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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20150717 Ver 2_USACE RAI Response - all attachments_20150831_20170508U T M Z o n e 0 P R O J E C T I O N : N A D 9 9 D A T U M : D A N R I V E R S T E A M S T A T I O N 4 8 - I N C H I N L E T A R E A C L E A N - U P T I T L E P R O J E C T F I G U R E N o . R E V . N O . : P R O J E C T N O : 6 2 2 6 - 1 4 - 0 0 0 4 A CLI E N T : D W N B Y : C H K ' D B Y : A U G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 D A T E : S C A L E : X X X J M B 2 8 0 1 Y O R K M O N T R O A D , S U I T E 1 0 0 C H A R L O T T E , N C 2 8 2 0 8 P H O N E 7 0 4 - 3 5 7 - 8 6 0 0 , F A X 7 0 4 - 3 5 7 - 8 6 3 8 L I C E N S U R E : N C E N G : F - 1 2 5 3 N C G E O L O G Y : C - 2 4 7 A m e c F o s t e r W h e e l e r E n v i r o n m e n t & I n f r a s t r u c t u r e D U K E E N E R G Y - C A R O L I N A S P L A N V I E W F I G U R E 0 1 1 " = 5 0 ' LEGEND U T M Z o n e 0 P R O J E C T I O N : N A D 9 9 D A T U M : D A N R I V E R S T E A M S T A T I O N 4 8 - I N C H I N L E T A R E A C L E A N - U P T I T L E P R O J E C T F I G U R E N o . R E V . N O . : P R O J E C T N O : 6 2 2 6 - 1 4 - 0 0 0 4 A CLI E N T : D W N B Y : C H K ' D B Y : A U G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 D A T E : S C A L E : X X X J M B 2 8 0 1 Y O R K M O N T R O A D , S U I T E 1 0 0 C H A R L O T T E , N C 2 8 2 0 8 P H O N E 7 0 4 - 3 5 7 - 8 6 0 0 , F A X 7 0 4 - 3 5 7 - 8 6 3 8 L I C E N S U R E : N C E N G : F - 1 2 5 3 N C G E O L O G Y : C - 2 4 7 A m e c F o s t e r W h e e l e r E n v i r o n m e n t & I n f r a s t r u c t u r e D U K E E N E R G Y - C A R O L I N A S C R O S S - S E C T I O N V I E W F I G U R E 0 2 H O R I Z O N T A L S C A L E V E R T I C A L S C A L E NC'. DWO Stream Tdentification Form Version 4.11 Date: Bn � �.d,� Project/Site:, Latitude: 34, 1j a6 Evaluator:, County:�'A��re Longitude:- Total Points: Stream Deter ' ircle one) Other - Stream is at least intermittent Ephemeral intermittent Perennial e.g. Quad Name if >_ 19 or perennial if >_ 30* 2 3 A. Geomorphology (Subtotal = 9 • r ) Absent Weak Moderate Strong 1a' Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 3 2 3 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 15. Sediment on plants or debris 2 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle -pool, step -pool, ripple -pool sequence 0 1 2 3 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 Yes = 3 2 3 5. Active/relict floodplain 1 2 3 6. Depositional bars or benches CO -)1 0.5 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 ( 2 3 8. Headcuts 1 2 3 9. Grade control 0 0., 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 0.5 Cj 1.5 11. Second or greater order channel No = 0 es = 3 Sketch:'�i� hGH a artificial ditches are not rated; see discu ions in manual '--- R Hvrirrnlnnv (Siihtntal = -�' 1 12. Presence of Baseflow 0 1 2 3 13. iron oxidizing bacteria 0 1 2 3 14. Leaf litter 1.5 1 0.5 0 15. Sediment on plants or debris 0 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0 0.5 1 1.5 17. Soil -based evidence of high water table? No = 0 Yes = 3 1 C Biology (Subtotal = -0 18. Fibrous roots in streambed 3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 3 2 1 20. Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 1 2 3 21. Aquatic Mollusks 1 2 3 22. Fish 0 0.5 1 1.5 23. Crayfish 0.5 1 1.5 24. Amphibians o 0.5 1 1.5 25. Algae 0 0.5 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FACW = 0.75; OBL = 1.5 Other = 0 '"perennial streams may also be identified using other methods, See p. 35 of manual. Notes: Sketch:'�i� hGH NC DW0 Ctrenm Identification Form Version 4.11 Date: IT04e zvtl.. Project/Site:°DAW?,-o-(" Latitude: , 6'j Evaluator: �� - w, �ee5&cN- County:' �, �., ,- Longitude: - �� • j �j °� Total Points: G Stream is at least intermittent Stream Dete ►aaii circle one) Other �� �j� , Ephemer Intermitten Perennial e.g, Quad am . if >_ 19 or erennial if >_ 30* A, 3 A. Geomorphology (Subtotal = • -0) Absent Weak Moderate Strong 1a' Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 2 3 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 1 A, 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle -pool, step -pool, ripple -pool sequence 0y C, 2 3 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 '1 > 2 3 5. Active/relict floodplain 0 1 M3 1.5 6. Depositional bars or benches 0 1 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 .1 2 3 8. Headcuts 0 M 2 3 9. Grade control 0 0.5 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 0.5 1 1 1.5 11. Second or greater order channel No= Yes = 3 artificial ditches are not rated; see discussions in manual R Hvrirnlnnv (Siihtntal = C./'� 1 12. Presence of Baseflow 0 2 3 13. Iron oxidizing bacteria 0 2 14. Leaf litter 0.5 15. Sediment on plants or debris 0. 1 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0.5 1 1.5 17. Soil -based evidence of high w ter table? No = 0 Ye ) (' Rininnv /Ciih+n+al = < ,, 1 !_.. _-- 18. Fibrous roots in streambed 3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 2 1 0 20. Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 0 1 2 3 21. Aquatic Mollusks 1 2 3 22. Fish 92 0.5 1 1.5 23. Crayfish 0 0.5 1 1.5 24. Amphibians 0 0.5 1 1.5 25. Algae 0 o.5 1 1 1.5 26. Wetland plants in streambed FA = 0.75; OBL = 1.5 Other = 0 *perennial streams may also be identified using other methods. See p. 35 of manual. Notes: Sketch: y Stream 3 on PCN form and Plan View drawing NC DWStream Identification Form Version 4.11 Date: 1' . Project/Site:' 40 �� o6, Latitude: 3 C I q10 Evaluator: . County__4,",' �. Longitude: 1 14, leaf litter Total Points: Stream is at leastlntermlttent r 1 e^ rh jnatLaa_(c1rcIe one) Stream Detepm Ephemera IntermittentPerennial Other e,g, Quad Name: if? 19 or perennIal If z 301 r 2 3 A. Geomorphology (Subtotal =1( U1 ) Absent Weak Moderate Strong 1a'"Continuity of channel bed and bank 0 1 14, leaf litter 3. 2. Sinuosity of channel along thalweg 0 ' 1' . 2 3 3. In -channel structure: ex. riffle -pool, step -pool, ripple -pool sequence 0 0 0,5 2 3 4. Particle size of stream substrate 0 Yes = 2 3 5, Active/relict floodplaln 0' 1 2 3 6. Depositional bars or benches 0 0 2 3 7. Recent alluvial deposits 0 2 3 8. Headcuts 0 1 2 3 9. Grade control 0 0.5 1 1.5 10. Natural valley 0 0,5 1.5 11. Second or greater,order channel Na= 0 Yes = 3 a artificial ditches are not rated; see discussions in manual B. Hydrology (Subtotal= q, 0) 12, Presence of Baseflow 0. 2 3 13. Iron oxidizing bacteria 0 1 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 3 14, leaf litter 1.5 1 0, 0 15, Sediment on plants or debris 0 0. _ 1 _ 1.5 16. Organic debris lines or piles 0 0,5 _ 1,5 17. Soil -based evidence of high water table? No = 0' Yes = C. Biology (Subtotal = �J 61) 18. Fibrous roots in streambed3 2 1 0 19. Rooted upland plants in streambed 3 2 1 0 20, Macrobenthos (note diversity and abundance) 0 2 3 21, Aquatic Mollusks 0 1 2 3 22, Fish 0 0.5 1 1,5 23. Crayfish 0 0.5 1 1.5 24. Amphibians 0 1 1,5 25. Algae 0 1 1,5 _ 26, Wetland plants in streambed FAC ' = 0.75; OBL = 1.5 Other 0 *perennial streams may also be identified using other methods. See p. 35 of manual. Notes; Sketch:--� ti i= o L, �J �* `I �✓ , USACE AID #: NCDWR #: PROJECT / SITE INFORMATION: 1. Project name (if any): 2. Date of evaluation: 3. Applicant/owner name: 5. County: 6. Nearest named water body 7. River Basin: on USGS 7.5-minute quad: 8. Site coordinates (decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations) 9. Site number (show on attached map): 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated (feet): 11. Channel depth from bed (in riffle, if present) to top of bank (feet): Unable to assess channel depth. 12. Channel width at top of bank (feet):13. Is assessment reach a swamp stream? Yes No 14. Feature type: Perennial flow Intermittent flow Tidal Marsh Stream STREAM RATING INFORMATION: 15. NC SAM Zone: Mountains (M) Piedmont (P) Inner Coastal Plain (I) Outer Coastal Plain (O) 16. Estimated geomorphic valley shape (skip for ab Tidal Marsh Stream):(more sinuous stream, flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream, steeper valley slope) 17. Watershed size: (skip Size 1 (< 0.1 mi2) Size 2 (0.1 to < 0.5 mi 2) Size 3 (0.5 to < 5 mi 2)Size 4 (≥ 5 mi2) for Tidal Marsh Stream) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 18. Were regulatory considerations evaluated? Yes No If Yes, check all that appy to the assessment area. Section 10 water Classified Trout Waters Water Supply Watershed ( I II III IV V) Essential Fish Habitat Primary Nursery Area High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters Publicly owned property NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect Nutrient Sensitive Waters Anadromous fish 303(d) List CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area. List species: Designated Critical Habitat (list species): 19. Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in "Notes/Sketch" section or attached? Yes No 1. Channel Water – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) A Water throughout assessment reach. B No flow, water in pools only. C No water in assessment reach. 