20110645 Ver 1_Year 0 Monitoring Report_2014_20160224

EAST FORK PIGEON RIVER WETLANDS PROJECT
SCO ID 10-07350-01
HAYWOOD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepared for:
NC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
ECOSYSTEM ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
217 West Jones Street; 3rd Floor
Suite 3000A
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
FINAL WETLAND MITIGATION REPORT
March 5, 2014

Prepared by:
ameO'
AMEC ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE, INC.
4021 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 100
Durham, North Carolina 27703
MACTEC Project Number: 6470100214
Telephone Number: [phone]
Facsimile Number: [phone]
Project Manager: Richard G. Harmon, PWS
Telephone Number: [phone]

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.0 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................. 1
2.0 BASELINE WETLAND CONDITIONS........................................................................................ 2
2.1 Jurisdictional Wetlands................................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Hydrologic Characterization......................................................................................................... 2
2.3 Soil Characterization..................................................................................................................... 3
2.4 Topographic Characterization.......................................................................................................4
2.5 Plant Community Characterization............................................................................................... 4
2.6 Nuisance Plant Species Characterization...................................................................................... 5
3.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION PLAN........................................................................... 7
3.1 Mitigation Plan Goals and Objectives.......................................................................................... 7
3.2 Nuisance Plant Species Control.................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Wetland Planting Plan................................................................................................................... 8
3.4 Ground Level Site Photography..................................................................................................10
3.5 Project Components....................................................................................................................10
4.0 MONITORING PLAN.................................................................................................................. 12
5.0 SITE PROTECTION AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ................................... 13
5.1 Legal Protection of Wetland Mitigation Area.............................................................................13
5.2 Long Term Management Plan.....................................................................................................13
6.0 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................. 14
b

