20180784 Ver 1_Mitigation Plan_2019_20190701

MITIGATION PLAN
ARABIA BAY WETLAND MITIGATION SITE
Hoke County, North Carolina
DMS Project ID No. 100061
Full Delivery Contract No. 7529
USACE Action ID No. SAW -2018-01151
DWR Project No. 2018-0784
RFP No. 16-007332
Cape Fear River Basin
Cataloging Unit 03030004
Prepared for:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF MITIGATION SERVICES
1652 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1652
June 2019

July 1, 2019
Lindsey Crocker
NC DEQ— Division of Mitigation Services
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1652
Subject: Arabia Bay, Project ID #100061, DMS Contract #0007529
Response to IRT Comments on the Draft Mitigation Plan Review Received 04-12-2019
Restoration Systems received comments on the Arabia Bay Mitigation Plan from the North Carolina
Inter -Agency Review Team on April 12th, 2019. Below are the comments received in black, and
Restoration Systems' response in blue.
Todd Bowers, EPA:
1. Section 7.4/Table 9/Page 15: Natural Plant Community Restoration
- Schafale 2012 lists two distinct Cypress Savannas (typic and acidic). Recommend
providing some discussion and justification on which type is being implemented for the
target plant community at Arabia Bay.
See updated section 7.4. The Natural Plant Community Restoration target has been expanded and
clarified to reflect a Cypress Savanna (Typic Subtype) in the deepest portions of the bay, with a gradient
upslope to Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Forest (Oak Flat Subtype) around the bay rim.
2. Table 9 planted total should be 10,200 based on the number of each species provided. I also
noted that with 10,200 planted stems over 16 acres would result in only 638 stems per acre,
well below the desired planting density of 680.
See updated Table 9. Planting plans have been updated to reflect the appropriate density of canopy tree
species (680 stems/acre x 16 acres = —10,900 stems). Shrubs and herbaceous species will not be counted
towards this density.
3. Section 8.1/Table 12/Page 18: Success Criteria
- Shallow freshwater marsh is expected to encompass approximately 20% of the bay area,
some discussion on this habitat type should be included in Section 7 as a subcomponent
of the cypress savannah target habitat.
Noted, Section 7 has been revised to include habitat type discussion. These areas are expected to
contain appropriate tree species and are referred to as ephemeral pool "habitat areas" in the narrative.
4. 1 am bit confused by the inclusion of many of the shrub species (namely Leucothoe racemosa,
Lindera melissafolia, and Lyonia lucida) being a) counted towards stem density and b)
potentially counted toward tree height averages. Most of the shrubs in Table 9 may not grow
above 2 meters tall and contain multiple stems. Recommend some additional clarity as to which
species will be counted towards stem density and tree height averages.
See response #2 above and updated planting plan.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 1 June 2019

5. Section 8.3/Table 13/Page 19:
- See notes above as they pertain to success criteria for vegetation. "Plant" density, which
implies all species, is dependent on stem counts, however "plant" height may only be
referring to tree species. Average plant height of 10 feet will be difficult to achieve if the
shrubs are included in the height estimations. Recommend some clarity to differentiate
between planted shrubs and trees and how they contribute to the parameter
estimations for success.
See response #2 above and updated planting plan.
Kathy Matthews, USFWS:
1. The Service reviewed the public notice for this project in June 2018, before a mitigation plan
was developed. Although pondberry is not on the county list for Hoke County, it likely was
historically in the county, and is found in Carolina bays and similar habitats. Pondberry was
listed as endangered on July 31, 1986.
Noted. After consulting with Lesley Starke (Plant Ecologist, NC PCP) and Dale Suiter (Endangered Species
Biologists, US FWS), we will not be including Lindera melissifolia in our primary planting list. We are
however exploring the potential to work with NC PCP & USFWS to propagate —100 stems of pondberry
to plant at the site at a later date, after the restored hydrology has stabilized and the canopy trees are
well established.
2. The Service is very pleased that Restoration Systems (RS) is proposing to plant pondberry on the
site. We do not recommend any specific requirements for monitoring or replanting of the
species other than what is already proposed. We do not recommend any specific requirements
for survival of the species on the site.
Noted.