2. Evidence of Flow Restriction – assessment reach metric A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is adversely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impounded on flood or ebb within the assessment reach (examples: undersized or perched culverts, causeways that constrict the channel, tidal gates). BNot A 3. Feature Pattern – assessment reach metric A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples: straightening, modification above or below culvert). BNot A. 4. Feature Longitudinal Profile – assessment reach metric A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile (examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these disturbances). BNot A 5. Signs of Active Instability – assessment reach metric Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include active bank failure, active channel down-cutting (head-cut), active widening, and artificial hardening (such as concrete, gabion, rip-rap). A < 10% of channel unstable B 10 to 25% of channel unstable C > 25% of channel unstable 6. Streamside Area Interaction – streamside area metric Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). LB RB A A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction B B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging) that adversely affect reference interaction (examples: limited streamside area access, disruption of flood flows through streamside area, leaky or intermittent bulkheads, causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching [including mosquito ditching]) 1 Foot 2-3 Feet NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 2 Rating Calculator Version 2 INSTRUCTIONS:Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle, and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same property, identify and number all reaches on the attached map, and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch" section if any supplementary NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA (do not need to be within the assessment area). measurements were performed. See the NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant. Dan River Steam Station 6-17-2015 36.4900, -79.7179 Stream Reach 1 50 Duke Energy 4. Assessor name/organization: Amec Foster Wheeler Rockingham Roanoke Dan River C C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction, bulkheads, retaining walls, fill, stream incision, disruption of flood flows through streamside area] or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: impoundments, intensive mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an interstream divide 7.Water Quality Stressors – assessment reach/intertidal zone metric Check all that apply. A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone (milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam) B Excessive sedimentation (burying of stream features or intertidal zone) C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem D Odor (not including natural sulfide odors) E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in the "Notes/Sketch" section. F Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone (removal, burning, regular mowing, destruction, etc.) I Other: (explain in "Notes/Sketch" section) J Little to no stressors 8. Recent Weather – watershed metric For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought; for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought. A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours C No drought conditions 9 Large or Dangerous Stream – assessment reach metric Yes No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes, skip to Metric 13 (Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition). 10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types – assessment reach metric 10a. Yes No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging) (evaluate for size 4 Coastal Plain streams only, then skip to Metric 12) 10b.Check all that occur (occurs if > 5% coverage of assessment reach) (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams) A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses F 5% oysters or other natural hard bottoms (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)G Submerged aquatic vegetation B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent H Low-tide refugia (pools) vegetation I Sand bottom C Multiple snags and logs (including lap trees)J 5% vertical bank along the marsh D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots K Little or no habitat in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter E Little or no habitat 11. Bedform and Substrate – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 11a. Yes No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream? (skip for Coastal Plain streams) 11b.Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es). A Riffle-run section (evaluate 11c) B Pool-glide section (evaluate 11d) C Natural bedform absent (skip to Metric 12, Aquatic Life) 11c.In riffles sections, check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach – whether or not submerged. Check at least one box in each row (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain Streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present (NP) = absent, Rare (R) = present but ≤ 10%, Common (C) = > 10-40%, Abundant (A) = > 40-70%, Predominant (P) = > 70%. Cumulative percentages should not exceed 100% for each assessment reach. NP R C A P Bedrock/saprolite Boulder (256 – 4096 mm) Cobble (64 – 256 mm) Gravel (2 – 64 mm) Sand (.062 – 2 mm) Silt/clay (< 0.062 mm) Detritus Artificial (rip-rap, concrete, etc.) 11d. Yes No Are pools filled with sediment? (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12. Aquatic Life – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12a. Yes No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual? If No, select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. No Water Other: 12b. Yes No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that apply. If No, skip to Metric 13. 1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to “individuals” for size 1 and 2 streams and “taxa” for size 3 and 4 streams. Adult frogs Aquatic reptiles *********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS**************************** Ch e c k f o r T i d a l Ma r s h S t r e a m s on l y Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) Beetles (including water pennies) Caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera [T]) Asian clam (Corbicula ) Crustacean (isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp) Damselfly and dragonfly larvae Dipterans (true flies) Mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera [E]) Megaloptera (alderfly, fishfly, dobsonfly larvae) Midges/mosquito larvae Mosquito fish (Gambusia ) or mud minnows (Umbra pygmaea) Mussels/Clams (not Corbicula ) Other fish Salamanders/tadpoles Snails Stonefly larvae (Plecoptera [P]) Tipulid larvae Worms/leeches 13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff. LB RB A A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area B B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area C C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area (examples include: ditches, fill, soil, compaction, livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees, drainage pipes) 14. Streamside Area Water Storage – streamside area metric (skip for Size 1 streams, Tidal Marsh Streams, and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB) of the streamside area. LB RB A A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water ≥ 6 inches deep B B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep C C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 15. Wetland Presence – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal wetted perimeter of assessment reach. LB RB Y Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area? NN 16. Baseflow Contributors – assessment reach metric (skip for size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach. A Streams and/or springs (jurisdictional discharges) B Ponds (include wet detention basins; do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins) C Obstruction that passes some flow during low-flow periods within assessment area (beaver dam, bottom-release dam) D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating (iron oxidizing bacteria in water indicates seepage) E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present) F None of the above 17. Baseflow Detractors – assessment area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all that apply. A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach (includes areas excavated for pump installation) B Obstruction not passing flow during low flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex: watertight dam, sediment deposit) C Urban stream (≥ 24% impervious surface for watershed) D Evidence that the stream-side area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge F None of the above 18. Shading – assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider aspect. Consider “leaf-on” condition. A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category (may include gaps associated with natural processes) B Degraded (example: scattered trees) C Stream shading is gone or largely absent 19. Buffer Width – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider “vegetated buffer” and “wooded buffer” separately for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) starting at the top of bank out to the first break. Vegetated Wooded LB RB LB RB A A A A ≥ 100-feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed BBBBFrom 50 to < 100-feet wide CCCCFrom 30 to < 50-feet wide DDDDFrom 10 to < 30-feet wide EEEE< 10-feet wide or no trees 20. Buffer Structure – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Vegetated" Buffer Width). LB RB A A Mature forest BBNon-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure C C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees < 10 feet wide D D Maintained shrubs E E Little or no vegetation 21. Buffer Stressors – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all appropriate boxes for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream (Abuts), does not abut but is within 30 feet of stream (< 30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet). If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank, check here and skip to Metric 22: Abuts < 30 feet 30-50 feet LB RB LB RB LB RB A A A A A A Row crops BBBBBBMaintained turf CCCCCCPasture (no livestock)/commercial horticulture DDDDDDPasture (active livestock use) 22. Stem Density – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Wooded" Buffer Width). LB RB A A Medium to high stem density B B Low stem density CCNo wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground 23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation > 10-feet wide. LB RB A A The total length of buffer breaks is < 25 percent. B B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent. C C The total length of buffer breaks is > 50 percent. 24.Vegetative Composition – First 100 feet of streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first) as it contributes to assessment reach habitat. LB RB A A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species, with non-native invasive species absent or sparse. B B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees. CCVegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation. 