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Home My WebLink About20201095 Ver 1_DoubleRock_SiteWalk_RequestMemo_20230621 June 21,2023 CREDIT RELEASE REQUEST FORM To: NCDEQ-DWR Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator From: Brandon Romeo (bromeo@wildlandseng.com, 704.332.7754 x129) Through: Wildlands Holdings VI, LLC We formally request a credit release for the Double Rock Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel (2020- 1095v1) for completion of Task 2 per the approved credit release schedule, which is included in the Attachments with this request. The following documents have been submitted to NCDWR for Task 2 and are pending review: Request for Site Walk Memorandum. Credits requested for release are detailed below: Credit Type % Release Credit Amount (include Units) Notes/Comments Buffer Restoration 20% 63,816.000 ft2 0.20 x 319,080.000 ft2 = 63,816.000 ft2 Buffer Preservation 20% 4,254.400 ft2 0.20 x 21,272.000 ft2 = 4,254.400 ft2 Buffer Enhancement Generated Nitrogen Nutrient Offset Delivered Nitrogen Nutrient Offset (Jordan sites only) Generated Phosphorus Nutrient Offset Delivered Phosphorus Nutrient Offset (Jordan sites only) Signature: Attachments: 1) BPDP approved Project Credit Table 2) UMBI approved Credit Release Schedule BPDP Approved Project Credit Table Double Rock Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel DWR No. 2020‐1096v1 Bank Parcel Development Package Project Area N Credit Conversion Ratio (ft2/pound) P Credit Conversion Ratio (ft2/pound) Credit Type Location Subject? (enter NO if ephemeral or ditch 1) Feature Type Mitigation Activity Min‐Max Buffer Width (ft) Feature Name Total Area (ft2) Total (Creditable) Area of Buffer Mitigation (ft2) Initial Credit Ratio (x:1) % Full Credit Final Credit Ratio (x:1) Convertible to Riparian Buffer? Riparian Buffer Credits Convertible to Nutrient Offset? Delivered Nutrient Offset: N (lbs) Delivered Nutrient Offset: P (lbs) Buffer Rural No I / P Restoration 0‐100 Randell Trib & Elk Shoals Creek 319,080 319,080 1 100% 1.00000 Yes 319,080.000 No — — Totals (ft2):319,080 319,080 319,080.000 0.000 0.000 Total Buffer (ft2):319,080 319,080 Total Nutrient Offset (ft2):0 N/A Total Ephemeral Area (ft2) for Credit:00 Total Eligible Ephemeral Area (ft2):106,360 0.0%Ephemeral Reaches as % TABM Enter Preservation Credits Below Total Eligible for Preservation (ft2):106,360 25.0%Preservation as % TABM Credit Type Location Subject? Feature Type Mitigation Activity Min‐Max Buffer Width (ft) Feature Name Total Area (sf) Total (Creditable) Area for Buffer Mitigation (ft2) Initial Credit Ratio (x:1) % Full Credit Final Credit Ratio (x:1) Riparian Buffer Credits Buffer Rural No I / P0‐100 Elk Shoals Creek, Stikeleather Trib, Randell Trib 344,038 106,360 5 100% 5.00000 21,272.000 Buffer Rural No I / P 101‐200 Randell Trib 12,042 0 5 33% — Preservation Area Subtotals (ft2):356,080 106,360 Square Feet Credits 319,080 319,080.000 0 0.000 106,360 21,272.000 425,440 340,352.000 Square Feet Credits Nitrogen:0.000 Phosphorus:0.000 N/A Catawba Buffer N/A Total Riparian Buffer: TOTAL NUTRIENT OFFSET MITIGATION Mitigation Totals Nutrient Offset:0 TOTAL AREA OF BUFFER MITIGATION (TABM) Mitigation Totals Restoration: Enhancement: Preservation: Wildlands Catawba 01 Approved Credit Release Schedule for Riparian Buffer Credits Task Project Milestone % Credit Available for Sale (Restoration and Preservation) % Credit Release (Cattle Exclusion) 1 Instrument and Buffer Mitigation Plan Approved by DWR, Draft Stream Mitigation Plan Approved by the IRT, Conservation Easement Recorded*, and Financial Assurance Posted 20 No cattle exclusion credits released 2 All Riparian Earthwork & Mitigation Activities, Planting and Installation of Monitoring Devices completed, easement boundaries adequately marked, all applicable permits obtained, stream mitigation activities completed & a site visit performed by DWR 20 40 3 Monitoring Financial Assurance Posted and Approval of As‐ Built Report 10 10 4 Monitoring Report #1: Approved by the DWR** & financial assurance renewed 10 10 5 Monitoring Report #2: Approved by the DWR** & financial assurance renewed 10 10 6 Monitoring Report #3: Approved by the DWR** & financial assurance renewed 10 10 7 Item B (I) of Section X in this Instrument has been completed and approved by DWR 5 5 No remaining credits will be released until Task 7 has been satisfied, assigning the conversation easement to an approved land trust or long‐term steward. 8 Monitoring Report #4: Approved by the DWR** & financial assurance renewed 5 5 9 Monitoring Report #5: Approved by the DWR** and final site visit by DWR has been conducted 10 10 Total 100% 100% Wildlands Engineering, Inc. Page 1 June 2023 MEMORANDUM TO: Katie Merritt, Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator FROM: Andrea Eckardt, Project Manager Brandon Romeo, Environmental Scientist DATE: June 21, 2023 RE:Request for Site Visit DOUBLE ROCK BUFFER MITIGATION BANK PARCEL ‐ Alexander County, NC The Double Rock Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel (Parcel) is comprised of two parcels. One that is maintained as an active cattle farm, and one that is currently wooded but has been managed for both timber and agriculture in the past. The Parcel is located in Alexander County in the township of Hiddenite, approximately six miles southeast of Taylorsville, NC. The Parcel was restored to provide ecological