3. We recommend that RS ensure that the planted stems are correctly identified as the listed
species, the plants are propagated and transported in North Carolina (unless appropriate
permits are in -hand for interstate transport/commerce), and that we are provided with name
and location of the propagation facility. Also, the Service would appreciate the opportunity to
survey the site in the coming years to determine the success of the planted population. This is in
addition to the annual monitoring efforts, since we would be interested in determining
population numbers over time throughout the site, and not just in the vegetation plots. These
plants are rhizomatous, frequently propagating by vegetative sprouts and forming clonal
colonies, and we hope that planted individuals will spread throughout appropriate habitat on
the site.
Noted.
4. It is through efforts such as this that a species may be recovered and eventually down -listed or
removed from the endangered species list. We recommend that NCDMS consider
recommending the planting of pondberry in appropriate habitat (described below) to all
mitigation providers, and we will strive to also do that when given the opportunity. As you
may know, plants that are not on federally -owned lands are not subject to take provisions,
(unless such take is in violation of a State law), so hopefully, other mitigation providers will not
be discouraged from planting the species.
Noted.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 2 June 2019

5. Habitat (USFWS website; Beckley and Gramling 2013): Pondberry is associated with coastal
wetland habitats such as mixed pine or hardwood sinks, ponds and other depressions, including
pocosins and successional swamp forest. The plants generally grow in shaded areas but may also
be found in full sun.
Noted.
6. As for the vegetation success criteria, I believe that the loblolly recruitment may more than
make up for any deficit in numbers of planted trees. We welcome planting of additional tree
species, however we would not like to see a reduction in the number of planted pondberry
stems.
Noted.
7. The mitigation provider will need to contact the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program (NC
PCP) for a permit before planting any state -listed (which includes all federally -listed) species.
Please let me know if the Service can be of assistance in any way.
Noted and Restoration Systems appreciates the USFWS' offer to facilitate communications with NC PCP.
Mac Haupt, NCDWR:
1. DWR liked the discussions of the soils in the comment/response letter from DMS (Lindsay
Crocker) to RS. DWR is still concerned with the possibility of ponding (other comments will cover
later). In addition, DWR would like to know the location and soil series of the Reference Wetland
that this section (question/statement #2) referenced.
Thank you. We would like to specify the Reference Carolina Bay does not specifically represent a
Reference Wetland but rather a Reference Soil Site to evaluate the morphology of the target soil series
(McColl loam) under forested conditions. The coordinates of the Reference Wetland are 34.961270°,
-79.173666° and is near the intersection of Arabia Road and Upchurch Road, Raeford, NC. The soil
series of the Reference Wetland is Mc - McColl loam.
2. DMS comment letter #10 - states that much of the ditch plug material will come from "habitat
areas" within the site. DWR cautions that the depressions should not be over 6 inches in depth
and obviously the IRT does not expect to find wetland gauges in these areas. In addition, there
should be some representation of the location and extent of the depressions in the design
sheets (DWR realizes the location will be determined once construction initiates, however, there
should be some plan showing extent).
We acknowledge the habitat areas will not exceed 6 inches in depth and will not include gauges. The
location and extent of the habitat areas has been developed and is shown on the design sheets. The
size and extent of the habitat areas was determined by back calculating the volume of fill needed to fill
in the existing ditches. The volume of fill required to fill the ditches is 2,300 cubic -yards, which equates
to 1.4 acre-feet. When factoring in the 6 -inch max depth of the habitat areas the area required is
doubled to 2.8 acres. The habitat areas vary in shape and are distributed throughout the Project.
Habitat areas were not placed in the middle of the Project as it is expected this will be the wettest area
of the Project and would not benefit from the constructed habitat areas. Habitat areas will comprise
2.8 -acres and be constructed by excavating multiple depressions ranging in size from 0.10-0.35 acres
with a depth of no greater than 6 -inches.
The design sheets have been updated to show the extent of the habitat areas.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 3 June 2019

3. DMS comment letter #11 - as DWR reads it no surface water will leave the site unless it reaches
the outlet elevation of the Terracell structure. DWR is concerned about excessive ponding for
the site. More comments will be mentioned later regarding surveyed elevations versus QL2
Lidar.
While no surface water will leave the Project until it reaches the outlet elevation of the Terracell
structure, lateral groundwater movement will not be restricted. The adjacent soil series to the Project
include CaB — Candor sand and NoA — Norfolk loamy sand, which have drainage classes of somewhat
excessively drained and well drained respectively. Both of these adjacent soil series will allow excessive
hydrological inputs to exit the Project via lateral subsurface groundwater movement when surface
water stops exiting the constructed outlet. This will provide relief of excess hydrological inputs while
retaining the water necessary to meet wetland hydrology performance standards. Aside from the
Terracell structure outlet the hydrology of the Project will perform as it did historically under natural
conditions.
