20180179 Ver 1_WLS Yadkin01-GrassyCreekTributaries_MY3CreditReleaseLetter

January 29, 2024

Regulatory Division

Subject: Year 3 Monitoring Report Review and Credit Release associated with WLS
Yadkin 01 UMB - Grassy Creek Tributaries Mitigation Site (AID SAW-2017-02528)

Ms. Cara Conder
Water and Land Solutions, LLC
7721 Six Forks Rd., Suite 130
Raleigh, NC 27615

Dear Ms. Conder:

This correspondence is in reference to the monitoring report and credit release
request submitted for the WLS Yadkin 01 UMB - Grassy Creek Tributaries Mitigation Site,
Action ID SAW-2017-02528. The purpose of this letter is to transmit comments provided
by the NC Interagency Review Team (NCIRT) during the review of the monitoring report
and to confirm the annual credit release.

The review of the annual monitoring report followed procedures outlined in Section
332.8(o)(9) of the Mitigation Rule. The comments listed below were provided by the
NCIRT during this process. While it is not necessary to provide a response to specific
comments at this time, please be sure to address the issues raised in future monitoring
report submittals.

Andrew Friedman-Herring, NCDWR
1. Overall, the stream flow data and geomorphology data look good.
2. Thank you for including photos of all of the problem areas. DWR supports
continuing to monitoring the J-Hook structure for new signs of instability.
3. The vegetation height data is slightly concerning, with plots 4 and 7 having much
lower heights than the rest of the project with only 2ft and 1ft respectively. Looking
at the photos, there are a few trees in plot 7 that appear to be multiple feet tall. Is
this average height data for plot 7 correct? Does WLS have an idea of why the
heights might be so low for certain areas of the project?

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343

Steve Kichefski, USACE
1. Appendix D - MY3 Cross-Sections: Are the % Change Bank Height Ratio numbers
provided the change from one monitoring year to the next or since Baseline MY0?
Visually, the graphs for xs- 5 and 6 show more variation from MY2 than xs- 10,
please verify those numbers and graphs.
2. Bankfull event occurrences via pressure transducer on 3/3/2023 and 8/6/2023
(Table 7) do not seem to line up with large precipitation events and crest gauge
bankfull readings (Figure 3). Please verify data and update?

Based on our review of the monitoring report and the results of the NCIRT review, we
confirm that you have satisfied requirements included in the approved banking instrument
and mitigation plan for this site. Accordingly, with this correspondence we confirm the
release of credits as shown on the attached credit release schedule.

Thank you for your interest in restoring and protecting waters of the United States. If
you have questions regarding this letter, please contact me by email at
[e-mail] or telephone [phone].

Sincerely,

for
Todd Tugwell
Chief, Mitigation Branch
Enclosure

cc (by email):
NCIRT Distribution List