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Home My WebLink AboutHathway Year 7 (2023) Visual Inspection Summary with Photo Logs - r 1408 Roseneath Road, Suite B Richmond, VA 23230 Corporate Headquarters 6575 West Loop South, Suite 300 Bellaire, TX 77401 Main: 713.520.5400 res.us December 20, 2023 Ms. Samantha Dailey U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105 Wake Forest, NC 27587 Re: Year 7 (2023) Visual Inspection Hathaway Switching Station Stream Restoration Nash County, NC Ms. Samantha Dailey, This summary of findings for Year 7 (2023) of the Hathaway Switching Station stream restoration has been prepared by RES on behalf of Dominion Energy. This visual inspection has been prepared consistent with the reporting requirements specified in the Proposed Stream Mitigation Plan for the Hathaway Switching Station project (DWR # 15-1279 and SAW-2015-01994) and includes a summary of the visual inspection and photo documentation of current conditions on- site. Visual inspections of the site were performed in the spring and fall of 2023 on April 18th and September 21st respectively. Photo logs and additional site photos are included in Enclosure I. The site is located 0.5 miles south of Battleboro, North Carolina and is east of Hathaway Street and south of Crepe Myrtle Street. The restored stream channel is an unnamed tributary of Beech Branch and is within the Upper Tar watershed (03020101). The site was constructed in 2016 with Year 1 monitoring beginning in 2017. The permit required seven years of monitoring, with 2023 being the seventh and final year. In the previous monitoring years, the site has consistently met performance criteria with minimal corrective actions needed. While the tributary was designed as a coastal stream with a focus on floodplain connection, it has recently evolved into a beaver- influenced system with a mosaic of forested and emergent buffer vegetation. Beaver dominate the entire watershed upstream and downstream of the project site. No corrective action was considered reasonable within the project area given the expansive presence of beaver within and adjacent to the site. In 2022, RES noted minor beaver activity along the restoration reach during the fall visual inspection. During a site visit in April 2023, RES noted significant beaver influence throughout the restoration reach, as well as upstream and downstream of the project site. Through continued coordination with the permitting agencies, it was determined that full monitoring of the site for Year 7 was not appropriate given the significant changes to the channel dimensions and vegetative communities as a result of the beaver activity, and visual inspections with photo logs were completed instead. The stream channel has become much wider due to the beaver influence, with the width spanning between five to 20 feet along the channel. Depth of ponding was observed to be 6-12 inches on average with up to three feet at the center of the system. No signs of erosion were observed. There are numerous volunteer Pinus taeda (Loblolly Pine) throughout the project site. This species in particular has been negatively impacted by beaver activity and herbicide treatment; crews spray this tall growing tree along the power line easement and near the substation perimeter. However, there are multiple other native woody and herbaceous species thriving 2 throughout the site. These species include Salix nigra (black willow), Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall (green ash), Eupatorium capillifolium (dog-fennel), Mikania scandens (climbing hempweed), Juncus effusus (common rush), Solidago altissima L. var. altissima (tall goldenrod), and Panicum virgatum (blunt switchgrass). The upstream site tie-in was in good condition, with the culvert functioning as intended. The downstream site tie-in was significantly influenced by the beavers. This area has formed into one of the larger ponds throughout the system yet is still well vegetated and wooded with full canopy closure, as can be seen in the photo logs. Beaver are a native and natural component of streams and wetlands in this region, occurring in many coastal plain streams similar to this site. Beaver impoundments tend to create expanded wetlands within the stream valley and convert some stream channels into ponded open water. Their activities change over time: They move into unoccupied territory, stay as long as food resources (young trees) are available, then move to new territory when food is depleted. Abandoned beaver dams deteriorate over time, allowing stream channels to re-establish through the beaver pond. Many aquatic and terrestrial species co-evolved with beaver as part of the landscape and their presence results in biological uplift across the entire landscape. Beaver moving into a mitigation site should be considered an affirmation that the mitigation project is providing suitable habitat. EPA recently conducted and published a workshop on allowing flexibility within the mitigation program to accommodate dynamic, healthy systems such as beaver influenced sites (https://restorestreams.org/2023_workshop_6, Workshop Proceedings). Based on the visual inspections, the Hathaway Switching Station stream restoration continues to be functioning as a stable, well vegetated, and now beaver-guided stream system. The stream still proves to be a healthy and stable ecosystem for flora and fauna alike. There was an abundance of herbaceous vegetation seen throughout the restored area in addition to areas of woody riparian buffer. Some of the woody species on-site have been thinned by beaver activity or appear stressed due to the ponded water, however, the site remains heavily vegetated and is naturally transitioning to an emergent/ forested wetland mosaic. Different animal species such as butterflies, frogs, fish, snakes, and heron have found habitat