White's Store Mitigation Site

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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Coastal Management
Michael F. Easley, Governor James H. Gregson, Director William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
November 16, 2007
Philip S. Harris, III, P.E.
Project Development and Environmental Analysis
N.C. Department of Transportation
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
RE: White's Store Mitigation Site, Dare County, Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Permit
No. 7-98, TIP No. R-2551WM.
Dear Mr. Harris:
This letter is in response to the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) letter dated 6/13/05
regarding the White's Store Mitigation Site in Dare County. In the letter, NCDOT requests that the
appropriate resource agencies provide documentation stating that no further monitoring is required and
that the site is closed. The N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM) apologizes for the delay in
sending this response letter.
The White's Store Mitigation Site involved restoring approximately 1.4 acres of sawgrass marsh as
mitigation for impacts to 0.21 acres of a wetland community dominated by saw grass (Cladium
jamaicense) and pond pine (Pinus serotina) interspersed with bays (Persia borbonia, Myrica cerifera,
etc.). The mitigation plan is described in a letter from NCDOT to DCM dated 4/7/99. The mitigation
plan and impacts were authorized by DCM in a Minor Modification of CAMA Major Permit No. 7-98
issued on 5/20/99.
DCM has reviewed the annual monitoring reports prepared by NCDOT in 2002, 2003 and 2004. DCM
has also visited the site on 6/14/07. DCM agrees that no further monitoring is required and that the site
may be officially closed with the following remarks.
DCM believes that there is enough successful CAMA Coastal Wetland restoration at the White's Store
Mitigation Site to provide mitigation for the permitted impacts of approximately 0.21 acres. In
addition to sawgrass, Cladium jamaicense, the successful restoration areas also include additional
CAMA Coastal Wetland species, such as Scirpus sp., Spartina patens, and Typha spp. However,
DCM is disappointed that the entire mitigation site did not meet the vegetative success criteria.
Significant portions of the mitigation site contain 404 wetland species that are not classified as CAMA
Coastal Wetland species (15A NCAC 07H.0205). Of greater concern is the amount of Phragmites on
the site. During the site visit on 6/14/07, DCM staff observed that the amount of Phragmites on the
site appears to be increasing. DCM believes that the Phragmites may continue to invade the site over
time. Therefore, although we agree that there is enough successful CAMA Coastal Wetland
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restoration at the mitigation site to provide mitigation for the 0.21 acres of permitted impacts, we
would not agree at this time to any future proposal that there are excess credits at this mitigation site
that could be used for future project impacts.
For your information, during our site visit on 6/14/07, DCM noticed that the two water gauges are still
located on the site.
DCM appreciates NCDOT's efforts to restore CAMA Coastal Wetlands at the White's Store
Mitigation Site. Please contact Cathy Brittingham at [phone] x238 or via e-mail at
Cathy.Brittin,[e-mail] if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
i .RFL,
Doug Huggett
Major Permits and Consistency Coordinator
CC: Bill Biddlecome, USACE
David Wainwright, DWQ
Garcy Ward, DWQ
Randy Griffin, NCDOT
Jim Hoadley, DCM
Cathy Brittingham, DCM