4. DMS comment letter #12 - DWR appreciates the inclusion of a water budget.
Thank you.
5. Section 7.3 - DWR appreciates the moving of the current dirt road outside the easement,
however, DWR is concerned that the road will be built and the outlet placed based on QL2 Lidar.
DWR would prefer that these elevations would be verified by traditional survey methods.
Noted, we understand the need to verify the elevation of the relocated dirt road. A total station will be
on site during construction and used to verify the elevation of the relocated dirt road is above the outlet
and rim of the restored wetland.
6. Table 11 - the growing season for Hoke County, as per the Soil Survey, is from April 5th to
October 28th. As been stated in the past, another growing season may be proposed based on
soil temperature, however, no growing season may start before March 1st. In addition, any
change in growing season must be noted in each wetland hydrologic summary table.
Noted.
7. Table 12 - DWR accepts the proposed 10% saturation minimum for this site, however, DWR will
not accept the proposed 8% saturation standard for monitoring years 1 and 2. That will be an
IRT decision once the data for these monitoring years have been reviewed.
Table 12 has been revised to remove the last sentence from the Wetland Hydrology section.
8. Design sheets-PS4 - DWR realizes the ditches will be filled to grade, however, does RS have any
concerns that the ditches, other than the plugged areas may still facilitate drainage of the
wetland? In other words, unless work is undertaken to compact the material (clay?) filling the
ditches, areas may still drain. Will RS/Axiom require the entire ditch be filled with compacted
clay or non -impervious material?
In order to restore wetland hydrology the restrictive soil layer throughout the Project needs to be
reestablished. Prior to the Project being placed in agricultural production an impervious layer did not
exist within the lower sections of the existing ditches. Therefore, the ditches will be backfilled with
available material to the deepest extent of the restrictive layer as observed in the ditch
cross-section/profile. Once the ditches have been filled to the lower extent of the restrictive layer, clay
material will be utilized to connect the broken restrictive layer. The clay material will be keyed in to the
undisturbed restrictive layer along the ditch margins and compacted in 1 -ft lifts.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 4 June 2019

9. Design sheets 5 and 6 - DWR would prefer that the figures be supported with surveyed in
elevations, especially the constructed road, inlet, outlet of the Terracell and on sheet 6 spot
elevations within the site showing elevation differences near the rim and in the center of the
site.
Noted, as described in the response to NCDWR Comment #5 a total station will be used during
construction to ensure the constructed road, inlet/outlet of the Terracell structure, and elevations of the
rim and center of the Project are constructed as designed.
10. DWR found (in a different section than the other figures) a Figure 3 with Arabia Bay elevations
based on the QL2 Lidar. This figure should have been with the others, however, it does show a
considerable amount of elevation variation which would remove the need to create "habitat
areas".
The elevation variation was noted as we prepared the mitigation plan, and while it is extensive there
are opportunities for improvement including the extent, size, and distribution of the habitat areas.
Based on the QL2 Lidar data the southeastern third of the Project (southeast of the eastern most ditch)
consist mainly of a contiguous low flat area, while the centrally located third of the Project (between
the two ditches) appears to have an appropriate balance of depressional areas, and the northwestern
third of the Project has depressional areas at a higher elevation relative to the rest of the Project. The
constructed habitat areas will be sized and distributed throughout the project to avoid large areas of
surface ponding. Also, these constructed habitat areas will provide material to backfill the existing
ditches.
11. Figure 10 displays the monitoring components proposed for the site. DWR would like at least
four gauges placed near the outer rim or outside the innermost elevation line as seen in Figure
7. For example, DWR would like a gauge in the outer area where the road was removed, also,
the other 3 gauges should be spaced within these outer areas. The other 11 gauges should be
placed to address differences in elevation throughout the site.
Figure 10 has been revised to incorporate the preferred gauge placements and the contour lines from
Figure 7 have been added for reference.
12. Each wetland gauge should be tied to a specific ground elevation. These elevations should be
representative of the site and tied to a surveyed in elevation.
The Project elevations range from 219 -ft to 221 -ft with a majority of the Project within the 220 -ft
contour. Based on the approximate length (1,000 -ft) of the Project, the slope is —0.2%. Given the lack of
elevation and slope for the Project we do not see the benefit in surveying gauge ground elevations. If
during monitoring gauges are not meeting the hydrology performance standard we will utilize a laser
level to determine gauge ground elevation relative to the outlet (a known elevation). We understand
and acknowledge that gauges will not be placed in habitat areas, and gauges will be calibrated to the
soil surface during installation.
