20041713 Ver 1_Public Notice_20050325

I 1
US Army Corps PUBLIC NOTICE
Of Engineers
Wilmington District
Issue Date: February 24, 2005
Comment Deadline: March 25, 2005
Corps Action ID #: 200401077
All interested parties are herby advised that the Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers
(Corps) has received an application for work within jurisdictional waters of the United
States. Specific plans and location information are described below and shown on the
attached plans. This Public Notice and all attached plans are also available on the
Wilmington District Web Site at www.saw.usace.army.mil/wetlands
Applicant: Mr. Lewis Holding
The Nassau Corporation
Post Office Box 151
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
AGENT (if applicable): Mr. Frank Sheffield, Jr.
Ward and Smith MAR
Post Office Box 867
New Bern, North Carolina 28563 DENR - VVAI
WETLANDS AND SLC r
Authority
The Corps will evaluate this application and decide whether to issue, conditionally issue,
or deny the proposed work pursuant to applicable procedures of Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
Location
The project site is located at 34-39.42, 77-4.45, on Lots 9, 12, and 93 in Dolphin Ridge
Subdivision and Lots 2 and 6 in Royall Oaks Subdivision, off Coast Guard Road, in
wetlands adjacent to Bogue Sound, in Emerald Isle, Carteret County, North Carolina.
Specifically, Lots 9 & 12 are located off Poseidon Road, Lot 93 is on Dolphin Ridge
Road, Lot 6 is found on Lord Berkeley Drive, and Lot 2 is on Granville Drive.
Existing Site Conditions
All project lots are residential within the existing housing developments of Dolphin
Ridge and Royall Oaks Subdivisions, which are mostly built-out. Coast Guard Road
dissects these two developments and Dolphin Ridge runs south of Coast Guard Road to
the Atlantic Ocean, while Royall Oaks is bordered by Coast Guard Road to the south and
by Bogue Sound to the north. Nassau Corporation is the original developer of both
subdivisions, and owns (10) of the remaining lots in Dolphin Ridge and (6) lots ih Royall
Oaks. Both residential developments were constructed between 1989 and 1992.
In the initial construction of Dolphin Ridge, our office issued a Nationwide Permit No. 26
in July of 1990 for 3.77 acres of wetland impacts. At this time, it is uncertain how much
of these impacts have taken place. Additionally, our office authorized the placement of
fill material into wetlands for the development of Royall Oaks' infrastructure. As a part
of our authorization for both developments, the permits were conditioned to incorporate
covenants, which Nassau has recorded with the Carteret County Register of Deeds, to
restrict and prohibit additional impacts to jurisdictional waters and wetlands. It should be
noted that this current proposal, if authorized, would be modifying the original permit
conditions as it pertains to the restrictive covenants, or declarations, relating to activities
in wetlands within both developments.
The project sites are located within a developed maritime ridge and swale forest system
where the majority of the canopy trees have been timbered or have died due to heavy
damage from past hurricanes. The underlain hydric soil type located within the wet
swale is Duckston fine sand, which is frequently flooded; and the non-hydric soil types
included along the ridges are Fripp fine sand, with 2 to 30 percent slopes, and Newhan-
Corolla complex, with 0 to 30 percent slopes.
Applicant's Stated Purpose
The applicant's stated purpose to discharge fill material into Section 404 wetlands is to
provide suitable lots for residential development, which consist of the construction of a
driveway and a single family home.
Project Description
The following description of the work is taken from data provided by the applicant. The
proposed project involves the placement of approximately 625 cubic yards of fill material
into approximately 5,105 square feet (or 0.117 acres) of jurisdictional wetlands. The
following list is a breakdown composite of the proposed wetland impact amounts for
each lot:
Lot Number Wetland Impacts
Lot 9, Dolphin Ridge .0077 acres
Lot 12, Dolphin Ridge .0175 acres
Lot 93, Dolphin Ridge .0713 acres
Lot 6, Royall Oaks .0051 acres
Lot 2, Royall Oaks .0154 acres
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All proposed lots have been approved to connect to the community sewer system except
for Lot 6 in Royal Oaks, which will handle wastewater through an individual septic
system. All work will be accomplished using bulldozers, dump trucks, and track or
backhoe equipment.
To compensate for the 0.117-acre impacts, the applicant is proposing to create 0.12 acres
(5,269 sq. ft.) of jurisdictional wetlands, which will be adjacent to existing wetlands,
within both subdivisions. The mitigation will comprise of removing existing contours
down to benchmark wetland elevations and allowing natural recruitment from adjacent
wetland vegetation to establish the plant community. The proposed mitigation, as
described in the plan dated January 21, 2005, will compensate for the wetland impacts at
a 1:1 ratio. Specific location and creation amount of the mitigation areas are the
following:
Lot Number Mitigation Creation
Lot 11 & 12, Dolphin Ridge 1,666 sq.ft. (0.038 Ac)
Lot 39, Royall Oaks 1,443 sq.ft. (0.033 Ac)
Lot 41, Royall Oaks 2,160 sq.ft. (0.049 Ac)
Other Required Authorizations
This notice and all applicable application materials are being forwarded to the appropriate
State agencies for review. The Corps will generally not make a final permit decision
until the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) issues, denies, or waives
State certification required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500). The
receipt of the application and this public notice in the NCDWQ Central Office in Raleigh
serves as application to the NCDWQ for certification. A waiver will be deemed to occur
if the NCDWQ fails to act on this request for certification within sixty days of the date of
the receipt of this notice in the NCDWQ Central Office. Additional information
regarding the Clean Water Act certification may be reviewed at the NCDWQ Central
Office, 401 Oversight and Express Permits Unit, 2321 Crabtree Boulevard, Raleigh,
North Carolina 27604-2260. All persons desiring to make comments regarding the
application for certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act should do so in
writing delivered to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ), 1650 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650 Attention: Mr. John Hennessy (NC
Department of Transportation projects) or Ms Cyndi Karoly (all other projects) by March
18, 2005.
The applicant has not provided to the Corps, a certification statement that his/her
proposed activity complies with and will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with
the approved North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program. Pursuant to 33 CFR
325.2(b)(2), the Corps can not issue a permit for the proposed work until the applicant
submits such a certification to the Corps and the North Carolina Division of Coastal
Management (NCDCM), and the NCDCM notifies the Corps that it concurs with the
applicant's consistency certification.
Essential Fish Habitat
This notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Corps' initial
determination is that the proposed project will not adversely impact EFH or associated
fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
or the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Cultural Resources
The Corps has consulted the latest published version of the National Register of Historic
Places and is not aware that any registered properties, or properties listed as being
eligible for inclusion therein are located within the project area or will be affected by the
proposed work. Presently, unknown archeological, scientific, prehistoric, or historical
data may be located within the project area and/or could be affected by the proposed
work.
Endangered Species
The Corps has reviewed the project area, examined all information provided by the
applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on
available information, the Corps has determined pursuant to the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, that the proposed project will have no effect on federally listed endangered or
threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.
The Corps has reviewed the project area, examined all information provided by the
applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on
available information, the Corps is not aware of the presence of species listed as
threatened or endangered or their critical habitat formally designated pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) within the project area. A final determination on
the effects of the proposed project will be made upon additional review of the project and
completion of any necessary biological assessment and/or consultation with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and/or National Marine Fisheries Service."
Evaluation
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable
impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the proposed activity on the public interest.
That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of
important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the
proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors
which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects
thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental
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concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain
values (in accordance with Executive Order 11988), land use, navigation, shoreline
erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy
needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property
ownership, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. For activities involving
the discharge of dredged or fill materials in waters of the United States, the evaluation of
the impact of the activity on the public interest will include application of the
Environmental Protection Agency's 404(b)(1) guidelines.
Commenting Information
The Corps is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and local agencies and
officials; Indian Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the
impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the
Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal.
To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species,
historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects and the other public
interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental
Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments are also used to determine the
need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed
activity.
Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice,
that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings
shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a
public hearing shall be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues
raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing.
Written comments pertinent to the proposed work, as outlined above, will be received
by the Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, until 5pm, March 25, 2005. Comments
should be submitted to Mr. Mickey Sugg, Post Office Box 1890, Wilmington North
Carolina 28402-1890. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Sugg at [phone].
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SPANGLER
ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
Land Planning ? Permitting ? Environmental Consulting ? Construction Management ? Expert Testimony
WETLAND MITIGATION PLAN
DOLPHIN RIDGE AND ROYALL OAKS SUBDIVISIONS
CARTERET COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Prepared by:
Spangler Environmental, Inc.
