[External] Pickle Creek Phase II Site Visit Minutes

M E M O R A N D U M

3600 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100 Raleigh, North Carolina 27612 | 919.209.1052 tel. [phone] fax

TO: NCDWR
FROM: Katie Obenauf – RES
DATE: March 5, 2024 (discussion held on February 29, 2024)
RE: Summary of Task 2 (Phase 2): Vegetation Planting and Monitoring Device Completion
within Miscanthus planted areas Site Visit for Pickle Creek Phase II Nutrient Offset Bank,
Wayne County, NC
DWR #2021-0348 V3

Attendees
Blake Hartshorn, NCDWR
Emily Dunnigan, NCDMS
Katie Obenauf, RES

Date & Time
February 29, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m.

Project Summary
Construction, planting, and as-built set-up of the Pickle Creek Phase II Bank Parcel, under the RES Pickle Creek Phase II
Nutrient Offset Banking Instrument, are now complete. As constructed, the Pickle Creek Phase II site provides 23,172.844
nutrient offset credits. The site, including the DMS site, was prepped in March 2023 by ripping, seeding and marking the
DMS and Bank Easements with signage. Trees were planted on May 16th, 2023 and As-Built Monitoring Device Installation
was conducted on May 17 and 24. During as-built set-up, eleven planted tree species were recorded, and the plots yielded
an average of 699 stems per acre. Due to dense Miscanthus giganteus, 6.63 acres of the total 25.89 acres was not planted in
May to allow for treatment of the crop and provide better conditions for survival of planted bareroots. After three treatments
made up of mechanical and chemical means, the remaining 6.63 acres were planted on December 14th, 2023. The two
remaining fixed vegetation plots, plots 15 and 17, were installed and monitored on January 10, 2024. Changes to these two
established vegetation plots are limited to minor location changes. During set up of these two plots, eight planted species
were recorded, and an average of 749 stems per acre were recorded.

Site Visit Discussion
The site visit began with a walk down D2 to check stems in plot 15, top of bank plantings, and easement signs. The group
continued south to see plot 17 and plot 4 within the DMS easement, continuing to check top of bank and easement line for
stems, and signs for spacing. DWR and RES then walked west through the easement to cross D3 to look at the boundary
area between 19 and 20 that needs additional bareroot trees. Then, DWR and RES continued west across the site, crossed
D5, and used the crossing to meet up with DMS to see the western most DMS sections that were previously Miscanthus
giganteus. Veg plot 12, easement markers, and top of bank were checked in the three western most DMS easement sections
and then the site visit concluded.
o All veg plots and areas that were planted had adequate stems per acre and were planted at consistent spacing,
apart from 3 areas. Two of which are within the DMS easement, the remaining location is within the Bank easement.
 The easement line between plots 19 and 20 need additional stems. DWR requested that RES plant
the easement line and ensure there are stems within 6 feet of the easement line. This area will be
planted with 1-gallon container trees.

 0.01 acre in the very western portion of the DMS easement needs additional stems. This area will
be planted with bareroot stems.
 Additional stems are needed within the DMS easement along the top of bank of J1. This area will
be planted with bareroot stems.
o All easement signage was installed and spaced out adequately.
 A few signs were damaged during a miscanthus harvest in late fall of 2023, before the final planting
of bareroot trees. These signs are to be repaired during the maintenance crew’s next visit.
o DWR suggests we install an ESP or plant livestakes at top of ditch D2 to help with runoff from the road.
 RES plans to plant 3 or 4 1-gallon trees instead of livestakes at the top of D2. It is RES’ opinion that
the area does not get enough water to support livestakes. Small container trees being planted
instead of livestakes was discussed with DWR and DWR agreed that this option should be fine to
prevent erosion.

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NC CGIA, Maxar
©
February Site
Walkover Map
Pickle Creek Phase II
Mitigation Project
Wayne County,
North Carolina
Date: 3/4/2024 Drawn by: KTO
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Restoring a resilient earth for a modern world
0 300150
Feet
Legend
Easement 10.59 ac (Bank)
Easement 18.08 ac (DMS)
Treated Miscanthus and Planted Area
Stream Type
Ditch
Ephemeral
Intermittent
Perennial
MY0 Veg Plots
Bank Veg Plots
DMS Veg Plots
Task
Add Markers
Plant Bareroots
Reset Damaged Markers and Plant
DMS Supplemental Planting Areas
Checked by: JRM1 inch = 300 feet
0.01 acre
bareroot planting
Additional t-posts
to be added to
clarify boundary
~ 300 LF top of bank planting
Replacing damaged signs and
planting 1-gallon trees to clarify
boundaries.
Planting 1-gallons to
prevent erosion at top
of ditch
Planting 1-gallons along
easement boundary