Notice of As-built & Mitigation Plan Addendum review_ NCDMS Laurel Valley Mitigation Site

From: Polizzi, Maria
To: Menefee -Dunn. Barbara A
Subject: Fw: [External] Notice of As -built & Mitigation Plan Addendum review/ NCDMS Laurel Valley Mitigation Site/ SAW-
2020-00053/ Burke County
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 3:50:32 PM
Attachments: Laurel Valley 100140 MP Addendum 2023.odf
Outlook-rizob4nLono
I've got one more project as well. This one also needs both the email and attachments uploaded to
LF also. Project details are below:
Project #: 2020-0018 v1
Project Type: NCDMS
Date:6/20/23
Let me know if you have any questions or need anything else from me. And if you don't mind, would
you let me know when everything has been added (for my last email too), so that I can get that
updated on my spreadsheet accordingly.
Thanks!
Maria Polizzi
Stream and Wetland Mitigation Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Office: (919)-707-9083 Cell: (919)-815-4586
Email: maria.polizziPdeq.nc.gov
Address: 512 N. Salisbury St., Archdale Building 942-H, Raleigh, NC
US Mail: 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
D, E Q:
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From: Davis, Erin B CIV USARMY CESAW (USA) <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 7:58 AM
To: Steve Kichefski <[e-mail]>; Isenhour, Kimberly T CIV USARMY CESAW
(USA) <[e-mail]>; Haywood, Casey M CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>; Bowers, Todd <[e-mail]>; Holland Youngman
<[e-mail]>; Polizzi, Maria <[e-mail]>; Haupt, Mac
<[e-mail]>; Wilson, Travis W. <[e-mail]>; Leslie, Andrea J
<[e-mail]>; McHenry, David G <[e-mail]>; Tugwell, Todd J
CIV USARMY CESAW (US) <[e-mail]>

Cc: Wiesner, Paul <[e-mail]>; Tsomides, Harry <harry.tsomides@deq. nc.gov>; Eric
Neuhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Notice of As -built & Mitigation Plan Addendum review/ NCDMS Laurel Valley
Mitigation Site/ SAW-2020-00053/ Burke County
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the
Report Message button located on your Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.
Hello IRT,
The below referenced FINAL As-Built/Record Drawing review has been requested by
NCDMS. Additionally, we received the attached NCDMS Laurel Valley Mitigation Plan Addendum
request. Digital copies of the MYO Report and Addendum are available in the NCDMS Laurel Valley
Cyber Repository on the Wilmington District RIBITS webpage. The Addendum proposes the net
increase of +27.890 SMU. When providing comments, please separate your responses for the As -
Built from comments on the Addendum.
We have determined that the proposed modification can be reviewed using the streamlined review
process, as outlined in Section 332.8(g)(2) of the 2008 Mitigation Rule, which requires an IRT review
period of 30 calendar days from the date of this email notification. Please provide any comments by
5 PM on the 30-day comment deadline shown below. Comments provided after the 30-day
comment deadline (shown below) may not be considered. Please note, if a site visit is requested by
the IRT, comments will be due 15-days following the visit. At the conclusion of this comment period,
a copy of all comments will be provided to the Sponsor and the NCIRT along with District Engineer's
intent to approve or disapprove this Addendum. This notification will be followed by a 15-day
Dispute Resolution Period.
30-Day Comment Start Date: June 23, 2023
30-Day Comment Deadline: July 23, 2023
60-Day Credit Release Approval Deadline: August 22, 2023
2023 is Monitoring Year 1 for this project.
Laurel Valley Project
DMS Project # 100140
Institution Date: 11/27/2019
RFP# 16-007875 (Issued: 05/06/2019)
Catawba River Basin
Cataloging Unit 03050101
Burke County, North Carolina
USACE Action ID: SAW-2020-00053
DW R# 2020-0018 v1
Mitigation Plan Credits:
4,836.307 SMUs (warm)