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Project Vicinity Map, East Fork Pigeon River, Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Figure 2 Jurisdictional Surface Waters, East Fork Pigeon River, Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Figure 3a Nuisance Plants Initial Site Assessment — 2010, East Fork Pigeon River, Final Wetland
Mitigation Report
Figure 3b Nuisance Plants Follow-up Site Assessment — January 2014, East Fork Pigeon River,
Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Figure 4 Planting Plan and Species Composition — December 2013, East Fork Pigeon River, Final
Wetland Mitigation Report
Figure 5 Jurisdictional Surface Waters and 2013 Wetland Planting Areas, East Fork Pigeon River,
Final Wetland Mitigation Report
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Installed Plant Material (December 2013) for the East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands
Project, Wetland Mitigation Plan, Haywood County, North Carolina
Table 2 Project Components for the East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project, Wetland
Mitigation Plan, Haywood County, North Carolina
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A Figures
Appendix B Ground Level Site Photography
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
1.0 BACKGROUND
The East Fork Pigeon River project site (Site) is a 15.73 -acre parcel of land that is located to the south of the
Town of Canton, in Haywood County, North Carolina (Figure 1, in Appendix A). Figure 1 includes
directions to the Site. The Site is bordered on the west, north, and east sides by Old Michael Road, while
the southern boundary of the Site abuts forested wetlands (Figure 2, in Appendix A). The Site presently
consists of a bottomland hardwood forest, numerous shrub and groundstory openings, and a small upland
stand of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Surface waters include a perennial stream channel, which
occurs near the western project boundary, and the East Fork (of the) Pigeon River, which includes braided
channels and overlaps the southern project boundary at multiple locations. The Site is owned by Ms. Helen
Coleman. The North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) has obtained a Conservation
Easement for the Site. The Conservation Easement is held by the State of North Carolina and has been
recorded at the Haywood County Courthouse.
The Wetland Mitigation Plan for the Site proposed wetland enhancement of a bottomland hardwood
forest which encompassed the floodplain of the East Fork Pigeon River. Nuisance plant species have
become established over time within the bottomland hardwood forest (jurisdictional wetlands) on site.
The Wetland Mitigation Plan presented methods for the control of six (6) nuisance plant species. The
Wetland Mitigation Plan also included a conceptual planting program to install desirable wetland plant
species within the jurisdictional wetland area. The elements of the nuisance species control program and
the planting plan were approved by the EEP prior to implementation. The wetland enhancement for the
Site was not proposed to off -set or mitigate for any particular project; however, the proposed
enhancement would provide a quantified amount of EEP wetland mitigation credit for various permitted
projects which occur within the same U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 8 -digit Hydrologic Unit Code
(HUC). The Site is located in the French Broad River Basin HUC 06010106 (DWQ 2010; USGS 2010).
This HUC is identified as a Targeted Local Watershed (TLW) in EEP's 2009 French Broad River Basin
Restoration Priority (RBRP).
AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. (AMEC) has prepared this Final Wetland Mitigation Report
for EEP to facilitate the monitoring program that shall be implemented for the Site, as principally
including the assessment of survivorship, growth, and/or vitality of the installed plant material within the
jurisdictional wetlands and the extent, vitality, and/or recruitment of nuisance plant species.
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project
Haywood County, North Carolina
2.0 BASELINE WETLAND CONDITIONS
2.1 Jurisdictional Wetlands
March 3, 2014
AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
The 15.73 -acre Site is comprised of 13.95 acres of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) jurisdictional
wetlands, 0.82 acre of jurisdictional surface waters, and 0.96 acre of non jurisdictional uplands (Figure 2).
The jurisdictional wetlands include a bottomland hardwood forest with shrub and groundstory openings.
The non jurisdictional uplands include an eastern white pine community, which occurs near the western
boundary of the Site, and linear areas of the shoulder (berm) of Old Michael Road, which extend along
the western, northern, and eastern boundaries of the Site. Jurisdictional surface waters include 1,411
linear feet (0.77 acre) of the East Fork Pigeon River and 664 linear feet (0.05 acre) of a perennial,
unnamed tributary to the East Fork Pigeon River. The 0.05 -acre perennial stream channel occurs near the
western project boundary and flows to the south to a point of confluence with the East Fork Pigeon River
near the southwest corner of the Site. The East Fork Pigeon River enters the Site as a braided channel
system at a point along the southern project boundary and leaves the Site near the southwest corner of the
Site as a single thread channel system.
AMEC professional wetland scientists delineated the landward limits of jurisdictional waters of the U.S,
including streams and wetlands on the Site in April 2010 pursuant to the methods defined in the 1987
USACE Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987). Mr. Tyler Crumbley of the
USACE - Asheville Regulatory Field Office conducted a site inspection of the delineated wetlands on
October 6, 2010, with AMEC professional wetland scientists in attendance. The inspected wetland limits
were then surveyed by Mr. David Alley of Cavanaugh (NC Professional Land Surveyor). The signed and
sealed, specific purpose survey of the landward limits of USACE regulatory jurisdiction for the Site was
subsequently submitted to Mr. Crumbley for approval and signature. The USACE Notification of
Jurisdictional Determination for the Site was issued on November 3, 2010, under Action Id No. 2010-
01783 (expiration date of November 3, 2015).
2.2 Hydrologic Characterization
The Site is located within the French Broad River Basin (USGS 8 -digit HUC 06010106). This HUC is
identified as a Targeted Local Watershed (TLW) in EEP's 2009 French Broad River Basin Restoration
Priority (RBRP): In addition, the Site is situated within the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) 100 -year flood zone (Zone A7) according to Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Panel No.
370120 0190B (FEMA 2010). The proposed activities for this project did not require a FEMA
development permit. Furthermore, the project did not require a Clean Water Act Section 404 / Section
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
401 permit as no ground disturbing activities within jurisdictional wetlands were anticipated or completed
on the Site.
Drainage on the Site is generally to the south and west through the wetlands, the East Fork Pigeon River,
and an unnamed perennial tributary to the East Fork Pigeon River. The East Fork Pigeon River is
classified in the North Carolina Division of Water Quality, Basinwide Information Management System
as a Water Supply III (WS -III) waterbody and Trout Waters (Tr). Areas of the bottomland hardwood
forest are shallowly inundated or saturated. Based on personal communication with the previous
landowner, the majority of the Site was farmed in the past, with cessation of farming activities occurring a
few decades ago. The farming activities included the establishment of small ditches to facilitate drainage
of the farm land. These drainage ditches do not appear to significantly affect the current hydrology of the
Site. Some hydrologic enhancement has occurred on the project site for an unknown period of time due
to the activities of beaver (Castor canadensis); i.e., a small number of beaver dams historically
contributed to the impoundment of surface water within the eastern portion of the bottomland hardwood
forest. Beavers do not appear to be active on the Site at the present time, however. The various
hydrologic changes through time have led to wetter site conditions since farming activities were
abandoned and these wetter site conditions have facilitated the establishment of hydrophytes on the Site.
Finally, other sources of hydrology for the Site include three culvert features which occur along Old
Michael Road. Stream flow is conveyed onto the Site by these culverts. The westernmost culvert
conveys stream flow from an off-site, potentially jurisdictional, stream feature into the perennial stream
channel that occurs near the western Site boundary. The central culvert conveys stream flow from another
off-site, potentially jurisdictional, stream feature into the wetland drainageway that extends along the
northern Site boundary and Old Michael Road. The easternmost culvert (cross culvert) discharges
stormwater into the aforementioned wetland drainageway.
2.3 Soil Characterization
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS), the Site is underlain by the Dellwood
cobbly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded (DeA) map unit, which encompasses
depressions and floodplains (landforms) (MRCS 2010). The NRCS considers this map unit to include
hydric soil inclusions; i.e., small areas of Cullowhee or Nikwasi soils in depressions. The hydric criteria
for this map unit is listed by the NRCS as `2133'; i.e., soils that are poorly drained or very poorly drained
and have a water table at a depth of 1.0 foot or less during the growing season if permeability is less than
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
6.0 inches per hour in any layer within a depth of 20 inches. An AMEC Licensed Soil Scientist
confirmed, through on-site soil probing, that the wetland areas within the Site were underlain by hydric
soils. The hydric soils observed in the field consisted generally of loam textures. Redoximorphic features
(mottles) were observed within one foot of the existing ground surface.
2.4 Topographic Characterization
According to the USGS topographic quadrangle (Asheville, North Carolina), no distinct variation in
topography is apparent across the Site. An elevation (contour interval) of 2,760 feet mean sea level is
depicted on the quadrangle along the north side of Old Michael Road and to the south of the southern Site
boundary. No contour interval was depicted on the quadrangle for the interior of the Site. More detailed
topographic data for the project site were provided through a specific purpose topographic survey of
ground elevations conducted by Cavanaugh in November 2010. The Cavanaugh field survey entailed the
collection of ground elevation data at 100 -foot grid intersections. Based on the results of this topographic
survey, the ground elevations ranged from approximately 2,760 feet at Old Michael Road at the
southeastern corner of the Site to approximately 2,735 feet at the southwestern corner of the Site near the
confluence of the East Fork Pigeon River and the unnamed perennial stream. Low contour intervals (low
surveyed ground elevations), ranging from approximately 2,737 to 2,739 feet, occurred within the east -
central portion of the Site where shallow pooling was observed during field reconnaissance. Another area
of low contour intervals and shallow pooling occurred within the west -central portion of the Site, where
the ground elevations ranged from 2,738 to 2,739 feet. The surveyed 2,740 -foot contour interval generally
extended through the western half of the Site.
2.5 Plant Community Characterization
The distribution, structure, and species composition of the plant communities that occur on the Site partly
reflect historic agricultural land use practices. The jurisdictional wetlands encompass a bottomland
hardwood forest with scattered shrub and groundstory openings (Figure 2). The wetlands are areas of
poorly -drained, seasonally saturated soils in lowlands abutting the East Fork Pigeon River. Areas of
shallow seasonal pooling (i.e., generally less than 6 inches) are also present within on-site depressions.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) online Wetlands Mapper
(USFWS 2010) identifies the majority of the wetlands area on the Site as Code PSS1A, or Palustrine,
Scrub/Shrub, Broad-leaved Deciduous, Temporary Flooded (Cowardin et al. 1979). Based on the natural
community classification scheme for North Carolina by Schafale and Weakley (1990), the wetlands area
on the Site would be classified as Piedmont/Mountain Bottomland Forest.
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
Within the portions of the on-site bottomland hardwood forest that contain dominant or co -dominant
overstory vegetation, the canopy stratum is comprised of sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), black willow
(Salix nigra), and red maple (Acer rubrum). Areas comprised of shrubs and areas dominated by
groundstory plants are interspersed throughout the Site. These areas occur as openings within the
bottomland hardwood forest. The shrub vegetation primarily includes black willow (saplings) and
multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). The groundstory is comprised of sedges, rushes, and herbaceous plants,
such as swamp aster (Aster puniceus), soft rush (Juncus effusus), orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis),
false -nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), sedges (Carex spp.), panic grass (Panicum sp.), blackberry (Rubus
sp.), multiflora rose, seedbox (Ludwigia sp.), and duck -potato (Sagittaria latifolia).
2.6 Nuisance Plant Species Characterization
In the baseline condition (pre -enhancement), nuisance (invasive) plant species that occurred within the
bottomland hardwood forest on the Site, or in upland areas adjacent to the Site, included bamboo
(Phyllostachys sp.), common cattail (Typha latifolia), multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria
japonica), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and/or kudzu (Pueraria montana). The North
Carolina Native Plant Society (NCNPS) lists multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed, kudzu, and Japanese
honeysuckle as each having a `severe' threat (Rank 1 category) to native plant communities in North
Carolina (NCNPS 2010). The NCNPS lists bamboo as having a `significant' threat (Rank 2 category) to
native plant communities in North Carolina. No ranking of threat to native plant communities is assigned
for cattail by the NCNPS.
Figure 3a (Appendix A) presents the general locations (areal cover) of the aforementioned six nuisance
plant species. Three stands of bamboo were found in or adjacent to the Site. The largest stand of bamboo
(Bamboo Area 1; 0.88 acre) was present within the eastern portion of the Site, along the northern bank of
the East Fork Pigeon River. The two, smaller, stands of bamboo were present along the southern
shoulder of Old Michael Road (Bamboo Area 2; 0.09 acre) and the northern side of the road (Bamboo
Area 3; 0.12 acre). While both of these latter two stands of bamboo occurred outside of the Site
boundary, they were considered to be a potential seed source for this nuisance species. A cattail area
(Cattail Area 1; 0.61 acre) was present within the north -central portion of the Site, within a shallow
inundated shrub/groundstory opening of the bottomland hardwood forest. Two smaller areas of cattail
were also present on the Site: Cattail Area 2 (0.06 acre) occurred within the western portion of the Site
and Cattail Area 3 (0.002 acre) existed near the southeast corner of the Site. Kudzu occurred on or
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project
Haywood County, North Carolina
March 3, 2014
AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
adjacent to the Site at three locations. Kudzu Area 1 (0.24 acre) abutted the northwest boundary of the
Site along the southern shoulder of Old Michael Road, while Kudzu Area 2 (0.11 acre) and a Japanese
Knotweed/Kudzu Area (0.02 acre) occurred within the southeastern portion of the Site in the bottomland
hardwood forest. Japanese knotweed was sparsely scattered within the southeastern portion of the Site.
The two observed locations of Japanese knotweed include Japanese Knotweed Area 1 (0.06 acre) and the
Japanese Knotweed/Kudzu Area (0.02 acre). Multiflora rose was scattered throughout the bottomland
hardwood forest, under the forest canopy and within the shrub openings. With regard to density and areal
coverage, multiflora rose was the most common of the six nuisance plant species observed on the Site.
Japanese honeysuckle was sparsely scattered throughout the bottomland hardwood forest. The
boundaries (areal cover) of the aforementioned areas of nuisance plant species occurrence were obtained
through global positioning system (GPS) technology, via October 2010 field reconnaissance conducted by
AMEC.
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
3.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION PLAN
3.1 Mitigation Plan Goals and Objectives
The established mitigation goals for the Site were to enhance and protect existing wetlands and wildlife
habitat along the East Fork Pigeon River. Specifically, the target goal was the vegetative enhancement of
the existing wetland community on the Site. The project objectives included:
• Enhance existing wetlands by removing identified invasive plant species through manual and/or
chemical methods and by planting native species within the Site.
• Protecting the wetlands on the Site with a permanent Conservation Easement.
3.2 Nuisance Plant Species Control
The control of nuisance plant species within the bottomland hardwood forest and shrub/groundstory open
areas on the Site entailed the treatment of the aforementioned six nuisance plant species (Figure 3a). The
control methods entailed the treatment of small -sized plants with foliar spray and larger stems by hack
and squirt. The chemical `aquatic glyphosate' was used for the herbicide applications. The cut bamboo
in Bamboo Area 1 was placed in a slash pile and burned on the Site. New shoots of bamboo which
developed after the initial treatment were treated with aquatic glyphosate. All control treatments were
conducted by HARP. The treatment periods included: June 5, 2012 through November 2, 2012 (all week
days except if raining) and April 17, 2013 through June 2, 2013 (all week days except if raining). AMEC
inspected the treated areas of the Site on July 13, 2013 and November 6, 2013 The nuisance plant species
were treated for two growing seasons prior to the planting of the Site. Note: EEP postponed the planting
of the Site to allow for an additional growing season of nuisance species control prior to planting.
A control treatment was conducted for Chinese privet (Ligustrunt sinense) in December 2013 by HARP.
Chinese privet was scattered throughout the bottomland hardwood forest, as was multiflora rose.
Two upland areas that were infested with bamboo were included in the nuisance plant species control
effort. The two areas were located outside of the Conservation Easement, along the south side (Bamboo
Area 2) and the north side (Bamboo Area 3) of Old Michael Road (Figure 3a).
Figure 3b (Appendix A) presents the locations (areal cover) of two areas of living stems of multiflora rose
which were observed during a January 2014 field reconnaissance conducted by AMEC, after the plant
installation effort was completed. The boundaries of these two areas were obtained through GPS
technology. Both areas will be treated by an EEP nuisance plant species control contractor in the 2014
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
growing season. Follow up treatments for the control of all nuisance plant species within the bottomland
hardwood forest and shrub/groundstory open areas on the Site will be conducted through the wetland
monitoring term as necessary.
3.3 Wetland Planting Plan
In addition to the control of nuisance plant species, the Wetland Mitigation Plan entailed the installation
