20160899 Ver 2_NOV Response_20180820

McGM
A S S O C I A T F. S
August 20, 2018
Ms. Stephanie Goss
Division of Water Resources
3800 Barrett Drive
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699
RE: Response to August 6, 2018 NOV-2018-PC-0250
Newton Dairy Rd./Bobbit & Birch St. Sewer Project
Henderson, North Carolina
NOV-2018-PC-0250
Dear Ms. Goss,
McGill Associates is in receipt of the referenced NOV letter dated August 6, 2018 and addressed to Mr. Franklin Frasier
with the City of Henderson, NC. On behalf of our client, the City of Henderson, we have prepared this response letter
and attachments for your review. With this letter we are providing information and supporting documentation of
compliance with the four Requested Response items noted on page 2 of the referenced letter. We ask that you review
our response and let us know as soon as possible if you find this sufficient and if we may authorize the contractor to
proceed. This project is grant funded and the deadline for completing the project is November 30 and fast
approaching.
Requested Response Items:
The revised PCN package, submitted on July 13, 2018 (copy attached with latest revisions), shows the
buffer impact areas (Sheets PCN -4-6) and provides a buffer restoration plan, with areas shown on
Sheets PCN -10-12, and notes, details, and specifications for planting density, plant material and other
related items (Sheet PCN -13). The buffer restoration plan calls for all areas of regulated riparian buffer,
zone 1 and zone 2, outside of the 15 -foot -wide permanent maintenance corridor to be replanted with
trees and shrubs at a density (681 trees/acre) sufficient to meet the 320 trees per acre requirement at
maturity.
The revised PCN package shows the stream impact area at crossing #1 (Sheet PCN -10) and provides a
restoration detail on Sheet PCN -14. All riprap will be removed from the stream bed and banks, the
banks will be matted with fully biodegradable matting and seeded with native seed mix. Live stakes will
be installed in the stream banks.
The original construction plans show erosion control measures throughout the project area and include
typical notes and details. These plans also include a general schedule for seeding and stabilization of
disturbed areas. The plan sheets included in the revised PCN (PCN -1-16) have been revised to include
notes instructing the contractor that measures must be used to avoid additional impacts to wetlands,
1013 STATE FARM ROAD, BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA 28607 1 828.386.1920 1 www.mcgillengineers.com

Stephanie Goss
20 August 2018
Page 2 of 3
stream banks, or buffer areas at each of the crossing locations; these plans have been provided to the
contractor as an addendum to the original construction plans. Details for specific measures are
included in the plans but the contractor may submit alternate details if they would achieve the same
result. Specific erosion control issues addressed by these additional notes include using wetland mats
in wetland areas that must be crossed with construction equipment, using timber mats for temporary
stream crossings, notes and details related to trench dewatering and required filtration of water
pumped from construction areas, notes and details related to working in the dry, and notes regarding
restoration and stabilization of disturbed areas. The general construction schedule is as follows:
Schedule For Compliance With NOV Action Items
Sept. 2018
Contractor to mobilize and begin to install sewer line
October 2018
Contractor completes installation of sewer line, all disturbed areas must be
seeded immediately after trench is backfilled. All temporary impact areas must
be restored unless needed for access for wetland and buffer restoration.
November 2018
Contractor completes buffer and wetland restoration plantings. All remaining
temporary impacts to be removed and all streambanks restored according to
plans.
November 2018
Final inspection of buffer, stream, and wetland restoration areas and as -built
monitoring of restored buffers.
April 2020
Perform one-year monitoring of restored buffers
June 30, 2020
Submit monitoring report to DWR
4. The planned restoration of buffer areas outside of the 15 -foot -wide permanent maintenance corridor
is included in the schedule above under #3. The schedule also includes a time frame for monitoring,
immediately following installation and after one full growing season, in the spring when plants can be
identified. The specifics of the proposed one-year monitoring plan are as follows:
RIPARIAN BUFFER RESTORATION MONITORING PLAN
Newton Dairy Rd./Birch & Bobbit St. Sewer Protect: City of Henderson, NC
The following monitoring plan will be implemented to document whether restored riparian buffers at the site
meets performance standards as defined in Section 15A NCAC 02B .0295 of the North Carolina Administrative
Code. Restored riparian buffers will be monitored by documenting native woody species and determining a stem
density at vegetation plots established within and representative of restored buffer areas.
Performance Standard Criteria
Riparian buffers will be considered restored if the following performance standards are met:
1) A minimum of 320 woody stems per acre as documented by vegetation plots. Native volunteer species
shall be included to meet stem count.
2) A minimum of four native hardwood tree species or four native hardwood tree and native shrub species,
where no one species is greater than 50 percent of stems counted towards meeting the density
requirement above.
Vegetation Plots
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Stephanie Goss
20 August 2018
Page 3 of 3
1) All vegetation plots shall be 16 feet by 16 feet square.
2) One vegetation plot will be established at each stream crossing during the first monitoring event and shall
be representative of the buffer restoration area.
Monitoring Locations
There shall be one vegetation plot established within the restored buffer at each of the following stream crossings:
1) Crossing #1
2) Crossing #2
3) Crossing #3
See Buffer Impacts Maps for crossing locations and buffer restoration areas.
Monitoring Schedule:
1) First monitoring event— immediately after planting activities are complete
2) Second monitoring event — the spring following the first full growing season after planting
Reporting:
Prepare a brief report to present the results of the one-year monitoring to DEQ-DWR, report will include a plan
for additional plantings if required woody stem density cannot be confirmed. Report to be submitted to DWR by
June 30, 2020.
We thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter. As stated above the grant funding to complete
this project is time sensitive so if there is additional information you need or any questions you have please do
not hesitate to contact me at 828-386-1920. If this response is acceptable to you, please let us know as soon
as possible and we will proceed immediately.
Sincerely,
MCGILL ASSOCIATES, P.A.
John C. Vilas
Environmental Services Director
Enclosures: Revised PCN Package
Original Construction Plans
Cc: Doug Chapman, P.E., McGill Associates
Franklin Frazier, Manager, City of Henderson, NC
Andy Williams, USACE
1013 STATE FARM ROAD, BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA 28607 1 828.386.1920 1 www.mcgillengineers.com