20170110 Ver 2_Year 1 Review_20190107

Strickland, Bev
From: Merritt, Katie
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2019 2:58 PM
To: 'Ray Holz'
Subject: Weaver Farm Year 1 review -
Hey Raymond,
I have finalized my review of the Year 1 Monitoring Report for the Weaver Farm Mitigation Site. Thank you for providing
a remedial action plan in response to the impacts to the site associated with Hurricane Florence. I do have concerns
with the proposed planting plan, considering not all the trees are part of the original approved planting plan. It is
proposed in the report, to plant the following species: Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus nigra, Ulmus
Americana and Taxodium distichum. Three of the five species chosen, are not part of the approved planting plan. Acer
rubrum is not usually accepted as a preferable species to plant on riparian buffer sites due to its ability to colonize
rapidly, potentially outcompete other planted stems and possibly produce a monoculture. Ulmus Americana is an
acceptable species to plant on this site and DWR approves the use of this tree in the remediation plan. Taxodium
distichum is not a hardwood tree and would not be allowed to use towards the performance standards, which require
"native hardwood tree species".
Due to the special nature of this site, DWR will allow alternative species of trees to be planted for the
remediation. However, RS is required to provide DWR with a specific reason as to why Acer rubrum should be planted
on this site. This must include site-specific characteristics that warrant the use of Acer rubrum over other species
approved in the planting plan in the BPDP. Nursery availability of stems will not be considered a reasonable explanation
to use Acer rubrum on the site. Additionally, RS must acknowledge in writing, they understand that Taxodium distichum
will be excluded from counting towards the performance standards on the site. Otherwise, RS must choose a different
species from the original planting plan in the BPDP.
Once I have received a response to this email, I will be able to issue a credit release.
Thank You,
Katie
"please note my phone number has changed"
Katie Merritt
Nutrient Offset & Buffer Banking Coordinator
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: 919-707-3637
Work Cell: 919-500-0683
Website: http://Portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/401bufferpermitting
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27620
1617 Mail Service Center. Raleiah. NC 27699-1617
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