and water quality enhancements to the Catawba River Basin and create a functional riparian corridor. The Parcel creates a protected riparian area along Elk Shoals Creek and two unnamed tributaries (Randell Tributary and Stikeleather Tributary). The steam mitigation bank also includes three additional unnamed tributaries (Matheson Tributary, Matheson Tributary A, and Matheson Tributary B), which are not proposed for riparian buffer credit. Table 1 contains project overview information. Table 1. Project Overview Project Name Double Rock Buffer Mitigation Bank Parcel Hydrologic Unit Code 03050101130010 River Basin Catawba Geographic Location (Lat, Long) 35.86303, ‐81.10109 Site Protection Instrument DB 656 PN 2279 and DB 656 PN 2234 Total Credits 340,352.000 ft² buffer mitigation credits Types of Credits Riparian Buffer Buffer BPDP Date June 2022 Initial Planting Date March 31 Baseline Report Date July 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 Wildlands Engineering, Inc. Page 2 June 2023 Of the 19.33 acres protected under the conservation easement, 7.3 acres were restored, and 2.4 acres were preserved for credit. The area of preservation credit within the buffer mitigation site equals 25% of the total area of buffer mitigation. Bare root trees were planted using a dibble bar at a spacing of 6 feet by 12 feet, which resulted in an overall stem density of 521 stems per acre. Much of buffer along Elk Shoals Creek and Randell Tributary had already been cleared and maintained as active cattle pastures. Stream restoration work was slated for these areas and grading was in accordance with the IRT approved stream mitigation plan. Upon the completion of the stream restoration work, soils were disked and haul roads or other areas of compacted soil, were ripped. Disturbed areas were planted with a mixture of grasses, sedges, and forbs; any undisturbed areas of fescue grass were sprayed with an herbicide. Areas that were not impacted by the construction of the stream mitigation project required less parcel preparation. Work in these areas was limited to selective herbicide treatments or the mechanical clearing of undesirable underbrush, invasive species, and fescue (Festuca spp.). Table 2 includes a list of tree species planted along with their density and composition at planting. Table 2. Tree Species Selected for Planting Easement boundaries have been identified in the field to ensure clear distinction between the Parcel and adjacent properties. Boundaries are identified by 6 foot “t posts” with attached easement placards Species Common Name Number Planted % of Total Open Riparian Buffer Bare Root Planting Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore 930 14.6% Betula nigra River Birch 930 14.6% Diospyros virginiana Persimmon 620 9.7% Quercus phellos Willow Oak 620 9.7% Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum 310 4.9% Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood 310 4.9% Carpinus caroliniana Ironwood 310 4.9% Celtis laevigata Sugarberry 310 4.9% Quercus michauxii Swamp Chestnut Oak 310 4.9% Ulmus rubra Slippery Elm 620 9.7% Xanthorhiza simplissima Yellow Root 310 4.9% Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak 310 4.9% Lindera benzoin Spicebush 310 4.9% Subtotal: 6,200 97.2% Wetland Bare Root Planting Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore 27 0.4% Betula nigra River Birch 27 0.4% Ulmus americana American Elm 27 0.4% Quercus michauxii Swamp Chestnut Oak 27 0.4% Alnus serrulata Tag Alder 18 0.3% Rhododendron viscosum Swamp Azalea 18 0.3% Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush 18 0.3% Salix nigra Black Willow 18 0.3% Subtotal: 180 2.8% Total: 6,380 100.0% Wildlands Engineering, Inc. Page 3 June 2023 and or/tree blazing. Signage along the outer perimeter of the Parcel has been placed at 100‐foot intervals. Attachments: Credit Service Area Map Monitoring Map Vegetation Plot Photographs ^_ £¤421 £¤421 £¤601 §¨¦77 Double Rock Mitigation Site 03050101130010 0 10 20 Miles ¹ Service Area - HUC 03050101 14 Digit HUC - 03050101130010 Municipality Boundaries County Boundaries ^_Project Location Credit Service Area Map Double Rock Mitigation Bank Parcel Site Walk Request Memo Catawba River Basin (03050101) Alexander County, NC [[ [[[[[ [[[[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ !P !P !P !P !P !P St i k e l e a t h e r R d Elk S h o a l s C r e e k Stikeleat h e r T r i b E l k S h o a l s C r e e k M a t h e s o n T r i b Ra n d e l l T r i b Matheso n T r i b A Ma t h e s o n T r i b B Reach 1A Reach 2 Reach 1B Reach 1DReach 1C Reach 1B Reach 1A 2 4 7 6 5 8 Monitoring Map Double Rock Mitigation Bank Parcel Site Walk Request Memo Catawba River Basin (03050101) 2022 Aerial Photography ¹ Alexander County, NC 0 200 400 Feet Project Location Conservation Easement Internal Crossings Existing Wetlands Riparian Restoration for Buffer Credits Riparian Preservation for Buffer Credits Not For Credit HENA Population Boundary Stream Restoration Stream Enhancement II Stream Preservation Non-Project Streams [[Fencing !P Reach Break !P Subreach Break Permanent Vegetation Plot Mobile Vegetation Plot ¬« VEGETATION PLOT PHOTOGRAPHS Monitoring Year 0 ‐ 2023 Permanent Vegetation Plot 4 (4/25/2023) Permanent Vegetation Plot 5 (4/25/2023) Permanent Vegetation Plot 6 (4/25/2023) Permanent Vegetation Plot 7 (4/25/2023) Permanent Vegetation Plot 8 (4/25/2023) Mobile Vegetation Plot 2 (4/25/2023)