20200369 Ver 1_WitsEnd Addendum Request 2023

April 26, 2023 Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes St. Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina
Ph: [phone]
Fx: [phone]
Kimberly Isenhour
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division
US Army Corps of Engineers
Subject: Wits End Mitigation Site – Mitigation Plan Addendum & Modification
Request for Volunteer Species, Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoidesi)
DMS Project ID No. 100164
Full Delivery Contract No. 7968
IFB 16-032819, RFQ 16-032819-YD05
USACE Action ID No. SAW-2020-00455
DWR Project No. 20200369
Mrs. Isenhour,
Restoration Systems, LLC (RS), Sponsor of the Wits End Mitigation Site (Site), is providing this Mitigation Plan
Addendum & Modification Request of the Site's Mitigation Plan based on site conditions during construction and
on-site observations. Mitigation Plan Addendum items include 1.) Modification of UT 3 and 2.) Removal of ATV
Paths/Crossings. In addition, RS requests modification of the Mitigation Plan to count Eastern Cottonwood (Populus
deltoidesi) towards success criteria as an approved volunteer species.
Mitigation Plan Addendum Items:
Based on the approved Mitigation Plan, dated July 28, 2021, the Site was to provide 11,753.108 Stream Mitigation
Units (SMUs) and 24.216 Wetland Mitigation Units (WMUs). Approved mitigation plan crediting included additional
stream credit via the Non-Standard Buffer Width Calculation tool provided by the Wilmington District USACE. Based
on site conditions during construction, slight adjustments were required along UT3. In addition, RS abandoned the
permitted ATV trails within the Conservation Easement. These two items require a revision to the Site's asset table
and the use of the Non-Standard Buffer Width Calculation.
Item 1.) Modification of UT 3:
The husband of the fee-simple landowner of UT 3, where the modification occurred, passed in 2021. The modified
area of UT 3 and the adjacent floodplain is a "sacred" place for her, with many memories of her late husband. During
construction, it became clear to RS that disturbing this area would cause her significant and, in our opinion,
unneeded stress and anxiety. To maintain positive, long-term relations with her, RS decided to keep this portion of
UT 3 in its current location. This portion of the UT 3 has bedrock control, has an existing mature buffer on its right
bank, and is laterally stable. RS tied the newly constructed (restored) UT 3 into the existing bedrock. Credit within
this area was converted from Restoration at 1:1 to Enhancement Level II at 5:1, and a revised wider buffer calculation
was conducted based on the as-built location of the stream (UT3 Re-Design Sheets Attached).
Item 2.) Removal of ATV Paths/Crossings:
The layout of the Conservation Easement bisected portions of the original fee-simple property, and legally, RS had
to provide access to the isolated portion. As detailed in the Mitigation Plan, RS accomplished this by adding internal
ATV crossings/trails. Between approval of the Mitigation Plan and completion of construction, RS was able to sell
the isolated portion of the parcel to the adjacent neighbor. As a result, the internal ATV trails and crossings were no
longer necessary, and RS did not construct the ATV crossings/trails. RS worked with Blane Rice at the State Property
Office to remove the trails/crossings from the conservation easement. This effort was completed on July 22, 2022,
by recording a Release and Removal document at the Union County Register of Deeds (attached). Stream credit was
added to the footprint of the forded ATV crossings, where credit was initially removed: Waxhaw Branch – Restoration
at 1:1, UT 1 – Enhancement Level II at 5:1, and UT 2 – Restoration at 1:1. Additionally, the footprint of the ATV paths,
which were removed from the wider buffer calculation, were added into a revised wider buffer calculation (the
original and revised Non-Standard Buffer Width maps/calculations are attached).
1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Ph 919.755.9490 • Fx 919.755.9492
Wits End Mitigation Site – Mitigation Plan Addendum & Modification Request
April 26, 2023
Page 2

Update to Site Credits:
Based on items 1 and 2 and a recalculation of the Non-Standard Buffer Width Calculation tool provided by the
Wilmington District USACE, Site crediting was adjusted downward by 227.162 SMUs and 0.053 WMUs. The approved
Mitigation Plan and MY0 Baseline Report Project Mitigation Quantities and Credit Tables are attached to this letter.

Mitigation Plan Modification:
Since the completion of construction in July of 2022, RS has noted several naturally occurring, mature Eastern
Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) along forested portions of the UT3, UT3A, and Waxhaw Branch floodplains. The
Site's approved vegetation associations for bare-root planting are Piedmont/Low Mountain Alluvial Forest and Dry-
Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest (Schafale and Weakley, 2012). According to Schafale and Weakley, Eastern Cottonwoods
are naturally found along levees in Brownwater Levee Forests, which are distinguished from Piedmont/Low
Mountain Alluvial Forest communities by occurring on large floodplains with levees, bottomlands, and swamps.
However, levee forest conditions can be mimicked on a smaller scale along streambanks in small stream floodplains.
Like true coastal plain levees, these areas are conducive to sustaining Eastern Cottonwood populations. Such
populations have been documented throughout the Piedmont and specifically in Union County (LeGrand et al., 2023
– see attached North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks - Eastern Cottonwood Fact Sheet).

Therefore, RS requests that natural recruits of Eastern Cottonwood be allowed to count toward Site vegetative
performance standards during future monitoring years. If the IRT concurs, sampled stems of Eastern Cottonwood
will be recorded as "Approved Post Mit Plan" in future annual monitoring reports and capped at 10% for any one fix
or random vegetation monitoring plot.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can provide any additional information.

Sincerely,
Raymond Holz
Restoration Systems, LLC

Attachments:
- Approved Mitigation Plan - Project Mitigation Quantities and Credits Table
- MY0/Baseline Report - Project Mitigation Quantities and Credits Table
- UT3 Re-Design
- Original and Revised Non-Standard Buffer Width Maps/Calculations
- Release and Removal of ATV Trails, Recorded Documents
- North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks - Eastern Cottonwood Fact Sheet

References:
LeGrand, H., B. Sorrie, and T. Howard. 2023. Vascular Plants of North Carolina [Internet]. Raleigh (NC): North
Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks. Available from:
https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/index.php.

Schafale, M.P. 2012. Guide to the Natural Communities of North Carolina: Fourth Approximation. North
Carolina Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Raleigh, North Carolina.

Wits End Mitigation Site – Mitigation Plan Addendum & Modification Attachments
Request for Volunteer Species, Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoidesi) April 26, 2023

Wits End Mitigation Site – Mitigation Plan Addendum & Modification Request: Attachments

- Approved Mitigation Plan - Project Mitigation Quantities and Credits Table
- MY0/Baseline Report - Project Mitigation Quantities and Credits Table
- UT3 Re-Design
- Original and Revised Non-Standard Buffer Width Maps/Calculations
- Release and Removal of ATV Trails, Recorded Documents
- North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks - Eastern Cottonwood Fact Sheet

July 28, 2021 – Wits End Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site – Approved Mitigation Plan

Table 1A. Project Credits Summary
Wits End Site
Restoration Level Stream Riparian Wetland
Warm Riverine
Restoration 10,612.00 --
Re-establishment -- 22.886
Rehabilitation -- --
Enhancement -- 0.721
Enhancement I 154.667 --
Enhancement II -- --
Enhancement II (reduced ratio) 133.400 --
Preservation -- 0.492
Creation -- 0.117
Benthics 2% 218.001 --
Wider Buffer* 635.06 --
Totals 11,753.128 24.216
*See Figure 10 for Wider Buffer Tool output and results.
Table 1.B Project Components and Mitigation Credits
Project Segment
Existing1
Footage/
Mitigation Plan
Footage/ Mitigation Restoration
Level
Mitigation
Ratio
Mitigation
Credits Comment
Acreage Acreage Category
Waxhaw Br Upstream R1 330 330 Warm EII* 5.000 66.000
Waxhaw Br Upstream R2 42 42 Warm R 1.000 42.000
10 ft of ATV crossing
between R2 and R3 receives
no credit
Waxhaw Br Upstream R3 253 2547 Warm R 1.000 2547.000
62 ft of piped crossing
between R3 and R4 receives
no credit
Waxhaw Br Upstream R4 923 1051 Warm R 1.000 1051.000
Waxhaw Br Downstream 1499 1362 Warm R 1.000 1362.000
UT 1 R1** 2 2 Warm EII 0.000 0.000
12 ft of ATV crossing
between R1 and R2 receives
no credit
UT 1 R2 96 96 Warm EII* 5.000 19.200
UT 1 R3 35 78 Warm R 1.000 78.000
UT 2 R1 572 583 Warm R 1.000 583.000
49 ft of forded crossing
between R1 and R2 receives
no credit
UT 2 R2 33 36 Warm R 1.000 36.000
10 ft of ATV crossing
between R2 and R3 receives
no credit
UT 2 R3 91 562 Warm R 1.000 562.000
UT 3A 734 780 Warm R 1.000 780.000
UT 3 Upstream R1 168 168 Warm EII* 5.000 33.600
UT 3 Upstream R2 232 232 Warm EI 1.500 154.667
UT 3 Upstream R3 696 770 Warm R 1.000 770.000
UT 3 Downstream R1 1275 1459 Warm R 1.000 1459.000
UT 4 818 1223 Warm R 1.000 1223.000
UT 5 R1 73 73 Warm EII* 5.000 14.600
UT 5 R2 88 119 Warm R 1.000 119.000
Wetland Reestablishment -- 22.886 NA Reestablishment 1.000 22.886
Wetland Enhancement 1.066 1.442 NA Enhancement 2.000 0.721
Some wetland enhancement
included in ponds/open
waters on PJD figures and
application
Wetland Preservation 5.317 4.923 NA Preservation 10.000 0.492
Wetland Creation -- 0.351 NA Creation 3.000 0.117
*Enhancement at a reduced ratio **Mitigation
credit removed given length of reach

April, 2023 – Wits End Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site – MY0/Baseline Report
Highlighted Rows Indicate Change from Mitigation Plan Assets

Table 1. Wits End Mitigation Site (ID-100164) Project Mitigation Quantities and Credits
Original
Mitigation Original Original Original
Plan As-Built Mitigation Restoration Mitigation
Project Segment Ft/Ac Ft/Ac Category Level Ratio (X:1) Credits Comments
Stream
Waxhaw Br Upstream R1 330 329 Warm EII* 5.000 66.000
Waxhaw Br Upstream R2** 42 52 Warm R 1.000 52.000
Waxhaw Br Upstream R3 2547 2533 Warm R 1.000 2,547.000 62 ft of piped crossing between R3
and R4 receives no credit
Waxhaw Br Upstream R4 1051 1042 Warm R 1.000 1,051.000
Waxhaw Br Downstream 1362 1368 Warm R 1.000 1,362.000
UT 1 R1** 2 14 Warm EII* 5.000 2.800
UT 1 R2 96 97 Warm EII* 5.000 19.200
UT 1 R3 78 77 Warm R 1.000 78.000
UT 2 R1 583 579 Warm R 1.000 583.000 49 ft of forded crossing between
R1 and R2 receives no credit
UT 2 R2** 36 46 Warm R 1.000 46.000
UT 2 R3 562 560 Warm R 1.000 562.000
UT 3A 780 792 Warm R 1.000 780.000
UT 3 Upstream R1 168 171 Warm EII* 5.000 33.600
UT 3 Upstream R2 232 232 Warm EI 1.500 154.667
UT 3 Upstream R3 770 757 Warm R 1.000 770.000
UT 3 Downstream R1^ 1459 41 Warm R 1.000 41.000
UT 3 Downstream R2^ NA 292 Warm EII* 5.000 58.400
UT 3 Downstream R3^ NA 1109 Warm R 1.000 1,109.000
UT 4 1223 1215 Warm R 1.000 1,223.000
UT 5 R1 73 73 Warm EII* 5.000 14.600
UT 5 R2 119 118 Warm R 1.000 119.000
Total: 10,672.267
Wetland
Wetland Reestablish@ 22.886 22.833 NA REE 1.000 22.833
Wetland Enhancement 1.442 1.442 NA E 2.000 0.721
Wetland Creation 0.351 0.351 R P 10.000 0.117
Wetland Preservation 4.923 4.916 R C 3.000 0.492
Total: 24.163