As-Built-MYO Credits:
4,864.197 SMUs (warm)
Change of +27.890 SMUs
Mitigation Plan Lengths:
5,158.000 linear feet
As-Built-MYO Lengths:
5,174.810 linear feet
Please note:
A Mitigation Plan Addendum request is included in this submittal, which summarizes the proposed
asset increase. The Executive Summary of the Mitigation Plan Addendum (see page 6 of the PDF)
notes the following in summarizing the net increase in assets being requested (+27.890 SMU):
Wildlands completed grading and earthwork construction in October 2022 and as -built surveys were
completed in January 2023. The survey included developing an as -built topographic surface; as well
as surveying the as -built channel centerlines and top of banks. Upon receipt of the as -built data,
surveyed stream top of bank locations were used to determine credit employing the Non -Standard
Buffer Width Calculation tool provided by the Wilmington District USACE. Identical versions of the
tool were used for the approved mitigation plan and as-built/baseline reports. Results from the tool
indicated that small changes made during construction reduced credit loss to-234.350 while
increasing credit gain to 367.080. The as -built net change in credits totaled +132.730. Baseline
crediting approved within the mitigation plan was held consistent within the buffer tool calculation.
Total as -built crediting at the Site was determined as 4,864.197, which is 27.890 credits beyond the
IRT approved mitigation plan crediting. To acquire these additional assets, Wildlands has included
this mitigation plan addendum, including a revised Section 11.0 — Determination of credits and a
revised Table 21— Project Asset Table. Revised crediting, including the Buffer Calculation Summary
sheet and associated Figure are included in Appendix F.
Provider: Wildlands Engineering, Inc., Eric Neuhaus, eneuhaus(@wildlandseng.com, [phone]
NCDEQ- DMS PM: Harry Tsomides, harry.tsomides(@deq.nc.gov, [phone]
USACE Bank Project Manager: Steve Kichefski Steven.L.Kichefski(@usace.army.mil, (828)-933-8032
USACE Mitigation Specialist: Erin Davis, Erin.B.Davis(@usace.army.mil, [phone]
The MP Addendum Request & FINAL As -Built Baseline Monitoring Report and Record Drawings can
be accessed directly here:
RIBITS Link: https://ribits.ops.usace.army.mil/ords/f?
b=107:278:13723354438895:::RP.278:P278 BANK ID:5584
IRT-DMS SharePoint Page: https://ncconnect.sharepoint.com/sites/IRT-DMS/SitePages/Home.asp
Thank you,
Erin
Erin B. Davis

Mitigation Specialist, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1 [phone]
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.

MITIGATION PLAN
W OR ' OM
Revised Draft for IRT Review
March 2022
A
LAUREL VALLEY MITIGATION SITE
Burke County, NC
NCDEQ Contract No. 7875-02
DMS ID No. 100140
Catawba River Basin
HUC 03050101
USACE Action ID No. SAW-2020-00053
RFP #: 16-007875 (Issued 5/6/2019)
DW R#: 20200018
PREPARED FOR:
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1652

PREPARED BY:
WILDLANDS
F N G IN F FR IN C�
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
1430 South Mint Street, Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: [phone]
This mitigation Plan has been written in conformance with the requirements of the following:
• Federal rule for compensatory mitigation project sites as described in the Federal Register Title
33 Navigation and Navigable Waters Volume 3 Chapter 2 Section § 332.8 paragraphs (c)(2)
through (c)(14).
• NCDEQ Division of Mitigation Services In -Lieu Fee Instrument signed and dated July 28, 2010.
These documents govern DMS operations and procedures for the delivery of compensatory
mitigation.
Contributing Staff:
Eric Neuhaus, PE, Project Manager Jacob Wiseman, PE, CFM, Assistant Project Manager
Shawn Wilkerson, Principal in Charge Jeff Keaton, PE Quality Assurance
Win Taylor, PWS, Wetland Delineation Noyes Harrigan, El, CFM, Field Assessment
Emily Reinicker, PE Quality Assurance

Table of Contents
ExecutiveSummary............................................................................................................................. 4
11.0 Determination of Credits.............................................................................................................. 5
1.1 Determination of Credits Overview.............................................................................................. 5
1.2 Credit Calculations for Non -Standard Buffer Widths................................................................... 5

Revised Table 21: Project Asset Table.......................................................................................................... 6
APPENDICES
Revised Appendix 12 Buffer Width Credit Adjustment

Executive Summary
Wildlands Engineering was contracted by the North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services (DMS)
to provide stream and wetland credits in the Catawba River Basin HUC 03050101. Restoration and
preservation of Site streams was approved to provide 4,836.307 stream credits within the final
approved mitigation plan dated March 2022. Approved mitigation plan crediting included a credit loss of
-256.640 for lack of buffers and a credit gain of 361.480 for additional buffers, resulting in a net change
in credits of +104.840. All crediting adjustments were developed using the Non -Standard Buffer Width
Calculation tool provided by the Wilmington District USACE included within the approved mitigation
plan Appendix 12.
Based on site conditions during construction, slight adjustments to UT1 Reach 2 and UT2 bankfull
alignments were made to preserve trees and/or conform the proposed streams to the existing valleys.
Additionally, detail and attention were paid to areas of limited buffer, and top of bank locations were
adjusted slightly to ensure the full required 30-feet. The typical sections were still maintained within
these areas and overall design intent was maintained. All areas of deviation from design are shown in
the included Mitigation Site Record Drawings and outlined in the baseline monitoring report.
Wildlands completed grading and earthwork construction in October 2022 and a -built surveys were
completed in January 2023. The survey included developing an as -built topographic surface; as well as
surveying the as -built channel centerlines and top of banks. Upon receipt of the as -built data, surveyed
stream top of bank locations were used to determine credit employing the Non -Standard Buffer Width
Calculation tool provided by the Wilmington District USACE. Identical versions of the tool were used for
the approved mitigation plan and as-built/baseline reports. Results from the tool indicated that small
changes made during construction reduced credit loss to-234.350 while increasing credit gain to
367.080. The as -built net change in credits totaled +132.730. Baseline crediting approved within the
mitigation plan was held consistent within the buffer tool calculation. Total as -built crediting at the Site
was determined as 4,864.197, which is 27.890 credits beyond the approved mitigation plan crediting. To
acquire these additional assets, Wildlands has included this mitigation plan addendum, including a
revised Section 11.0 — Determination of credits and a revised Table 21— Project Asset Table. Revised
crediting, including the Buffer Calculation Summary sheet and associated Figure are included in
Appendix F.

