20190865 Ver 1_Laurel Springs_MY2(2023)_IRT Site Visit Notes

Laurel Springs Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site
Monitoring Year 2 IRT Site Visit Date: 10-18-2023
NC DMS Contract # 7890 RFP # 16-007725 DMS/Project # 100122
USACE Action ID No. SAW-2019-00835 DWR Project No. 2019-0865

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Task 1 a.) Inter-Agency Post Contract Site Visit: Site Visit Notes

Below is a list of attendees and general site visit notes.

Attendees:
USACE:
• Todd Tugwell
• Steve Kichefski

NC WRC:
• Andrea Leslie

NC DMS:
• Paul Wiesner
• Matthew Reid
• Harry Tsomides

NC DWR:
• Mac Haupt
• Maria Polizzi

Restoration Systems:
• JD Hamby

Axiom Environmental
• Grant Lewis

General Site Visit Notes:
• Vegetation adaptive management plan discussion:
 Do not include sycamores in the 2024 replanting effort.
 Include a map detailing the areas that will receive supplemental planting in 2024.
Attached Below.
 RS was cautioned against heavily using black willow live stakes along the channel to
prevent black willows from spreading rapidly throughout the site.

Wetland Notes:
• Replace failed gauges number 2 and 3 at the bottom of the site during the winter, before
the next growing season. Existing hydrology seemed to indicate the probability of collection
failure, rather than reflecting a lack of soil inundation. It was also noted that RS has provided
uplift to many more wetland acres than contracted due to using the with the wider buffer
method calculation tool.

UT-2 Notes:
• The pipe installed in the crossing is not remaining 20% buried as is the goal. The steep
nature of the channel due to site topography was determined to be the cause. RS proposed
adding rock at the culvert outfall this winter and document the work with photos in the
monitoring report. If this effort is unsuccessful, then rubber “flexy baffle” would be a
possible remediation to provide cobble places to lodge in the lower reach of the pipe.

Laurel Springs Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site
Monitoring Year 2 IRT Site Visit Date: 10-18-2023
NC DMS Contract # 7890 RFP # 16-007725 DMS/Project # 100122
USACE Action ID No. SAW-2019-00835 DWR Project No. 2019-0865

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USACE Questions for October Site Visit:
1. Overall, I don’t see any issues with the AMP or proposed species. It is understood that all
species proposed were part of the approved mitigation plan. RS also coordinated with WRC
and Erin (USACE) on species.
Noted
2. RS mentioned a dense herbaceous layer, and poor soil on upland areas as an ongoing issue
for the site. Are there any plans to do ring sprays and/or conduct any soil amendments?
Not at this time, larger, potted plants will be planted instead.
3. The term “exceptional hydrology” was used throughout the document, is this referring to
inundation?
Yes
4. Not part of the AMP, but 2 GWG failed (2 & 3). GWG 3 is the only gauge in the large wetland
rehab area at the southern end of the project.
Noted and discussed during site visit.
5. Visit the UT1 culvert and update IRT on recently added rocks to back water up within the
pipe. Is it perched/buried?
Discussed on site and noted in the meeting minutes.

Draft AMP coordination/response:
Andrea Leslie (NCDWR) - Erin and I have reviewed the AMP. We like the planting list for the most part,
and we’re glad you’re bringing in species that were in the mit plan but not planted. We both think that
leaving white pine out of the new plantings is a good idea – you have volunteers coming in of that
species and it’s not the greatest riparian choice, anyway. Could you substitute persimmon instead?
Persimmon will be substituted.

Erin Davis (USACE) - I didn’t see any major red flags and am generally ok with their approach and plant
selection. I guess I would question why they’re proposing more bareroot white pine when they note
earlier numerous white pine volunteers. I would also ask that they not go crazy with willow live stakes.
Black Willow live stakes will be limited and used only in select areas of the site.

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Source: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community
FIGURE
Drawn by:
Date:
Scale:
Project No.:
PHP, MH
NOV 2023
1:2000
19-009
Title:
Project:
Prepared for:
Avery County, NC
LAUREL SPRINGSMITIGATION SITE
AMPPLANTING PLAN
2
Notes:
1. Background Imagery Source:
2022 aerial photography
provided by the NC OneMap
program (online, provided by
the NC Geographic Information
Coordination Council)
0 300 600150Feet
Legend
Conservation Eas ement = 29.18 acres
AMP Proposed Planting: Pots +/- 1.5 acres
AMP Proposed Planting: Bare Root +/- 13 acres
Permanent Vegetation Plots Meeting MY3 Stem Density Requirements
Permanent Vegetation Plots Not Meeting MY3 Stem Density Requirements
Temporary Vegetation Plots (50m x 2m) Meeting MY2 Stem Density Requirement
Temporary Vegetation Plots (50m x 2m) Not Meeting MY2 Stem Density Requirement
³
UT-4
UT-3
U
T
-
2
U T-1
Fork Creek
UT-5
U
T
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3
A
UT-2A