20041529 Ver 1_Mitigation Report Review_20070221

NC Division of Water Quality
401 Oversight and Express Permitting Unit
February 21, 2007
Memorandum
To: File - DWQ # 20041529 (previous # 19910168)
From: Tammy Hill
Subject: Comments/notes on 2006 Wetland Mitigation and Reclamation Report - Southern
Products & Silica Co. (may be final year for Rankin Lake Fan & Tyner Lake FawEast)
Background:
1) 401 Requirements: 218 ac preservation (swampland purchased along Lumber River in
Robeson County 4 Lumber River State Park); 21 ac restoration of forested wetlands onsite
[612212004 letter from Dr. Carter mention 11 ac completed, 14 ac under construction] via
a) planting black gum, bald cypress, white cedar (min 1-yr old seedlings) at 400 stemsfacre
b) beginning reclamation within 5 years of 401 issuance
c) using existing wetland soils from the mine site AMAP
d) planting herbaceous wetland species along the lake edge
e) monitoring for at least 5 years after completion of reclamation
2) Monitoring Plan (with initial 401):
a) Use of reference forest ecosystem (RFE) (gum-cypress, white cedar, oak)
b) Monitor both site & FIFE annually for 5 years after creation: dominance, density, & cover
for trees, saplings, seedlings, & herbaceous
c) Project goal: At 10 years (projected), tree survival within 20% of RFE for each specs
d) Monitor hydrology for 5 years to ensure hydrology has been established
e) Soil cores during years 1, 3, 5: 1 cores per 2 acres, compare with RFE for color,
conductivity, pH, several metals & nutrients, redox potential
3) Several reclamation & FIFE areas (activities in 2006):
a) Rankin Lake Fan (1 monitoring plot RMP#2 - final year 6)
b) Tyner Lake Fan-East (1 monitoring plot RMP#3 -.final year 5)
c) Mushroom Fan (1 monitoring plot RMP#4 - newly created area)
d) RFE#1 Atlantic White Cedar (1 monitoring plot -14th rear)
e) RFE#2 Cypress-Gum Swamp (1 monitoring plot - 14t year)
f) Note RMP#1 Tyner Lake Fan-West restoration was complete in 2003
Success Criteria:
1) Hydrology
a) Regarding Rankin Lake Fan & Tyner Lake Fan-East areas, the summary (p.17) clams
"Both mitigation sites have been monitored for 5 or more years and consistently maintain
North Carolina Division of Water Quality; 401 Oversight and Express Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center; Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604-2260
Telephone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
http://ncwaterquality.org/wetlands
1C'
NC Division of Water Quality
401 Oversight and Express Permitting Unit
wetland hydrology in the form of saturated soils in the upper 12 inches." The annual
noting of saturated soils (p. 16) is weak analysis for hydrology (i.e. no continual
monitoring with groundwater wells), but likely is acceptable based on the wording in the
original permit IF wetland vegetation is successful on the site (verify in site visit).
2) Vegetation
a) RFE#1: white cedar, red maple, sweetbay, tulip poplar / fetterbush, gallberry, red bay /
fern, peat moss, liverwort
b) RFE#2: black gum, red maple, sweet gum, previous cypress (stumps) / pepperbush, titi,
Virginia sweetspire, holly / sedges (Carex spp.), lobelia, fern, crossvine, greenbrier
c) Dominant vegetation in monitoring plots appears to be trees & herbs, rather than shrubs
4 verify during site visit. This bodes well for forest development (rather than scrub-
shrub) IF tree density & vigor are great enough.
d) Rankin Lake Fan: initial planting in 2001; note that additional planting occurred in 2002,
2003, & 2004 4 monitoring period could be extended if site visit deems necessary.
Current TPA = 760; 188/191 in RMP#2 survived from 2005-2006.
e) Tyner Lake Fan-East: initial planting in 2001; supplemental in 2002 & 2003 4 Ditto
above. Current TPA = 800; 1 seedling in RMP#3 died in 2006.
f) Mushroom Fan: initial plating in 2006; majority of seedlings survived growing season;
Current TPA = 445; RMP#4 contained 11 trees in 2006; Additional plating scheduled for
2007 4 could extend monitoring period if deemed necessary at a later date.
3) Soils
a) RMP#2&3 showed hydric soil chars: low chroma, high organic, sulfidic odor
b) RMP#4 showed saturation & low chroma only
c) Analyses of soil metals, nutrients, etc. (specified in the original permit) are not
documented in the report - assume they are no longer being conducted. Any reason to
push this from a WO perspective?
Additional Issues & Questions:
1) Regarding Rankin Lake Fan & Tyner Lake Fan-East areas, the summary (p.17) mentions that
"Nuisance vegetation (loblolly pine and red maple) will continue to be monitored and removed
from these areas as needed." That's great! How often & for how long?
North Carolina Division of Water Quality; 401 Oversight and Express Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center; Raleigh, NC 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604-2260
Telephone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
http://ncwaterquality.org/wetlands