20180788 Ver 1_Viability Letter for Buffer & NO_20180625

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
June 25, 2018
Michael Baker Engineering, Inc.
Attention: Jake Byers
797 Haywood Rd, Suite 201
Asheville, NC 28806
(via electronic mail: JByersCambakerintl.com )
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Sec retnry
LINDA CULPEPPER
hilerrm Director
DWR ID# 2018-0788
Re: Site Viability for Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset — Hardin Farms Site
8201 Millrun Rd, Stokesdale, NC
Haw River Subwatershed - Jordan Lake Watershed
Guilford County
Dear Mr. Breslow,
On May 30, 2018, Katie Merritt, with the Division of Water Resources (DWR), assisted you at
the proposed Hardin Farms Mitigation Site (Site) in Stokesdale, NC. Staff with the Division of
Mitigation Services was also present onsite. The Site is located in the Haw River Subwatershed
of Jordan Lake. The Site is being proposed as part of a full -delivery stream, wetland and riparian
buffer mitigation project for the Division of Mitigation Services (RFP #16-007330). At your
request, on June 20, 2018, Ms. Merritt performed an onsite assessment of riparian land uses adjacent
to streams onsite, which are shown on the attached map labeled "Figure 9A".
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).
Feature
Classification
'Subject
Riparian Land use
Buffer
zNutrient
Mitigation Type Determination Win riparian
to Buffer
adjacent to Feature
areas
Credit
Viable
Offset Viable
Rule
0-200'
RS
Stream
Yes
Mostly forested pasture
Yesss
Yes (open
Open Canopy Areas w/ no understory (see
actively grazed by cattle
canopy areas
map)- Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B.0295
with some areas having
only)
(n)
an open to partially-
Partial Canopy Area w/ no understory (see
open canopy of
map)- Enhancement Site per 15A NCAC 02B
hardwood forest with no
.0295 (n)
understory (see figure
9A)
Forested Areas - Preservation Site per 15A
NCAC 028 .0295 (o)(5) or Enhancement Site per
15A NCAC 02B.0295 (o)(6) if fence is installed
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300

Hardin Farm Full -Delivery Site
Baker
June 25, 2018
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 fbr 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
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 June 25, 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 9A
cc: File Copy (Katie Merritt)
DMS - Jeff Schaffer (via electronic mail)
Sincerely,
Karen Higgins, Supervi r
401 and Buffer Permitting Branch
Page 313

Conservation Easement
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Stream Mitigation Type
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Wetland Mitigation Type
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o zso soo Proposed Mitigation Features
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