20120040 Ver 1_2016 Monitoring Report Review Division 1-8_20170406

Wa�Pr b�esoctrt cts
ENVIRONMENTA� OUHLRY
Mr. Randy Griffin
NC Departmen? of Transportatior.
Project Development and Environmental Analysis
1548 MSC
Rzleigh, NC 27699-L48
ROY COOPER
rni..,-u�rr
MICHAEL S. REGAN
seor�or �.
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
�„�-�m�
April 6, zev
Subject: NC Divisior. of Water Resources comments on the NC Department of Trensporta:ion Annual
2016 MonitorinE RepoKs ior Divisions 1-8.
Dear Mr Griffin:
The following review comments are for the NC DOT annual monitoring reports submitted to NC DWR as
per requirements of the permit conditions associated with each TIP. Thank you for your timely submittal
of the monitoring reports. Review comments were generated from review of the monitor plans as well
as site permit files, site inspections (done prior to Hurricane Matthew), and any other site specific
meetings or commur.ication. A�I site :pecific comments are listed below.
Mitigation sites nave been observed to be missing signage (often along the back side away irom the
roa� as �vas disnissed in the Decemb2� 33, 2016 IettFr to DCT regardi�g on-site mitigarion. ;;gnaoe i;
❑eeded ±o Cemarcate and ens�re better �rotection of the conservation easem=nt and mitigated nztura!
resource permitted'oy DWR io offset the transportation project impacts. Appropriate signage is required
for sites proposed for closeout in 20ll and future years.
The addit�an of the mitigation ratio tc most monitering reports as requested last year was noted.
It was noted in sume of the monitoring reports [hat <780 days had passed between planting and ttie
Tirst monitoring event. Please be reminoed that the 2003 Guidance requires five years of monitoring and
the ACOE 2013 Compensatory Mitigation Site Update requires "veget�tion to be in :he ground for at
least 180 days prior to the initiation of the first year of monitoring". Sites that are monitored just three
months after planting will result in only 4 years and 3 months of monitoring.
In regards to credrting for future projects, it sfwuld also be notzd that Enhancement Level II stream
(typically cattle removal, vegrtation pianting in the buffer. ocr.asionally mino� bank work or a structure
addition) and Enhancement Level I projects (typically some bank improvement or addition of structures
or both and planting of the buffer) have been generally been credited different�Y for DMS and bankers;
EII at 25:1 and EI at ].S:t. Projects that have very minimal improvements proposed (e.g. solely live
staking the bark ;nd remov2l cf exotics) have also received 5:1 fer EII. DWR vaould !ike tc see more
consistent crediting for future UOT projeds in regards to identifying the difference between sices that
are Enhancemer�t I and Enhancement 11 and not lumping all stream er�hancement into one category of
enhancemeni at 2:i.
��'Nothing Compares�..
ScateofNorthCarolina I EnvironmeNalQualiry I h'atcr Resources
SRN.SalisburyStrecl � 1611MailServiceCen[cr I Raleigh.NC27699-1611
919]079000

When downloading well data, please make sure all monitoring wells are sealed properly with bentonite
at the base of the well.
Division 1
Hardison Mill Creek Wetland Mttigatian Site (TIP B-4185, DWR# 20121133) — October ,�.016 field site
visit letter comments it was noted (as a commenting agency) that the elevation on this site does not
match the adjacent wetland although the plansheets indicated the etevations matched. Parts of the
restored wetland appeared to be over 2 feet higher elevation then the adjacent reference we:land. Even
six days after tropical storm Hermine this area was still dry. Please keep monitoring.
Northwest Fork Alligator River (TIP B-4647, DWR# 20110427) —The DWR 9/8/2016 field visit and 2016
monitoring report indicated the site is meeting success criteria. DWR's most current plansheet records
are dated 9-28-20:2 on the bottom left corner with 8/17/99 stamped on the upper left. The same date
stamp, 8J17/99, is located on the upper left of the 2016 monitoring report plansheet. The mitigation
area appears tu be reconfigured in the 2016 monitoring report. Please expiain this discrepancy and
confirm which plansheet has the corred mitigation configuretion. Please keep monitoring.
Division 2
Grimesland Bridge Road (B-3684, 20080356) —The 2.86 acres of riverine riparian wetland restoretion
appear to be meeting performance criteria based on the 2016 field review and MYS monitoring report.