Kim Browning, USACE:
1. It is anticipated that water levels for this project will vary seasonally and across years from
inundated to dry, especially given the fact that the main input is rainfall; however, the hydrology
standard should be at least 10% (preferably 12%) across the site, with considerations to be
taken in the first few years after construction.
Table 12 has been revised to remove the last sentence referring to 8% wetland hydrology performance
standard in the first two monitoring years from the Wetland Hydrology section.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 5 June 2019

2. From a wildlife standpoint, I would be interested to know the amphibian species composition at
the closure of this project, both in the summer and the winter, assuming it's successful in
restoring wetland habitat. These isolated wetlands are often the only landscape feature
available for amphibian reproduction in large areas.
a. Has any consideration been made regarding the condition of the existing soil,
specifically the effects of agricultural nutrients and pesticides, on proposed vegetation
and habitat? (Perhaps a good justification for Table 713 -Habitat)
The inclusion of the ephemeral pool "habitat areas" is aimed at providing varied hydroperiods which
among other benefits will support development of habitat for wildlife particularly reptiles and
amphibians. The existing soil conditions have been considered in the mitigation plan. For the 2019
growing season no agricultural practices crops will be conducted within the Project area including no
planting of crops, no use of fertilizer, and no application of herbicides or pesticides. We will plant a
selected herbaceous seed mix following construction to facilitate the restoration of the vegetative
community which will also support the restoration of the wildlife community.
Based on a quick literature search it does not appear agricultural practices inhibit the regeneration of
the amphibian community. However, other factors including: predation, presence of non-native plant
and animal species, absence of microtopographic features, and lack of habitat during early succession
of restored sites do negatively affect the development of these communities.
3. 1 would recommend conducting hydrology monitoring often, in the first few years, using a
combination of piezometers, wells and water level gauges in order to get accurate data. I think a
few of the wells should be moved closer to the outer edge of the site. Also, considering that this
proposed system is rainfall driven, perhaps gathering data on air temperature, humidity, wind
speed, etc. would be beneficial in justifying the hydrology each monitoring year.
a. Is there a reference wetland with a gauge?
There is not a reference wetland with a gauge. A considerable time was spent trying to locate a
non -disturbed McColl loam soil series reference site, and we simply could not locate one. The
Reference Carolina Bay mentioned in the comment/response letter from DMS (Lindsay Crocker) to RS
was evaluated for soil morphological conditions under forested vegetation.
We will closely monitor the gauges following construction to assess the restoration of wetland
hydrology. If during normal rainfall conditions the gauges indicate the Project is not meeting wetland
hydrology additional instrumentation (eg piezometers coupled with gauges, additional gauges, and/or
IRIS tubes) will be installed to determine the potential cause and extent of the issue. Also, additional
weather instrumentation beyond the rain gauge will be considered if the Project is not meeting the
hydrology performance standard.
Four of the gauges have been moved to the edges of the Project, outside of the inner most contour line
on Figure 6.
4. Section 3.3: since the approved JD indicates that there are currently no jurisdictional wetlands, a
404 permit may not be required, unless the outlet of the project involves jurisdictional waters.
Noted.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 6 June 2019

5. Table 6: In the reference forest ecosystem, were wetland grass species present? Since 20% of
the bay area is expected to be freshwater marsh, this may be an opportunity to incorporate
desirable herbaceous species.
Graminoids are an expected component based on the reference ecosystem, and native species will be
included in the planted herbaceous seed mix.
6. Table 11: Under Wetland Restoration, adding annual inspections of the clay plugs (if possible)
may be beneficial in ensuring you meet this parameter.
a. Also, it would be helpful to add a section in the monitoring section to including
inspecting site boundaries and terracell drop structures (I did find some of this in the
Maintenance Plan).
During monitoring we will visually inspect the easement boundary of the Project to check for
encroachment and ensure the Project is protected. This visual inspection will consist of assessing all
components of the project including the outlet and clay plugs. The clay plugs will be monitored visually
to ensure there is no significant surface slumping which would indicate the clay plug has potentially
been compromised. We recognize the integrity of the restored soil restrictive layer is essential to
restoring wetland hydrology and the overall success of the Project. Visual inspection of the Terracell
outlet and clay plugs has been added to Table 11.