11.0 Determination of Credits
1.1 Determination of Credits Overview
Mitigation credits presented in Table 21 are projections based upon the proposed design.
The credit ratios proposed for the Site have been developed in consultation with the NCIRT as
summarized in the included meeting minutes (Appendix 6 of the approved Mitigation Plan).
The requested stream restoration credit ratio is 1:1 for mitigation activities that include
reconstruction of the channels to a stable form and connection of the channels to the adjacent
floodplain. This level of effort will occur on East Prong Hunting Creek Reach 1 and Reach 2, UT1
Reach 2, and UT2.
UT1 Reach 1 is proposed for preservation credit at a 15:1 ratio. Proposed work along this reach
includes establishing the conservation easement and invasive species removal.
The credit release schedule is provided in Appendix 11 of the approved Mitigation Plan.
1.2 Credit Calculations for Non -Standard Buffer Widths
To calculate functional uplift credit adjustments, the latest published version of the Wilmington District
Stream Buffer Credit Calculator from the USACE was utilized. To perform this calculation, GIS analysis
was performed to determine the area (in square feet) of ideal buffer zones and actual buffer zones
around the Project stream. Minimum standard buffer widths are measured from the top of bank (30
feet in the mountain county of Burke). The ideal buffers are the maximum 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 actual buffer is the square 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. The stream
lengths, mitigation type, ideal buffer, and actual buffer are all entered into the calculator. This data is
processed, and the resulting credit amounts are totaled for the whole project. Based on the credit
analysis, the Buffer Credit Calculator computed a net gain of +132.730 credits; therefore, the total
adjusted SMUs for the Project is 4,864.197. Revised Appendix 12 contains details of the Non -Standard
Buffer width calculation including the credit calculator spreadsheet result and buffer credit calculation
figure.

Revised Table 1: Project Asset Table
Project
Components
Approved
As -Built
Addendum/
Project
Existing
Mitigation
Footage/
Approved
MY)
Component or
Footage/
Plan
1
Acreage
Mitigation
Restoratio
Priority
Mitigation
Mitigation
Mitigation
Reach ID
Acreage
Footage/
Category
Level
Level
Ratio
Plan
Plan
Acreage'
Crediting
Crediting
East Prong
Hunting Creek
416
498
498.000
Warm
R
P1, P2
1
498.000
498.000
Reach 1
East Prong
Hunting Creek
912
686
686.000
Warm
R
P1, P2
1
686.000
686.000
Reach 2
UT1 Reach 1
457
457
457.000
Warm
P
N/A
15
30.467
30.467
UT1 Reach 2
11633
1,975
1987.360
Warm
R
P1, P2
1
1,975.000
1975.000
UT2
1,470
1,542
1546.450
Warm
R
P1, P2
1
1,542.000
1542.000
Total Stream
41888
5158
5174.810
As Built Project Crediting
Restoration
Level
Stream
Riparian Wetland
Non -Rip
Wetland
Coastal
Marsh
Warm
Cool
Cold
Riverine
Non-Riv
Restoration
4,701.000
Re-
establishment
Rehabilitation
Enhancement
Enhancement I
Enhancement II
Creation
Preservation
30.467
Totals
4,731.467
Project Credit AdjustmentS2
Type
SMUs
Total Base SMU
4,731.467
Credit Loss in Required Buffer
-234.350
Credit Gain in Required Buffer
367.080
Net Change in Credit Buffers
132.730
Total Adjusted SMUs
4864.197
Notes: 1. Crossing lengths have been removed from restoration footage.
2. Credit adjustment for Non-standard Buffer Width calculation using the Wilmington District Stream Buffer Credit
Calculator issued by USACE 9/4/2020. See attached documentation and exhibit for more information.

REVISED APPENDIX 12
Buffer Width Credit Adjustment

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