Please schedule a closeout site visit for the 2.86 acres of restoration. The 0.52 proposed acres of
enhancement and 3500 sq ft of voluntary buffer restoration can be insp2ded and discussed during the
closeout visit.
UT to Maple Brarch (TI? K-3800, DIVR# 20130649) - Supplemental planting of liv2stakes is needed as
the silky dogwood and buttonbush planted in 2014 were not observed during the September, 2016 field
visit. Please document the mitigation retio in the debit ledger, please keep monitoring
Banks School Buffer (TIP R-2719A, DWR# 20080334) - Please schedule a field site visit in 2017 during
the Banks School Road Wetland Closeout visit. Please keep monitoring.
Banks School Road Wetland (TIP R-2719A, 20080314) — What were the mitigation ratios for the Banks
Scliool Road Wetland site, these are not stated in the Debit Ledger. Was baseline hydrology data
collected for the enhancement wetland assets? Please schedule a closeout site visit.
UT Falling Creek (TIP R-2719A, pDWR 20080314) - The additional supplemental planting along the
perimeter and signage as discussed in the 2016 monitoring report meeting was noted and appreciated.
Please discontinue vegetation monitoring and stream stability monitoring as requested and continue
wetland hydrology monitoring for one more year. Have credits been adjusted for the waterline located
near IJS70? Please schedule a closeout site visit for the stream site assets.
Harris Miil Run Creek (TIP U-5018A, DWRq 20096261) — Please add 1G,000 sq ft of buffer, the buffer
mitigation retio and amount of stream mitigation on the debit ledger for the 2017 monitoring report.
For verification, the 100' of stream mitigation included stream footage with forested buffer and non-
forested buffer (areas under the bridge and within a bridge maintenance zone), correct? What is the
�Nothing Compares�.
State ofNorth Carolina I Environmental Quality � Water Resources
SRN.Salisbury5treet � 16IIMaIISerNceCenter � Raleigh.NC2 76 9 41611
919.707.9000

width of the bridge maintenance zone? Please state in the 2017 monitoring report the approximate
amount of stream footage that is forested and non-forested. Three feet of aggradation was noted in
cross-section monitoring on left bank which should be mentioned in the report. Also, stream bank
instability was noted under the bridge outside of the mitigation site which DWR would recommend
monitoring to make sure it does not affect the mitigation site. Overall the mitigation site appeared to be
stable and functionin� during the 9/9/2016 DWR site visit, although it was not clear if there had been
some enaoachment from maintenance. Please keep monitoring.
Qivision 3
Bridge #26 over Shelter Swamp Creek (TIP 17BP.3.R.1, DWRit 20140182) - For the 2017 monitoring
repon, piease add the mitigation retio to debit ledger and defineate the approximate location of the
herbaceous and forested wetland types on the aerial. The site appears to be meeting success
requirements, please continue monitoring. Please keep monitoring.
Site 6 Temporary Impacts (TIP R-3324, DWR# 20120711) - Odober 2016 letter field site visit comments
— Phregmites has coionized on the SE side of the brldge and should be treated. Please add the credit
ratio to debit ledger. Please keep monitoring.
Bishop Branch (TIP R-2633A, DWR# 20300867) — The 40 Alders planted in May 2016 was noted in the
monitoring report. A short rough section that could benefit from some additional livestakes was
observed in the upstream restored section of the stream, 9/28/2016. Signage will need to be installed
along the boundary of the conservation easement, including preservation areas (along the road and
back side). Have two bankful events been observed? Please schedule a closeout site visit.
Charles Branth {TIF' U-3462, DWR# 20081177) — Octcber 2016 IeYer field site visiY comments. The
trea:men: oi Phagmites on the SW side of the wetla�d was noted. The credit amo�nt and retio �vas not
listed in the Debit Ledger. Please verify what the current situation is with the adjacent landowner that
has pruned some vegetation along Charles Branth. D'JdR has concerns about closing out Charles Branch
due to recent non authorized cuttings as discussed in the winter monituring report.
Piney Green Road Wetland Mitigation Site (TIP U-3810, DWR# 20110931) - During the August DWR site
visit, the riverine wetland restoration area was observed to be heavily vegetated with cattail which were
out competing planted trees. DWR recommends supplementing with obligate wetland species only (e.g.
