20160130 Ver 1_Response to Follow-up Site visit_20170123

Strickland, Bev
From:Kenton Beal <[e-mail]>
Sent:Monday, January 23, 2017 2:48 PM
To:Merritt, Katie
Cc:Daniel Taylor
Subject:FW: Follow-up Site vist - North Fork -
Attachments:Area to be planted.pdf
Hey Katie,

Thank you for your detailed response.

Through further investigation we have determined the area deemed unplanted was in fact, not planted. The unplanted
area has been quantified using ArcMap at a sum of 94,986 square feet (2.20 acres) (See attached figure). Within the
unplanted area, paths parallel to Features A, D, & G will be mowed to allow easy access for a planting crew and to
ensure the planting of an appropriate number of stems. At this current time, we expect planting to occur by March 1,
2017. Following planting we would like to schedule a site visit to verify completion of this task to ensure compliance with
the approved Bank Parcel Development Package. Please see responses to your email below.

Thank you,
Kenton

From: Merritt, Katie \[mailto:[e-mail]\]
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 11:46 AM
To: Kenton Beal <[e-mail]>
Cc: Daniel Taylor <[e-mail]>
Subject: Follow-up Site vist - North Fork

Hey Daniel & Kenton,
Thanks again for meeting me out at the site yesterday to visit the As-Built conditions of the North Fork Little River
Mitigation Bank. As a followup to the site visit, I documented the following:

A majority of the site was planted in compliance with the approved Bank Parcel Development package.


All monitoring plots were installed with stems flagged


Most of Feature A, the main stream onsite, and a few areas along Feature D and Feature G were lacking in

planted stems from TOB to +/- 15’.

Additionally, there were a few areas on the East side of Feature A that were void of planted stems from TOB to

+/- 50’.

Within the areas voided of planted stems, we observed primarily briars but also some weeds, grasses and

random early successional woody stems. There were a small number of mature woody stems seen along the
banks.

As a result of the site visit, DWR requests the following:
1.Enumerate the square footage of riparian buffer that was not planted according to the BPDP and submit to DWR

to use for the next credit release. The square footage will be used to deduct riparian buffer credits from the
credit release issued for Task 2 as described in the UMBI.
94,986 sq ft (2.2 acres) deemed unplanted. Please see attached figure.
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2.Perform a reasonable amount of transects (amount, shape and size to be determined by Wildlands) within the

riparian areas that were not planted to get a representative condition of the problem areas. Submit transect
data with the As-Built Report. Pre-planting transect data shall include the following:
Aerial Figure showing where the transects were taken

o
Designate transects a number or letter for reference

o
Shape & size of the transects (table would be preferable)

o
Quantity of woody stems (volunteers) present (table would be preferable)

o
No transects will be performed and quantity of volunteer stems will currently not be counted. Wildlands
requests a site visit with you to verify competition of planting.
3.Mow and plant in areas voided of planted stems

Wildlands will mow paths at six foot spacing to allow easy access for a planting crew.
4.Perform 5 random transects showing “post planting” conditions within areas that needed to be planted and

submit the data to DWR. Post-planting transect data shall include the following:
Aerial Figure showing where the transects were taken (must be different than locations used for “pre-

o
planting conditions”). (1) transect shall be placed along Feature D; (1) along Feature G; (3) along Feature
A
Designate transects a number or letter for reference

o
Shape & size of the transects (table would be preferable)

o
Quantity of woody stems (volunteers) and (planted)

o
Wildlands will not perform transects. Mow paths will be created at 6 foot spacing to Top of Bank to ensure trees
are spaced appropriately. Volunteers and planted stems will not be quantified. A site visit is requested instead.
Once DWR has received the square footage from Wildlands as noted in item #1 above, a credit release will be issued for
partial completion of Task 2. Due to the site not being planted as approved in the BPDP, a full 20% credit release cannot
be issued. Therefore, DWR will issue a 15% credit release with a contingency that the remaining 5% (along with the
square footage that was deducted), will be issued when confirmation from Wildlands that items 2-4 above have been
performed in full has been received by DWR.

If you have any questions please give me a call.

Thank you,
Katie

Katie Merritt

Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Work: 919-807-6371
http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/401bufferpermitting
Website:

512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27620

1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617

Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the

North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

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