20081319 Ver 1_More Info Received_20090126

Subject: [Fwd: Rutman Creek Watershed - Mitigation Plan (Track Changes)]
From: "Tammy.L.Hill" <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:56:29 -0500
To: bev Strickland <[e-mail]>
Another one for 20081319, more info received 1/26/2009.
Subject: Rutman Creek Watershed - Mitigation Plan (Track Changes)
From: "Christian Preziosi" <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:48:07 -0500
To: "Tammy.L.Hill" <[e-mail]>
CC: "Kyle Barnes" <[e-mail]>, "Lekson, David M SAW" <[e-mail]>,
"Ian McMillan" <[e-mail]>, "Brent Manning" <[e-mail]>
Hello Tammy-
Hope you have been well. I am forwarding a copy of the 'track changes' for the edited mitigation plan that Dave Lekson
forwarded last week. I hope this assists in your review. These were all the changes requested by Dave. Please let me
know if we can be of any further assistance.
Thanks -
Christian
Christian A. Preziosi
1udManL ,Wc, Jm(ccn1t Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 2522
Wilmington, NC 28402
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
cell: 910.471.0515
email: [e-mail]
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The projected timeline for this project is subject to change based upon agency
concurrence and receipt of subsequent permit authorizations.
7.0 POST-CONSTRUCTION MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
Upon agency concurrence of the final wetland mitigation plan, mitigation site activities
will be initiated. Staff environmental scientists will be present during project
construction to ensure that the work is consistent with the proposed design. An `as-built'
survey will be prepared to document site conditions immediately post-construction. Each
phase of the site will be monitored annually for a period of 5 years (or until such time
deemed successful) whichever is longer, to document site development over time. Each
annual monitoring report (AMR) will be submitted by February 15`t` of the following year
and will contain monitoring information for the progress of each phase to date.
Based upon the current timetable, it is anticipated that Phase 1 will be completed in early
2009. Thus, the corresponding as-built report is anticipated to be submitted in Spring
2009. Subsequent phases will be completed in 2010 and 2011.
Monitoring reports (submitted annually to reviewing agencies) will include results of
hydrologic and vegetative monitoring in addition to photographic documentation of site
conditions. As part of an adaptive management approach, monitoring reports will
identify any contingency measures that may need to be employed to remedy any site
deficiencies. Prior to any site modifications, the specific contingency measure will be
identified and submitted to the USACE for their review and concurrence. Reports will be
in compliance with RGL ,Q8-03. More specific information related to adaptive Deleted: a?
management and long-term site management is provided in Section 8.0.
A. Wetland Restoration Success Criteria
The wetland restoration effort will be evaluated based upon performance criteria related
to vegetative density and wetland hydrology. Note that non-planted individuals of
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Cataloging Unit D3020104
characteristic wetland species may volunteer into the restored site. Suitable volunteers
are an important component to the restored wetland as they serve as indicators for
appropriate hydrologic regimes and provide increased diversity. The presence of suitable
volunteers demonstrates trending of die site toward vegetative success. As a result,
suitable volunteers that may be counted toward the established vegetative success criteria
are identified by habitat in Table 6.
The primary success criteria for the Rutman Creek Watershed Restoration Project will be:
(1) Demonstrated densio, of planted species to meet or eviceed 260 trees per acres at the end
of 5 years (post planting). I, Deleted: '
(2) The hydrologic criterion is prentised on the specific community type to be restored.
(a) For the nouriverine wet hardwood forest communh), (mineral soils), the
hydrologic criterion will be the establishment of a static water table at, or within,
12 " of the soil staface for 6% of the growing seasorrt (equivalent to 16 days I Deleted:
based upon a growing season from March I 1 th through November 27th) during
periods of normal rainfall.
(b) For the nonriverine bay forest and srvantp forest commurrides (organic soils),
the hydrologic criterion will be the establishment of a static water table at, or
ivithin, 12 " of die soil staface for 10% a the growing easarr (egreirnlent 10 26 I. Deleted: season"
days based upon a grotilingseason from March 11th through November 27th)
during periods of normal rainfall
(c) For the small stream swamp (headwater riparian) community (zero-order
geomorphic posidon), the hydrologic criterion will be tire establishment of a
static water table at, or rvithirr, 12 " of the soil surface for-12.5% of the growing
?seasonr_(equivalent to 33 days based npat a growing season from March 11th I, Deleted: seasaY'
through November 27th) during periods of normal rainfall.
Rutman Creek Watershed Restoration Project 29
Cataloging Unit 03020104
wetland area to be restored. Additional wells will be installed in perpendicular arrays
within the riparian zone of the zero-order stream corridor (as described in Section C
below). Wells will be installed in accordance with installation methods outlined in the
1 Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program (WRAP) Technical Note P5-? (USACE 2005).
