20060413 Ver 1_Year 2 Comments_20160503

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
May 3, 2016
To: Tim Baumgartner
NCDMS
From: Katie Merritt
NCDWR
Re: Year 2 Monitoring Report Review Comments (Revised)
Stallings Riparian Buffer Restoration Site
Jones County
DMS Project ID: 357
DWR #06-0413
PAT MCCRORY
Governor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretary
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Director
The Division of Water Resources received the Year 2 Monitoring Report for the above -referenced
site submitted February 2016 by Division of Mitigation Services (DMS).
Vegetation success criteria for this site is an average density of 320 planted native hardwood stems
(trees only) per acre at the end of five years according to all previous documents approved by the
DWR, including the Year 1 Monitoring Report submitted in 2014. However, the success criteria
noted in this Report references 260 stems per acre. Data in the Yr 2 Report will need to be updated
to reflect the success criteria as identified in the approved As -Built Baseline Monitoring Report
approved by DWR on October 9, 2014. This site was replanted in low density areas in February
2015. Vegetation data was collected in September 2015. Data in the report shows that 72% of the
total CVS plots failed to meet success criteria with an average of 275 planted stems/acre. Data
shows that 96% of the temporary warranty plots failed to meet success criteria with an average of
186 planted stems/acre. In addition, Table 5 (Vegetation Condition Assessment) provides additional
vegetation problem areas:
48% of the planted acreage had woody stem densities clearly below target levels based on
MY3, 4, or 5 Stem count criteria (this percentage is based on 260 stems/acre and needs to be
revised based on 320 planted stems/acre)
Note. documentation showing where these areas are located were provided in the report.
However, no plans to remedy the problem were provided.
2% (1.1 acres) of the site had invasive species.
Note: documentation (site map/plot location/etc) showing where these areas are located on
the site were provided in the report. However, no plans to remedy the problem were
provided.
In closing, invasive species should be closely monitored and a plan to address these species should be
considered. Additionally, a majority of the site is not on trajectory to meeting success criteria and a
replanting plan should be considered. If site conditions do not greatly improve in future monitoring
years, it may necessitate development of a contingency plan when DWR performs the site closeout
visit.
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300

Please feel free to contact me at 919-807-6371 if you have any questions regarding this project or our
comments.
Cc via email: Kristin Miguez, DMS
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