7. It is likely that you will not be able to plant vegetation until the wetland establishes, so
vegetative monitoring may need to be extended a year.
We expect construction to occur in Summer 2019. As discussed during the IRT site visit constructing the
site at this time is preferred as it will allow the opportunity for the site to retain hydrological inputs and
wetland hydrology to become established prior to planting. Planting will occur during Fall/Winter 2019,
which will keep the Project on schedule for monitoring. If the Project appears to be lacking wetland
hydrology based on gauge data and visual assessment then planting will be delayed and an additional
monitoring year will be included.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Draft Mitigation Plan Comment Responses
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina 7 June 2019

MITIGATION PLAN
ARABIA BAY WETLAND MITIGATION SITE
Hoke County, North Carolina
DMS Project ID No. 100061
Full Delivery Contract No. 7529
USACE Action ID No. SAW -2018-01151
DWR Project No. 2018-0784RFP No. 16-007332
Cape Fear River Basin
Cataloging Unit 03030004
Prepared for:
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF MITIGATION SERVICES
1652 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1652
Restoration Systems, LLC
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Contact: Worth Creech
919-755-9490 (phone)
919-755-9492 (fax)
Prepared by:
And
June 2019
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
Contact: Grant Lewis
919-215-1693 (phone)
"This mitigation plan has been written in conformance with the requirements of the following:
• Federal rule for compensatory mitigation project sites as described in the Federal Register Title 33
Navigation and Navigable Waters Volume 3 Chapter 2 Section § 332.8 paragraphs (c)(2) through (c)(14).
• NCDEQ Division of Mitigation Services In -Lieu Fee Instrument signed and dated July 28, 2010
These documents govern NCDMS operations and procedures for the delivery of compensatory mitigation."
This document was assembled using the June 2017 DMS Stream and Wetland Mitigation Plan Template and Guidance
and the October 24, 2016 NC Interagency Review Team Wilmington District Stream and Wetland Compensatory
Mitigation Update.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
PROJECT INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................1
1.1 Directions to Site..................................................................................................................1
1.2 USGS Hydrologic Unit Code and NCDWR River Basin Designation................................1
1.3 Physiography and Land Use.................................................................................................1
1.4 Project Components and Structure.......................................................................................
2
2.0
WATERSHED APPROACH AND SITE SELECTION..................................................................
5
3.0
BASELINE AND EXISTING CONDITIONS.................................................................................
6
3.1 Soils and Land Form............................................................................................................
6
3.2 Nutrient Model.....................................................................................................................
6
3.3 Project Site Wetlands...........................................................................................................
6
3.3.1 Hydrological Characterization.............................................................................
6
3.3.2 Soil Characterization............................................................................................
7
3.3.3 Plant Community Characterization......................................................................
7
4.0
REFERENCE FOREST ECOSYSTEM............................................................................................
8
5.0
FUNCTIONAL UPLIFT AND PROJECT GOALS/OBJECTIVES.................................................
8
6.0
SITE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSTRAINTS......................................................10
6.1 Threatened & Endangered Species.....................................................................................11
6.2 Cultural Resources..............................................................................................................11
6.3 North Carolina Natural Heritage Elements........................................................................11
6.4 Utilities...............................................................................................................................
12
6.5 Air Transport Facilities.......................................................................................................12
7.0
DESIGN APPROACH AND MITIGATION WORK PLAN .........................................................
12
7.1 Wetland Restoration...........................................................................................................12
7.2 Ditch Plugging....................................................................................................................
12
7.3 Driveway Relocation & Terracell Structure.......................................................................13
7.4 Natural Plant Community Restoration...............................................................................13
7.4.1 Nuisance Species Management..........................................................................14
8.0
MONITORING AND SUCCESS CRITERIA................................................................................14
8.1 Success Criteria..................................................................................................................16
8.2 Contingency........................................................................................................................16
8.2.1 Wetland Contingency.........................................................................................16
8.2.2 Vegetation Contingency.....................................................................................16
8.3 Compatibility with Project Goals.......................................................................................16
9.0
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN............................................................................................17
10.0
LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN........................................................................................17
11.0
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................18
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Table of Contents page i
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

TABLES
Table 1. Project Components and Mitigation Credits...................................................................................2
Table 2. Project Activity and Reporting History..........................................................................................
3
Table3. Project Contacts Table....................................................................................................................3
Table4. Project Attribute Table....................................................................................................................4
Table 5. Web Soil Survey Soils Mapped within the Site..............................................................................
6
Table 6. Reference Forest Ecosystems (Trees and Shrubs)..........................................................................
8
Table 7A. Arabia Bay NC WAM Summary.................................................................................................
9
Table 7B. Wetland Targeted Functions, Goals, and Objectives.................................................................10
Table 8. Threatened and Endangered Species............................................................................................11
Table9. Tree Planting Plan.........................................................................................................................14
Table10. Monitoring Schedule...................................................................................................................14
Table11. Monitoring Summary..................................................................................................................15
Table12. Success Criteria...........................................................................................................................16
Table 13. Compatibility of Performance Criteria to Project Goals and Objectives....................................17
APPENDICES
Appendix A. Figures
Figure 1. Site Location
Figure 2. Hydrologic Unit Map
Figure 3. Topography
Figure 4. Historical Aerial Photograph (1956)
Figure 5. Existing Conditions and Soils
Figure 6. Impervious Layer Depth Analysis
Figure 7. Proposed Conditions
Figure 8. Outfall Structure
Figure 9. Planting Plan
Figure 10. Monitoring Plan
Appendix B. Existing Wetland Data (NC WAM Forms, Soil Boring Log, Nutrient Model Output)
Appendix C. NHP Report
Appendix D. Approved Jurisdictional Determination
Appendix E. Categorical Exclusion Document
Appendix F. Financial Assurance
Appendix G. Site Protection Instrument
Appendix H. Credit Release Schedule
Appendix I. Maintenance Plan
Appendix J. Construction Plans
Appendix K. Water Balance Calculation
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Table of Contents page ii
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

1.0 PROJECT INTRODUCTION
The Arabia Bay Wetland Mitigation Site (hereafter referred to as the "Site") encompasses 16.1
acres of agricultural fields used for row crop production. The Site is located approximately 4.5
miles southeast of Raeford, NC and northeast of the intersection of Arabia Road (SR 1003) and
LA Sandy Road in southeast Hoke County (Figures 1 and 2, Appendix A).
1.1 Directions to Site
Directions to the Site from Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Take I-40 East out of Raleigh; travel —30 miles
- Take exit 328A to merge onto I-95 S; travel —40 miles
- Take exit 41 for NC -59 towards Hope Mills and Parkton
- Turn right onto NC -59 N; after 0.7 miles, turn left onto Shipman Rd
- After 1 mile, turn right onto US -301 South; travel 2.4 miles
- Turn right onto NC -71 South; travel 2.7 miles
- Turn right onto 3rd Street and continue straight onto Barlow Road and Chason Road;
travel 5.5 miles
- Turn left on Arabia Rd; travel 3 miles
- The Site is located on the right, down a gravel driveway.
o Site Latitude, Longitude 34.9570, -79.1379 (WGS84)
1.2 USGS Hydrologic Unit Code and NCDWR River Basin Designation
The Site is located within the Cape Fear River Basin in 14 -digit United States Geological Survey
(USGS) Cataloging Unit and Targeted Local Watershed 03030004150011 of the South
Atlantic/Gulf Region (North Carolina Division of Water Resources [NCDWR] subbasin number
03-06-15) [Figures 1 and 2, Appendix A]). Site hydrology is comprised of precipitation and lateral
groundwater flow. A ditch network has been excavated to drain the Site, which ultimately drains
to Rockfish Creek located less than a mile to the north. Rockfish Creek (Stream Index Number 18-
31-(15)) has been assigned a Best Usage Classification of C (NCDWR 2013). Rockfish Creek is
not listed on the final 2016 NC 303(d) lists (NCDWR 2018).
1.3 Physiography and Land Use
The Site is located in the Atlantic Southern Loam Plains portion of the Southeastern Plains
ecoregion of North Carolina. Regional physiography is characterized by dissected irregular plains,
some smooth plains; broad interstream divides and mostly gentle side slopes dissected by
numerous small, low to moderate gradient sandy bottomed streams (Griffith et al. 2002). Onsite
elevations are nearly level averaging 220 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) (USGS
Raeford, North Carolina 7.5 -minute topographic quadrangle) (Figures 1 and 3, Appendix A).
The Site is situated in a Carolina bay that has been cleared, drained, and farmed (Figure 3,
Appendix A). The NC Geological Survey 1956 aerial photograph for Hoke County shows the site
in agricultural production indicating the area was cleared prior to that date. The bay is an isolated
depression surrounded by sand rims along the northwest and southeast margins. Surrounding the
bay are rural residential properties, timber tracts, and additional row crops. Land use at the Site is
characterized entirely by agricultural row crops. Herbaceous vegetation and a few shrubby species
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page I
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

grow within the ditches, which are regularly maintained by bush hogging and herbicide
application.
The 1956 NC Geological Survey aerial photograph and 1974 aerial photograph included in the
Hoke and Cumberland Counties Soil Survey show a historic ditch that is no longer present (USDA
1984). The ditch was placed in the middle of the field and ran from the southeast to the northwest
where it connected the primary present-day ditches. The historical ditch appeared to be a secondary
ditch that was not necessary for agricultural production and was therefore filled in during the
1980's. A field investigation was performed using hand tools to locate the historic ditch location
and determine if the subsurface clay layer was intact. Based on the field investigation it appears
the clay layer within the footprint of the historic ditch is intact. It is impossible for RS to determine
the depth of the historic ditch which may have never broken through the Site's restrictive layer.
The ditch could simply have been used to remove surface water. During Site construction,
additional field investigations may be conducted to assure the historic ditch does not undermine
the restoration goals.
1.4 Project Components and Structure
The Site encompasses 16.0 acres of drained hydric soil (Figure 4, Appendix A), which is proposed
for non -riparian wetland restoration. Completed project activities, reporting history, completion
dates, project contacts, and background information are summarized in Tables 1-4.
Table 1. Project Components and Mitigation Credits
Arabia Bay Restoration Site
Length & Area Summations by Mitigation Category
Restoration Level Non -riparian Wetland (acreage)
Restoration 16.0
Overall Assets Summary
Asset Category Overall Credits
Non -riparian Wetland 16.0
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 2
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019
Restoration orMitigation
Wetland
Existing
Restoration
Restoration
Mitigation
Reach ID
Restoration
Type
Acreage
Acreage
Level
Ratio
Credits
Equivalent
Wetland
Non -riparian
--
16.0
Restoration
16.0
1:1
16.0
Restoration
Length & Area Summations by Mitigation Category
Restoration Level Non -riparian Wetland (acreage)
Restoration 16.0
Overall Assets Summary
Asset Category Overall Credits
Non -riparian Wetland 16.0
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 2
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Table 2. Project Activity and Reporting History
Arabia Bay Restoration Site
Activity or Deliverable
Data Collection
Complete
Completion
or Deliver
Technical Proposal (RFP No. 16-007332)
February 8, 2018
February 8, 2018
Institution Date (NCDMS Contract No. 7529)
--
April 4, 2018
Mitigation Plan
October 2018
February 2019
Construction Plans
--
February 2019
Table 3. Project Contacts Table
Arabia Bay Restoration Site
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 3
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019
Restoration Systems
1101 Haynes Street, Suite 211
Full Delivery Provider
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Raymond Holz
919-755-9490
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
218 Snow Avenue
Designer / Monitoring
Raleigh, NC 27603
Grant Lewis
919-215-1693
Sungate Design Group, P.A.
905 Jones Franklin Road
Engineer
Raleigh, NC 27606
Josh Dalton
919-856-2243
k2 Design Group
5688 U.S. Hwy. 70 E.
Surveyor
Goldsboro, NC 27534
919-394-2547
John Rudolph, PLS (L-4194)
Carolina Silvics
114 E King Street
PO Box 1017
Planting Contractor
Edenton, NC 27932
Mary -Margaret McKinney
252-482-8491
Land Mechanic Design, Inc.
126 Circle G Lane
Construction Contractor
Willow Spring, NC 27592
Charles Hill
919-639-6132
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 3
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Table 4. Project Attribute Table
Arabia Bay Restoration Site
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 4
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019
Project Information dd
Project Name
Arabia Bay Restoration Site
Project County
Hoke County, North Carolina
Project Area (acres)
16.1
Project Coordinates (latitude & latitude)
34.95700N, 79.1379°W
Planted Area (acres)
16.1
gowProject
Watershed Summary Information
Physiographic Province
Piedmont
Project River Basin
Cape Fear
USGS HUC for Project (14 -digit)
03030004150011
NCDWR Sub -basin for Project
03-06-15
Project Drainage Area (acres)
NA
Percentage of Project Drainage Area that is
Impervious
<5%
CGIA Land Use Classification
Cultivated
Wetland Summary Information
Parameters
Wetlands
Wetland acreage
16.0 acres drained
Wetland Type
Non -riparian
Mapped Soil Series
McColl
Drainage Class
Poorly drained
Hydric Soil Status
Hydric
Source of Hydrology
Precipitation, groundwater
Hydrologic Impairment
Ditched and drained
Native Vegetation Community
Bay Forest/Small Depression Pocosin
% Composition of Exotic Invasive Vegetation
0%
Restoration Method
Hydrologic, vegetative
Enhancement Method
NA
Regulatory Considerations
Regulation
Applicable?