within the area and were observed during the visual inspection. The project has consistently been on a positive trajectory post-restoration. By year 5, both in- stream and vegetation monitoring demonstrated success in meeting designated performance metrics outlined in the Stream Mitigation Plan. While the system has evolved from the original design due to the significant influence from beaver colonization, the site continues to support biological communities, provide lateral and vertical connectivity, sustain a diversity of habitats, and retain sediment, nutrients, and woody material. As the site continues to evolve through the natural cycle of beaver influence, it is fully expected that the site will remain a diverse and healthy ecosystem. Best Regards, John Williams Anna Stuart Lambert Field Ecologist Project Manager (804) 551-0460 (804) 729-8984 CC: Maria Polizzi, NC DEQ Heather Kennedy, Dominion Energy 3 Enclosure I Spring 2023 Photo Log Fall 2023 Photo Log Additional Site Photos PHOTO 1-1: Upstream view of the above site tie-in. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 1-2: Downstream view above cross section 1. PHOTO 2-2: Downstream view at cross section 1. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 2-1: Upstream view at cross section 1. I STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 3-1: Downstream view of the restored area near cross section 2. PHOTO 3-2: Veg Plot 1. I STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 4-1: Down site view from right upland buffer. PHOTO 4-2: Veg Plot 2. PHOTO 5-2: Downstream view at the middle of the restored stream. PHOTO 5-1: Upstream view at the middle of the restored stream. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 6-2: Vegetation Plot 4. PHOTO 6-1: Vegetation Plot 3. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 7-2: Downstream view at cross section 2. PHOTO 7-1: Upstream view at cross section 2. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 8-2: Downstream view at below site tie-in. PHOTO 8-1: Upstream view at bottom of restored stream. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 9-2: Looking downstream and perpendicular to Rip Rap channel. PHOTO 9-1: Rip rap channel from corner of the substation. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 10-1: Beaver lodge towards the bottom of restored stream. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Spring 2023 PHOTO 1-1: Upstream view of the above site tie-in. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 1-2: Downstream view above cross section 1. PHOTO 2-2: Downstream view at cross section 1. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 2-1: Upstream view at cross section 1. I STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 3-1: Downstream view of the restored area. PHOTO 3-2: Vegetation Plot 1. I STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 4-1: Down site view from right upland buffer. PHOTO 4-2: Vegetation Plot 2. PHOTO 5-2: Downstream view at the middle of the restored stream. PHOTO 5-1: Upstream view at the middle of the restored stream. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 6-2: Vegetation Plot 4. PHOTO 6-1: Vegetation Plot 3. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 7-2: Downstream view at cross section 2. PHOTO 7-1: Upstream view at cross section 2. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 8-2: Downstream view at below site tie-in. PHOTO 8-1: Upstream view at bottom of restored stream. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 9-2: Looking downstream and perpendicular to Rip Rap channel. PHOTO 9-1: Rip rap channel from corner of the substation. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 PHOTO 10-1: Beaver lodge located above Vegetation Plot 4. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Fall 2023 1 I STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos Evidence of tree height despite beaver activity. Dense tree and understory growth. 2 Beaver dam near middle of project. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos Evidence of beaver activity and ponding at upstream end of project. 3 Buffer at upstream end of project. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos Example of tree height near middle of project. 4 I STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos Buffer near upstream end of project. Buffer near downstream end of project. 5 Photo looking across valley, showing a dense mix of established trees, her- baceous, and emergent vegetation. Herbaceous vegetation along stream edge in area where the canopy was opened by beaver activity. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 6 Scrub shrub vegetation in ponded area. Scrub shrub vegetation in ponded area. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 7 Transition to emergent vegetation near cross section two. Beaver lodge near middle of project. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 8 Emergent vegetation in ponded area transitioning to existing wooded area at downstream end of project. Mix of vegetation near downstream end of project. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 9 Ponding at upstream end of project due to valley-wide on-site beaver dam. Ponding at downstream end of project due to off-site beaver dam. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 10 Mix of trees and emergent vegetation. Transition to emergent buffer along ponded areas. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 11 Multi-channel area forming with emergent vegetation. Mosaic of trees and emergent vegetation in shallow ponded area. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos 12 Mosaic of emergent and shrub vegetation in ponded area. Evidence of woody debris and pool habitat with overhanging trees. STREAM INSPECTION PHOTOGRAPHS Hathaway Switching Station Additional Site Photos