Bowsers_Branch_PostCon_IRT_site_visit_02212023_notes.pdf

Meeting Date: February 21, 2023

Memo Date: March 1, 2023

Attendees: Emily Dunnigan, NC Division of Mitigation Services
Jeremiah Dow, NC Division of Mitigation Services
Mac Haupt, NC Division of Water Resources
Blake Hartshorn, NC Division of Water Resources
Travis Wilson, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Todd Tugwell, US Army Corps of Engineers
Erin Davis, US Army Corps of Engineers
Kirsten Ullman, KCI Technologies, Inc.
Adam Spiller, KCI Technologies, Inc.
Adrian McInnis, KCI Technologies, Inc.

From: Kirsten Ullman, Project Manager
KCI Technologies, Inc.

Subject: Bowser’s Branch Mitigation Site
Post Contract IRT Site Review Meeting
Cape Fear 04
Cumberland County, North Carolina
Contract No. #416886104-02
DMS Project #100649

An IRT field review was conducted for the above referenced project on February 21st starting at
approximately 10:45 pm. The weather was partly sunny and warm, with no significant precipitation within
the prior 72 hours. All project tributaries that were evaluated were flowing during the meeting. Most of
the discussion regarding the IRT’s evaluation took place during the site walk and afterwards during a full
review of decisions.

The comments follow the order of the site walk. There was some disagreement on the proposed levels
of intervention and the proposed credit strategy as specified below. All project reaches and approaches
will need to be justified in the mitigation plan and are contingent upon an approved jurisdictional
determination.

Overall comments:
The IRT will meet within the next several days to determine if they feel the site is viable to move forward.

Erin asked if there is an airport adjacent to the site; the proposal notes that although many maps show an
airport on the parcel to the north, that is the landowner’s home and the location of his barns. There is not
an airport on the parcel.
Area of proposed wetland rehabilitation:
The IRT recommends that KCI structure the easement at the north end of the wetland in a way that allows
for management of the east-west ditch along the property line. IRT had some concerns about hydrologic
trespass in this area of the project, as well as the effects off-site activities could have on wetland hydrology
in the future. The ditch in question is relatively shallow, and the same landowner owns the property to
the north. KCI will make sure that the final design does not inundate this area outside of the easement,
and the ditch is within the property easement.
The IRT requested that KCI document the areas where fill for the north-south ditch will come from and
how much soil will be moved. It’s potentially ok to move more than the top 12 inches in areas of existing
spoil but KCI should do a more detailed existing wetland delineation to ensure that we’re minimally
disturbing existing hydric soils. Anywhere where wetland area is being graded, indicate the range of cut
soil with some kind of grading plan. This will be addressed in the grading plan within the construction
drawings, as presented within the detailed site mitigation plan.
The IRT feels that portions of the wetland in the center of the valley appear to be currently functioning at
a level where interventions would not improve hydrology/veg to support 1.5:1. KCI should delineate the
higher-functioning areas and consider enhancement at 2:1. It may be possible to get re-establishment in
some areas along the ditch at 1:1, and some areas of creation along the eastern edge at 3:1. Detailed soil
borings and pre-construction hydrologic monitoring are necessary to facilitate this analysis. Soil borings
detailing the areas around the gauges are helpful. Erin would like to see a map of proposed gauge locations
before agreeing to this approach and specific credit ratios.
The IRT viewed the areas of stump piles/privet as indicative that there may have been a potential violation
when the site was last cleared due to grubbing and stumping that may have been involved. There are
some stumps within the project area that have been cut off at ground level; most are in the mid- to lower
sections of the wetland. The stumps in the piles appear to be over 25 years old. Aerials included with the
proposal are inconclusive, although the site appears relatively open in the 1970s. It is possible that larger
trees were cut prior to 2010, the area started to regenerate, and it was recut in 2010 but not grubbed. If
the IRT determines that it is likely a violation has occurred, they will turn coordination over to the county
representative, who will engage the landowner. At the end of the site visit, Todd expressed that he feels
it is unlikely that a site violation took place or will be pursued. KCI reached out to the landowner to verify
the activities that have taken place on site. This information was sent to the IRT via DMS on 2/24/23. The
landowner indicated that the site was last cleared in late September and early October of 2013. The
proposed easement area was cut using strictly rubber tire equipment and all of the stumps were left in
the ground.
The IRT recommends that KCI coordinate with the owner of gas line easement about easement markings
and future management.

The IRT would like to see a wetland gauge installed near the ditch to be filled at the southern end of the
wetland, and a reference gauge for the entire wetland. KCI will include gauges in these locations, along
with other gauges to quantify the wetland hydrology of the site, in the monitoring plan.
The IRT recommends including management plans for areas of potential increased wetland hydrology
within the mitigation plan. KCI will include potential adaptive management measures for any increased
wetland hydrology in the monitoring and maintenance sections of the mitigation plan.
Bowser’s Branch and riparian wetlands:
The IRT stressed making sure that pilot channel is not too deep within the headwater stream corridor. KCI
will design the pilot channel conservatively, based on the detailed site assessment data and ensuing design
criteria.
The IRT expressed concerns about the condition/elevation of the existing culvert at top of restoration
reach. KCI will address any potential need for improvement of this culvert in the detailed design.
The IRT expressed concerns about the amount of existing hydric soil that may need to be removed from
the areas adjacent to the upper reaches of the channel to facilitate the headwater stream corridor. A
different wetland ratio may be more appropriate.
The IRT expressed concerns about raising the stream/maintaining hydrology. The stream design will
maintain a balance between maintaining channel flow and facilitating interaction between the stream,
the floodplain, and the adjacent riparian wetlands.
The IRT expressed a desire for more of a buffer on the areas of riparian wetland re-establishment along
the upper portion of the channel. KCI has concerns about hydrologic trespass within the adjacent hayfield
if a full Priority 1 approach is used.
The IRT had questions about the clearing/logging adjacent to the channel – historic aerials show that
Bowser’s Branch has been in its current location and planform for a long time, pre-dating any clearing on
the left bank. This bank is higher than the right bank, and the soils exploration did not find indicators of
hydric soils adjacent to the channel in areas that were cleared.
The IRT had questions about treatment of flow into Bowser’s Branch draining from the pasture to the
north of the existing culvert crossing. KCI will include a water quality treatment area in the design.
The IRT indicated a need for a stream gauge to document flow; KCI will install a flow gauge on Bowser’s
Branch to document baseflow and overbank events.
Erin recommended that cross sections depict the entire valley, including the stream/wetland corridor.
Next steps:
• KCI to reach out to landowner for details/timeline of wetland clearing activities, and provide
narrative and any available documentation to IRT – (completed)

• IRT to determine if they will pursue potential violation – based on IRT comments during the site
visit this is unlikely.
• IRT to determine if site can move forward based on size/hydrologic connectivity.