20080868 Ver 2_Creeks Plan of Study - S33 Monitoring Sites_20170807

Strickland, Bev
From: Jeff Furness <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2017 1:39 PM
To: Steffens, Thomas A CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Scarbraugh, Anthony
Cc: [e-mail]; Julia Berger
Subject: S33 Broomfield Swamp Creek Monitoring Sites
Attachments: Broomfield Swamp Cr Recon Memo_Aug_FINALrevl.pdf
Tom and Anthony:
The approved February 2011 creek monitoring plan of study requires monitoring in either Broomfield Swamp
Creek or Cypress Run (but not both), south of Hwy 33, and the goal for any creek that is monitored is to have
five years of baseline data before impacts within its watershed. In order to make sure that we have five years
of data collection, we are proposing to begin monitoring Broomfield Swamp Creek in 2018.
Attached is a memo from CZR Incorporated describing their reconnaissance of the creek, and our proposed
monitoring locations. We would like to schedule a site visit with you both to observe the proposed creek
locations for your approval, and also to observe and discuss the options for monitoring in a bottomland
hardwood biotic community.
We would like to target any time in September for this field visit. Could you both list your available dates to
see if we can find a common time?
Sincerely,
Jeff
Jeffrey C. Furness
Senior Scientist, Environmental Affairs
PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
1530 NC Hwy 306 S.
Aurora, NC 27806
T: [phone]
C: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.00tashcoro.com
W PotashCorp

MEMORANDUM
BROOMFIELD SWAMP CREEK RECONNAISSANCE
DATE: 3 August 2017
TO: Jeff Furness, PCS Phosphate, Sam Cooper and Julia Berger, CZR Incorporated
FROM: Randy Pulley and Mark Westendorff
SUBJECT: Potential monitoring sites in Broomfield Swamp Creek, Aurora, NC, Beaufort County,
CZR conducted a reconnaissance of Broomfield Swamp Creek on 31 May 2017 for potential sites
for monitoring stations (Aqua TROLLS for semi -continuous salinity and depth measurements and
grab sample collection for analyses of water quality) and one juvenile fish trawling transect.
Randy Pulley and Mark Westendorff inspected the area by boat and by land. The potential sites
are shown in Figure 1 and results of the reconnaissance are discussed in more detail below.
Figure 1. Vicinity of three proposed Broomfield Swamp Creek monitoring stations (S1, S2, S3)
and fish trawling transect (red line at S3) (October 2015 base photo for all Google Earth screen
shots).
Broomfield Swamp Creek is a deeply incised agricultural canal about 1.1 miles south of Aurora
NC. Access during both pre- and post -Mod Alt L monitoring must be considered in selection of
potential sites. The South Creek Drainage District (SCDD) dirt road on the north side of
Broomfield Swamp Creek can be used east of Idalia Road (SR1925) for both pre- and post -
monitoring; however, the eastern half of the area along the SCDD road between Broome Road
(SR1938) and Idalia Road is not owned by PCS. Access west of Idalia Road on the SCDD road is
thus restricted. Broome Road can be used to access a site within PCS ownership during pre -
monitoring but Broome Road will be gone for post -monitoring. Therefore, all post -monitoring
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Broomfield Swamp Creek Reconnaissance CZR Incorporated for PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
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west of Idalia Road must be conducted by small boat and the culvert beneath Broome Road
precludes boat access beyond.
WATER QUALITY MONTIORING
SITE: Broomfield Swamp Creek Aqua TROLL and Water Quality Station (S1)
DESCRIPTION: Most upstream potential Aqua TROLL site is located approximately 1.11 miles
south of NC Hwy 33 between the two place marks east of Broome Road shown in Figure 2. The
SCDD road parallels the creek on the north side and was in need of maintenance in places (ruts
and vegetation prevented access beyond the first few 100 feet east of Broome). About 50 feet
east of Broome Road, the width of Broomfield Swamp Creek is approximately 20 feet. Water
depth an arm's length north bank of the creek was 17 inches deep and is the place from which
Photos 1 and 2 were taken. The easternmost place mark in Figure 2 is located at the
approximate eastern extent of PCS ownership between Idalia and Broome roads on the north
side of the creek.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: The bank was very steep at Photo 1 and 2 with a shear drop of 10
feet to the water's edge. The distance from the surface of the creek to level ground elevation of
the SCDD road is approximately 15 feet; a safe method down the bank to the pier would be
necessary to include with the pier design (e.g., a ladder attached to the side of the bank).
