20170887 Ver 2_Credit Release final task 9 closeout_Bethel

DocuSign Envelope ID:2F37A28B-6739-41FC-854A-BDDB837AB841
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
November 9, 2023
Shawn Wilkerson DWR Project #: 2017-0887v2
Wildlands Holdings IV, LLC Chatham County
(via electronic mail: swilkersonkwildlandseng com
Re: Cane Creek Umbrella Mitigation Banking Instrument (UMBI)
Bethel Branch Buffer Mitigation Bank
Credit Release — Task 9 & MONITORING CLOSEOUT
Dear Mr. Wilkerson,
On September 26, 2023, the Division of Water Resources (DWR) received a Year 5 Monitoring
Report from Wildlands Holdings IV, LLC (Wildlands), for the Bethel Branch Buffer Mitigation
Bank (Site). On November 8, 2023, Andrew Friedman -Herring and Katie Merritt with the DWR,
visited the Site to compare vegetation data submitted in the report with onsite conditions and to
evaluate the Site for closeout of the monitoring requirements for the buffer mitigation bank.
While onsite, it was noticed that 2 trees had fallen on the cattle exclusion fencing along UT 1. One
large tree had fallen on the fence midway up UT1 on the left bank but was not jeopardizing the
integrity of the fencing. A second large tree had fallen on the fence at the uppermost section of UT 1
on the right bank and was jeopardizing the integrity of the fence in that location. No cattle or other
livestock were observed within the conservation easement. Wildlands acknowledged they would
remove the fallen trees and repair the fence soon after the site visit. It was also noted that the planted
stems downstream of the old pond footprint along UT3 were not accelerating in height as compared
to the rest of the riparian areas, resulting in very low stem heights but decent in vigor. Wildlands
agreed to continue the application of tree enhancements, such as tree boosters as well as ring sprays,
to hopefully reduce competition of fescue and provide additional nutrients for trees to thrive. All
efforts taken will be provided in monitoring reports for the stream and wetland bank. No other issues
were noted during the site visit.
As a result of the site visit evaluation, Ms. Merritt supports closing out the Site for any further
monitoring and maintenance of the riparian vegetation and conservation easement associated with the
buffer mitigation credit areas. However, the conservation easement for the Site also includes the
Bethel Branch Stream & Wetland Mitigation Bank (Stream & Wetland Bank). Therefore, additional
monitoring and maintenance requirements for the Stream & Wetland Bank will need to continue until
closeout of the Stream & Wetland Bank has been authorized by the US Army Corps of Engineers and
Interagency Review Team. According to DWR files, the Grantee of this Site's conservation
easement is Unique Places To Save.
By copy of this letter, the monitoring requirements at the subject site have been met and DWR is
releasing Wildlands from its financial assurance obligations under performance bond (# 107063173)
with Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America.
D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
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DocuSign Envelope ID:2F37A28B-6739-41FC-854A-BDDB837AB841
Bethel Branch Bank
Wildlands
November 9, 2023
In accordance with the UMBI, signed on March 6, 2018, the following Project Milestones have fully
been met and the corresponding credits shall be released:
Task/Milestones
Credit
9) Monitoring Report #5: Approved by the DWR & final site visit by DWR 10%
has been conducted
By copy of this correspondence, DWR confirms that you have fully satisfied the above requirements
for the Bethel Branch site. Therefore, 10% of your Jordan Lake riparian buffer credits (0.10 x
266,899.40 ft2 = 26,689.94 ftz) are now released.
Please note that the riparian buffer credits can only be used to offset impacts located in the
Haw River Sub Watershed of Jordan Lake according to 15A NCAC 0213.0295, which became
effective on November 1, 2015.
Please feel free to call Katie Merritt at [phone] if you have any questions regarding this
correspondence.
Sincerely,
D�ocnuSigned by:
�1a.Y6tAit' GbSS
755ABFOCD8OB428...
Stephanie Goss, Supervisor
401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
cc:File Copy (Blake Hartshorn)
Camden Brunick — Wildlands (via electronic mail)
Kim Isenhour — USACE kimberly.t.isenhour(&usace.army.mil
Michael Scisco — Unique Places to Save(mscisco(&uniqueplacestosave.org )
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