20031035 Ver 1_Monitoring Report Review_20090108

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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
January 8, 2009
Mr. Bill Biddlecome
Washington Regulatory Field Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1000
Washington, NC 27889-1000
Re: Neu-Con Wetland/Stream Umbrella Mitigation Bank
Nahunta Mitigation Project, NCDWQ# 04-0895, USACE Action ID 200310795
Marston Mitigation Project, NCDWQ# 03-1035, USACE Action ID 2006-40886-152
Dear Mr. Biddlecome:
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) 401 Oversight and Express Review Permitting Unit has reviewed
the Annual Monitoring Reports for the above-referenced sites. In addition, DWQ visited the sites on
October 13, 2008 and December 11, 2008. Our comments on the monitoring reports and the site visits
are as follows:
Nahunta Mitigation Project, Wayne County
Stream Restoration
The physical stream monitoring data appears encouraging, as the channels appear stable at all
cross-sections. The site visit did not identify any areas of concern with respect to the stability of
the streams.
All streams exhibited flow at the time of the site visit. However, the biological monitoring data
again showed the presence of very tolerant taxa, and taxa more characteristic of lentic (non-
flowing) systems. Biotic Index Values for the various restoration reaches ranged from 8.09 to
9.23 in the 2006 data. 'BI Values from 2007 ranged from 7.2 to 8.6, which is a slight
improvement. The reference reach had a BI Value of 5.8 during both sampling events. More
improvement of the biological community will hopefully occur in the future.
Wetland Restoration
The site has had limited success in meeting hydrologic success criteria since construction. In
2008, the Edmundsen Tracts were successful while all other tracts showed partial success. The
One
Nor?hnCarolina
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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.enr.state.nc.us/nmetlands
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Mr. Biddlecome
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Neu-Con Bank
Page 2
Tapp and Gonder Tracts both contained wells that exhibited hydroperiods shorter than 5% of the
growing season, which would exclude the local areas from classification as wetlands. Two new
reference wells were installed in 2008 to provide a broader picture of representative conditions
across the various tracts. Monitoring data should be compared with the appropriate references
based on landscape positions and soil types most similar to those of the areas being monitored.
• Based on monitoring data and site observations, the vegetation on the site is largely successful.
DWQ appreciates the efforts being taken to manage volunteer and weedy vegetation in order to
allow desirable species to become firmly established.
Marston Mitiotion Project, Jones County
Stream and Wetland Restoration
All mitigation activities at the site appear to have been successful. 2008 monitoring data
indicated that wetland hydrology had recovered from the 2007 drought. The bank sponsor is
addressing a relatively small area in which Lespedeza sp. has become dominant over more
desirable species. Once this remediation is completed and the replacement vegetation is
established, DWQ supports final credit release for the project.
DWQ will be present at the MBRT site visit scheduled for January 27, 2008 to address the hydrology
issues at the Nahunta site, closeout of the Marston site, and any other current issues related to the Neu-
Con Umbrella Bank. If we can provide any additional assistance in the meantime, please feel free to
contact Eric Kulz or Tammy Hill at [phone] if you have any questions regarding this project or
our comments.
Sincerely,
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Eric Kulz)
Kyle Barnes - DWQ Washington Regional Office
Matt Matthews - DWQ Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
Kathy Matthews - USEPA
Travis Wilson - NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Gary Jordan - US Fish and Wildlife Service
Ron Sechler - National Marine Fisheries Service
NoorthCarolina
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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
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper