20171122 Ver 2_2024-02-01_Meeting Notes_2017-1122 v2_GUC - 2023 MY4 Report__20240205

Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes St. Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina
Ph: [phone]
February 3, 2024 Fx: [phone]

1101 Haynes St., Suite 211 • Raleigh, NC 27604 • www.restorationsystems.com • Ph 919.755.9490 • Fx 919.755.9492

Katie Merritt
Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
[e-mail]

Subject: GUC Buffer/Nutrient Offset Site
MY 4 (2023) Monitoring Report, Preliminary AMP Meeting – Microsoft Teams
DWR # 2017-1122 v2

Attendees:
NCDEQ-DWR:
- Katie Merritt
- Andrew Friedman-Herring
Restoration Systems:
- Raymond Holz - Matthew Harrell
- Josh Merritt

Overview:
On February 1, 2024, Restoration Systems (RS) held a virtual meeting with NCDEQ staff from the 401 & Buffer
Permitting Unit to discuss the MY 4 (2023) GUC Monitoring Report and review the MY 4 results and RS implemented
Adaptive Management Plans (AMP) to date.

The meeting began with RS summarizing the current conditions at the GUC Site and outlining all AMP work
completed between year 1 (2020) through year 4 (2023). MY 4 (2023) vegetation monitoring resulted in a site wide
average of 241 stems per acre. Success criteria for the Site is 260 stems per acre. Though on a site-wide average, the
site is at 92.69% of the success criteria, many portions are well below the success criteria on a per-plot basis.

AMPs to-date have focused on replanting efforts based on the original planting plan. Below is a summary of all
planting efforts at the Site which are further detailed in the MY4 (2023) Monitoring Report (Appendix C):
Restoration Area = 86.20 Acres
- 2020 Originally Planting 63,900 stems.
- 2021 Adaptive Management Planting 24,650 stems.
- 2022 Adaptive Management Planting 14,350 stems.
- 2023 Adaptive Management Planting 3,750 stems.
Total Stems Planted = 106,650 stems or 1,237 stems per acre.

Meeting Notes:
- RS’ traditional AMP approaches to achieve Site success criteria of 260 stems per acre has not have the
desired results. RS is seeking to develop a hybrid AMP to achieve both site success criteria based on stems
per acre and the nutrient reduction goals associated with the Site’s Banking Instrument, 15A NCAC 02B
.0258, 15A NCAC 02B .0240, and the Consolidated Buffer Mitigation Rule 15A NCAC 02B .0295.

- Achievement of Site goals and objectives were originally planned to be accomplished through the planting
of deciduous tree planting and native pollinator seeding. Through RS’ own on-site observations, and a site
visit with RS’ long-term nursery representative, the following report was detailed in the MY4 (2023)
Monitoring Report.
o Soil Conditions
 Very sandy soil that could be prone to drought.

 It was noted that there was a small area (approximately 1 acre) in the southwest corner
of the site that was known to be very wet seasonally. This area had significantly higher
density of living tree species and taller tree species. This could speak to the importance
of soil moisture dynamics on the site.
GUC Buffer/Nutrient Offset Site Page 2
MY 4 (2023) Monitoring Report, Preliminary AMP Meeting – Microsoft Teams
DWR # 2017-1122 v2

 It was also noted that there were almost no species present that typically have shallow
and fibrous root systems throughout the site. These would be the red maple, sweetgum,
buttonbush, silky dogwood type species. This is very rare to not have these species
present in some degree. Along with this, it was noted that oaks were found throughout
the site. Oaks are tap rooted species that have deeper root systems from the nursery
and are also more drought tolerant. This again could speak to important soil moisture
dynamics.

o Vegetation
 Think competing vegetation was observed over most of the site. There were occasional
patches of light herbaceous vegetation throughout the site. This seemed odd as there
seemed to be no reason to have these differences based on the soil and other site
factors in adjacent areas with heavy vegetation. This could point to soil chemical
properties in these areas given the historical land use.

 It was noted that the land adjacent to the project site was used in crop production in
recent years. It could be possible that herbicides used to manage the crops drifted over
the project area. The lack of the fibrous rooted species and presence of oak species
corroborates this as oaks are much more tolerant of herbicides in general than the other
species. Removing this risk to increase the success of future plantings should be part of
the strategy.

o Other Factors
 Significant deer browsing was observed on all living stems. There were oaks that had a
one-inch caliper at the soil line that were only two feet tall due to deer browsing. There
is no question that deer browsing is impacting success on this site.

- RS is committed to the development and implementation of a hybrid AMP in which additional measures to
achieve site success criteria and nutrient reduction goals are achieved.
o Given the Site’s geographic and landscape position; including soil structure, RS is of the belief that
the Site is better suited as an Oak/Pine Savanna rather than a bottomland hardwood forest, which
is more commonly associated with riparian buffer mitigation and nutrient offset reduction sites.
o RS and DWR staff discussed possible hybrid AMP measures to achieve the Site’s success criteria
and nutrient reduction goals. There included:
 The planting of pines to achieve the “pine” component of an Oak/Pine Savanna
• Additional planting of tap-root hardwood species.

 Additional BMP practices that could be implemented on site to achieve the Site’s nutrient
reduction goals.
• Marsh treatment areas to treat agricultural runoff prior to entering the Site.
• Inclusion of micro-topography into the Site.
• Development of beaver analogs within the Site’s features to improve
groundwater levels and provide a nutrient sink of phosphors and TSS.
• Establishment of a native herbaceous layer appropriate for the Site’s soil
conditions (previous seeding efforts were focused on native pollinator species)

- DWR recommended RS complete additional research to better understand the nutrient reduction
associated with pines and native herbaceous species better suited for the Site’s sandy soil conditions.

- DWR and RS agreed to conduct a site visit in April/May of 2024, with the goal developing an AMP and
receiving AMP approval from DWR before August of 2024 – allowing RS the ability to secure necessary
tree/seed stock ahead of AMP implementation in December 2024-Janruary 2025.