20090049 Ver 1_Staff Comments_20090122

Re: 09-0049 Glade Creek 11 Rest - EEP
Subject: Re: 09-0049 Glade Creek II Rest - EEP
From: Sue Homewood <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:38:59 -0500
To: Eric Kulz <[e-mail]>
Both of these are a great case for the more reviewers, the better the review. You caught some great
stuff that I totally missed and there were some obvious site stuff that helped me review it in some
details. Go Team!
Sue Homewood
NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality
585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
Voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
On 1/22/2009 9:26 AM, Eric Kulz wrote:
Sue:
Great comments. I also had a number of concerns. Again, there were discrepancies throughout
the report regarding the acreages of wetlands to be restored, enhanced and preserved.
I also was concerned in general about the relocation of the tributary into the unconsolidated
floodplain materials of Glade Creek. Your point about the riffle material is good.
I was concerned in that the reference for the "C" portion of the UT restoration was located in
Chatham County. The valley type may be similar, but the soil and geology would be very
different. Reference should be in the same ecoregion.
Also, no documentation of bankfull events, and the valley slope is changing again (although
technically that could occur with the proposed UT relocation).
I will go over this gain and send a letter.
Eric
Sue Homewood wrote:
Eric,
The WSRO has reviewed the proposed project. The WSRO has no concerns or comments
regarding the planned restoration project for Glade Creek (the main channel). However, the
WSRO has concerns regarding the proposed priority I relocation of UT1 to Glade Creek.
These concerns were expressed to EEP during a site visit and with a followup phone
conversation. EEP attempted to address some of the concerns within the restoration plan
document however WSRO still has concerns.
1 oft 1/22/2009 11:38 AM
Re: 09-0049 Glade Creek II Rest - EEP
Our concerns are:
The UT will continue to be impacted by cattle upstream. The length of relocation will not
provide significant improved quality/treatment to warrant relocation.
The existing UT is a B4/C4 channel and is being relocated and designed as a B4/C4 channel.
It is our opinion that this indicates little need for relocation/priority I restoration. We agree
that there is incision at the very bottom of the existing channel however this can be stabilized
in the current location and will improve with the elevation changes proposed to Glade Creek.
The document indicates that the UTI relocation will provide additional flow to Wetland 2
which is isolated. Wetland 2 is at the toe of a slope and clearly is supplied by seepage found
during the site visit. Additional flow from UT1 is unnecessary to ensure hydrology for
wetland 2.
The document indicates that the UT1 relocation will provide additional flow to Wetland 3
which is only influenced by flood flows from Glade Creek. Many floodplain wetlands are
only provided flows during overbank events. With the elevation changes proposed to Glade
Creek this will improve without the relocation of UT I.
The floodplain of Glade Creek is extremely sandy material. Down to a depth of 3 to 4 feet
and more. The WSRO has concerns about relocation of a small tributary into a sandy soil
substrate. We believe there is strong potential for the tributary to become subsurface. The
restoration document attempts to address this concern by stating that constructed riffles and
matting will be utilized to stabilize the stream however we do not think that either of these
proposals will prevent piping below the floodplain. In addition, using constructed riffles in a
tributary that will be directly in the floodplain of a much higher flow stream does not seem
reasonable, the riffles would be picked up and carried during flood events.
WSRO requests that you consider these concerns during your review of this project.
Sue Homewood
NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality
585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
Voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Eric W. Kulz
Environmental Specialist
401 Oversight and Express Permitting Unit
2321 Crabtree Blvd., Suite 250
Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
2 of 2 1/22/2009 11:38 AM