20051110 Ver 2_More Info Letter_20080310

?OF W A rFRQ Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
7 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
p Coleen H. Sullins, Director
Division of Water Quality
March 10, 2008
DWQ Project # 05-1110, Ver. 2
Wake County
CERTIFIED MAIL: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Roe O'Donnell, Deputy Town Manager
Town of Wake Forest
401 Elm Street
Wake Forest, NC 27587-2932
Subject Property: Richland Creek Restoration Site
Richland Creek [030402, 27-21-(0.5), C, NSW]
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dear Mr. O'Donnell:
On February 21, 2008, the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) received your application dated February
21, 2008, to fill or otherwise impact 1,900 linear feet of perennial stream to conduct a stream restoration
at the site. The DWQ requested a site visit to evaluate the stream and riparian zone conditions. The site
visit was conducted by Eric Kulz of this Office on March 6, 2008.
Based on the site visit and further review of the application materials, DWQ has determined that your
application was incomplete and/or provided inaccurate information as discussed below. The DWQ will
require additional information in order to process your application to impact protected wetlands and/or
streams on the subject property. Therefore, unless we receive five copies of the additional information
requested below, we will have to move toward denial of your application as required by 15A NCAC 2H
.0506 and will place this project on hold as incomplete until we receive this additional information.
Please provide the following information so that we may continue to review your project.
Additional Information Requested:
Based on the site visit and additional review of the application and restoration plan, DWQ
believes that the scope of work proposed for the site is not compatible with current site
conditions. For instance, the stream is not overly incised, and appears to access its floodplain at
least annually. While the system has considerable sediment, the source of the sediment appears
to be from upstream, since potential source areas within the proposed restoration reach were
observed to be limited. Riffle-pool complexes were observed except in areas affected by beaver
dams.
It is the opinion of DWQ that the removal of a relatively mature, wooded riparian buffer for the
purpose of adding floodplain benches and limited pattern (meanders) will not provide sufficient
uplift and water quality improvement to offset the loss of the existing wooded riparian zone.
Nom Carolina
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
turll!!y
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] / FAX [phone] / Internet: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
Town of Wake Forest
Page 2 of 2
March 10, 2008
Please redesign the project as a stream enhancement project, eliminating the clearing of the
wooded riparian buffers and significant earthwork proposed in the current plan. Activities that
may benefit the stream include, but are not limited to:
• Localized bank re-sloping, application of coir matting, and live staking disturbed streambank
area;
• Installation of brush mattresses to protect/stabilize streambanks;
• Rock toe protection where necessary;
• Installation of vanes, where and if necessary, to direct flow away from eroding banks;
• Supplemental planting of riparian vegetation;
• Removal of debris jams; and
• Beaver management to reduce impacts of long-term inundation on the stream banks and
riparian areas.
Please provide a revised restoration plan which does not involve clearing of the wooded riparian
zone, except locally where necessary to access areas of streambanks where stabilization requires
use of heavy equipment. Impacts to large, high-value trees, and their root zones, must be
avoided. The plan should include detailed descriptions of the methods used at specific locations,
and the rationale for the use of such methods. Areas where trees must be removed must be
shown, and provisions to restore areas cleared for access reasons must be described in the plan.
Please submit this information within 30 calendar days of the date of this letter. If we do not receive this
requested information within 30 calendar days of the date of this letter, your project will be withdrawn
and you will need to reapply with a new application and a new fee.
This letter only addresses the application review and does not authorize any impacts to wetlands, waters
or protected buffers. Please be aware that any impacts requested within your application are not
authorized (at this time) by the DWQ. Please call Ms. Cyndi Karoly or Mr.Eric Kulz at 919-733-1786 if
you have any questions regarding or would like to set up a meeting to discuss this matter.
Sincerely, n
Vndijaro?ly, upervisor
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
CBK/ewk
cc: Lauren Witherspoon, DWQ Raleigh Regional Office
USACE Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
File Copy
Central Files
Steve Stokes, KCI Associates of North Carolina, P.A., Landmark Center 11, Suite 220, 4601 Six
Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609-5210
Beth McGee - Clean Water Management Trust Fund, 1651 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1651
Filename: 051110Ver2RichlandCreekRestorationSite(Wake)On_Hold2