The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About20201938 Ver 2_Loop Road Site Walk Request Memo_20240118Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel – Memo Wildlands Engineering, Inc. page 1 January 18, 2024 MEMORANDUM TO: Katie Merritt, Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator FROM: Andrea Eckardt, Project Manager Kaitlyn Hogarth, Environmental Scientist DATE: January 18, 2024 RE: Request for Site Visit MBI Task 2 Site Walk LOOP ROAD MITIGATION BANK PARCEL- Wayne Co., NC The Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel (Parcel) is in Wayne County approximately 11 miles southwest of the City of Goldsboro. The Parcel creates a protected riparian area from top of bank out to 200 feet along one unnamed tributary (UT1) and two project ditches (D1 and D2). Restoring the riparian area up to 200 feet from project features will reduce nutrient and sediment inputs in the tributaries to Falling Creek and subsequently the Neuse River. The restored floodplain areas will filter sediment during high rainfall events and provide cover and food for wildlife throughout the Parcel. Tables 1 and 2 contain project overview and credit applicability information. Table 1. Project Overview Project Name Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel Hydrologic Unit Code 03020201 River Basin Neuse, not in the Falls Lake watershed Geographic Location (Lat, Long) -78.131426 W, 35.283350 N Site Protection Instrument (DB, PG) BK 3842 PG 67-80 Total Credits 30,838.000 buffer mitigation credits and 25,460.014 Ibs. N Types of Credits Riparian Buffer and Nutrient Offset Credits BPDP Date August 2023 Initial Planting Date December 2023 Baseline Report Date April 2024 MY1 Report Date December 2024 MY2 Report Date December 2025 MY3 Report Date December 2026 MY4 Report Date December 2027 MY5 Report Date December 2028 Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel – Memo Wildlands Engineering, Inc. page 2 January 18, 2024 Table 1. Credit Viability Feature Name (BPDP) Classification Buffer Credit Viable Nutrient Offset Viable UT1 Stream No Yes (non-forested fields only) D1 Ditch No Yes D2 Ditch Yes Yes (non-forested fields only) The proposed buffer mitigation and nutrient offset project includes approximately 13.69 acres of agricultural fields and mature forest along one unnamed tributary (UT1) and two project ditches (D1 and D2). The Parcel easement boundary extends from the top of bank to 200 feet from the two ditches. Approximately 13.69 acres have been protected under the conservation easement. Of the 13.69 acres protected under the conservation easement, the mitigation activity for 12.0 acres is riparian restoration. Of that 12.0 acres of restoration, 0.7 acres are proposed for buffer mitigation credit and 11.2 acres are proposed for nutrient offset credit. The Buffer Interpretation /Clarification Memo #2008-019 applies to DA and D1 where maintenance of diffuse flow onsite is unattainable; therefore, a total of 5,611 square feet is removed from the creditable area. The land use within 200 feet from top of bank of the project features had been maintained and cleared for row crop cultivation prior to restoration activities; therefore, soil disturbance during project planting was minimal. Bare root trees were planted using a dibble bar at a spacing of 7 feet by 12 feet, which resulted in a stem density of 522 stems per acre. The condition of herbaceous cover will be assessed in the spring of 2024. Any areas lacking adequate herbaceous coverage will be seeded in the spring of 2024. Live stakes were planted in a depressional area at the beginning of D1 and inside a ponded area located near Vegetation Plot 3. These areas experience frequent inundation, which is not favorable for establishment of the bare root trees selected. Live stakes were therefore planted, as they have a higher likelihood of survival. Table 3 and 4 include a list of tree species planted along with their composition at planting. Table 3. Bare Root Tree Species Selected for Planting Species Common Name % of Total Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore 15% Betula nigra River Birtch 10% Diospyros virginiana Common Persimmon 5% Quercus nigra Water Oak 10% Quercus phellos Willow Oak 5% Quercus michauxii Swamp Chestnut Oak 10% Nyssa biflora Swamp Tupelo 10% Populus deltoides Eastern Cottonwood 10% Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia 10% Acer negundo Boxelder 10% Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel – Memo Wildlands Engineering, Inc. page 3 January 18, 2024 Species Common Name % of Total Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore 15% Prunus serotina Black Cherry 5% Table 4: Live Stake Tree Species Selected for Planting Species Common Name % Total Salix nigra Black Willow 25% Cephalanthus occidentalis Button Bush 25% Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood 25% Sambucus canadensis Elderberry 25% Easement boundaries have been identified in the field to ensure a clear distinction between the Parcel and adjacent properties. Boundaries are identified by a combination of placards placed upon fence posting at approximately 100-foot intervals and 6 foot “t posts” located near conservation easement corners and wooded areas located along D2. Attachments: Credit Service Area Map Monitoring Components Map Vegetation Plot Photographs Credit Service Area Map Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel Site Walk Request Memo Neuse River Basin (03020201) 0 126 Miles Wayne County, NC ¹ ^_ County Boundaries HUC 03020201 Riparian Buffer & Nutrient Offset Credit Serivce Area ^_Loop Road Bank Parcel Location 03020201 Monitoring Components Map Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel Site Walk Request Memo Neuse River Basin (03020201) 0 200100 Feet Wayne County, NC ¹ 2019 Aerial Photography [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ 8 9 1 2 3 4 7 6 5 D1 UT1 D2 Project Parcel Bank Parcel Conservation Easement Project Stream Project Ditch Non-Project Ditch Riparian Restoration for Buffer Credits Riparian Restoration for Nutrient Offset Credits No Credit Bare Root Planting Livestake Planting Fixed Vegetation Plot Rotating Vegetation Plot Non-project Streams Surveyed Tree Line [Fencing VEGETATION PLOT PHOTOGRAPHS Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel Site Walk Request Memo – Vegetation Plot Photographs VEG PLOT 1 (12/20/23) VEG PLOT 2 (12/20/23) VEG PLOT 3 (12/20/23) VEG PLOT 4 (12/20/23) VEG PLOT 5 (12/20/23) VEG PLOT 6 (12/20/23) Loop Road Mitigation Bank Parcel Site Walk Request Memo – Vegetation Plot Photographs VEG PLOT 7 (12/20/23) RANDOM VEG PLOT 8 (12/20/23) RANDOM VEG PLOT 9 (12/20/23) ___________________________________________________________________________________