Water levels will be recorded once daily. Data will be downloaded from the wells every
three months (i.e. once quarterly). Data from well downloads will be compiled and
graphically displayed to demonstrate hydroperiods of monitored areas.
Annual maintenance and calibration tests will also be conducted in accordance with the
WRAP guidance. Maintenance checks will consist of manual measurements and
comparisons of well casings and unlined bore holes to determine the impact (if any) of
deposition within the well casing. As this unintended clogging may produce artificially
high water table readings, an unlined bore hole will be dug in the vicinity of the test well
for comparison. Calibration and maintenance will be conducted in 33% of the wells prior
to each growing season of each year of the monitoring period. The calibrated wells will
be representative of each of the major soil units occurring on the property. Each year
maintenance checks will be performed on a different set of wells. The check will
involve the bailing out of the well, digging an unlined bore-hole nearby, and then
checking to see if the rate of the water coming back into the well is slower than that of
the hole. If it is, then the well will be pulled and cleaned. In the event that several wells
are experiencing problems in a particular soil type, then all wells in that soil type will be
pulled, cleaned, and redeployed.
Annual monitoring reports will provide quantitative data of vegetative success,
qualitative observations, and conclusions pertaining to mitigation site development. In
addition, comparative hydrograph of the restoration areas and corresponding reference
areas will be provided. Please refer to the narrative provided in Appendix E describing
the two potential reference sites. Monitoring reports will be submitted no later than
February 15°i of the following year. Monitoring will be initiated upon completion of
each phase of the project.
Deleted: 00 J
Deleted: o
Deleted: Sprccl=2000
Rutman (reek Watershed Restoration Project 31
Cataloging Unit 03020104
B. Non-Riparian Wetland Enhancement Success Criteria
A total of 64 ac of bay forest habitat have been targeted for wetland enhancement. These
areas are located directly adjacent to those targeted for restoration in forested sections of
the tract. As these areas currently maintain a suitable density of appropriate vegetative
species, enhancement will occur by re-establishing the characteristic groundwater
hydrology. Natural hydroperiods have been compromised by the presence of forestry and
roadside ditches in the vicinity of these forested blocks. Upon completion of the
identified earthwork (e.g. removal of roadbeds and plugging of outlet ditches), these
areas will exhibit hydroperiods more characteristic of relatively undisturbed bay forest
habitat. As a result, the hydrologic success criterion for these areas will be identical to
the bay forest wetland restoration portion of the project:
The hydrologic criterion for the nort-riparian bay forest etihaiicelylerit 11411 be the
establishment of a static mater table at, or within, 12 " of the soil surface for 10% of the
growing season (equivalent to 26 dgls based upon a groi+dng season j oin March 1lrh
through November 27th) during periods of rronnal rainfall.
In order to document the hydrologic enhancement, four (4) shallow automated wells
(RDS, Inc. WM-20s) will be installed within the 64-acre enhancement area. These wells
will be installed in accordance with installation methods outlined in the Wetlands
Regulatory Assistance Program (WRAP) Technical Note ,1L5 -? (USACE 2005). Water
levels will be recorded once daily. Data will be downloaded from the wells every three
months (i.e. once quarterly). Data from well downloads will be compiled and graphically
displayed to demonstrate hydroperiods of monitored areas.
C. Zero-Order Stream Success Criteria
Construction of the zero-order stream/headwater wetland system will occur during Phase
3 of construction (tentatively scheduled for 2011). In addition to the wetland restoration
information, the Phase 3 as-built report will also include cross-sectional and longitudinal
profile data for the restored valleys associated with the lower reaches of Rutman Creek.
Cross-sectional data will be collected at 500-ft intervals throughout the restored reach.
l Deleted: 00
Deleted: 0
Deleted: Sprechcr 2000
Rutman Creek Watershed Restoration Project 32
Cataloging Unit 03020104
The primary success criterion for the First and Zero Order Stream Enhancement will be:
Documentation of increases in flow duration and frequency compared to pre-
construction conditions during periods of normal rainfall.
The primary success criterion for the Riparian Wetland Enhancement will be:
Docwnentation of increases in the number of dm?s having a static water table at, or
rt,it/rin, 12 " of the soil stuface during the growing season (March 11th through November
27t6) during periods of normal rainfall, compared to pre-restoration conditions.
