20030247 Ver 1_Mitigation Site Visit_20081117

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Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Coleen H Sullins, Director
Division of Water Quality
November 17, 2008
Ms. Tracy Morris
N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1652
Re: Cross Creek Restoration Site
Cumberland County
DWQ 403-0247
Dear. Ms. Morris:
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) 401 Oversight and Express Review Permitting Unit conducted a
site visit of the above-referenced project site on November 13, 2008. Accompanying you and Tim
Baumgartner with NCEEP was Eric Kulz and Tammy Hill with DWQ.
Our comments are as follows:
• Both Cross Creek and Little Cross Creek appeared to exhibit relatively stable bed and banks,
with a distinct riffle-pool bedform. The only area of concern noted was bank damage and
instability in the vicinity of the outfalls of two storm drain pipes near the southern end of Reach
1. The erosion appeared fairly severe, and probably warrants repair and stabilization.
A number of issues were noted with respect to easement encroachment and buffer vegetation
mowing/removal along both Cross Creek and Little Cross Creek at several locations. The most
severe problems were observed along the west side of Cross Creek, where it appears that tracked
equipment was used to mow the buffer vegetation to ground level.
NCEEP should re-define its easement boundaries and should probably use a more aggressive
boundary marking method. Conservation easement requirements should be reviewed with City
of Fayetteville personnel to ensure that the required wooded buffers are maintained.
Impacted buffers will need to be replanted with woody vegetation and a riparian seed mix to re-
establish the riparian zone required for this site. According to Section 4.1.4 of the approved
Stream Restoration Plan, prepared by Earth Tech in October 2002, "The riparian zone will
extend at least 50 feet on either side of the channel from the top of bank."
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N hCarolina
Naturally
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Internet: http://h2o.6nr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer- 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper
Ms. Morris
N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program
Cross Creek Restoration Project
Page 2 of 2
• As discussed at the site, NCEEP is going to evaluate options for exotic vegetation control in the
riparian areas, particularly kudzu on the eastern side of the project.
We appreciated the opportunity to visit this site, and hope that repair efforts will result in a quality
stream mitigation site. Please feel free to contact Eric Kulz or Tammy Hill at [phone] if you
have any questions regarding this project or our comments.
Sincerely,
Cf 1-74-
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Eric Kulz)
Matt Matthews - DWQ Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
Ken Averitte - DWQ FRO
Ronnie Smith - USACE Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Suite 250, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Internet: htto://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands
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NhCarolina
Naturally
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper