DWR Octabank Site Closeout Notes

From:Merritt, Katie
To:Baker, Caroline D
Subject:FW: \[External\] RS-LLC / CF02 HAW-RIVER SUBWATERSHED – PHASE ONE UMBI / Closeout Site Visit Notes
Date:Wednesday, May 17, 2023 12:16:47 PM
Attachments:SP-DENR-ARC23051711510.pdf
Hey Caroline,
Please file the email thread below along with the attached map as 1 PDF. Titled : “DWR Octabank
Site Closeout Notes”
This would need to be filed in 4 separate folders in LF (project ID#s are included in the email below
next to each Site Name.

Let me know when you need us to finally switch over and get Barbara to do this for us. We really
appreciate you helping us still!

From: Merritt, Katie
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 12:15 PM
To: Ray Holz <[e-mail]>
Cc: Josh Merritt <[e-mail]>; Hartshorn, Blake
<[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: \[External\] RS-LLC / CF02 HAW-RIVER SUBWATERSHED – PHASE ONE UMBI / Closeout
Site Visit Notes

Good Morning Raymond,
Your notes provided below for the 4 Sites we visited for Closeout are accurate based on the
discussions we had in the field. I have provided additional clarity regarding the 4 sites below and
attached two figures for the Benton Branch site. Please see my comments below in RED font.

Thank you,
Katie

From: Ray Holz <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, May 5, 2023 10:06 AM
To: Merritt, Katie <[e-mail]>
Cc: Josh Merritt <[e-mail]>
Subject: \[External\] RS-LLC / CF02 HAW-RIVER SUBWATERSHED – PHASE ONE UMBI / Closeout Site
Visit Notes

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Good morning, Katie –
Please find below site visits notes from this week’s MY5/Closeout visit for RS’ CF 02 Haw-River
Subwatershed UMBI. Please feel free to add to these as you see necessary. Thank you for the time,

and talk soon.
Benton Branch (DWR No. 2014-1149 v9):
In and around Veg Plots 18-20
There were many areas void of stems all-together. Where stems were present along
the riparian restoration areas of Benton Branch, they rarely exceeded two feet and
vigor was low. Two figures are attached to this email showing the areas of vegetation
concern along Benton Branch.
Stems within veg plots 18, 19 and 20 were representative of the areas surrounding the
plots

Katie’s Comments (virtually two methods to proceed with). DWR will proceed with approving
Method 1 only.
Method 1 (Partial credit release)
Task 8: Full release
Task 9: 5% release – Credit release for Task 8 & Task 9 are contingent upon
receiving the Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) for riparian restoration areas
along Benton Branch. Figures showing the AMP areas are attached to this email.
Implement an adaptive management plan for the problematic area.
AMP (Soil sampling, plant one row of 3-gallon deer-resistant/shade-
tolerant trees, possibly use tree tubes if planted height isn’t sufficient to
limit deer browsing, and possible soil amendments depending on soil
samples).
Submit proof of completion (Photo documentation, species, dates, etc.)
Continued monitoring for at least one (1) years - released from monitoring on all
veg data except for the veg plots along “Benton Branch.” These include plots 18,
19 and 20.

DWR will not be able to allow Method 2. Method 2 (Full credit lease once an AMP is
submitted, approved, and implemented)
DWR indicated a full credit release could occur if the problematic veg plots (18-
20) coincide with the IRT’s stream mitigation veg monitoring - they do.
If this is the allowable path forward, RS will implement the AMP outlined
in Method 1 and will add two random vegetation transects in the areas of
vegetation plots 18, 19, and 20 to the yearly stream and wetland
monitoring reports (MY6 and MY7)

Motes (DWR No. 2014-1149 v6):
DWR to issue full credit release without contingencies
No vegetation issues.
RS and DWR reviewed a location historically used to dump old tires along UT2’s right
easement boundary near vegetation plot 7. Though inside the Project’s cattle exclusion
fencing, the pile is outside the conservation easement. RS will add additional t-post, signage,

and pull horse tape along the easement edge in this area.

Orphan (DWR No. 2014-1149 v7):
DWR to issue full credit release without contingencies
No vegetation issues.
RS will remove a limb found on the Project’s fencing located on the left easement edge of
lower UT1.

Rocky Top (DWR No. 2014-1149-V9):
DWR to issue full credit release upon receiving an AMP. The issuance of the credit release will
document the approval by DWR of the proposed AMP. A timeline to implement the AMP
needs to be included in the proposed AMP.
RS to prepare and submit to DWR for review, an AMP committing to plant livestakes within
existing wetland draws and marsh treatment areas where the riparian restoration areas that
are generating riparian buffer credits are void of sufficient stem densities. The AMP will
include species and a map indicating where work will occur. Tentative live stake species
include silky dogwood, black willow, and elderberry. RS will photograph the completed work
and submit an AMP completion memo to DWR and separately to the USACE in the annual
stream mitigation monitoring report.

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Raymond J. Holz | Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes St. Suite 211 | Raleigh, NC 27604
tel: [phone] | cell: 919.604.9314 | fax: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third
parties by an authorized state official.