20190157 Ver 1_26Feb2019_IRT Field Meeting_20190307

IRT Field Meeting Notes — Perry Hill March 7, 2019
Meeting Attendees
Todd Tugwell/USACE
Mac Haupt/NCDWR
Katie Merritt/NCDWR
Travis Wilson/NCWRC
Olivia Munzer/NCWRC
Jeff Schaffer/NCDMS
Lindsay Crocker/NCDMS
John Hutton/Wildlands
Daniel Taylor/Wildlands
On February 26, 2019, John Hutton and Daniel Taylor of Wildlands Engineering, Inc. (Wildlands) led the
group on a tour of the Perry Hill mitigation site in Hillsborough, NC. The purpose of the tour was to
present the site to a group of IRT members and to get input on the management/mitigation options
proposed for the site. During the tour, the group openly discussed the condition of the stream channels
on the site and the design options and crediting scenarios they felt would be most appropriate to
restore and enhance the channels. The accompanying map identifies the stream reach names.
The tour began at the downstream end of Perry Branch and moved upstream to UTI, UT2 (&EC2), UT3
(&EC3) and the rest of Perry Branch. Comments provided during the site visit are listed below by reach.
Perry Branch
On Perry Branch, the group started at Reach 3 and walked upstream. The IRT recommended changing
the enhancement 2 approach on Reach 3 in the proposal to Priority 1 restoration. The IRT requested
that Wildlands check with the landowners about moving the crossing to the downstream end of Perry
Branch, in the vicinity of the power line easement.
The proposed approach of Priority 1 restoration for Perry Hill Reach 2 was approved by the IRT. A toe
ditch running parallel to and northwest of Perry Branch should be filled. In areas that are mostly maple
and sweet gum, the IRT requested that Wildlands plant understory species.
The IRT generally agreed with the Enhancement Level I approach for Perry Hill Reach 1 but suggested
that Wildlands consider breaking this into restoration on the upper end and Enhancement Level II on the
lower end. Wildlands should remove all of the pond embankment and use it to fill the old pond bed.
Last, the IRT requested that Wildlands extend the easement upstream to the start of a JD stream.
UTI
The IRT agreed with the restoration approach at 1.5:1 for UT1. A request was made to add a flow
diffusion feature/marsh treatment area at the head of the reach. Wildlands will complete the
preliminary JD and define the start of the reach, then work with the landowners to see if a BMP can be
incorporated. A crossing was planned above the UT1 project area so that will also need to be accounted
for.

UT2
The IRT agreed with the Enhancement Level I approach on UT2 Reach 2 and the Enhancement Level II
approach on UT2 Reach 1. There are a couple areas in Reach 2 that have shallow channel and wetlands;
those areas should not be disturbed by grading activities.
The IRT requested that Wildlands include the wetland at the head of UT2 in the conservation easement,
as a measure to justify the UT2 stream approaches. Wildlands will map the JD wetland feature and work
with the landowners to incorporate at least a good portion of this wetland.
UT3
The IRT agreed with the proposed Enhancement Level II approach on UT3. Katie Merritt requested that
the start of the buffer and nutrient area on EC3 be moved approximately 150 feet downstream.
Katie also asked for confirmation that the cows have been in the wooded areas along UT2 and Perry
Branch Reach 1 prior to the effective date of the rule (1997). Wildlands will review the historical aerial
photos and ask the landowners for this evidence.
Summary and Conclusion
The IRT generally agreed with the approaches proposed by Wildlands for the Site. Changes to the
approaches are captured in these meeting minutes.
Contacts
Jeff Schaffer will serve as the Project Manager for NCDMS and the main point of contact. Chris Roessler
will be the Wildlands Project Manager and coordinate/submit project deliverables directly to Jeff
Schaffer for distribution to all NCIRT team members.
Action Items and Next Steps
• Project Schedule — Wildlands is ready to proceed immediately with the Task 1 deliverable
(Categorical Exclusion) and does not anticipate project delays.
• After the jurisdictional determination has been conducted, any wetland areas that will be
impacted by the proposed work (filled or drained) will need to be identified and functional
replacement for those losses should be proposed and discussed in the draft mitigation plan.
• USACE requires Jurisdictional (JD) stream/wetland calls for the project. Wildlands will coordinate
with Samantha Daley (or assigned) for on-site JD verification prior to mitigation plan submittal.
• Signage will be needed on all conservation easement areas.
This represents Wildlands' interpretation of the meeting discussions. If any meeting attendees should
find any information contained in these meeting minutes to be in error and/or incomplete based on

individual comments or conversations, please notify Chris Roessler with corrections/additions as soon as
possible.
Sincerely,,
Chris Roessler
[e-mail]
919.624.0905

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Project Ephemeral Channels
Non -Project Streams
Utility Line
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Figure 7 Concept Map
VLT I L D L A N D 5 0 200 400 Feet Perry Hill Mitigation Site
ENGINEERING I i i I Neuse River Basin (03020201)
Orange County, NC