HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180199 Ver 1_Site Viability Assessment Letter_20180313Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
March 13, 2018
Water & Land Solutions, LLC
Attn: Mr. Scott Hunt
11030 Raven Ridge Road, Suite 119
Raleigh, NC 27614
(via electronic mail: scott(cr�,waterlandsolutions.com )
ROY COOPER
covelvor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
sec clary
LINDA CULPEPPER
III lei im Oily( Ior
DWR ID# 2018-0199
Johnston County
Re: Site Viability for Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset — Buffalo Creek Site
Near Salem Church Rd, Wendell, NC
Neuse 03020201
Johnston County
Dear Mr. Hunt,
On February 21, 2018, Katie Merritt, with the Division of Water Resources (DWR), assisted you
and others from Water & Land Solutions, LLC at the proposed Buffalo Creek Mitigation Site
(Site) in Wendell, NC. The Site is located in the Neuse River Basin within the 8 -digit
Hydrologic Unit Code 03020201. The Site is being proposed as part of a full -delivery stream
restoration project for the Division of Mitigation Services (RFP #16-007279). Members of the
Interagency Review Team (IRT) and Division of Mitigation Services were also present onsite.
At your request, on February 21, 2018, Ms. Merritt performed an onsite assessment of riparian land
uses adjacent to streams onsite, which are shown on the attached map labeled "Figure 10".
Ms. Merritt's evaluation of the features onsite and their associated mitigation determination for the
riparian areas are provided in the table below. This evaluation was made from Top of Bank (TOB)
out to 200' from each feature for buffer mitigation pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (effective
November 1, 2015) and for nutrient offset credits pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0240.
Feature
Classification
15ubied
Riparian Land uses
Buffer
ZNutrient
Mitigation Type Determination w/in riparian
to Buffer
adjacent to Feature
areas
Credit
Offset Viable
Rule
0-200'
at 2,273
Viable
lbs acre
R3
Stream
Yes
Forested
Yes3
No
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
NCAC 02B (o)(5)
R4
Ephemeral
No
Forested
*Yes3,4
No
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
NCAC 02B (o)(7)
*Must meet additional requirements under
.0295 (o)(7) to be viable for buffer mitigation
R5
Stream
No
Forested
Yes3
No
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
NCAC 02B (o)(4)
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300
Buffalo Creek Full -Delivery Site
Water Land Solutions
March 13, 2018
Feature
Classification
1Subiect
Riparian Land uses
Buffer
ZNutrient
Mitigation Type Determination w/in riparian
to Buffer
adjacent to Feature
areas
Credit
Offset Viable
Rule
0-200'
at 2,273
Viable
Ibs acre
R6 upper
Ephemeral
No
Mostly forested w/
*Yes3.4
Yes (field
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
some fields in row crop
only)
NCAC 02B (0)(7)
agriculture
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
.0295 (0)(7)
*Must meet additional requirements under
.0295 (0)(7) to be viable for buffer mitigation
R6 lower
Stream
No
Mostly forested w/
Yes3
Yes (field only
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
some fields in row crop
NCAC 02B (0)(4)
agriculture
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
.0295 (0)(3)
Main
Stream
Yes
Forested
Yes3
No
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
Stem (MS)
NCAC 02B (0)(5)
'Subjectivity calls for the features were determined by DWR in correspondence dated March 12, 2018 using the 1:24,000
scale quadrangle topographic map prepared by USGS and the most recent printed version of the soil survey map prepared
by the NRCS
2 NC Division of Water Resources - Methodology and Calculations for determining Nutrient Reductions associated with
Riparian Buffer Establishment
'The area of preservation credit within a buffer mitigation site shall comprise of no more than 25 percent (25%) of the total
area of buffer mitigation per 15A NCAC 0295 (0)(5) and 15A NCAC 0295 (0)(4). Site cannot be a Preservation only site
to comply with this rule.
'The area of the mitigation site on ephemeral channel shall comprise no more than 25 percent (25%) of the total area of
buffer mitigation per 15A NCAC 02B .0295 (0)(7).