25. Conductivity – assessment reach metric (skip for all Coastal Plain streams) 25a. Yes No Was a conductivity measurement recorded? If No, select one of the following reasons. No Water Other: 25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement (units of microsiemens per centimeter). A <46 B 46 to < 67 C 67 to < 79 D 79 to < 230 E ≥ 230 Notes/Sketch: Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) NC SAM feature type (perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) (4) Floodplain Access (4) Wooded Riparian Buffer (4) Microtopography (3) Stream Stability (4) Channel Stability (4) Sediment Transport (4) Stream Geomorphology (2) Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction (2) Longitudinal Tidal Flow (2) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology (1) Water Quality (2) Baseflow (2) Streamside Area Vegetation (3) Upland Pollutant Filtration (3) Thermoregulation (2) Indicators of Stressors (2) Aquatic Life Tolerance (2) Intertidal Zone Filtration (1) Habitat (2) In-stream Habitat (3) Baseflow (3) Substrate (3) Stream Stability (3) In-stream Habitat (2) Stream-side Habitat (3) Stream-side Habitat (3) Thermoregulation (2) Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat (3) Flow Restriction (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability (4) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology (3) Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat (2) Intertidal Zone Habitat Overall MEDIUM Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 1 Rating Calculator Version 1 HIGH LOW USACE/ All Streams NCDWR Intermittent NA NA (2) Flood Flow Amec Foster Wheeler 6-17-2015 NO NO YES Intermittent NA MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH (2) Baseflow Stream Category Assessor Name/Organization MEDIUM Pb1 Stream Site Name LOW NA Dan River Steam Station Date of Evaluation (4) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA LOW (3) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability (3) Streamside Area Attenuation Function Class Rating Summary (1) Hydrology LOW NA NA NA NA NA LOW MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM HIGH LOW LOW NA NO NA NA NA NA MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH LOW MEDIUM NA NA LOW NA NA NA NA NA LOW NO NA NA LOW MEDIUM NA NA MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NA NA MEDIUM MEDIUM USACE AID #: NCDWR #: PROJECT / SITE INFORMATION: 1. Project name (if any): 2. Date of evaluation: 3. Applicant/owner name: 5. County: 6. Nearest named water body 7. River Basin: on USGS 7.5-minute quad: 8. Site coordinates (decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations) 9. Site number (show on attached map): 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated (feet): 11. Channel depth from bed (in riffle, if present) to top of bank (feet): Unable to assess channel depth. 12. Channel width at top of bank (feet):13. Is assessment reach a swamp stream? Yes No 14. Feature type: Perennial flow Intermittent flow Tidal Marsh Stream STREAM RATING INFORMATION: 15. NC SAM Zone: Mountains (M) Piedmont (P) Inner Coastal Plain (I) Outer Coastal Plain (O) 16. Estimated geomorphic valley shape (skip for ab Tidal Marsh Stream):(more sinuous stream, flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream, steeper valley slope) 17. Watershed size: (skip Size 1 (< 0.1 mi2) Size 2 (0.1 to < 0.5 mi 2) Size 3 (0.5 to < 5 mi 2)Size 4 (≥ 5 mi2) for Tidal Marsh Stream) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 18. Were regulatory considerations evaluated? Yes No If Yes, check all that appy to the assessment area. Section 10 water Classified Trout Waters Water Supply Watershed ( I II III IV V) Essential Fish Habitat Primary Nursery Area High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters Publicly owned property NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect Nutrient Sensitive Waters Anadromous fish 303(d) List CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area. List species: Designated Critical Habitat (list species): 19. Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in "Notes/Sketch" section or attached? Yes No 1. Channel Water – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) A Water throughout assessment reach. B No flow, water in pools only. C No water in assessment reach. 2. Evidence of Flow Restriction – assessment reach metric A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is adversely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impounded on flood or ebb within the assessment reach (examples: undersized or perched culverts, causeways that constrict the channel, tidal gates). BNot A 3. Feature Pattern – assessment reach metric A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples: straightening, modification above or below culvert). BNot A. 4. Feature Longitudinal Profile – assessment reach metric A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile (examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these disturbances). BNot A 5. Signs of Active Instability – assessment reach metric Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include active bank failure, active channel down-cutting (head-cut), active widening, and artificial hardening (such as concrete, gabion, rip-rap). A < 10% of channel unstable B 10 to 25% of channel unstable C > 25% of channel unstable 6. Streamside Area Interaction – streamside area metric Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). LB RB A A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction B B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging) that adversely affect reference interaction (examples: limited streamside area access, disruption of flood flows through streamside area, leaky or intermittent bulkheads, causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching [including mosquito ditching]) C C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction, bulkheads, retaining walls, fill, stream incision, Dan River Steam Station 6-17-2015 36.4903, -79.4903 Stream Reach 2 50 Duke Energy 4. Assessor name/organization: Amec Foster Wheeler Rockingham Roanoke Dan River property, identify and number all reaches on the attached map, and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch" section if any supplementary NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA (do not need to be within the assessment area). measurements were performed. See the NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant. NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 2 Rating Calculator Version 2 INSTRUCTIONS:Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle, and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same 1 Foot 2-3 Feet disruption of flood flows through streamside area] or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: impoundments, intensive mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an interstream divide 7.Water Quality Stressors – assessment reach/intertidal zone metric Check all that apply. A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone (milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam) B Excessive sedimentation (burying of stream features or intertidal zone) C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem D Odor (not including natural sulfide odors) E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in the "Notes/Sketch" section. F Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone (removal, burning, regular mowing, destruction, etc.) I Other: (explain in "Notes/Sketch" section) J Little to no stressors 8. Recent Weather – watershed metric For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought; for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought. A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours C No drought conditions 9 Large or Dangerous Stream – assessment reach metric Yes No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes, skip to Metric 13 (Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition). 10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types – assessment reach metric 10a. Yes No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging) (evaluate for size 4 Coastal Plain streams only, then skip to Metric 12) 10b.Check all that occur (occurs if > 5% coverage of assessment reach) (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams) A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses F 5% oysters or other natural hard bottoms (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)G Submerged aquatic vegetation B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent H Low-tide refugia (pools) vegetation I Sand bottom C Multiple snags and logs (including lap trees)J 5% vertical bank along the marsh D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots K Little or no habitat in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter E Little or no habitat 11. Bedform and Substrate – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 11a. Yes No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream? (skip for Coastal Plain streams) 11b.Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es). A Riffle-run section (evaluate 11c) B Pool-glide section (evaluate 11d) C Natural bedform absent (skip to Metric 12, Aquatic Life) 11c.In riffles sections, check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach – whether or not submerged. Check at least one box in each row (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain Streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present (NP) = absent, Rare (R) = present but ≤ 10%, Common (C) = > 10-40%, Abundant (A) = > 40-70%, Predominant (P) = > 70%. Cumulative percentages should not exceed 100% for each assessment reach. NP R C A P Bedrock/saprolite Boulder (256 – 4096 mm) Cobble (64 – 256 mm) Gravel (2 – 64 mm) Sand (.062 – 2 mm) Silt/clay (< 0.062 mm) Detritus Artificial (rip-rap, concrete, etc.) 11d. Yes No Are pools filled with sediment? (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12. Aquatic Life – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12a. Yes No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual? If No, select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. No Water Other: 12b. Yes No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that apply. If No, skip to Metric 13. 1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to “individuals” for size 1 and 2 streams and “taxa” for size 3 and 4 streams. Adult frogs Aquatic reptiles Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) Beetles (including water pennies) Caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera [T]) Asian clam (Corbicula ) *********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS**************************** Ch e c k f o r T i d a l Ma r s h S t r e a m s on l y Crustacean (isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp) Damselfly and dragonfly larvae Dipterans (true flies) Mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera [E]) Megaloptera (alderfly, fishfly, dobsonfly larvae) Midges/mosquito larvae Mosquito fish (Gambusia ) or mud minnows (Umbra pygmaea) Mussels/Clams (not Corbicula ) Other fish Salamanders/tadpoles Snails Stonefly larvae (Plecoptera [P]) Tipulid larvae Worms/leeches 13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff. LB RB A A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area B B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area C C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area (examples include: ditches, fill, soil, compaction, livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees, drainage pipes) 14. Streamside Area Water Storage – streamside area metric (skip for Size 1 streams, Tidal Marsh Streams, and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB) of the streamside area. LB RB A A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water ≥ 6 inches deep B B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep C C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 15. Wetland Presence – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal wetted perimeter of assessment reach. LB RB Y Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area? NN 16. Baseflow Contributors – assessment reach metric (skip for size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach. A Streams and/or springs (jurisdictional discharges) B Ponds (include wet detention basins; do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins) C Obstruction that passes some flow during low-flow periods within assessment area (beaver dam, bottom-release dam) D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating (iron oxidizing bacteria in water indicates seepage) E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present) F None of the above 17. Baseflow Detractors – assessment area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all that apply. A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach (includes areas excavated for pump installation) B Obstruction not passing flow during low flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex: watertight dam, sediment deposit) C Urban stream (≥ 24% impervious surface for watershed) D Evidence that the stream-side area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge F None of the above 18. Shading – assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider aspect. Consider “leaf-on” condition. A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category (may include gaps associated with natural processes) B Degraded (example: scattered trees) C Stream shading is gone or largely absent 19. Buffer Width – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider “vegetated buffer” and “wooded buffer” separately for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) starting at the top of bank out to the first break. Vegetated Wooded LB RB LB RB A A A A ≥ 100-feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed BBBBFrom 50 to < 100-feet wide CCCCFrom 30 to < 50-feet wide DDDDFrom 10 to < 30-feet wide EEEE< 10-feet wide or no trees 20. Buffer Structure – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Vegetated" Buffer Width). LB RB A A Mature forest BBNon-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure C C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees < 10 feet wide D D Maintained shrubs E E Little or no vegetation 21. Buffer Stressors – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all appropriate boxes for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream (Abuts), does not abut but is within 30 feet of stream (< 30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet). If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank, check here and skip to Metric 22: Abuts < 30 feet 30-50 feet LB RB LB RB LB RB A A A A A A Row crops BBBBBBMaintained turf CCCCCCPasture (no livestock)/commercial horticulture DDDDDDPasture (active livestock use) 22. Stem Density – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Wooded" Buffer Width). LB RB A A Medium to high stem density B B Low stem density CCNo wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground 23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation > 10-feet wide. LB RB A A The total length of buffer breaks is < 25 percent. B B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent. C C The total length of buffer breaks is > 50 percent. 24.Vegetative Composition – First 100 feet of streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first) as it contributes to assessment reach habitat. LB RB A A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species, with non-native invasive species absent or sparse. B B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees. CCVegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation. 25. Conductivity – assessment reach metric (skip for all Coastal Plain streams) 25a. Yes No Was a conductivity measurement recorded? If No, select one of the following reasons. No Water Other: 25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement (units of microsiemens per centimeter). A <46 B 46 to < 67 C 67 to < 79 D 79 to < 230 E ≥ 230 Notes/Sketch: Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) NC SAM feature type (perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) (4) Floodplain Access (4) Wooded Riparian Buffer (4) Microtopography (3) Stream Stability (4) Channel Stability (4) Sediment Transport (4) Stream Geomorphology (2) Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction (2) Longitudinal Tidal Flow (2) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology (1) Water Quality (2) Baseflow (2) Streamside Area Vegetation (3) Upland Pollutant Filtration (3) Thermoregulation (2) Indicators of Stressors (2) Aquatic Life Tolerance (2) Intertidal Zone Filtration (1) Habitat (2) In-stream Habitat (3) Baseflow (3) Substrate (3) Stream Stability (3) In-stream Habitat (2) Stream-side Habitat (3) Stream-side Habitat (3) Thermoregulation (2) Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat (3) Flow Restriction (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability (4) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology (3) Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat (2) Intertidal Zone Habitat Overall MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NA NA MEDIUM HIGH NA NA NA NA LOW NO NA NA LOW MEDIUM NA NA NA NA NA MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH LOW MEDIUM NA NA LOW NA (4) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA LOW (3) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability (3) Streamside Area Attenuation Function Class Rating Summary (1) Hydrology LOW NA NA NA NA NA LOW MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM HIGH LOW LOW NA NO NA NA NA (2) Flood Flow Amec Foster Wheeler 6-17-2015 NO NO YES Intermittent NA MEDIUM HIGH HIGH (2) Baseflow Stream Category Assessor Name/Organization MEDIUM Pb1 Stream Site Name LOW NA Dan River Steam Station Date of Evaluation MEDIUM Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 1 Rating Calculator Version 1 HIGH LOW USACE/ All Streams NCDWR Intermittent USACE AID #: NCDWR #: PROJECT / SITE INFORMATION: 1. Project name (if any): 2. Date of evaluation: 3. Applicant/owner name: 5. County: 6. Nearest named water body 7. River Basin: on USGS 7.5-minute quad: 8. Site coordinates (decimal degrees, at lower end of assessment reach): STREAM INFORMATION: (depth and width can be approximations) 9. Site number (show on attached map): 10. Length of assessment reach evaluated (feet): 11. Channel depth from bed (in riffle, if present) to top of bank (feet): Unable to assess channel depth. 12. Channel width at top of bank (feet):13. Is assessment reach a swamp stream? Yes No 14. Feature type: Perennial flow Intermittent flow Tidal Marsh Stream STREAM RATING INFORMATION: 15. NC SAM Zone: Mountains (M) Piedmont (P) Inner Coastal Plain (I) Outer Coastal Plain (O) 16. Estimated geomorphic valley shape (skip for ab Tidal Marsh Stream):(more sinuous stream, flatter valley slope) (less sinuous stream, steeper valley slope) 17. Watershed size: (skip Size 1 (< 0.1 mi2) Size 2 (0.1 to < 0.5 mi 2) Size 3 (0.5 to < 5 mi 2)Size 4 (≥ 5 mi2) for Tidal Marsh Stream) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 18. Were regulatory considerations evaluated? Yes No If Yes, check all that appy to the assessment area. Section 10 water Classified Trout Waters Water Supply Watershed ( I II III IV V) Essential Fish Habitat Primary Nursery Area High Quality Waters/Outstanding Resource Waters Publicly owned property NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect Nutrient Sensitive Waters Anadromous fish 303(d) List CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) Documented presence of a federal and/or state listed protected species within the assessment area. List species: Designated Critical Habitat (list species): 19. Are additional stream information/supplementary measurements included in "Notes/Sketch" section or attached? Yes No 1. Channel Water – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 1 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) A Water throughout assessment reach. B No flow, water in pools only. C No water in assessment reach. 