Nyssa aquatica, Taxodium distichum, Myssa 6iflorp, Cephalanthus occidentalis). Please continue
monitoring.
Division 4
UT to L�ttle River (TIP R-2554A, DWR# 20080570) - All the stream cross-section figures appear fairly
stable, although the XS area sq footage results don't appear to match the greph and vary considerebly
for XS3 (MY3-6.26, MY2-0.72, MY3 — 7.54, MY4-11.37). Are the MY4 cross section footage area results
correct? Please continue monitoring.
Tomm�s Road Mitigation Site (R-25548� — Please provide as an addendum to the monitoring report a
figure that clearly delineates the stream (restoration and preservation) and buffer assets along with the
�'/'Nothing Compares�.
5[areofNorthCarolina I EnvironmentalQualdy � Wa[er Resources
52N.Salisbury5[reet � 16IIMailServiccCmter � Raleyh.NC2 76 9 9-1 611
919707.9000

wetland assets forTommy's road (please see 2016 monitoring report comments). What was the credit
ratio for the Buffer restoration zone 1 and zone 2 assets? Please schedule a closeout site visit.
Mark Edwards Road, Site 9(TIP R2554BB, DWR# 20050570) - October 2016 letter field site visit
comments - The section of mitigation on the east side of I-70 needs signage. The culvert was placed 7-8"
above the thalweg of the stream which caused minimal flow through the culvert, plus water has backed
up causing ponding that has enabled cattail to establish in the stream bed. In the 2016 monitoring
report, the XS results in MYl show that aggradation is occurring. Please provide a current aerial with the
stream and easement boundary overlaid. Please also include as-built XS results in MY 2017. DWR
recommends setting up a site visit with the Tommy Road closeout. Please continue monitoring.
Benton Site (TIP R-2554C, DWR# 20080570) - October 2016 letter field site visit comments - The stream
is extremely slow mor•ing allowing cattail to flourish, more like a wetland, especially in the lawer section.
About 40' from the confluence with the mainstem there is a small earthen dam (not clear if this is
beaver) which is causing same impoundment and reduction of flow that should be removed (alth�ugh
the dam may have been washed out by the recent hurricane). Additionally, the entire back side of the
site needs signage. In the 2016 monitoring report, some was aggrading noted in cross sections. Please
provide a current aerial with the stream and easement boundary overlaid. Please also include as-built XS
results in MY 2017. DWR recommends setting up a site visit with the Tommy Road closeout. Please
continue monitoring.
Daniel's Street (TIP U-3826, DWRp 20090134) — Please include latitude and longitude in next year's
report. Please check the well data results reported on Table 2, DSGW-2 should be 69.8 and DSREF-1
should be 14.9 according to the results of the hydrogreph data. Were the Reference Well and DSGS-1
lo:.ated in the upper part of the site resealed as was discussed durng the 8/3/2016 field visit? Please
keep monitoring.
UT Neu�e River —Telecris Site (DV6'Rri) -- Please update :he debit ledger Lable with credi; ratios and
credit availability when this information is determined (see above comments on debit ledgers). Some
channel instability was noted during the site visit and was also mentioned in the monitoring repott, has
this site been visited since Hurricane Matthew? Please continue monitoring.
Division 5
UT to Reedy Creek (TIP R-2635C, DWR q 20071A70) —The Odober 2016 site visit and XS monitoring
results indicated UT to Reedy Creek is stable after repairs. Has this site been visited since Hurricane
Matthew? Please include the original dates for construction, as-built, monitoring, redesign etc in the
History sect�on or a brief paragraph that summarizes this information in next year's monitoring report.
Please also include a figure in the 2017 monitoring report that shows the Planting Plan, new stream
design, and conservation easement boundary. Ple2se continue monitoring.
Division 6
�Nothing Compares�
State of North Carolina I Environmental Qualay I Wa[er Resources
SRN.SalisburyStrcet I I611MailServiceCenlcr I Raleigh,NC2 76 9 9-1611
919.707.9000

Waccamaw River OverFlow Temp Impact Site (TIP 178P.6.R.40, DWR# 20140598) — Please veri`y that
the 0.2 ac temporary fill area has been seeded with a native seed mix as well as mulched. Please
continue monitoring.