The attached map (Figure 10) showing the project site and features was provided by Water & Land
Solutions and was initialed by Ms. Merritt on March 13, 2018. As a result of the site viability
assessment for this Site, which indicates a majority would classify as a Preservation Site under
15A NCAC 02B. 0295 (4) and ((5), most of this Site would not be able to generate buffer
mitigation credits. This letter should be provided in any future stream, wetland, buffer and/or
nutrient offset mitigation plans for this Site.
This letter does not constitute an approval of this site to generate mitigation credits. Pursuant to 15A
NCAC 02B .0295, a mitigation proposal and a mitigation plan shall be submitted to DWR for written
approval prior to conducting any mitigation activities in riparian areas and/or surface waters for
buffer mitigation credit. Pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0240, a proposal regarding a proposed nutrient
load -reducing measure for nutrient offset credit shall be submitted to DWR for approval prior to any
mitigation activities in riparian areas and/or surface waters.
All vegetative plantings, performance criteria and other mitigation requirements for riparian
restoration, enhancement and preservation must follow the requirements in 15A NCAC 02B .0295 to
be eligible for buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation credits. For any areas depicted as not being
viable for nutrient offset credit above, one could propose a different measure, along with supporting
calculations and sufficient detail to support estimates of load reduction, for review by the DWR to
Page 213
Buffalo Creek Full -Delivery Site
Water Land Solutions
March 13, 2018
determine viability for nutrient offset in accordance with 15A NCAC 02B .0240. For any areas
generating wetland mitigation credit, no buffer or nutrient offset credit can be generated.
This viability assessment will expire on March 13, 2020 or upon the submittal of an As -Built
Report to the DWR, whichever comes first. Please contact Katie Merritt at (919)-807-6371 if you
have any questions regarding this correspondence.
KAH/km
Attachments: Figure 10
cc: File Copy (Katie Merritt)
DMS - Jeff Schaffer (via electronic mail)
Sincerely,
I�j� 4K*��
Karen Higgins, Supervisor
401 and Buffer Permitting Branch
Page 313
Lcend '�
[=Conservation Easement
L____ Water Quality Improvement Features
Mitigaton Types ,
a� Restoration, P1)
Enhancement
Enhance,7(ent II
---- Prese Vation
Ripari Wetland Restoration
et and Enhancement
Wetland Rehabilitation
R6 (upper)
WATER &LAND
SOLUTIONS
R6 (lower)
R3 (lower)
I MS -R1
W1
R4 ref
R5 (lower) �...
MS -R2
W3
R3 (upper)
W(upper)
FIGURE
Buffalo Creek Tributaries Proposed
Mitigation Project Mitigation Features
NAD 1983 2011 State Plane 0
North Carolina FIPS 3200 FT L
Option 1- Mitigation Credit Summary
Stream
Stream
Stream
Stream
Total Stream
Enhancement
Enhancement
Mitigation Credits
Restoration"
Preservation
Level
Level 11
SMCs
3,360
S,
43
43
4,073
Riparian
Riparian'
Riparian
Total Riparian
A
Wetland Re-
,Wetland
Wetland
Wetland
establishmgpt-
Rehabilitation
o
Enhancement
Mitigation Credits
(WMCs)
�`
0.0
2.3
0.4
`' 2.7
Option 2- Mitigation Credit Summary
Stream
.Stream
.S
Stream
Stream
'Total Stream
Restoration
Enhancement
Enhancement
Preservation
Mitigation Credits
Level)
Level 11
(SMCS)
3,360
286
43
43
3,732
Riparian
Riparian,,--
Rip 'an
Total Riparian
Wetland Re-
Wetland
Wetlanif .,
Wetland
establishmenttR6habilitation
Enhancement
Mitigation Credits
W2
(WMCS)
2.3
0.4
'l:z
R6 (upper)
WATER &LAND
SOLUTIONS
R6 (lower)
R3 (lower)
I MS -R1
W1
R4 ref
R5 (lower) �...
MS -R2
W3
R3 (upper)
W(upper)
FIGURE
Buffalo Creek Tributaries Proposed
Mitigation Project Mitigation Features
NAD 1983 2011 State Plane 0
North Carolina FIPS 3200 FT L