20170520 Ver 4_WETLANDS NARRATIVE_20180518

WETLANDS NARRATIVE
The 30 foot wide sewer line right of way is cleared, and is being maintained
because so there are only rudimentary wetland plants in the right of way. The
maintenance of the cleared right of way is required as part of our Collection
System wide permit. There is evidence of ruts and disturbance where equipment
and/or vehicles have been on the right of way. There is also evidence of
disturbance because there is soil and broken up concrete which is not indigenous
to wetlands. This soil is the result of spreading soil from maintenance activities
or other activities that required spreading suitable soil for stabilization of the
access to the sewer line. The City is submitting a Nationwide Permit and a
request for site visit for evaluation by the Corps of Engineers and the Division of
Water Resources.
The Wetlands were investigated by the City of Kinston four different ways.
A. The City GIS map has a layer of mapped jurisdictional wetlands. The map
is attached with the sewer line on the map, The Project Access Map. The
length of sewer line within the wetlands was compiled along with the
length of sewer lines not in wetlands. A spread sheet was developed from
the measurements, and from the spread sheet area of the sewer line
easement access which is within the wetlands and the area of the sewer
line easement access which is not within the wetlands was determined.
See map of Access Area and the Spreadsheet Measurements taken from
GIS Wetlands Map. According measurements taken from the wetlands
map, the sewer line right of way which is within jurisdictional wetlands is
5.15 acres of 5.48 acres or 93.8% of the right of way is in jurisdictional
wetlands.
B. The City also has a GIS Soils Map with the sewer line on the soils map. A
review of the soils information indicates Bibb series, Kalmia series
(especially Kalmia 0 — 2 percent slopes) and Wagram series e(specially
Norfolk 6 — 10 percent slopes). By definition a hydric soil which is used to
delineate wetlands is: "A hydric soil is a soil that formed under conditions
of saturation, flooding or ponding long enough during the growing season
to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part" (59 Federal Register
35680, 7/13/94). The Bibb series are Hydric Soils located in Floodplains,
typically flat poorly drained, and often flooded. Bibb series support a
wetland habitat for both plants and animals. Bibb series soils are definitely
a wetland soil. Kalmia series (0 to 2 percent slopes) and Wagram series (6
to 10 percent slopes) are not Hydric Soils. Kalmia soils are flat to mildly
sloping well drained soils which are not subject to flooding. Kalmia soils
do not support wetland plant or animal life. Wagram soils are sloped well
drained soils which are not subject to flooding. Wagram soils do not
support wetland plant and animal life. See the Soils Maps of the project

area, and the soils information attached. Measurements were made to
determine lengths of the sewer line which was in Kalmia and/or Wagram
soils and the length of the sewer line which was in Bibb soils. The
measurements were compiled into a spreadsheet, (Access Areas
(Measurements taken from GIS Soils Map), which is attached. According
measurements taken from the soils map, the sewer line right of way which
is in wetland soils is 386 acres of 5.57 acres or 69.4% of the right of way is
in wetland soils.
C. The City also has a GIS Topographic Map with the sewer line located on
it. This Map was used to determine if the sewer line were in a sloped area
or a flat area. Although not a true indicator of the presence of a wetland,
topography does indicate areas which are sloped, which are generally not
associated with wetlands and areas which are flat, which can be generally
associated with wetlands. The topographic Map with the sewer line on it
is attached. Measurements were made to determine lengths of the sewer
line which were in sloped topography, and the lengths of the sewer line
which were in flat topography. The measurements were compiled into a
spreadsheet, (Access Areas (Measurements taken from GIS Topographic
Map), which is also attached. According measurements taken from the
topographic map, the sewer line right of way which is in a flat wetland area
is 3.74 acres of 5.57 acres or 67.2% of the right of way is in a flat wetland
area.
D. From the field Investigation it was noted that the 30 foot right of way had
been cleared and was being maintained in accordance with the state
regulations and as part of the City's Collection System Permit for sewer
outfall lines. The only stream crossings evaluated in the Stream Crossing
Narrative and shown on the plans are the crossings shown on the Lenoir
County Soil Survey. The right of way was observed in many places to be
flooded with water flowing on to the right of way and ponding and
periodically flowing into Briery Run. See the pictures on page 3.
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Flooded Right of Way water flows onto the right of way overland and at
stream crossings and occasionally finds an outlet and flows to Briery Run.
When the Sewer line was constructed in the mid 1970's, the soils which were taken
from the trench and not put back into the trench were usually spread along the right of
way or adjacent area, There was extra soil either because the soil was unsuitable for
bedding of a sewer line, or because of the volume of soil which was displaced by the
30" Diameter pipe. Adjacent to and along the cleared right of way there is also
evidence of all types of trees and Cattails which inhabit wetlands. See pictures showing
Cattails, Black Gum, and Bald Cypress. See the pictures on page 4 and 5. Runoff from
upland fields flows by point sources and overland flow on to the Right of Way, and
keeps the Right of Way flooded. The ponding water finds periodical outlets to Briery
Run. See pictures on the Bottom of page 4 and the top of page 5.
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Flooded Right of Way water flows onto the right of way overland and at
stream crossings and occasionally finds an outlet and flows to Briery Run.
When the Sewer line was constructed in the mid 1970's, the soils which were taken
from the trench and not put back into the trench were usually spread along the right of
way or adjacent area, There was extra soil either because the soil was unsuitable for
bedding of a sewer line, or because of the volume of soil which was displaced by the
30" Diameter pipe. Adjacent to and along the cleared right of way there is also
evidence of all types of trees and Cattails which inhabit wetlands. See pictures showing
Cattails, Black Gum, and Bald Cypress. See the pictures on page 4 and 5. Runoff from
upland fields flows by point sources and overland flow on to the Right of Way, and
keeps the Right of Way flooded. The ponding water finds periodical outlets to Briery
Run. See pictures on the Bottom of page 4 and the top of page 5.
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Flooded Right of Way, Runoff flows on to the Right of Way. Ponding occurs on
the Right of Way, and periodically flows into Briery Run
Based upon the field observations, the quantity of Wetlands is closest to Wetlands map
determination. In some cases the disturbance of the right of way has mixed wetland soil
and the non -wetland soil to make determination and delineation difficult.
For the purpose of this project the entire project access will be treated with the care
which would be afforded to all wetlands. In order to support the construction equipment,
construction mats will be used.
1. The Plans are prepared from a recent survey, and was correlated with As -Built
Plans from 1973. The Plans are for reference purposes only since digging will be
minimized, and filling for construction is prohibited. The rehabilitation of this sewer
line installed in 1973 will be primarily a "no dig" rehabilitation, and there will be no
grading. If digging is required and if fill for pipe or manhole bedding is required, the
soils removed by digging will be replaced, and any grading will be such that the
existing contours and elevations will be unchanged. Construction Mats should
5

preserve the existing vegetation. If vegetation is damaged, Sections 02850, III, G,
1, 2, and 3, of the Specifications address all of these issues.
2. The As -built drawings from 1973 do not indicate any anti -seep collars, and since
the project will be primarily no dig, there are no plans to add anti -seep collars.
3. The access the sewer line and manholes will be temporary, and all Construction
Mats will be removed after construction is complete for each section, Construction
Matting will not lay on plant life for weeks thus killing vegetation. See Section
02850, III, E of the Specifications.
4. Since the plans do not propose any changes to topography or drainage
characteristics, Overland Flow and the Hydrology of the Wetlands will remain
unchanged.
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