of wetland plant species within the Site. Subsequent to nuisance species control, a portion of the
jurisdictional wetlands were planted in December of 2013 with wetland tree and shrub species. The
planting periods included December 19 through 23 and December 26 through 29, 2013. Tree and shrub
species were selected that were native to Haywood County and/or common to the bottomland hardwood
forested community along the East Fork Pigeon River. The planting operation was conducted by Habitat
Assessment & Restoration Professionals (HARP) (Charlotte, NC). Prior to plant installation, discussions
were completed among staff from HARP, AMEC, and EEP to finalize the planting palette. Figure 4
(Appendix A) presents the boundaries of the four wetland areas within the bottomland hardwood forest /
shrub and groundstory openings of the Site that were planted in December 2013. Figure 5 (Appendix A)
presents these four wetland planting areas and the approved jurisdictional wetlands boundary. Table 1
presents information on the December 2013 planting plan specifications: plant species (common name
and scientific name); quantity installed; and USACE wetness tolerance. The size of
Table 1. Installed Plant Material (December 2013) for the East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands
Proiect. Wetland Mitigation Plan. Haywood County. North Carolina.
Common Name
F Scientific Name'
Number of
Tree/Shrub
Seedlings to
Plant
Wetness
Tolerance2
Wetland Area 1 0.29 acre
Black gum
N ssa s lvatica
100
FAC
Tulip tree
Liriodendron tuli i era
100
FAC
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
100
FACW-
Subtotal
300
Wetland Area 2 1.05 acre
Black gum
N ssa s lvatica
100
FAC
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
200
FACW-
Green ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
200
FACW
Silky dogwood
Cornus amomum
300
FACW+
Subtotal
800
Wetland Area 3 0.19 acre
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
100
FACW-
Green ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
100
FACW
Tulip tree
Liriodendron tuli i era
100
FAC
Subtotal
300
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
' Taxonomic nomenclature based on Alan S. Weakley in Flora of the Southern and Mid -Atlantic States, March 8, 2010 Working
Draft, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
2 Wetness Tolerance based on Plant Indicator Status in National List of Plant Species That Occur in. Wetlands (Region 2 -
Southeast), Resource Management Group, Inc., 1999. Abbreviations: FACW = Facultative Wetland; FAC = Facultative; UPL =
Upland.
wetland planting Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0.29, 1.05, 0.19, and 0.73 acres, respectively. The total
wetland planting area on the Site was 2.26 acres. The boundaries (and acreage values) of the four
planting areas were obtained through GPS technology, via January 2014 field reconnaissance conducted
by AMSC. The wetland plant material was comprised of five species of wetland trees and two wetland
shrub species. The tree species included: black gum (Nyssa sylvatica); green ash (Fraxinus
pennsylvanica); sycamore (Platanus occidentalis); tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera); and shumard oak
(Quercus shumardii). The shrub species included silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) and elderberry
(Sambucus canadensis)]. Bareroot seedlings were installed in planting Areas 1, 2, and 3. A combination
of one -gallon stock and bareroot seedlings was installed in planting Area 4. Tree shelters ("Blue -X"
brand) were installed over the planted seedlings in all four planting areas. The tree shelters were to
provide protection from wildlife depredation and wind. Minor field adjustments during the planting
operation were made; i.e., moving the planting location of tree or shrub seedlings when obstacles were
encountered, such as logs or stump holes. Approximately 2.26 acres of the total area of USACE
jurisdictional wetlands on the Site (13.95 acres) were planted in December 2013. The wetland areas that
were excluded from the planting operation encompassed: (1) a deepwater wetland drainageway which
occurred along the southern shoulder of Old Michael Road and was determined to be an historic channel
of the East Fork Pigeon River; (2) the stream banks of East Fork Pigeon River (bankfull bench and spoil
areas); and (3) the heavily forested portions of the bottomland hardwood forest. Therefore, the planting
operation primarily encompassed the areas of the bottomland hardwood forest that were open and lacking
0
Wetland Area 4 0.73 acre
Black gum
N ssa s lvatica
300
FAC
Tulip tree
Liriodendron tuli i era
300
FAC
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
200
FACW-
Green ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
300
FACW
Shumard oak
Quercus shumardii
10
FACW-
Silky dogwood
Cornus amomum
300
FACW+
Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
50
1 FACW-
Subtotal
1460
Total 2.26 acres
2860
Treated Upland Bamboo Areas 0.21 acre
Black locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
30
UPL
Red mulberry
Morus rubra
30
FAC
Coralberry
S m horicar os orbiculatus
25
FAC -
Total
85
' Taxonomic nomenclature based on Alan S. Weakley in Flora of the Southern and Mid -Atlantic States, March 8, 2010 Working
Draft, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
2 Wetness Tolerance based on Plant Indicator Status in National List of Plant Species That Occur in. Wetlands (Region 2 -
Southeast), Resource Management Group, Inc., 1999. Abbreviations: FACW = Facultative Wetland; FAC = Facultative; UPL =
Upland.
wetland planting Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0.29, 1.05, 0.19, and 0.73 acres, respectively. The total
wetland planting area on the Site was 2.26 acres. The boundaries (and acreage values) of the four
planting areas were obtained through GPS technology, via January 2014 field reconnaissance conducted
by AMSC. The wetland plant material was comprised of five species of wetland trees and two wetland
shrub species. The tree species included: black gum (Nyssa sylvatica); green ash (Fraxinus
pennsylvanica); sycamore (Platanus occidentalis); tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera); and shumard oak
(Quercus shumardii). The shrub species included silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) and elderberry
(Sambucus canadensis)]. Bareroot seedlings were installed in planting Areas 1, 2, and 3. A combination
of one -gallon stock and bareroot seedlings was installed in planting Area 4. Tree shelters ("Blue -X"
brand) were installed over the planted seedlings in all four planting areas. The tree shelters were to
provide protection from wildlife depredation and wind. Minor field adjustments during the planting
operation were made; i.e., moving the planting location of tree or shrub seedlings when obstacles were
encountered, such as logs or stump holes. Approximately 2.26 acres of the total area of USACE
jurisdictional wetlands on the Site (13.95 acres) were planted in December 2013. The wetland areas that
were excluded from the planting operation encompassed: (1) a deepwater wetland drainageway which
occurred along the southern shoulder of Old Michael Road and was determined to be an historic channel
of the East Fork Pigeon River; (2) the stream banks of East Fork Pigeon River (bankfull bench and spoil
areas); and (3) the heavily forested portions of the bottomland hardwood forest. Therefore, the planting
operation primarily encompassed the areas of the bottomland hardwood forest that were open and lacking
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Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
an overstory of trees or a dense shrub component. The planting of trees (seedlings) within these open
areas would essentially restore the hardwood overstory of the wetlands. Finally, the control of nuisance
plant species prior to the planting effort was necessary to facilitate the growth of the plant material; i.e.,
competition for nutrients with nuisance plant species would be significantly reduced.
The Wetland Planting Plan did not include any enhancement activities for the East Fork Pigeon River or
the unnamed perennial stream that occurs within the western portion of the Site. These surface waters are
essentially unimpaired and provide suitable habitat for fish and benthic macro -invertebrates.
The boundary of the wetland planting area on the Site was delineated in 2010 by AMEC. Based on GPS
technology, the size of the original (proposed) planting area was 5.64 acres. The size of the final (actual)
planting area, where the plant material was installed in December 2013, was 2.26 acres. This reduction in
planting area (3.38 acres) was attributed to the exclusion of portions of the original planting area that were
deemed to be unsuitable for the installation of plant material in December 2013; specifically, pockets
(clusters) of shrub vegetation or scattered trees that were considered to be too dense to successfully plant
seedlings.
Two upland areas that occurred along the south side and the north side of Old Michael Road were also
planted in December 2013. These areas are identified as Bamboo Area 2 (0.09 acre) and Bamboo Area 3
(0.12 acre) on Figure 3a. The two areas were infested with mature bamboo. The bamboo was removed
and the two areas were planted with one -gallon stock of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and red
mulberry (Morus rubra). Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), a deciduous shrub, was also planted.
No tree shelters were used. Both areas were located outside of the Conservation Easement.
3.4 Ground Level Site Photography
Ground level photography of site conditions within wetland planting Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 was acquired
during the January 2014 field reconnaissance conducted by AMEC. The photographic log is included in
Appendix B.
3.5 Project Components
The Mitigation Plan for the Site was implemented with the following results:
• A total reach of 1,411 linear feet of East Fork Pigeon River. Reach includes a 30 -foot buffer
from edge of bank on each side of the channel.
10

Final Wetland Mitigation Report
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project
Haywood County, North Carolina
March 3, 2014
AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
• A total reach of 664 linear feet of perennial stream (unnamed tributary of East Fork Pigeon
River). Reach includes a 30 -foot buffer from edge of bank on each side of the channel.
• The planting of 2.26 acres of bottomland hardwood forest wetland within the Conservation
Easement (installation of woody tree and shrub seedlings).
• Non -planted area of 11.69 acres of bottomland hardwood forest wetland within the Conservation
Easement.
Table 2 also presents the aforementioned project components.
Table 2. Project Components for the East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project, Wetland
Mitigation Plan. Havwood Countv. North Carolina.
Wetland/Stream Feature'
Quantity of On -Site Habitat
East Fork Pigeon River
1,411 linear feet
Perennial Stream
664 linear feet
Bottomland Hardwood Forest — Planted
2.26 acres
Bottomland Hardwood Forest — Not Planted
11.69 acres
' Four wetland areas were planted in December 2013, totaling 2.26 acres within the Conservation Easement. Chemical/hand
treatments of nuisance plant species were conducted prior to the installation of tree and shrub seedlings within the wetland. A
total of 11.69 acres of wetland with an existing midstory and overstory within the Conservation Easement was not planted.
2 Stream reach includes a 30 -foot buffer from edge of bank on each side of the channel.
11

Final Wetland Mitigation Report
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project
Haywood County, North Carolina
4.0 MONITORING PLAN
March 3, 2014
AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
Using the EEP Baseline Monitoring Plan template (version 2.0, October 14, 2010), a baseline monitoring
document will be developed. Annual monitoring data will be reported using the EEP Monitoring Report
template (version 1.5, June 8, 2012). The monitoring report shall provide a project data chronology that
will facilitate an understanding of project status and trends, population of EEP databases for analysis,
research purposes, and assist in decision making regarding project close-out. The monitoring period will
extend at least five years beyond completion of project planting or until performance criteria have been
met.
12

Final Wetland Mitigation Report
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project
Haywood County, North Carolina
March 3, 2014
AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
5.0 SITE PROTECTION AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
5.1 Legal Protection of Wetland Mitigation Area
The wetland mitigation area will be protected through the establishment of a Conservation Easement.
The Conservation Easement is held by the State of North Carolina. The Conservation Easement was
recorded at the Haywood County Courthouse on December 10, 2010 (Deed Book: RB 795; Deed
Page: 450-459).
5.2 Long Term Management Plan
Upon approval for close-out by the Interagency Review Team (IRT) the site will be transferred to the
NCDENR Division of Natural Resource Planning and Conservation's Stewardship Program. This party
shall be responsible for periodic inspection of the site to ensure that restrictions required in the
Conservation Easement or the deed restriction document(s) are upheld. Endowment funds required to
uphold easement and deed restrictions shall be negotiated prior to site transfer to the responsible party.
The NCDENR Division of Natural Resource Planning and Conservation's Stewardship Program currently
houses EEP stewardship endowments within the non -reverting, interest-bearing Conservation Lands
Stewardship Endowment Account. The use of funds from the Endowment Account is governed by North
Carolina General Statute GS 113A -232(d)(3). Interest gained by the endowment fund may be used only
for the purpose of stewardship, monitoring, stewardship administration, and land transaction costs, if
applicable. The NCDENR Stewardship Program intends to manage the account as a non -wasting
endowment. Only interest generated from the endowment funds will be used to steward the
compensatory mitigation sites. Interest funds not used for those purposes will be re -invested in the
Endowment Account to offset losses due to inflation.
13

Final Wetland Mitigation Report March 3, 2014
East Fork Pigeon River Wetlands Project AMSC Project No. 64 701 0021 4
Haywood County, North Carolina EEP SCO ID 10-07350-01
6.0 REFERENCES
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and
Deepwater Habitats of the United States. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service,
Biological Services Program. FWS/OBS-79/31. 103pp.
Division of Water Quality. 2010. North Carolina River Basin Map. North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality Web Site:
http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/public/ecoaddress/riverbasinsmain.htm. Accessed via the Internet on
November 8, 2010.
Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Technical Report
Y-87-1. U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 100 p. plus
appendices.
FEMA. 2010. Flood Insurance Rate Map Panel No. 370120 0190B, effective date July 15, 1984.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and the North Carolina Floodmaps Program. Web Site:
htt2://www.ncfloodm4ps.com/. Accessed via the Internet on November 8, 2010.
NCNPS. 2010. North Carolina Native Plant Society - Invasive Exotic Species List. Web Site:
http://www.ncwildflower.org/invasives/list.htm. Accessed via the Internet on November 19, 2010.
NRCS. 2010. Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Data Mart Web Site:
http://soildatamart.nres.usda.gov/Default.aspx. Accessed via the Internet on November 9, 2010.
Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina —
Third Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Department of Environment and
Natural Resources.
USFWS. 2010. United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory database. Web
Site: htip://www.fws.gov/wetlands/. Accessed via the Internet on November 9, 2010.
USGS. 2010. 8 -Digit Cataloging Units — North Carolina. United States Geological Survey Web Site:
htip://nas.er.usgs.gov/hucs.aspx. Accessed via the Internet on November 8, 2010.
14

APPENDIX A
FIGURES

Haywood
County
A
North Carolina Inset
-- - Airy wille.Hwy . f � liLfrti
n,��w°� Lake '��__ Glytlr C°minia+rE� Canton - _ _ Canddei
°. v a
a ,I
Ra
Ozal
Site Location
iz _il e
Hazelwood
215:
�21F�
m
rParlm�p
S°
East Fork Pigeon River
Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Service Layer Credits: Sources: Esri, DeLorme,
NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, Project Vicinity Map
MET[, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand),
TomTom, 2013 Prepared By:
CLS - 1/17/2014
0 4 8 Checked By: Figure.
Miles JDC - 1/17/2014, 1
Project Number:
6470100214
5x
North Carolina Inset
-- - Airy wille.Hwy . f � liLfrti
n,��w°� Lake '��__ Glytlr C°minia+rE� Canton - _ _ Canddei
°. v a
a ,I
Ra
Ozal
Site Location
iz _il e
Hazelwood
215:
�21F�
m
rParlm�p
S°
East Fork Pigeon River
Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Service Layer Credits: Sources: Esri, DeLorme,
NAVTEQ, USGS, Intermap, iPC, NRCAN, Esri Japan, Project Vicinity Map
MET[, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand),
TomTom, 2013 Prepared By:
CLS - 1/17/2014
0 4 8 Checked By: Figure.
Miles JDC - 1/17/2014, 1
Project Number:
6470100214

r
1
UPLAND OLD MICHAEL ROAD
UPLAND
r
WETLANDS
WETLANDS
Legend
Culvert
Perennial Stream
Project Boundary
East Fork Pigeon River
Wetland
Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,
DigitalGlobe�GeoEye�i�cubed, USDA,
USGS-1 X?GetmappiZf erogrid;rIGN;
IGP swisstopo and the GIS User
Community
%L4I
0 200 400 IY'
Feet
East Fork Pigeon River
Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Jurisdictional Surface Waters
Prepared By:
CLS - 1/17/2014
Checked By: Figure.
JDC - 1/17/20142
Project Number:
6470100214

` y l
4 7
Multiflora Rose am
Japanese Honeysuc
+ (scattered throughout w
.y
OLD MICHAEL ROAD
Kudzu Area 1
Cattail Area 2
r'
Cattail Area 1
Beaver Dam
irl R `, •._Tera � � ��'`y�1�
z; f
! r dr
Legend
Perennial Stream
Project Boundary
East Fork Pigeon River
Wetland
Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,
DigitalGlobe !,G oEye, cubed, USDA,
USGS, AEX?Getmapping,,Aerogrid," IGN,
IGP, swisstopo aan'd the GIS User !"
Community l
N`
W4I
0 200 400
" Feet
. East Fork Pigeon River
' Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Nuisance Plants
Initial Site Assessment -2010
Prepared By:
CLS - 1/17/2014
Checked By: Figure.
JDC - 1/17/2014 C9L53a
Project Number:
- 6470100214

C
O
O
a
Y
O
LL
W
C7

C7

r
1
yr, t f` 'rf a dNt � �{,•� i t
.M R
,., WETLANDS �� f• ,
A ?.,Area
EAST
Legend
Culvert
Perennial Stream
Project Boundary
East Fork Pigeon River
® 2013 Wetland Planting Area
Wetland
Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,
DigitalGlobe !&eoEy7e i cubed, USDA,
US GS7AEX?Getmapping- AerogridrIGN,
IG P swisstopo and the GIS User
Community
PP. - rAc rM
VIL4'
0 200 400 '''
191 W
Feet
"Y East Fork Pigeon River
Final Wetland Mitigation Report
Jurisdictional Surface Waters
and 2013 Wetland Planting Areas
Prepared By:
CLS - 1/17/2014
Checked By:Figure:
JDC - 1/17/2014 amec' - CJ
Project Number:
6470100214

APPENDIX B
GROUND LEVEL SITE PHOTOGRAPHY

i
- �• •.fie '���xr ��
'8i�, . ,�: y .--err ae• . -h5d• ' ! � e r� y ..
.. __. .� '�-- ���t+.�:,""!':_. r _ r ::S�r1 �'._ •-tet _.i".F��,a��:.. _ _ �..

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� � , f � y �h Y � � 4� 1
r� / � '
. ,, �/ It
r.
,� �:. _ ' -
r� � � r

Photograph #5: View to the east of wetland planting Area 2; photograph taken from the
western end of the planting area (January 13, 2014).
Photograph #6: View to the south of wetland planting Area 3; photograph taken from the
northern end of the planting area (January 13, 2014).

Photograph #7: View to the northwest of wetland planting Area 3; photograph taken
from the southern end of the planting area (January 13, 2014).
Photograph #8: View to the northwest of wetland planting Area 4; photograph taken
from the southeastern corner of the planting area (January 13, 2014).

Photograph #9: View to the southeast of wetland planting Area 4; photograph taken from
the northwestern corner of the planting area (January 13, 2014).
Photograph #10: View of a small pocket of live multiflora rose within the project
wetlands; west -central portion of the project site (January 13, 2014).

Photograph #11: View of treated upland bamboo area on north side of Old Michael
Road; bamboo removed and area replanted with upland hardwood seedlings (January 13,
2014).