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Home My WebLink About20231153 Ver 2_Meeting Minutes_20231011WILDLANDS ENGINEERING Regulatory Stakeholder Meeting #1— Meeting Summary Stakeholder Meeting Meeting: Shulls Mill Dam Removal Project Wildlands Project No. 005-50002 Date: Friday September 11, 2023 at 10am —12pm Minutes distributed 11/3/23 Location: Shulls Mill Dam Project Site, Boone, NC Attendees Jake McLean, Wildlands Engineering-jmclean@wildlandseng.com Andy Hill, MountainTrue Hannah Woodburn, MountainTrue Gray Jernigan, MountainTrue Erin McCombs, American Rivers Andrea Leslie, NC Wildlife Resources Commission Sue Homewood, NCDEQ (401 permitting) Seren Homer, NCDEQ (401 permitting) Amanda Fuemmeler, US Army Corps of Engineers -Asheville (404 permitting) Meeting Summary Discussed Assessment Activities to Date • Topographic survey • Completed JD work • Installed stream gage to look at flows and rainfall -runoff response • Geomorphic evaluation to look at bankfull channel geometry • Geologic evaluation of hillslope processes and impact on channel form • Invasives management Discussed the Proposed Approach Remove sediment in formerly impounded area upstream of dam down to the leave of predicted pre -dam bed level that is to be approximated based on confluence of evidence from assessment activities and summarized in a technical memo as part of permitting application Dispose of sediment onsite to rebuild eroding left bank with secondary disposal area to likely target the right bank rock bar at and downstream of the dam where loose material would be properly protected and revegetated and where hydraulic modeling would support an acceptably low level of risk of material washing out. Restore and protect the left bank which may require some tree removal and excavation beyond the existing top of bank. Material on the left bank close to the channel is largely part of deposition from the former impoundment and easily erodible. The restoration will protect the channel toe with large boulders and wood and stabilize the bank material with matting and reestablish native woody vegetation for long-term stability. Project may use dam concrete material to form the base of restored bank. Break up enough to allow for normal tree growth, bury in bank to prevent future exposure — use natural boulders as face protection rock. Wildlands indicated that natural boulders from area to right of dam may be used extensively and the area renaturalized, as this would be a lesser impact than offsite boulder import although offsite import may be used as necessary. Jake verified for Amanda that both percussive activities and tree clearing were going to be part of the project. Discussed Recent Geotechnical Exploration Activity and Findings • Conducted test digging with excavator to evaluate depth of sediment, refusal depths, ability to execute preliminary channel diversion approach (ability to move or break up large rocks on site) • Findings were basically as follows: o The upper end of the former impoundment has shallow bedrock leading to the conclusion that the project channel manipulation activities should start below the point bar and bedrock area since the upstream morphology is bedrock driven. o The remainder of the former impoundment does not have bedrock. Test pits were able to be dug to a depth of —6-8' and had consistent gravelly and sandy material. A thin (6- 12") layer of organic (leafy) material was present with additional gravel and sandy material below. ■ The thin layer of material is not judged to pose an undue risk to the project. This material will be maintained onsite and managed to prevent its downstream transport. It is anticipated that removing 3-6' of material from the bed between the bedrock controlled area and the dam would return the channel to its original configuration. Project Timing Mountaintrue & American Rivers have verbal agreement to receive grant funding to construct project. They will know more details in November. Jake indicated target project window was early spring to early summer, but that could potentially be ready to start sooner. Other Questions and Discussion Wildlands is going to check on scoping letters. Amanda offered that Wildlands could submit permits a little earlier in process to start consultation process. Jake told Andrea that design team would submit preliminary memo in advance of permitting submittal that could be used by WRC to evaluate proposed approach to flow diversion, material relocation, and other considerations. Jake will plan to meet with WRC in November -December of 2023 or during dormant season to review plan and refine approach as needed to meet resource concerns. Shulls Mill Dam — Regulatory Stakeholder Meeting 10.11.23 (Summary 10.26.23) • Jake and Andy have both talked to County and no real concerns about county permitting process (floodplain permit). Next Steps • Provide tree clearing information to Corps / USFWS to start consultation, or submit permit application with this and other information. o Whatever happens, Jake needs to make sure that if tree clearing has to occur in winter that this is 1-known and 2-acted upon prior to the beginning of the bat nesting period. • Work on getting plans to 60% and doing a field review with WRC. Submit technical memo brief to describe rationale for design as part of this. Refine plans and package after and submit 75% plans and full memo with PCN to get permitting started. • Finish no -rise modeling and submit to County in early 2024. • Finish ESC plans and submit ESC package in early 2024. Shulls Mill Dam — Regulatory Stakeholder Meeting 10.11.23 (Summary 10.26.23)