8.0 SITE MANAGEMENT
A. Adaptive Manaeement
The Rutman Creek mitigation site is planned and designed to be self-sustaining over
time, but some active management or maintenance may be necessary to ensure the long-
term sustainability of the restoration effort. The adaptive management approach involves
analysis of monitoring results to identify potential problems occurring on the site and the
identification and implementation of measures to rectify those problems. Remedial
actions may include but are not limited to mechanized earth-work (e.g. adjustment to
invert elevations of earthern plugs) or supplemental planting in the event areas of the site
do not fulfill the vegetative success criteria. Prior to initiating any remedial actions, the
proposed measures will be submitted to the USACE for review and approval.
Performance and functioning of the mitigation site may be affected by various causative
factors - both natural and human-induced. Natural hazards may include fire, flood,
erosion, invasive species, and/or excessive herbivory. Human errors may include design
flaws, construction deviation, and/or inadequate planting coverage. To minimize these
potential problems, the following strategies may be employed:
• Jn the event that red maple, loblolly pine and/or sweetgum alone or in
aggregation exceeds 20% of the total plant composition on tie site at
monitoring years 2 and 3, a remedial action plan shall be submitted to tie
Deleted: <tl>Biologists will be
instructed to uproot non-target species
during Year I and 2 monitoring events to
reduce competition with rite planted
species. S
Rutman Creek Watenhed Restoration Project 35
Cataloging Unit 03020104
Corps for review and approval prior to implementation. During monitoring
years 4 and 5, none of these three species alone or in aggregation comprising
over 20% of the total plant composition on the site may be more than twice
the height of the planted trees. If this occurs, control measures will be
undertaken pursuant to the approved remediation plan.
• If deer herbivory appears to be jeopardizing the survivorship of planted
species, discussions with appropriate agencies will be initiated to determine an
appropriate course of action.
}
• Beavers will be trapped and removed from the site if significant ama e Deleted: flooding
(flooding, herbivory, etc.) appears to be caused by beaver activity.
• Construction errors will be identified early via the as-built report which will
contain topographic survey data. If it appears as though there errors
jeopardize the integrity of the project, then appropriate remedial action(s) will
be identified and submitted to the USACE for concurrence prior to
implementation.
• Planting errors in spacing density or coverage will be avoided by careful
coordination with planting crews. An account of planted stems will be
provided with the as-built report.
• If monitoring indicates a potential design flaw, remediation options will be
reviewed with permitting agencies.
• To avoid damage to wells from black bears, barbed wire may be erected
around each well
B. Long-Term Management
Planning and property acquisition were formulated to minimize long-term management
conflicts. All cultivated land on the eastern side of New Lake Road with the exception of
a small block near the southeastern boundary has been included in the proposed project.
As a result, the potential for hydrologic and boundary conflicts have been minimized.
To limit the potential for plug failure and unintended site drainage, plugs within larger
ditches and canals will range in length between 50 ft and 100 ft. Canal plugs will consist
Rutman Credo Watershed Restoration Project 36
Cataloging Unit 03020104
of clay material from an on-site source and will compacted using heavy equipment.
Large rip-rap will also be installed along the upstream pnd the downstream slope of the
plug to provide additional reinforcement.
Special provisions were included to maintain access roads for the Waterway Landing
community adjacent to the ICWW. Several smaller access roads will also be maintained
during the course of project monitoring, which will later be used by holder of the
conservation easement to Inspect the site.
The North Carolina State University Agricultural Foundation has expressed interest in
holding the conservation easement for this project through their Landscapes of
Opportunity program. The Conservation Foundation of America, a registered non-profit
land trust organization, has also agreed to hold the easement and to provide perpetual
management services for the project. The recorded conservation easement deed will
ensure the protection of the watershed restoration project in perpetuity.
9.0 CONCLUSION
The Rutman Creek Watershed Restoration Project will effectively replace identified
stream and wetland functions of those areas impacted by the PCS mine continuation
project. This restoration effort provides a unique opportunity to re-establish and protect a
vast headwater wetland/stream complex contiguous with Pocosin Lakes National
Wildlife Refuge and the Pungo River Estuary. In doing so, discernable water quality and
habitat benefits may be realized on both the local watershed level and within the lower
Tar-Pamlico River Basin. The connectivity of preserved lands will contribute
significantly to refuge, feeding, and breeding habitat for resident and migratory fauna.
The site will be protected in perpetuity via a conservation easement deed. The grantee of
the deed will be an approved land trust or conservation entity responsible for long-term
site management and protection. Over time, the protected headwater stream and wetland
complex will develop into a self-sustaining community providing functions characteristic
of unaltered wetland and streams systems of the region.
Formatted: Font: Italic
Deleted: conduct future projcct
l assessments
Autman Creek Watershed Restoration Project 37
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