Access to this site, once the mine moves into S33 tract, will only be by small boat from Idalia Rd
approximately 0.95 mile to the east. Another potential problem is that until Broome Road is
closed, this site may be easily accessible and visible to the general public from both Broome Rd
and the SCDD road. Vandalism may be a problem.
CZR will conduct additional reconnaissance of the bank conditions between the two place marks
in Figure 2 to determine if there is a location with less steep banks than what was documented
on 31 May at the most upstream location. Pier design for CAMA permit application should show
the addition of a future ladder for safe boat -pier -boat access during post -monitoring period.
Figure 2. Location of proposed upstream monitoring station S1 for Broomfield Swamp Creek
(exact location between the two place marks to be determined by further reconnaissance).
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Photo 1. View to east from Broome Road of potential location of upstream monitoring station S1
for Broomfield Swamp Creek.
Photo 2. View to south from the access road and down to water's edge at most upstream
position for potential monitoring station S1 for Broomfield Swamp Creek.
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SITE: Broomfield Creek Aqua TROLL and Water Quality Station (S2)
DESCRIPTION: Approximately 1.09 miles south of NC Hwy 33 and directly adjacent to Idalia
Road (SR1925) bridge crossing. The proposed location is approximately 50 ft. east of Idalia Road
and accessible by the SCDD road. Broomfield Swamp Creek at this location is approximately 40
feet wide. Water depth 3 feet from the north bank of the creek was 22 inches deep. The bank
here was less steep than at the potential S1 site with approximately 6 feet of elevation difference
from the water surface to the top of the berm/road. Another possible location for the Aqua
TROLL is on the opposite bank where the bank was very gradual and only 3 feet to the water
surface; water was 30 inches deep an arm's length from the bank. Pre- and post -monitoring
access is the same (SCDD road or foot).
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: As with the S1 site, this station will be easily visible from Idalia Road
and vandalism could be a problem; pier location on the south bank would require a path through
woods/vegetation but could reduce likelihood of unauthorized visitors.
Figure 3. Location of proposed monitoring station S2 for Broomfield Swamp Creek.
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Photo 3. View to east from Idalia Road bridge crossing of potential location of mid -system
monitoring station S2 for Broomfield Swamp Creek.
Photo 4. View to south from access road down to the water's edge for potential location of mid -
system monitoring station S2 for Broomfield Swamp Creek.
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Broomfield Swamp Creek Reconnaissance CZR Incorporated for PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
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SITE: Broomfield Swamp Creek Aqua TROLL and Water Quality Station (S3) and Fish
Trawling Transect.
DESCRIPTION: Approximately 1.82 miles south of the NC Hwy 33 bridge over South Creek at
the eastern end of SCDD road. This location is approximately 0.45 mile southeast of Idalia Road
accessible by the SCDD road or by boat form the Aurora boat ramp. The Aqua TROLL station
and fish trawling transect are located very near the mouth of Broomfield Swamp Creek where it
joins South Creek. Broomfield Swamp Creek was approximately 40 feet wide at this point and
the water depth was 36 inches about one arm's length from shore at the proposed station. The
average water depth from the mouth of the creek to approximately 500 feet upstream was 8.9
feet. Two test trawls with just the wooden trawl doors and "tickler" chain were conducted to
determine the condition of the bottom of the creek and no major obstructions that could
potentially damage the trawl net were encountered.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: This location is publicly accessible by a dirt road and by boat making
it potentially more vulnerable to vandalism. Travel time from the Aurora public boat landing to
S3 is approximately 20 minutes due to potential submerged obstruction or hazards. Until users
become more familiar with this stretch of South Creek, it will be necessary to travel at slower
speeds so as not to damage the boat. Passage underneath the NC Hwy 33 bridge could
potentially be a problem at times of high water making trawling impossible unless there is
another boat access identified upstream of the bridge. Also, a "ghost forest" of dead cypress
trees in close proximity to the fish trawl transect could potentially create problems if they fall into
the creek. It may be prudent to remove several of them prior to onset of monitoring or, at the
least, to probe within the trawl transect prior to deployment of trawl (especially after storms).
Figure 4. Location of proposed monitoring station S3 and fish trawling transect (red line west of
S3) for Broomfield Swamp Creek.
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PHOTOS:
Photo 5. View to south at mouth of Broomfield Swamp Creek from South Creek.
Photo 6. View to north of potential location of downstream monitoring station S3 for Broomfield
Swamp Creek.
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Broomfield Swamp Creek Reconnaissance CZR Incorporated for PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
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Photo 7. View upstream to west from downstream end of proposed trawling transect in
Broomfield Swamp Creek (dead stems of ghost forest are visible to left).
Photo 8. View downstream to east from upstream end of proposed trawling transect in
Broomfield Swamp Creek.
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Broomfield Swamp Creek Reconnaissance CZR Incorporated for PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
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SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER QUALITY SITES: Locations at S1, S2,
and S3 seem favorable for the Aqua TROLL piers (depth and salinity) and for grab sample
collections (multi -parameter water quality analyses). Vandalism could be an issue for sites
adjacent to the SCDD road. At S3, the most downstream location, there was evidence of more
frequent public use which may expose the equipment to tampering or vandalism. Piers on the
south side of the creek would reduce the chance for vandalism and tampering but could
complicate access for regular downloads and maintenance; S2 seems to be the best candidate
for a south side pier.
HYDROLOGY MONITORING IN FEIS BIOTIC COMMUNITY 3 (BOTTOMLAND
HARDWOOD)
In the creeks study, wetland hydrology is monitored by shallow wells placed in riparian zones of
areas mapped for the FEIS as biotic community 3 (bottomland hardwood). In some creeks, grab
samples for water quality analyses are also collected directly from the stream within the wetland.
For wetlands within Broomfield Swamp Creek drainage, FEIS biotic community 3 polygons are
shown both west and east of Idalia Road but none are west of Broome Road (Figure 5).
Figure 5 shows the biotic communities from the mouth of Broomfield Swamp to Idalia Road
(includes a portion of the South Creek Corridor mitigation site between creek mouth and Idalia
Road) and west of Idalia Road (includes a portion of the S33 base boundary and beyond). For
illustration purposes for this memo, the 1998 infrared aerial photo used to map FEIS and South
Creek Corridor communities was used to extend the boundary of the biotic community 3 polygon
just west of Idalia Road. The boundary was extended beyond the S33 base boundary to the
south edge of Broomfield Swamp Creek. This wetland is a candidate for wetland hydrology
monitoring. However, it is not connected to Broomfield Swamp Creek by overbank events due to
the deeply incised nature of the creek (bank height may be slightly lower than the north side but
if any overbank events do occur they would be only during extreme storms which elevate the
water levels —5 feet or more). In addition, there is a 6 to 10 inch berm/spoil along much of the
northern edge of this wetland (between creek edge and wetland edge) which prevents or at least
delays water in the wetland from reaching the creek in a typical manner.
The 31 May CZR reconnaissance photos at S3 captured the most downstream portions of the
ghost forest. Those photos combined with the screen shots of Google Earth historical images
(2002 and 2015) shown in Figure 6 show apparent vegetation community changes in the lower
Broomfield Swamp Creek system. It appears that instead of bottomland hardwood, both sides of
the creek east of Idalia Road may have become instead a patchwork of small woody vegetated
islands among freshwater -to -estuarine marsh vegetation. The ghost forest response to sea -level
rise is evident throughout coastal environments along the entire eastern US.
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Broomfield Swamp Creek Reconnaissance CZR Incorporated for PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
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Figure 6. A December 2002 aerial photo (left) compared to October 2015 aerial photo (right) which depicts considerable differences as woody vegetation of the former bottomland hardwood community was replaced by "ghost forest".
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SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WETLAND HYDROLOGY MONITORING: No biotlic
community 3 (bottomland hardwood) is shown within Broomfield Swamp Creek west of Broome Road,
while this community does occur both east and west of Idalia Road. Reconnaissance, recent photos, and
Google Earth historic image indicate that areas mapped as bottomland hardwood communities either
have no hydrologic connection to the creek or may have been replaced by another vegetation
community; there may be no wetlands suitable for hydrology monitoring.
Prior to an agency field visit, CZR will verify if any biotic community 3 remains within the lower drainage
of Broomfield Swamp Creek which may be suitable for wetland hydrology monitoring.
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Broomfield Swamp Creek Reconnaissance CZR Incorporated for PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
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