20180196 Ver 1_Site Viability Letter (Wildlands/DMS)_20180313

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
March 13, 2018
Wildlands Engineering, Inc.
Attn: John Hutton
312 West Millbrook Rd, Suite 225
Raleigh, NC 27609
(via electronic mail: scottL&waterlandsolutions.com )
ROY COOPER
Governol
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secre twat
LINDA CULPEPPER
hllerim Director
DWR ID# 2018-0196
Johnston County
Re: Site Viability for Buffer Mitigation & Nutrient Offset — Catfish Pond Site
Off US -501 (36.158391, -78.907343)
Neuse 03020201 (Falls Lake WS)
Durham County
Dear Mr. Hutton,
On February 23, 2018, Katie Merritt, with the Division of Water Resources (DWR), assisted you
and others from Wildlands Engineering, Inc. at the proposed Catfish Pond Mitigation Site (Site)
in Bahama, NC. The Site is located in the Falls Lake WS of the Neuse River Basin within the 8 -
digit Hydrologic Unit Code 03020201. The Site is being proposed as part of a full -delivery
stream restoration project for the Division of Mitigation Services (RFP #16-007279). Members
of the Interagency Review Team (IRT) and Division of Mitigation Services were also present
onsite. At your request, on February 23, 2018, Ms. Merritt performed an onsite assessment of
riparian land uses adjacent to streams and ditches onsite, which are shown on the attached map
labeled "Figure 6A Concept Map".
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) and for nutrient offset credits pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0240.
Feature
Classification
1Subiect
Riparian Land uses
Buffer
ZNutrient
Mitigation Type Determination w/in riparian
to Buffer
adjacent to Feature
areas
Credit
Offset Viable
Rule
0-200'
at 2.273
Viable
lbs acre
UT1
Stream &
Yes
Combination of
Yes°
Yes (non-
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
Wetland
(where
forested and
forested fields
.0295 (n)
complex
stream is
non/forested pasture
only)
Proposed for
restored)
grazed by cattle
Forested Areas - Enhancement Site per 15A
stream
NCAC 026 .0295 (o) (6)
restoration
Crossing 1 has impeded flow and Crossing 2 is
severely perched with impeded flow. Both
crossings need be repaired/replaced.
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300

Catfish Pond Full -Delivery Site
Wildlands
March 13, 2018
Feature
Classification
'Subiect
Riparian Land uses
Buffer
ZNutrient
Mitigation Type Determination w/in riparian
to Buffer
adjacent to Feature
areas
Credit
Offset Viable
Rule
0-200'
at 2,273
Viable
lbs acre
D
Ditch
No
Non -forested pasture
*See
Yes
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
grazed by cattle
Note
.0295 (n)
*The ditch meets 15A NCAC 0213 .0295 (o)(8) (A,
B, C & E). More information is needed for
complete assessment.
Catfish
Stream
Yes
Combination of
Yes4
Yes (non-
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
Creek
forested and
forested fields
.0295(n)
non/forested pasture
only)
grazed by cattle
Forested Areas - Enhancement Site per 15A
NCAC 026 .0295 (o) (6)
Crossing 3 has impeded flow and needs to be
repaired/replaced
Catfish
In-line pond
Yes
Combination of
*Yes4
Yes (non-
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
Pond
(proposed
forested and
forested fields
.0295 (n)
for stream
non/forested pasture
only)
Restoration)
grazed by cattle
Forested Areas - Enhancement Site per 15A
NCAC 0213 .0295 (o) (6)
*If stream channel is created & restored
through the pond, the new riparian areas will be
viable as a Restoration Site
UT2
Stream
Yes
Mostly forested
Yes4
Yes (non-
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
pasture with some
forested fields
.0295 (n)
open canopy areas
only)
and grazed by cattle
Forested Areas - Enhancement Site per 15A
NCAC 02B .0295 (o) (6)
Mountain
Stream
Yes
Mostly forested
Yes4
Yes (non-
Fields - Restoration Site per 15A NCAC 02B
Tributary
pasture with some
forested fields
.0295 (n)
open canopy areas
only)
and grazed by cattle
Forested Areas - Enhancement Site per 15A
NCAC 02B .0295 (o) (6)
'Subjectivity calls for the features were determined by DWR in correspondence dated March 12, 2018 using the 1:24,000
scale quadrangle topographic map prepared by USGS and the most recent printed version of the soil survey map prepared
by the NRCS
2 NC Division of Water Resources - Methodology and Calculations for determining Nutrient Reductions associated with
Riparian Buffer Establishment
'The area of preservation credit within a buffer mitigation site shall comprise of no more than 25 percent (25%) of the total
area of buffer mitigation per 15A NCAC 0295 (o)(5) and 15A NCAC 0295 (o)(4). Site cannot be a Preservation only site
to comply with this rule.
'The area described as an Enhancement Site was assessed and determined to comply with all of 15A NCAC 02B
.0295(o)(6).
P#rc 213

Catfish Pond Full -Delivery Site
Wildlands
March 13, 2018
The attached map (Figure 6A Concept Map) showing the project site and features was provided by
Wildlands Engineering and was initialed by Ms. Merritt on March 13, 2018. There were at least 3
crossings that need to be repaired or replaced to allow for aquatic passage and continuous
hydrologic connectively throughout the stream/s. This letter should be provided in any future
stream, wetland, buffer and/or nutrient offset mitigation plans for this Site.
This letter does not constitute an approval of this site to generate mitigation credits. Pursuant to 15A
NCAC 02B .0295, a mitigation proposal and a mitigation plan shall be submitted to DWR for written
approval prior to conducting any mitigation activities in riparian areas and/or surface waters for
buffer mitigation credit. Pursuant to 15A NCAC 02B .0240, a proposal regarding a proposed nutrient
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 for 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 March 13, 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 6A Concept Map
cc: File Copy (Katie Merritt)
DMS - Jeff Schaffer (via electronic mail)
Sincerely,
Karen Higgins, Supervisor
401 and Buffer Permitting Branch
Page 313

Figure 6A Concept Map (Option 1)
W I L D L A N D S 0 500 Feet` eCatfish Pond Mitigation Site
ENGINEERING �(��-1Veuse River Basin 03020201
^Q\ Durham County, NC
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