20060413 Ver 1_Year 3 Monitoring comments_20170322

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
To:
Tim Baumgartner
NCDMS
March 22, 2017
From: Katie Merritt
NCDWR - 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch
Through: Karen Higgins
NCDWR - 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch Supervisor
Re: Year 3 Monitoring Report Review Comments
Stallings Riparian Buffer Restoration Site
Granville County
DMS Project ID: 95807
DWR # '0 V ---0413
ROY COOPER
MICHAEL S. REGAN
,<<, ,r«,
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
/)" " ["i
The Division of Water Resources received the Year 3 Monitoring Report for the above -referenced
site on February 7, 2017 from the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS).
Vegetation success criteria for this site, as specified in the mitigation plan, is an average density of
320 planted native hardwood trees per acre at the end of five years of monitoring. In May 2016,
DWR suggested that a replanting plan should be considered for this site; however, no supplemental
planting efforts were noted to have occurred in 2016 and none are being proposed by DMS at this
time. Vegetation data was collected in November 2016. According to the data collected, 60% of the
permanent vegetation plots failed to meet success criteria. When considering planted and volunteer
tree stems, 80% of the permanent vegetation plots would have a density of at least 320 trees per acre.
Data provided suggests that success criteria is not being achieved throughout the site.
Table 1 within Appendix A of the report has different allowable credit amounts than what was
approved in the As -Built Report on October 9, 2014. Please correct the table, or provide an
explanation for why the credit amounts have changed.
Mowing was observed and noted along ditch banks adjacent to Webb Farm Rd and Wyse Fork Rd
(presumably from NCDT). Areas within a NCDOT Right of Way that are currently generating
mitigation credit, need to be removed from the project's mitigation credit totals.
If site conditions do not greatly improve in future monitoring years, it may necessitate development
of contingency plant when DWR performs the site closeout visit. 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
File copy in Laserfiche
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300