224 Fayetteville Street Mall, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27601
-and-
3961 B Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28403
January 21, 2005
,t
Paul Masten
Project Environmental Scientist
224 Fayetteville Street Mall, Suite 400 P.O. Box 387 Raleigh, N.C. 27602 tel [phone] fax [phone]
3961-B Market Street Wilmington, N.C. 28403 tel [phone] fax [phone]-SPANGLER spanglerenvironmental.com
CONCEPTUAL WETLAND CREATION PLAN- DOLPHIN RIDGE AND
ROYALL OAKS DEVELOPMENTS ........................................................... 3
TARGET: ................................................................................................... 3
CREATION AREA BENCHMARKS: .......................................................... 3
SITE DESCRIPTION AND CREATION STRATEGIES: ............................. 4
Geographic Position .......................................................................................................................4
Site Characteristics ....................................................................................................................... .4
Topography ................................................................................................................................. .4
Soils ............................................................................................................................................ .4
Hydrology ................................................................................................................................... .5
Depressional Areas .................................................................................................................. .5
Vegetation .............................................................................................::.....................................5
Proposed Creation Strategy ..........................................................................................................7
Topographic Modification ...........................................................................................................8
Natural Recruitment of Seed Material .........................................................................................8
Hand Planting of Native Species ..........................:......................................................................8
Creation Area Monitoring ............................................................................................................9
Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. ..9
Vegetation Monitoring ............................................................................................................... ..9
Appendix A -. Planting List ............................................................................................ 10
Appendix B - Pre- and Post-construction Topographic Contours .............. 11
Appendix C - Supplemental Planting Plan ............................................................. 12
Appendix D - Typical Creation Area Cross Section ......................................... 13
Figure 1- General Site Map - Swansboro USGS 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Topographic Map
Figure 2 - Site Soil Map - Carteret County Soil Survey
Conceptual Wetland Creation Plan- Dolphin Ridge and Royall Oaks
Developments
Target:
Create wetland biological communities on the site as mitigation for the planned wetland
impacts to occur at Lots 9, 12 and 93 of the Dolphin Ridge subdivision and Lots 2 and 6
of the Royall Oaks subdivision. This plan is intended to provide a minimum mitigation
ratio of 1:1 for impacts proposed. Specific locations of mitigation are proposed to
compensate for specific locations of unavoidable impacts per the following correlations:
• 764 square feet of impact at Lot 12 of Dolphin Ridge, 337 square feet of impact at
Lot 9 of Dolphin Ridge, 3,107 square feet of impact at Lot 93 of Dolphin Ridge,
224 square feet of impact at Lot 6 of Royall Oaks and 673 square feet of impact at
Lot 2 of Royall Oaks, a total of 5,105 square feet, will be mitigated by the
creation of 1,666 square feet of wetland on Lots 11 and 12 of Dolphin Ridge,
1,443 square feet of wetland on Lot 39 of Royall Oaks and 2,160 square feet of
wetland on Lot 41 of Royall Oaks a total of 5,269 square feet.
Creation Area Benchmarks:
• Establishment and maintenance of water table within 12 inches of the soil surface for at
least 12.5% of the growing season, for three successive, normal rainfall years through
minor excavation activities to affect hydrology on a per lot basis. Excavation activities
will create three vegetation zones - a Facultative zone at an elevation one foot above the
seasonal water table, a Facultative Wet zone at an elevation six inches above the seasonal
water table, and an Obligate zone at the elevation of the seasonal water table.
• Natural recruitment of seed material into each zone according to the following
percentages and densities:
1. Facultative zone - 75% plant species with a wetland indicator status of
Facultative or wetter and 25% having Facultative Upland or drier status to achieve
a total aerial coverage of 75% after two growing seasons.
2. Facultative Wet zone - 25% of plant species having a wetland indicator status of
Obligate and 75% having Facultative or wetter status to achieve a total aerial
coverage of 60%.
3. Obligate zone - >50% of plant species having a wetland indicator status of
Obligate to achieve a total aerial coverage of 40%.
A typical diagram of these zones, the anticipated vegetation types and excavation slopes
is included in Appendix D.
• Supplemental planting of hydrophytic vegetation as defined as dominant (greater than
50% basal area for tree species, 50% aerial coverage for herbaceous species) of species
with wetland indicator status wetter than FAC to be performed, only as needed, to
achieve the wetland species indicator percentages and aerial coverages listed above.
Site Description And Creation Strategies:
Geographic Position
The Dolphin Ridge and' Royall Oaks Developments are located off Coast Guard Road, on the
barrier island that includes Emerald Isle, Carteret County, North Carolina. The site is located
approximately 0.8 miles west of NC Hwy 58, 1.7 miles east of Bogue Inlet, and 1500 feet south
of Bogue Sound. The site can be found on the Swansboro USGS 7.5 Minute Quadrangle
(general site map in Figure 1) and on Carteret County Soil Survey (soil maps in Figure 2).
Coast Guard Road creates the southern boundary for Royall Oaks subdivision, and the northern
boundary for Dolphin Ridge subdivision. Bogue Sound creates the northern boundary for Royall
Oaks, and the dune system of the Atlantic Ocean creates the southern boundary for Dolphin
Ridge. The east and west boundaries for both subdivisions are created by separate, independent
developments.
Site Characteristics
Topography
The project site is situated in the area between the elevated ocean dune and low marshland
adjacent to Bogue Sound. Elevated dunes are prevalent throughout both subdivisions, as are
many depressional wetland areas, typical for a barrier island system. Elevations over the site
range from 25 feet to 10 feet above sea level, and the dune/wetland system provides topographic
variability on a per lot basis, and is consistent throughout both subdivisions.
Soils
Soils in the low-lying wetland areas have dark surficial layers, while those in the elevated dune
systems have a much lighter surficial layer. Munsell color generally ranges from 2.5 Y 2.5/1 to
5YR 511, and the thickness of the. surficial layer ranges from approximately 4" to 12". The layer
below the surficial layer displays a more narrow range of color. These lower soil depths key out
on a Munsell chart between 7.5YR 4/1 to 10YR 3/2. It is the first subsurface layer that is most
useful in determining the presence or absence of hydric soils.
According to the publication, Hydric Soils of the United States, and the Carteret County Soil
Survey, two recognized hydric soil series exist on this site, Duckston and Carteret. The upland
soils that are present on the site include Corolla, Fripp, Beaches-Newhan Complex, and Newhan-
Corolla Complex Series.
Hydric Soils information:
Carteret series - This soil is generally described as being nearly level and very poorly drained in
the marshes of the Outer Banks, with moderate alkalinity, the water table being at or near the
surface continuously, and it is flooded by ocean tides daily. This soil series is located in the tidal
areas on the northern edge of Royall Oaks.
Duckston series - This soil is generally described as being nearly level and poorly drained on the
Outer Banks in troughs between dunes and on flats between the dunes and marshes.
Permeability is rapid, and is medium acid to moderately alkaline. The water table is usually one
foot to two feet below land surface and fluctuates somewhat in relation to the tides.
Hydrology
The presence of wetland hydrology on this site is likely due primarily to precipitation and some
subsurface flow into the depressional areas in between dunes, some of which are geographically
isolated from other water bodies by these dunes.
Depressional Areas
Depressional areas located between dunes can be found throughout the subdivisions. Some of
these areas do not seem to have surface hydrology throughout the year, or have very little, while
others appear to be inundated throughout the year. The size of the depressional areas may vary
from 30 square feet to an acre or more.
Some depressions have very little topographic change from the adjacent uplands, while others
have a topographic change of 5-10 feet over a 5-foot interval. The smaller, isolated areas are
most likely hydrologically fed by subsurface flow from nearby wetlands, as well as precipitation,
while the larger areas are most likely hydrologically connected to Bogue Sound and fed by
precipitation and subsurface flow. A steady buildup of organic matter has possibly hindered
vertical and lateral drainage from these features and furthered the development of their "bathtub"
shape.
Vegetation
The majority of the site has had some degree of vegetation alteration, primarily small-scale tree
and underbrush removal for the purpose of developing individual lots. Additionally, as can be
seen on the Carteret County Soil Survey (Figure 2), the site had not been cleared prior to the
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mid-1980's. Much of the existing vegetation outside of the developed lots is the original,
predevelopment growth, and provides an accurate assessment of the natural vegetation growth
succession.