2. Evidence of Flow Restriction – assessment reach metric A At least 10% of assessment reach in-stream habitat or riffle-pool sequence is adversely affected by a flow restriction or fill to the point of obstructing flow or a channel choked with aquatic macrophytes or ponded water or impounded on flood or ebb within the assessment reach (examples: undersized or perched culverts, causeways that constrict the channel, tidal gates). BNot A 3. Feature Pattern – assessment reach metric A A majority of the assessment reach has altered pattern (examples: straightening, modification above or below culvert). BNot A. 4. Feature Longitudinal Profile – assessment reach metric A Majority of assessment reach has a substantially altered stream profile (examples: channel down-cutting, existing damming, over widening, active aggradation, dredging, and excavation where appropriate channel profile has not reformed from any of these disturbances). BNot A 5. Signs of Active Instability – assessment reach metric Consider only current instability, not past events from which the stream has currently recovered. Examples of instability include active bank failure, active channel down-cutting (head-cut), active widening, and artificial hardening (such as concrete, gabion, rip-rap). A < 10% of channel unstable B 10 to 25% of channel unstable C > 25% of channel unstable 6. Streamside Area Interaction – streamside area metric Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). LB RB A A Little or no evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction B B Moderate evidence of conditions (examples: berms, levees, down-cutting, aggradation, dredging) that adversely affect reference interaction (examples: limited streamside area access, disruption of flood flows through streamside area, leaky or intermittent bulkheads, causeways with floodplain constriction, minor ditching [including mosquito ditching]) Dan River Steam Station 6-17-2015 36.4905, -79.7185 Stream Reach 3 50 Duke Energy 4. Assessor name/organization: Amec Foster Wheeler Rockingham Roanoke Dan River property, identify and number all reaches on the attached map, and include a separate form for each reach. See the NC SAM User Manual for detailed descriptions and explanations of requested information. Record in the "Notes/Sketch" section if any supplementary NOTE EVIDENCE OF STRESSORS AFFECTING THE ASSESSMENT AREA (do not need to be within the assessment area). measurements were performed. See the NC SAM User Manual for examples of additional measurements that may be relevant. NC SAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 2 Rating Calculator Version 2 INSTRUCTIONS:Attach a sketch of the assessment area and photographs. Attach a copy of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle, and circle the location of the stream reach under evaluation. If multiple stream reaches will be evaluated on the same 2-3 Feet 3-4 Feet C C Extensive evidence of conditions that adversely affect reference interaction (little to no floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: causeways with floodplain and channel constriction, bulkheads, retaining walls, fill, stream incision, disruption of flood flows through streamside area] or too much floodplain/intertidal zone access [examples: impoundments, intensive mosquito ditching]) or floodplain/intertidal zone unnaturally absent or assessment reach is a man-made feature on an interstream divide 7.Water Quality Stressors – assessment reach/intertidal zone metric Check all that apply. A Discolored water in stream or intertidal zone (milky white, blue, unnatural water discoloration, oil sheen, stream foam) B Excessive sedimentation (burying of stream features or intertidal zone) C Noticeable evidence of pollutant discharges entering the assessment reach and causing a water quality problem D Odor (not including natural sulfide odors) E Current published or collected data indicating degraded water quality in the assessment reach. Cite source in the "Notes/Sketch" section. F Livestock with access to stream or intertidal zone G Excessive algae in stream or intertidal zone H Degraded marsh vegetation in the intertidal zone (removal, burning, regular mowing, destruction, etc.) I Other: (explain in "Notes/Sketch" section) J Little to no stressors 8. Recent Weather – watershed metric For Size 1 or 2 streams, D1 drought or higher is considered a drought; for Size 3 or 4 streams, D2 drought or higher is considered a drought. A Drought conditions and no rainfall or rainfall not exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours B Drought conditions and rainfall exceeding 1 inch within the last 48 hours C No drought conditions 9 Large or Dangerous Stream – assessment reach metric Yes No Is stream is too large or dangerous to assess? If Yes, skip to Metric 13 (Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition). 10. Natural In-stream Habitat Types – assessment reach metric 10a. Yes No Degraded in-stream habitat over majority of the assessment reach (examples of stressors include excessive sedimentation, mining, excavation, in-stream hardening [for example, rip-rap], recent dredging, and snagging) (evaluate for size 4 Coastal Plain streams only, then skip to Metric 12) 10b.Check all that occur (occurs if > 5% coverage of assessment reach) (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams) A Multiple aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses F 5% oysters or other natural hard bottoms (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats)G Submerged aquatic vegetation B Multiple sticks and/or leaf packs and/or emergent H Low-tide refugia (pools) vegetation I Sand bottom C Multiple snags and logs (including lap trees)J 5% vertical bank along the marsh D 5% undercut banks and/or root mats and/or roots K Little or no habitat in banks extend to the normal wetted perimeter E Little or no habitat 11. Bedform and Substrate – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 11a. Yes No Is assessment reach in a natural sand-bed stream? (skip for Coastal Plain streams) 11b.Bedform evaluated. Check the appropriate box(es). A Riffle-run section (evaluate 11c) B Pool-glide section (evaluate 11d) C Natural bedform absent (skip to Metric 12, Aquatic Life) 11c.In riffles sections, check all that occur below the normal wetted perimeter of the assessment reach – whether or not submerged. Check at least one box in each row (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain Streams and Tidal Marsh Streams). Not Present (NP) = absent, Rare (R) = present but ≤ 10%, Common (C) = > 10-40%, Abundant (A) = > 40-70%, Predominant (P) = > 70%. Cumulative percentages should not exceed 100% for each assessment reach. NP R C A P Bedrock/saprolite Boulder (256 – 4096 mm) Cobble (64 – 256 mm) Gravel (2 – 64 mm) Sand (.062 – 2 mm) Silt/clay (< 0.062 mm) Detritus Artificial (rip-rap, concrete, etc.) 11d. Yes No Are pools filled with sediment? (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12. Aquatic Life – assessment reach metric (skip for Size 4 Coastal Plain streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) 12a. Yes No Was an in-stream aquatic life assessment performed as described in the User Manual? If No, select one of the following reasons and skip to Metric 13. No Water Other: 12b. Yes No Are aquatic organisms present in the assessment reach (look in riffles, pools, then snags)? If Yes, check all that apply. If No, skip to Metric 13. 1 >1 Numbers over columns refer to “individuals” for size 1 and 2 streams and “taxa” for size 3 and 4 streams. Adult frogs Aquatic reptiles *********************************REMAINING QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR TIDAL MARSH STREAMS**************************** Ch e c k f o r T i d a l Ma r s h S t r e a m s on l y Aquatic macrophytes and aquatic mosses (include liverworts, lichens, and algal mats) Beetles (including water pennies) Caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera [T]) Asian clam (Corbicula ) Crustacean (isopod/amphipod/crayfish/shrimp) Damselfly and dragonfly larvae Dipterans (true flies) Mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera [E]) Megaloptera (alderfly, fishfly, dobsonfly larvae) Midges/mosquito larvae Mosquito fish (Gambusia ) or mud minnows (Umbra pygmaea) Mussels/Clams (not Corbicula ) Other fish Salamanders/tadpoles Snails Stonefly larvae (Plecoptera [P]) Tipulid larvae Worms/leeches 13. Streamside Area Ground Surface Condition – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Consider storage capacity with regard to both overbank flow and upland runoff. LB RB A A Little or no alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area B B Moderate alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area C C Severe alteration to water storage capacity over a majority of the streamside area (examples include: ditches, fill, soil, compaction, livestock disturbance, buildings, man-made levees, drainage pipes) 14. Streamside Area Water Storage – streamside area metric (skip for Size 1 streams, Tidal Marsh Streams, and B valley types) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB) of the streamside area. LB RB A A Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water ≥ 6 inches deep B B Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep C C Majority of streamside area with depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 15. Wetland Presence – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for the Left Bank (LB) and the Right Bank (RB). Do not consider wetlands outside of the streamside area or within the normal wetted perimeter of assessment reach. LB RB Y Y Are wetlands present in the streamside area? NN 16. Baseflow Contributors – assessment reach metric (skip for size 4 streams and Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all contributors within the assessment reach or within view of and draining to the assessment reach. A Streams and/or springs (jurisdictional discharges) B Ponds (include wet detention basins; do not include sediment basins or dry detention basins) C Obstruction that passes some flow during low-flow periods within assessment area (beaver dam, bottom-release dam) D Evidence of bank seepage or sweating (iron oxidizing bacteria in water indicates seepage) E Stream bed or bank soil reduced (dig through deposited sediment if present) F None of the above 17. Baseflow Detractors – assessment area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all that apply. A Evidence of substantial water withdrawals from the assessment reach (includes areas excavated for pump installation) B Obstruction not passing flow during low flow periods affecting the assessment reach (ex: watertight dam, sediment deposit) C Urban stream (≥ 24% impervious surface for watershed) D Evidence that the stream-side area has been modified resulting in accelerated drainage into the assessment reach E Assessment reach relocated to valley edge F None of the above 18. Shading – assessment reach metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider aspect. Consider “leaf-on” condition. A Stream shading is appropriate for stream category (may include gaps associated with natural processes) B Degraded (example: scattered trees) C Stream shading is gone or largely absent 19. Buffer Width – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider “vegetated buffer” and “wooded buffer” separately for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) starting at the top of bank out to the first break. Vegetated Wooded LB RB LB RB A A A A ≥ 100-feet wide or extends to the edge of the watershed BBBBFrom 50 to < 100-feet wide CCCCFrom 30 to < 50-feet wide DDDDFrom 10 to < 30-feet wide EEEE< 10-feet wide or no trees 20. Buffer Structure – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Vegetated" Buffer Width). LB RB A A Mature forest BBNon-mature woody vegetation or modified vegetation structure C C Herbaceous vegetation with or without a strip of trees < 10 feet wide D D Maintained shrubs E E Little or no vegetation 21. Buffer Stressors – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Check all appropriate boxes for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB). Indicate if listed stressor abuts stream (Abuts), does not abut but is within 30 feet of stream (< 30 feet), or is between 30 to 50 feet of stream (30-50 feet). If none of the following stressors occurs on either bank, check here and skip to Metric 22: Abuts < 30 feet 30-50 feet LB RB LB RB LB RB A A A A A A Row crops BBBBBBMaintained turf CCCCCCPasture (no livestock)/commercial horticulture DDDDDDPasture (active livestock use) 22. Stem Density – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider for left bank (LB) and right bank (RB) for Metric 19 ("Wooded" Buffer Width). LB RB A A Medium to high stem density B B Low stem density CCNo wooded riparian buffer or predominantly herbaceous species or bare ground 23. Continuity of Vegetated Buffer – streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Consider whether vegetated buffer is continuous along stream (parallel). Breaks are areas lacking vegetation > 10-feet wide. LB RB A A The total length of buffer breaks is < 25 percent. B B The total length of buffer breaks is between 25 and 50 percent. C C The total length of buffer breaks is > 50 percent. 24.Vegetative Composition – First 100 feet of streamside area metric (skip for Tidal Marsh Streams) Evaluate the dominant vegetation within 100 feet of each bank or to the edge of the watershed (whichever comes first) as it contributes to assessment reach habitat. LB RB A A Vegetation is close to undisturbed in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of native species, with non-native invasive species absent or sparse. B B Vegetation indicates disturbance in terms of species diversity or proportions, but is still largely composed of native species. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clear-cutting or clearing or communities with non-native invasive species present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata or communities missing understory but retaining canopy trees. CCVegetation is severely disturbed in terms of species diversity or proportions. Mature canopy is absent or communities with non-native invasive species dominant over a large portion of expected strata or communities composed of planted stands of non-characteristic species or communities inappropriately composed of a single species or no vegetation. 25. Conductivity – assessment reach metric (skip for all Coastal Plain streams) 25a. Yes No Was a conductivity measurement recorded? If No, select one of the following reasons. No Water Other: 25b. Check the box corresponding to the conductivity measurement (units of microsiemens per centimeter). A <46 B 46 to < 67 C 67 to < 79 D 79 to < 230 E ≥ 230 Notes/Sketch: Notes of Field Assessment Form (Y/N) Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) Additional stream information/supplementary measurements included (Y/N) NC SAM feature type (perennial, intermittent, Tidal Marsh Stream) (4) Floodplain Access (4) Wooded Riparian Buffer (4) Microtopography (3) Stream Stability (4) Channel Stability (4) Sediment Transport (4) Stream Geomorphology (2) Stream/Intertidal Zone Interaction (2) Longitudinal Tidal Flow (2) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology (1) Water Quality (2) Baseflow (2) Streamside Area Vegetation (3) Upland Pollutant Filtration (3) Thermoregulation (2) Indicators of Stressors (2) Aquatic Life Tolerance (2) Intertidal Zone Filtration (1) Habitat (2) In-stream Habitat (3) Baseflow (3) Substrate (3) Stream Stability (3) In-stream Habitat (2) Stream-side Habitat (3) Stream-side Habitat (3) Thermoregulation (2) Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat (3) Flow Restriction (3) Tidal Marsh Stream Stability (4) Tidal Marsh Stream Geomorphology (3) Tidal Marsh In-stream Habitat (2) Intertidal Zone Habitat Overall LOW LOW MEDIUM LOW LOW MEDIUM LOW LOW MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NA LOW NA MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NA NA NA MEDIUM NO NA NA MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NA NA NA NA MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM LOW MEDIUM NA NA LOW NA (4) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability NA LOW (3) Tidal Marsh Channel Stability (3) Streamside Area Attenuation Function Class Rating Summary (1) Hydrology MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NA NA NA NA LOW MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM MEDIUM NA NO NA NA NA (2) Flood Flow Amec Foster Wheeler 6-17-2015 NO NO YES Intermittent NA MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH (2) Baseflow Stream Category Assessor Name/Organization LOW MEDIUM Pb1 Stream Site Name LOW NA Dan River Steam Station Date of Evaluation LOW MEDIUM Draft NC SAM Stream Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 1 Rating Calculator Version 1 HIGH LOW USACE/ All Streams NCDWR Intermittent Date Assessor Name/Organization Nearest Named Water Body USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit Yes No Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, approximately within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • • • • Is the assessment area intensively managed?Yes No Regulatory Considerations (select all that apply to the assessment area) Anadromous fish Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species NCDWQ riparian buffer rule in effect Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) Publicly owned property N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout Designated NCNHP reference community Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) Blackwater Brownwater Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) Lu Lunar Wind Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island?Yes No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver?Yes No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions?Yes No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition – assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence of an effect. GS A A Not severely altered B B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire-plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) 2. Surface and Sub-Surface Storage Capacity and Duration – assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub-surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. Refer to the current NRCS lateral effect of ditching guidance for North Carolina hydric soils (see USACE Wilmington District website) for the zone of influence of ditches in hydric soils. A ditch ≤ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and ditch sub-surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf A A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. B B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). C C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). 3. Water Storage/Surface Relief – assessment area/wetland type condition metric (answer for non-marsh wetlands only) Check a box in each column for each group below. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a.A A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 foot deep B B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep C C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep D D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b.A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 36.4954/-79.7179 Dan River 03010103 Level III Ecoregion River Basin NC WAM WETLAND ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 4.1 Amec Foster Wheeler 6-17-2015Wetland Site Name Wetland Type Dan River Steam Station - Wetland 1 Rating Calculator Version 4.1 Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) Latitude/Longitude (deci-degrees) Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear-cutting, exotics, etc.) Surface and sub-surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby Sub VS septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) Precipitation within 48 hrs? Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) Piedmont Seep Roanoke 4. Soil Texture/Structure – assessment area condition metric Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a.A Sandy soil B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b.A Soil ribbon < 1 inch B Soil ribbon ≥ 1 inch 4c.A No peat or muck presence B A peat or muck presence 5. Discharge into Wetland – opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub-surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub-surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub A A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area B B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area C C Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use – opportunity metric Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). Effective riparian buffers are considered to be 50 feet wide in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions and 30 feet wide in the Blue Ridge Mountains ecoregion. WS 5M 2M A A A ≥ 10% impervious surfaces B B B < 10% impervious surfaces C C C Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants) DDD≥ 20% coverage of pasture EEE≥ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) FFF≥ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb GGG≥ 20% coverage of clear-cut land H H H Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer – assessment area/wetland complex condition metric 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? Yes No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of the wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is weltand? Descriptor E should be selected if ditches effectively bypass the buffer. A ≥ 50 feet B From 30 to < 50 feet C From 15 to < 30 feet D From 5 to < 15 feet E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ≤ 15-feet wide > 15-feet wide Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? Yes No 7e. Is tributary or other open water sheltered or exposed? Sheltered – adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. Exposed – adjacent open water with width ≥ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. 8. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area – wetland type/wetland complex metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands only) Check a box in each column. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment areas (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC A A ≥ 100 feet B B From 80 to < 100 feet C C From 50 to < 80 feet D D From 40 to < 50 feet E E From 30 to < 40 feet F F From 15 to < 30 feet G G From 5 to < 15 feet H H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration – assessment area condition metric Answer for assessment area dominant landform. A Evidence of short-duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation C Evidence of long-duration inundation or very long-duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition – assessment area condition metric Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. C Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size – wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select “K” for the FW column. WT FW (if applicable) A A A ≥ 500 acres B B B From 100 to < 500 acres C C C From 50 to < 100 acres D D D From 25 to < 50 acres E E E From 10 to < 25 acres F F F From 5 to < 10 acres G G G From 1 to < 5 acres H H H From 0.5 to < 1 acre I I I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre J J J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre KKK< 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness – wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) A Pocosin is the full extent (≥ 90%) of its natural landscape size. B Pocosin is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas – landscape condition metric 13a.Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous metric naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four-lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four-lane road or wider, urban landscapes, fields (pasture open and agriculture), or water > 300 feet wide. A A ≥ 500 acres B B From 100 to < 500 acres C C From 50 to < 100 acres D D From 10 to < 50 acres E E < 10 acres F F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b.Evaluate for marshes only. Yes No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non-forested areas ≥ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors and clear-cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. A No artificial edge within 150 feet in all directions B No artificial edge within 150 feet in four (4) to seven (7) directions C An artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in more than four (4) directions or assessment area is clear-cut 15. Vegetative Composition – assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata. C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition. Expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non- characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species). Exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16.Vegetative Diversity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non-tidal Freshwater Marsh only) A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (<10% cover of exotics). B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (>50% cover of exotics). Well WC Loosely 17.Vegetative Structure – assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? Yes No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b.Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non-marsh wetlands. A ≥ 25% coverage of vegetation B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c.Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non-marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. A A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes B B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps C C Canopy sparse or absent A A Dense mid-story/sapling layer B B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer C C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent A A Dense shrub layer B B Moderate density shrub layer C C Shrub layer sparse or absent A A Dense herb layer B B Moderate density herb layer C C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags – wetland type condition metric A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12-inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). BNot A 19. Diameter Class Distribution – wetland type condition metric A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12-inch DBH. C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris – wetland type condition metric Include both natural debris and man-placed natural debris. A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability). BNot A 21.Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion – wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non-Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. A BCD 22. Hydrologic Connectivity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. Ca n o p y Mi d - S t o r y Sh r u b He r b AA WT Notes Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) Sub-function Rating Summary Function Sub-function Metrics Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition Sub-Surface Storage and Retention Condition Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Particulate Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Soluble Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Physical Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Pollution Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Habitat Physical Structure Condition Landscape Patch Structure Condition Vegetation Composition Condition Function Rating Summary Function Metrics/Notes Hydrology Condition Water Quality Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Habitat Conditon Overall Wetland Rating MEDIUM NO YES YES NO NO NA NA NA NO MEDIUM HIGH NA NA MEDIUM NA HIGH LOW Rating MEDIUM NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Wetland Type Wetland Site Name Dan River Steam Station - Wetland 1 Amec Foster WheelerSeep Date Assessor Name/Organization 6-17-2015 Accompanies User Manual Version 4.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA Rating Calculator Version 4.1 NA NA NA NA NA Rating NA NA NO Date Assessor Name/Organization Nearest Named Water Body USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit Yes No Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, approximately within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • • • • Is the assessment area intensively managed?Yes No Regulatory Considerations (select all that apply to the assessment area) Anadromous fish Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species NCDWQ riparian buffer rule in effect Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) Publicly owned property N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout Designated NCNHP reference community Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) Blackwater Brownwater Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) Lu Lunar Wind Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island?Yes No Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver?Yes No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions?Yes No 1. Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition – assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence of an effect. GS A A Not severely altered B B Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive sedimentation, fire-plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration) 2. Surface and Sub-Surface Storage Capacity and Duration – assessment area condition metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub-surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. Refer to the current NRCS lateral effect of ditching guidance for North Carolina hydric soils (see USACE Wilmington District website) for the zone of influence of ditches in hydric soils. A ditch ≤ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and ditch sub-surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable. Surf A A Water storage capacity and duration are not altered. B B Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation). C C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines). 3. Water Storage/Surface Relief – assessment area/wetland type condition metric (answer for non-marsh wetlands only) Check a box in each column for each group below. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT). AA WT 3a.A A Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 foot deep B B Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep C C Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep D D Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep 3b.A Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet B Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet C Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot 36.4903/-79.7188 Dan River 03010103 Level III Ecoregion River Basin NC WAM WETLAND ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 4.1 Amec Foster Wheeler 6-17-2015Wetland Site Name Wetland Type Dan River Steam Station - Wetland 2 Rating Calculator Version 4.1 Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) Latitude/Longitude (deci-degrees) Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear-cutting, exotics, etc.) Surface and sub-surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby Sub VS septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) Precipitation within 48 hrs? Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) Piedmont Seep Roanoke 4. Soil Texture/Structure – assessment area condition metric Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators. 4a.A Sandy soil B Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres) C Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features D Loamy or clayey gleyed soil E Histosol or histic epipedon 4b.A Soil ribbon < 1 inch B Soil ribbon ≥ 1 inch 4c.A No peat or muck presence B A peat or muck presence 5. Discharge into Wetland – opportunity metric Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub-surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub-surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc. Surf Sub A A Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area B B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the treatment capacity of the assessment area C C Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive sedimentation, odor) 6. Land Use – opportunity metric Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). Effective riparian buffers are considered to be 50 feet wide in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions and 30 feet wide in the Blue Ridge Mountains ecoregion. WS 5M 2M A A A ≥ 10% impervious surfaces B B B < 10% impervious surfaces C C C Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants) DDD≥ 20% coverage of pasture EEE≥ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) FFF≥ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb GGG≥ 20% coverage of clear-cut land H H H Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage or overbank flow from affecting the assessment area. 7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer – assessment area/wetland complex condition metric 7a. Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water? Yes No If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8. Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of the wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed. 7b. How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is weltand? Descriptor E should be selected if ditches effectively bypass the buffer. A ≥ 50 feet B From 30 to < 50 feet C From 15 to < 30 feet D From 5 to < 15 feet E < 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches 7c. Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width. ≤ 15-feet wide > 15-feet wide Other open water (no tributary present) 7d. Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water? Yes No 7e. Is tributary or other open water sheltered or exposed? Sheltered – adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic. Exposed – adjacent open water with width ≥ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic. 8. Wetland Width at the Assessment Area – wetland type/wetland complex metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands only) Check a box in each column. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment areas (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries. WT WC A A ≥ 100 feet B B From 80 to < 100 feet C C From 50 to < 80 feet D D From 40 to < 50 feet E E From 30 to < 40 feet F F From 15 to < 30 feet G G From 5 to < 15 feet H H < 5 feet 9. Inundation Duration – assessment area condition metric Answer for assessment area dominant landform. A Evidence of short-duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days) B Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation C Evidence of long-duration inundation or very long-duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more) 10. Indicators of Deposition – assessment area condition metric Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition). A Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels. B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland. C Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland. 11. Wetland Size – wetland type/wetland complex condition metric Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select “K” for the FW column. WT FW (if applicable) A A A ≥ 500 acres B B B From 100 to < 500 acres C C C From 50 to < 100 acres D D D From 25 to < 50 acres E E E From 10 to < 25 acres F F F From 5 to < 10 acres G G G From 1 to < 5 acres H H H From 0.5 to < 1 acre I I I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre J J J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre KKK< 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut 12. Wetland Intactness – wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only) A Pocosin is the full extent (≥ 90%) of its natural landscape size. B Pocosin is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size. 13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas – landscape condition metric 13a.Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous metric naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four-lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four-lane road or wider, urban landscapes, fields (pasture open and agriculture), or water > 300 feet wide A A ≥ 500 acres B B From 100 to < 500 acres C C From 50 to < 100 acres D D From 10 to < 50 acres E E < 10 acres F F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats 13b.Evaluate for marshes only. Yes No Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands. 14. Edge Effect – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes) May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non-forested areas ≥ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors and clear-cuts Consider the eight main points of the compass. A No artificial edge within 150 feet in all directions B No artificial edge within 150 feet in four (4) to seven (7) directions C An artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in more than four (4) directions or assessment area is clear-cut 15. Vegetative Composition – assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat) A Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area. B Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition. Expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non- characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species). Exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum. 16.Vegetative Diversity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non-tidal Freshwater Marsh only) A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (<10% cover of exotics). B Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics. C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (>50% cover of exotics). Well WC Loosely 17.Vegetative Structure – assessment area/wetland type condition metric 17a. Is vegetation present? Yes No If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18. 17b.Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non-marsh wetlands. A ≥ 25% coverage of vegetation B < 25% coverage of vegetation 17c.Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non-marsh wetlands . Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately. A A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes B B Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps C C Canopy sparse or absent A A Dense mid-story/sapling layer B B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer C C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent A A Dense shrub layer B B Moderate density shrub layer C C Shrub layer sparse or absent A A Dense herb layer B B Moderate density herb layer C C Herb layer sparse or absent 18. Snags – wetland type condition metric A Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12-inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability) B Not A 19. Diameter Class Distribution – wetland type condition metric A Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are present. B Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12-inch DBH. C Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees. 20. Large Woody Debris – wetland type condition metric Include both natural debris and man-placed natural debris. A Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability) B Not A 21.Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion – wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non-Tidal Freshwater Marsh only) Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water. A BCD 22. Hydrologic Connectivity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands only) Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. A Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area. B Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area. C Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area. D Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area. Ca n o p y Mi d - S t o r y Sh r u b He r b AA WT Notes Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N) Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N) Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N) Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N) Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N) Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N) Sub-function Rating Summary Function Sub-function Metrics Hydrology Surface Storage and Retention Condition Sub-Surface Storage and Retention Condition Water Quality Pathogen Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Particulate Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Soluble Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Physical Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Pollution Change Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Habitat Physical Structure Condition Landscape Patch Structure Condition Vegetation Composition Condition Function Rating Summary Function Metrics/Notes Hydrology Condition Water Quality Condition Condition/Opportunity Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) Habitat Conditon Overall Wetland Rating MEDIUM NO YES YES NO NO NA NA NA NO MEDIUM HIGH NA NA MEDIUM NA HIGH LOW Rating MEDIUM NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Wetland Type Wetland Site Name Dan River Steam Station - Wetland 2 Amec Foster WheelerSeep Date Assessor Name/Organization 6-17-2015 Accompanies User Manual Version 4.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA Rating Calculator Version 4.1 NA NA NA NA NA Rating NA NA NO