20041612 Ver 1_Staff Comments_20160622

Strickland, Bev
From:
Merritt, Katie
Sent:
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 12:31 PM
To:
Allen, Melonie
Cc:
Higgins, Karen; Haupt, Mac
Subject:
RE: Meredell Closeout Notes
Hey Melonie,
I am sending you this email regarding the conversations we had at the closeout site visit yesterday at the Meredell Farm
Mitigation Site. The main contingencies preventing an immediate closeout for buffer mitigation assets were discussed
as being the following:
Difficulty in determining stems and densities along UT 2 and portions of UT1
Concern with lack of delineation between areas allowed for mowing (non planted & no creditable areas) vs not
allowed for mowing (planted & creditable areas).
Concern with where UT2 starts as Intermittent in order to be approved to receive buffer credit. Upper reach
did not have biology, did not appear to have indicators of hydrology, soils did not indicate presence of
intermittent flow or evidence of high water table, and geomorphology was extremely weak. Mac and I came to
same estimated E/I point and Melonie took a GPS point of the location, but a stream form was not used.
I talked to Karen about the conversations we had yesterday about these issues, and she concluded that the best way for
DWR & DMS to accomplish these issues together would be as follows:
• DWR staff needs to revisit the site sometime in the Fall, after some of the invasives and fescue have died down,
and assess the stem densities along U2 and portions of UT 1.
• The site needs to be delineated with placards along the entire 50' buffer boundary of UT 1, UT2 and M1 in order
to clearly demarcate where the landowner is allowed vs not allowed to mow. It is highly recommended that
DMS use their signage protocol to ensure that efficient signage is installed. Signage should also be provided
along the fencing which indicates the Easement Boundary.
• DWR certified staff needs to perform a stream determination on the Upper reach of UT2 to determine where
the E/I point is located. Buffer assets will need to be reassessed depending on where that point is
determined. DMS is more than welcome to invite other DMS staff to join our visit.
Based on the above, I recommend one site visit be performed by DWR in the Fall after all signage has been completed
and invasives have died down, to observe all items above. DWR will perform the stream determination at the same
time.
Please let me know if you have any comments or questions regarding the plan above.
Thank you,
Katie
Katie Merritt
Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Work: 919-807-6371
Website: http://Portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/401bufferpermitting
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27620
1617 Mail Service Center. Raleiah. NC 27699-1617

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