The elevated dunes are dominated by Pinus taeda, and Quercus alba in the canopy, and stunted
Quercus virginiana in the understory, In the wetland areas, the central, wettest areas are
dominated by aquatic species Lemna minor, and Eichhornia crassipes. The edges and shallower
areas of the wetlands are dominated by herbaceous species Osmunda cinnamomea, Solidago
sempervirens, Peltrandra virginica, Saururus cernnus, Cornus foemina, Ammania latifolia,
Ludwigia palustris, and Polygonum punctatum. The understory along the edges is dominated by
Myrica cerifera, Persea borbonia, Magnolia virginiana, and Salix nigra, and in the canopy by
Acer rubrum, and Pinus taeda.
The barrier island system observed on the project site is a varying combination of communities,
the Maritime Evergreen Forest, which represents the elevated areas and grades down into either
an Interdune Pond, Maritime Swamp Forest, or Maritime Shrub Swamp as described in the
Classification of Natural Communities of North Carolina, (Shafale and Weakley, 1990) Third
Approximation. Such classification will be used throughout this wetland creation plan for the
purpose of clarity and reference.
The Maritime Evergreen Forest community is described as old stabilized sand dunes and flats
protected from salt water flooding and most extreme salt spray being well drained to excessively
drained, and subject to moderate to light salt spray. The vegetation is typically characterized by
a low to moderately high canopy (open or closed) of Pinus taeda and stunted Quercus
virginiana, with an understory dominated Persea borbonia, Juniperus virginiana, Cornus
florida, and others. A shrub layer is usually present, and includes Ilex vomitoria, Myrica
cerifera, Sabal minor, and Calicarpa americana. The herb layer is described as being sparse and
low in diversity. Some of these species have all been identified on the site, but species
identification focused on the wetland areas, i.e. within the Interdune Pond community. This type
of community is found on the upland areas of most lots within the two subdivisions.
The Interdune Pond community is described as being depressions in active or relict dune areas
on barrier islands, where the soils are not generally mapped and the surrounding and underlying
substrate is sand or muck. These areas are permanently flooded to intermittently exposed.
Vegetation in these communities are often floating or submerged aquatic plants; depending upon
depth of water, but can include Azolla caroliniana, Ceratophylum muricatum, Limnobium
4
spongia, Riccia fluitans, Ricciocarpus natans, Spirodella polyrhiza, Lemna gibba and others in
deeper waters, and shallow waters and intermittently exposed area have various freshwater
marsh species, such as Thelypteris palustris, Leersia oryzoides, Eleocharis baldwinii, Typha
angustifolia, Setaria magna, and others. Pond margins often have borders of Salix nigra, Acer
rubrum, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Nyssa biflora, Rosa palustris, and Decodon verticillatus.
The hydric soils of these communities are often overlooked during mapping, and is most likely
the cause of the project site not having any hydric soils mapped. This type of community was
observed on Lot 93 of Dolphin Ridge.
The Maritime Swamp Forest community is described as being wet areas in well-protected
swales, edges of relict dunes, and edges of freshwater sounds. The soils are wet mucky or sandy,
and the areas are palustrine, seasonally or intermittently flooded or saturated, to intermittently
exposed. The forest canopy is dominated by such species as Nyssa biflora, Acer rubrum,
Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus Americana, Taxodium distichum, Pinus taeda, Quercus nigra,
or Quercus michauxii. The understory trees and shrubs may include Carpinus caroliniana,
Persea borbonia, Myrica cerifera, Conrus stricta, and Magnolia virginiana. Common vines
include Berchemia scandens, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis rotundiflora. The usually
sparse herb layer may include Woodwardia virginica, Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda
cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Saururus cernnus, Boehmeria cylindrical, Mitchellarepens; . and - -
Carex. This type of community was observed on Lot 12 of Dolphin Ridge and Lot 6 of Royall
Oaks.
The Maritime Shrub Swamp community is described as being wet dune swales and depressions
on barrier islands, with wet mucky soils, which are palustrine, seasonally flooded or saturated to
intermittently exposed. The vegetation of these communities typically has an open to dense
canopy of shrubs to small trees composed of Persea borbonia, Pinus taeda, and Acer rubrum,
and a sparse herb layer containing Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Woodwardia
virginica, Onoclea sensibilis, or Thelypteris palustris. This type of community was observed on
Lot 9 of Dolphin Ridge and Lot 2 of Royall Oaks.
Proposed Creation Strategy
All wetland creation areas are proposed to be extensions of existing wetland communities, so the
excavation, grading, and plant choices for the creation areas will be done so as to reflect the
hydrological and vegetative conditions of the adjacent existing wetlands. The following table
equates the target Community Type as indicated by the characteristics of the adjacent wetland
with the proposed mitigation location:
Lots 11/12 Dolphin Ridge: Maritime Swamp Forest

Lot 39 Royall Oaks: Interdune Pond
Lot 41 Royall Oaks: Interdune Pond
All on-site work will occur under the direct supervision of the wetland scientists, soil scientists,
and engineers that have been responsible for the Restoration Plan and Wetland Delineation.
Topographic Modification
The topographic adjustment to the upland area adjacent to the existing wetlands is the first step
in the creation of these mitigation areas. Exhibits showing the pre- and post-construction
contours of the proposed mitigation locations are included in Appendix B. Reference monitoring
wells have been installed in uplands near the existing adjacent wetlands to provide the water
table depth to guide the needed depth of excavation. The transitional topography of the
upland/wetland boundary of the existing wetlands will be mimicked in the excavation of the
creation areas (i.e. 3:1 slope down to existing wetland boundary will correlate into 3:1 slope
down to creation area boundary). The existing, adjacent depression areas will form the model
for the down slope topography. In this manner, a natural topography will be created, which in
turn will encourage natural wetland conditions. .
Lowering the elevation of the planned creation areas will result in surface and subsurface soils
being exposed to the water table and reducing conditions that will, over time, result in hydric soil
conditions comparable to the existing adjacent wetlands.
Natural Recruitment of Seed Material
Because healthy, diverse vegetation communities are present in the existing wetlands adjacent to
the creation areas, natural recruitment of the native seed material will be used initially. This will
be done by simply allowing the existing plant species to migrate into the creation areas through
natural means of germination and root stabilization.
Hand Planting of Native Species
If natural recruitment does not meet the success criteria stated in the goals of the Vegetation
Monitoring within three years of the completion of the creation areas, a cover crop of low-
growing herbaceous and woody wetland species will be planted by the end of the third growing
season in order to attain the vegetation success criteria. Planting of bare-root seedlings of
species, identified in Appendix A, within the creation areas should commence in March of the
growing season following the second year of monitoring to allow maximum time for
establishment during the first year's growth. Planting locations for each creation area are
specified in Appendix. C. Such supplemental planting shall be performed to achieve the wetland
indicator status percentages and aerial coverages listed in the Creation Area Benchmarks. The
Q
planting lists for each specific creation area were based upon the species identified in the existing
wetland areas adjacent to the creation areas.
Creation Area Monitoring
Hydrology
Goal: Reestablish and maintain wetland hydrology, as defined as a water table at or above 12
inches in soil profile depth for at least 12.5% of the growing season for three successive, normal
rainfall years.
Shallow water table monitoring wells have been placed in upland areas adjacent to where
creation will be performed and will be examined at three times during the growing season and
one time outside the growing season. Monitoring will commence at the beginning of the
growing season that follows the completion of the topographic modifications. Data obtained
from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and/or National Weather Service will be used
as reference for calibrating rainfall to water table depths for normal year.
Vegetation Monitoring
Goal: Create vegetation densities similar to those of the existing, adjacent wetland areas used
as reference for wetland creation areas. For the Facultative zone, an average stem count of 60-
70 woody stems/acre and an aerial coverage of 15% of herbaceous species. The percentages of
wetland indicator status of species within this zone will be 75% Facultative or wetter and 25%
Facultative Upland or drier. For the Facultative Wet zone, an average stem count of 30-40
woody stems/acre and an aerial coverage of 40% of herbaceous species. The percentages of
wetland indicator status of species within this zone will be 25% Obligate and 75% Facultative or
wetter. For the Obligate zone, an average stem count of 10-20 woody stems/acre and an aerial
coverage of 35% of herbaceous species. The percentages of wetland indicator status of species
within this zone will be 50% Obligate.
The vegetation in each zone of the creation areas will be monitored on a quarterly basis over
randomly chosen sample locations (utilizing a random numbers table and grid system over the
restoration areas) that cover at least 10% of each individual creation site. The aerial cover and/or
stem count will be quantified as well as the wetland indicator status of the species within the
sampling location. Additional notes will be made on the general health of the vegetation and the
extent to which the sampled location is representative of the creation area in general.
Monitoring will be performed until the success criteria goals mentioned above are achieved and
maintained for three successive growing seasons.
9
Appendix A - Planting List
All plant species are bare-root seedlings unless otherwise specified
Dolphin Ridge Lot 11/12 creation area - Maritime Swamp Forest
Salix nigra - 4
Myrica cerifera - 3
Persea borbonia - 2
Acer rubrum - 2
Osmunda cinnamomea - 20 (1 / 6 sq ft)
Solidago sempervirens - 40 (1 / 6 sq ft)
Mikania scandens -30 (1 / 6 sq ft)
Royall Oaks Lot 39 creation area - Interdune Pond
Persea borbonia - 2
Myrica cerifera - 3
Acer rubrum - 3
Magnolia virginiana - 4
Osmunda cinnamomea - 37 (1 / 10 sq ft)
Polygonum punctatum - 45 (1 / 20 sq ft)
Saururus cernnus -10 (1 / 20 sq ft)
Ammania latifolia - 10 (1 / 2 sq ft)
Royall Oaks Lot 41 creation area - Interdune Pond
Persea borbonia - 3
Magnolia virginiana - 4
Acer rubrum - 3
Myrica cerifera - 3
Ammania latifolia - 20 (1 / 10 sq ft)
Ludwigia palustris - 20 (1/ 10 sq ft)
Leucothoe racemosa - 25 (1 / 20 sq ft)
1n
Appendix B - Pre- and Post-construction Topographic
Contours
11
olphm Podge Lot I I and 12 Mitigation Prey
Gneting Wetland
C-tion Arm
0.5
I
1.0
0.5
-------a s'
rr nstruehon Contouro
-? - rmtc atmction Contours
0 20 40 w
/,?,yb, on - - 224 Payettehlle 9t. Mall
_ B , Dolphin Ridge/Royall Oak Mitigation Plan ward * smith. P.A, ®
9ude1400
Pmt01BwBm387
Lots I I and 12 Dolphin Ridge Topography SPANGLER I?jleMh. NC 27602-0967
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"ll Oak Lot 41 Mitigation Area
Existing Wetiand
/ Creat4on Area
0.5
I1/ O 1% % 11.0
s ,4 1
0.5

I II
I

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0.5 2 1
0.5

1.0
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Poetconstruction Contouro
0 5 10 20
t
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Dolphin Ridge/ yall Oak Mitigation

Lot 41 Royall Oak Topography Ward 5mlth, P.A.

mm
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t Offix 5m 307
NC 276024W7
5PANGLER Maigh
x Emerald 151e, North Carolina p Q005 Sp.,,W ?, ,,., I- B- ,
rNVIRONMENTAL, INC.(919)54GO94
Lot 39

Royal) Oak Lot 39 Mitiptim Ams
Cwetmg Wetland
Creation Area
0.5
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0
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1.0
.

0
5
,
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-I-
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Preconetmctlon Contours
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0 4 10 20
awrn. o^n -- 224 raycttaWlle 9t. Mall
Dolphin Rldge/Royall Oak Mitigation Plan Ward * 5mlth, P.A. a; ® P?ON5M 387
Lot 39 Royall Oak Topography 5PANGLf! R h, NC 27602.0W7
9 g °

Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Dolphin Rdge Lot I I and 12 Mibgabon Area
Existing Weiland
0 Creation Area
? / / ? Obligate
® Pacultsdw Wat
III
® PaoultaGw
PlANT3
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224
Dolphin R1dge/Royall Oak Mitigation Plan Ward Smith, P.A. 1
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Roydl Oak Lot 41 Mitigation Area
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® racoltatne wet
® raaltrbve
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® Obligate
® racultabve Wet
® racultabve
0 5 10
_ Dolphin Ridcge/Royall Oak Mitigation Plan
a ° Lot 39 Royall Oak Planting Plan
i Emerald Isle, North Carolina
Ward 4 Smith, P.A.
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Pb - rare" bodoonu
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raft Off" 5% 907
SPANGLER IWag6. t+c 27102-0997
L`NVIRONMCNTAL, INC.(919) 540754
Appendix D - Typical Creation Area Cross Section
112
PawltaGVa Wet Tone I rawlt twe Zone
Obhgata Zone I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
W+Gx Table
75% PawlGtwe we or wetter
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25% Obligata
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Dolphin Ridgegoyall oak Mitigation Plan Ward 5mlth, P.A. fogOMmBwW7
Typical Profile SPANGLER P,63h,IC27GOI.OM7
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all Oak Mitigation Plan
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