Project Credits
Restoration Level Stream Riparian Non-Rip Coastal
Warm Cool Cold Wetland Wetland Marsh
Restoration 10,323.000
Re-establishment 22.833
Rehabilitation
Enhancement 0.721
Enhancement I 154.667
Enhancement II
Enhancement II* 194.600
Creation 0.117
Preservation 0.492
Benthics 212.989
Wider Buffer% 640.690
Totals 11,525.946 24.163

Total Stream Credit 11,525.946
Total Wetland Credit 24.163

* Enhancement at reduced ratio
** The ATV paths and forded crossings proposed in the Mitigation Plan were legally abandoned and were not
constructed
^ UT 3 channel realigned during construction back into old channel. This reach (R2) is now Enhancement (level II) at 5:1 with 2 smaller reaches of
Restoration above and below (R1 and R3).
@ Wetland reestablishment credit reduced due to UT 3 realignment
% Wider buffer credit updated due to UT 3 channel realignment

NCCGIA
FIGURE
Drawn by:
Date:
Scale:
Project No.:
KRJ
MAR 2021
1:4200
20-011
Title:
Project:
Prepared for:
Union County, NC
WITS END SITE
STREAM BUFFER
CREDIT
ADJUSTMENT
OUTPUT
10A
³
0 600 1,200300Feet
Legend
Conservation Easement Boundary
Channel TOB
TOB - 15 ft
15 - 20 ft
20 - 25 ft
25 - 30 ft
30 - 35 ft
35 - 40 ft
40 - 45 ft
45 - 50 ft
50 - 75 ft
75 - 100 ft
100 - 125 ft
125 - 150 ft
Ineligible Buffer Area (Wetland Mitigation Beyond 50 ft from TOB and 2 ATV Trails)
U
T-2
W a x h a w B r a n c h
U
T
-
1
U
T
-
3
U T-3 A
UT-4
UT-5
NCCGIA
FIGURE
Drawn by:
Date:
Scale:
Project No.:
KRJ
JUL 2021
1:4200
20-011
Title:
Project:
Prepared for:
Union County, NC
WITS END SITE
STREAM BUFFER
CREDIT
ADJUSTMENT
IDEAL BUFFER
10B
³
0 600 1,200300Feet
Legend
Conservation Easement Boundary
Channel TOB
TOB - 15 ft
15 - 20 ft
20 - 25 ft
25 - 30 ft
30 - 35 ft
35 - 40 ft
40 - 45 ft
45 - 50 ft
50 - 75 ft
75 - 100 ft
100 - 125 ft
125 - 150 ft
U
T-2
W a x h a w B r a n c h
U
T
-
1
U
T
-
3
U T-3 A
UT-4
UT-5
NCCGIA, NC 911 Board
FIGURE
Drawn by:
Date:
Scale:
Project No.:
KRJ
OCT 2022
1:4200
20-011
Title:
Project:
Prepared for:
Union County, NC
WITS END SITE
STREAM BUFFERCREDITADJUSTMENTOUTPUT(ACTUAL BUFFER)
3A
³
0 600 1,200300Feet
Legend
Conservation Easement Boundary
Channel TOB
TOB - 15 ft
15 - 20 ft
20 - 25 ft
25 - 30 ft
30 - 35 ft
35 - 40 ft
40 - 45 ft
45 - 50 ft
50 - 75 ft
75 - 100 ft
100 - 125 ft
125 - 150 ft
Ineligible Buffer Area (Wetland Mitigation Beyond 50 ft from TOB)
UT-2
W a x h a w B r a n c h
U
T
-
1
U
T
-
3
UT-3A
UT-4
UT-5
NCCGIA, NC 911 Board
FIGURE
Drawn by:
Date:
Scale:
Project No.:
KRJ
OCT 2022
1:4200
20-011
Title:
Project:
Prepared for:
Union County, NC
WITS END SITE
STREAM BUFFERCREDITADJUSTMENTOUTPUT(IDEAL BUFFER)
3B
³
0 600 1,200300Feet
Legend
Conservation Easement Boundary
Channel TOB
TOB - 15 ft
15 - 20 ft
20 - 25 ft
25 - 30 ft
30 - 35 ft
35 - 40 ft
40 - 45 ft
45 - 50 ft
50 - 75 ft
75 - 100 ft
100 - 125 ft
125 - 150 ft
UT-2
W a x h a w B r a n c h
U
T
-
1
U
T
-
3
UT-3A
UT-4
UT-5
Site Name:
USACE Action ID:
NCDWR Project Number:
Sponsor:
Number of Exempt Terminal Stream Ends1:7
County:Union
Minimum Required Buffer Width2:50
Mitigation Type Mitigation Ratio
Multiplier3
Creditable Stream
Length4
Include in Buffer
Calculations Baseline Stream Credit Buffered Stream
Length
Credit From Buffered
Streams
Restoration (1:1)1 10323 Yes 10323.00 10323.00 10323.00
Enhancement I (1.5:1)1.5 232 Yes 154.67 232.00 154.67
Enhancement II (2.5:1)2.5
Preservation (5:1)5
Other (7.5:1)7.5
Other (10:1)10
Custom Ratio 1 5 973 Yes 194.60 973.00 194.60
Custom Ratio 2
Custom Ratio 3
Custom Ratio 4
Custom Ratio 5
Totals 11528.00 10672.27 11528.00 10672.27
Buffer Zones less than 15 feet >15 to 20 feet >20 to 25 feet >25 to 30 feet >30 to 35 feet >35 to 40 feet >40 to 45 feet >45 to 50 feet >50 to 75 feet >75 to 100 feet >100 to 125 feet >125 to 150 feet
Max Possible Buffer (square feet)5 348312.75 117203.25 117752.75 118302.25 118851.75 119401.25 119950.75 120500.25 610743.75 624481.25 638218.75 651956.25
Ideal Buffer (square feet)6 347079.04 115578.42 115570.26 115208.61 114511.84 113763.00 113109.34 112567.42 550653.99 526773.22 511045.07 499872.80
Actual Buffer (square feet)7 339479.07 110624.73 109535.72 108351.98 107060.98 105577.40 104192.60 102983.17 261275.99 259621.51 243393.22 201245.87
Zone Multiplier 50%10%10%10%5%5%5%5%7%5%4%4%
Buffer Credit Equivalent 5336.13 1067.23 1067.23 1067.23 533.61 533.61 533.61 533.61 747.06 533.61 426.89 426.89
Percent of Ideal Buffer 98%97%96%95%95%95%94%94%47%49%48%40%
Credit Adjustment -98.19 -37.17 -44.79 -50.18 -26.82 -29.26 -31.70 -33.84 354.47 262.99 203.31 171.86
Total Baseline Credit Credit Loss in Required
Buffer
Credit Gain for
Additional Buffer
Net Change in
Credit from Buffers Total Credit
10672.27 -351.95 992.64 640.69 11312.96
1Number of terminal stream ends, including all points where streams enter or exit the project boundaries, but not including internal crossings even if they are not protected by the easement.
Wilmington District Stream Buffer Credit Calculator
Wits End
NA
NA
Restoration Systems
5This amount is the maximum buffer area possible based on the linear footage of stream length if channel were perfectly straight with full buffer width and no internal crossings. This number is not used in calculations, but is provided as a reference.
Buffer Width Zone (feet from Ordinary High Water Mark)
7Square feet in each buffer zone, as measured by GIS, excluding non-forested areas, all other credit type (e.g., wetland, nutrient offset, buffer), easement exceptions, open water, areas failing to meet the vegetation performance standard, etc. Additional credit is given to 150 feet in buffer width, so areas within the easement that are more
than 150 feet from creditable streams should not be included in this measurement. Non-creditable stream reaches within the easement should be removed prior to calculating this area wtih GIS.
6Maximum potential size (in square feet) of each buffer zone measured around all creditable stream reaches, calculated using GIS, including areas outside of the easement. The inner zone (0-15') should be measured from the top of the OHWM or the edge of the average stream width if OHWM is not known. Non-creditable stream reaches
within the easement should be removed prior to calculating this area wtih GIS.
3Use the Custom Ratio fields to enter non-standard ratios, which are equal to the number of feet in the feet-to-credit mitigation ratio (e.g., for a perservation ratio of 8 feet to 1 credit, the multiplier would be 8).
2Minimum standard buffer width measured from the top of bank (50 feet in piedmont and coastal plain counties or 30 feet in mountain counties)
4Equal to the number of feet of stream in each Mitigation Type. If stream reaches are not creditable, they should be excluded from this measurement, even if they fall within the easement.
Home Page
Quick Search
County Search
View Plant List
Photo Gallery
Recent Account Updates
Maps
Export Plant List
References
NC Biodiversity Project
Section:Common Name:Scientific Name:Family:Search Reset
Account for Eastern Cottonwood - Populus
deltoides Bartram ex Marshall
Members of Salicaceae:
Populus
Members of Populus with account distribution
info or public map:
Populus deltoides
BONAP GBIF SERNEC Flora of NA NatureServe Explorer Tropicos USDA NCBG FloraQuest Weakley Map Goog
Imag
Section 6 » Order Salicales » Family Salicaceae
Author Bartram ex Marshall
Distribution A very patchy and odd distribution. Found over much or most of the Piedmont, but primarily in the
southern third of the province. In the Coastal Plain, it is limited to brownwater river floodplains,
especially the Roanoke and Cape Fear; thus found mainly near the VA line (Roanoke River), and again in
the southwestern portion (Cape Fear River), but scarce along the Neuse and Tar river floodplains. Also
present in part of the Mountains, but not widespread there; some records may refer to escaped
individuals.
The species occurs in essentially all 50 states, including most of the Canadian provinces. It is scarce in
many South Atlantic states, especially from NC to FL.
Abundance Fairly common only in parts of the southern Piedmont, along the upper Roanoke River floodplain (Halifax
and Northampton counties), and much of the Cape Fear River floodplain from Harnett south to
Brunswick counties. Uncommon along the French Broad River floodplain. Elsewhere generally rare, often
being adventive or escaped; may grow in ruderal habitats.
Habitat This species occurs in the state in rich soil of floodplains, mainly in brownwater river floodplains (e.g.,
French Broad, Catawba, Yadkin—Pee Dee, Roanoke, and Cape Fear). It does occur in rich soil elsewhere,
including waste lots, thickets, etc., but it may be considered as ruderal at many such sites. It typically is
found on riverbanks and on natural levees, more so than farther back from the rivers in the floodplains.
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet Hardwood Forests
Phenology Blooms and fruits in March and April. The cotton-like or feather-like fruits are often seen drifting across
the floodplains in the spring.
Identification This is a medium to often tall deciduous tree, growing to 90-100 feet or more, being more a tree of
medium-aged forests than mature/climax bottomland stands. It has distinctive triangular leaves, with a
strongly acuminate tip, and the base is rather truncate (cut straight across to the petiole). These leaves
average 3-4 inches long and wide. The petioles are distinctly flattened, easily noted when rotated in your
hand. This is an important character, as the similar Swamp Cottonwood (P. heterophylla), which may
grow in the same stands with Eastern Cottonwood, has rounded (terete) petioles, and the leaves are
wider (and often larger) and taper gradually to the tip.
Taxonomic
Comments
As expected for a very wide-ranging species, there are several named subspecies/varieties; the nominate
subspecies – P. deltoides ssp. deltoides – is the one found in NC.
Other
Common
Name(s)
Necklace Poplar
State Rank S4 [S4S5]
Global Rank G5
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcp FAC link
USACE-emp FAC link
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Photo Gallery
Show/Hide
photographer comments photo_link county obsType
B.A. Sorrie North side
Deep River,
east of
Glendon
Road.
Moore Photo_natural
B.A. Sorrie North side
Deep River,
east of
Glendon
Road.
Moore Photo_natural
View Mapping Selection Options
Select a source
All Herbaria Individual Website
Select an occurrence type
All Collection_natural Photo_natural Sight_natural Submit