falls WatershedConservation Easement UT1 UT2 ± 0 10 205 Miles Neuse 03020201, excluding Falls Watershed 1 in = 10 miles Project Site " " "" " " " "" " " " " " " " " " BRITT & HALES NUTRIENT O FFSET &RIPARIAN BUFFER MITIG ATION SITE CREDIT GENERATION & VEGETATION PLOT MAP FIG URE7 Prep ared For:Drawn By: KABDate: 3/28/2023Project No.: ECT22001Scale: Wayne C ounty, N C ± 0 300 600150 Feet Neuse 03020201, excluding Falls Watershed 1 inch = 300 feet Legend Conservation EasementStreamsDitchesUT1, UT2, UT3 Riparian Restoration for RBC (0-100 ft)UT1, UT2, UT3 Riparian Restoration for NOC (101-200 ft)Ditch A 1, B1 & B2 Riparian Restoration for NOC (0-100 ft)Ditch A 1, B1 & B2 Riparian Restoration for NOC (101-200 ft)Non-Subject UT1 Riparian Preservation for RBC (0-100 ft)Non-Subject UT1 Riparian Preservation for RBC (101-200 ft)Non-credit Area "Vegetation Plot Locations (18) MCARTHUR POND ROAD O B E R R Y R O A D B1 Ditch B2 Ditch A1 Ditch A 1 D i tc h U T 2 UT1 UT3 100' 1 0 0 ' 100' 100' 100' 1 0 0 ' 100' 100' 100' 100' 100' UT2 Stre am O rigin UT1 Stre am O rigin UT3 Stre am Origin 60-degre e Angle to Dedu ctCredit for Non-Diffuse Flow(2 ,19 7 sf) 50' 50' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 9 11 12 1314 15 1617 18 Non-credit Area " " "" " " " "" " " " " " " " " " _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ BRITT & HALES NUTRIENT OFFSET &RIPARIAN BUFFER MITIGATION SITE MONITORING MAP FIG URE9 Prep ared For:Drawn By: KABDate: 4/20/2023Project No.: ECT22001Scale: Wayne C ounty, N C ± 0 300 600150 Feet Neuse 03020201, excluding Falls Watershed 1 inch = 300 feet Legend Conservation EasementStreamsDitchesUT1, UT2, UT3 Riparian Restoration for RBC (0-100 ft)UT1, UT2, UT3 Riparian Restoration for NOC (101-200 ft)Ditch A 1, B1 & B2 Riparian Restoration for NOC (0-100 ft)Ditch A 1, B1 & B2 Riparian Restoration for NOC (101-200 ft)Non-Subject UT1 Riparian P reservation for RBC (0-100 ft)Non-Subject UT1 Riparian P reservation for RBC (101-200 ft)Non-credit Area "Vegetation Plot Locations (18) MCARTHUR POND ROAD O B E R R Y R O A D B1 Ditch B2 Ditch A1 Ditch A 1 D i tc h U T 2 UT1 UT3 UT2 Stre am O rigin UT1 Stre am Origin UT3 Stre am Origin 60-degre e Angle to Dedu ctCredit for Non-Diffuse Flow(2 ,19 7 sf) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 9 11 12 1314 15 1617 18 Non-credit Area _Additional Photo Station Locations (9) «1 «2 «3 «4 «5«6«7 «8 «9