Division 7
hlile Branch (TIP R-O6C91A, DWR#120060331) — Please schedule a closeout visit for Mile Branch.
UT to Reedy Fork Site i(I-73 site, T!? R-2413A, DWRM 20130517) -- Please see the above comment an
ledger formatting, did the enhancement section of the stream receive a 1:1 ratio as noted in the ledger?
The approved mitigation plan for April 23, 2013 states 2:1 for enhancement reaches. Please include the
planting pian and an aerial with the enhancement and restoration reaches clearly delineated in the
MY17 report. Please continue monitoring.
UT to Reedy Fork Sne 2(I-73 site, TIP R-2413A, DWR# 20130517) - Please see the above comment on
ledger formatting, did the enhancement section of the stream receive a 1:1 ratio as noted in the ledger?
The approved mitigatiun plan for April 23, 2013 states 2:1 for enhancement reacl�es. Please include the
planting plan and an aerial with the enhancement and restoration reaches clearly delineated in the
MY17 report. How much of the site will be replanted? Please see above comment on monitoring 6
months after planting. This site was observed to be very stable during an August 2016 site visit but
there was issues with flow in the upper section. Please continue monitoring.
Division 8
Aberdeen Creek (TIP B-36S0, DWRti 2012004U�- Please add the lat and lon and brief comments on how
the stream restoretion is performing for MY17. This site had some stunted trees but overel! appeared to
be meeting success crite� ia as obsenfed dw�ing a site visit ir August 2016. Please cortinue mooitcring. Is
2016 considered the'irs: monitoring year for the stream restoration as the stream Gank was just
planted in lanuary 2016? Please continue monitoring.
Lumber River Bridge (TIP B-4273, DWRti 20120535) - DWR visited this site on 9-1-2016, it appeared to
be meeting success criteria, please monitor for one more year.
Please contad the DWR NCDOT Mitigation Coordinator, Ginny Baker at 919-707-8788 with any concerns
or questions regarding site comments or these can be discussed at the upcoming DOT Division 1-8
annual Mitigation Monitoring Report meeting.
Sincerely,
� � �
Amy Chapman, DWR Trensportation Permitting Branch Supervisor
amv.chapman@ncdenr.�ov, 919-707-8784
�Nothing Compares�.�.
StareofNorthCarolina I EnvironmentalQualiry I Water Resources
SRN.SalisburyS[reet I 1611MailScrviceCenter I Raleigh.NC2 769 9-1 611
919.707.9000

CC:
Virginia Baker, NC Division of Water Resources
Rob Ridings, NC Division of Water Resources, Central Office
Joanne Steenhuis, NC Division of Water Resources, Wilmington Regional Office
Garcy Ward, NC Division of Water Resources, Washington Regional Office
Cathy Brittingham, NC Division of Coastal Management
David Bailey, US Army Corps of Engineers
Bill Biddlecome, US Army Corps of Engineers
Andy Williams, US Army Corps of Engineers
Tom Steffens, US Army Corps of Engineers
Brad Shaver, US Army Corps of Engineers
Eric Alsmeyer, US Army Corps of Engineers
Todd Bowers, Environmental Protection Age�cy
Travis Wilson, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Gary Jordan, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Clay Willis, NCDOT Division 1 Environmental Officer
Jay lohnson, NCDOT Division 2 Environmental Officer
Mason Herndon, NCDOT Division 3 Environmental Program Supervisor
Chad Coggins, NCDOT Division 4 Environmental Officer
Chris Murrey, NCDOT Division 5 Environmental Officer
James Rerko, NCDOT Division 6 Environmental Officer
Jerry Parker, NCDOT Division 7 Environmental Supervisor
Art King, NCDOT Division 8 Environmental Officer
Jason Elliott, NCDOT, Natural Environment Engineering Group
Byron Moore, NCDOT, Project Development and Environmental Analysis
Matthew Green, NCDOT, Roadside Environmental Unit
Pese AIlen, N.rJOT,
�Nothing Compares�_
Stare of North Carolina I Environmental Quali[y I Watrr Resources
512N.Salisbury5treet I 1611Mail5erviceCenter � Raleigh.NC27699�1611
9I9.107.9000