Resolved?
Supporting Documentation
Waters of the United States -Section 401
Yes
Yes
Approved JD (App D)
Waters of the United States -Section 404
Yes
Yes
Approved JD (App D)
Endangered Species Act
Yes
Yes
CE Document (App E)
Historic Preservation Act
Yes
Yes
CE Document (App E)
Coastal Zone Management Act
No
--
CE Document (App E)
FEMA Floodplain Compliance
No
--
CE Document (App E)
Essential Fisheries Habitat
No
--
CE Document (App E)
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 4
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

2.0 WATERSHED APPROACH AND SITE SELECTION
The Cape Fear River basin is one of four rivers in North Carolina completely contained within the
state's boundaries. Comprised of five major drainages—Haw River, Deep River, Northeast Cape
Fear River, Black River, and the Cape Fear River—the basin drains portions of 26 counties and
115 municipalities with a total of 6386 stream miles. The most populated portions of the basin are
located in the Triad, the Triangle, Fayetteville, and Wilmington (NCDWQ 2005).
Primary considerations for Site selection included the potential for improvement of water quality
within a region of North Carolina under heavy development and livestock/agricultural pressure.
More specifically, considerations included: desired aquatic resource functions; hydrologic
conditions; soil characteristics; aquatic habitat diversity; habitat connectivity; compatibility with
adjacent land uses; reasonably foreseeable effects the mitigation project will have on ecologically
important aquatic and terrestrial resources; and potential development trends and land use changes.
Site specific characteristics are summarized below, in addition to development trends and land use
changes within the watershed.
Currently, the proposed Site is characterized by row crops. A summary of existing Site
characteristics in favor of proposed wetland activities include the following.
• Wetlands have been cleared of forest vegetation
• Site receives nonpoint source inputs including agricultural chemicals
• Wetland soils have been compacted by agricultural equipment
• Wetland hydrology has been removed by ditching
In addition to the opportunity for ecological improvements at the Site, the use of the particular
mitigation activities and methods proposed in the Design Approach & Mitigation Work Plan
(Section 7.0) are expected to produce naturalized wetland resources that will be ecologically self-
sustaining, requiring minimal long-term management (Long-term Management Plan [Section
10.0]).
The project is not located in a Regional or Local Watershed Planning Area; however, Cape Fear
River Basin Restoration Priorities (CFRBRP) report (NCEEP 2009) goals are addressed by project
objectives as follows:
1. CFRBRP Goal – Reduce and control sediment inputs
Site specific objective – Cessation of row crop production and conversion of a ditched
Carolina Bay to a depressional wetland will remove agricultural sediment inputs leaving
the Site and control sediment within the Site.
2. CFRBRP Goal – Reduce and manage nutrient inputs
Site specific objective – Cessation of row crop production may result in a direct reduction
of 160 pounds of nitrogen and 280 pounds of phosphorus per year (nutrient model [Section
3.2]) from the elimination of agricultural nutrient inputs/fertilizer application at the Site.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 5
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Site specific mitigation goals and objectives have been developed through the use of North
Carolina Wetland Assessment Method (NC WAM) and are discussed further in Section 5.0
(Functional Uplift and Project Goals/Objectives).
3.0 BASELINE AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
3.1 Soils and Land Form
Soils that occur within the Site, according to the Web Soil Survey (USDA 2017) are described in
Table 5.
Table 5. Web Soil Survev Soils Mapped within the Site
Map Unit
Map Unit Name
Hydric
Description
Symbol
(Classification)
Status
Candor sand
This series consists of somewhat excessively-
CaB
(Grossarenic Kandiudults)
Non -hydric
drained soils found along 1-8 percent slopes on
broad flats and rounded side slopes of uplands.
Mc
McColl loam
Hydric
y
This series consists of poorly drained soils found
(Typic Fragiaquults)
in shallow, oval depressions of uplands.
Norfolk loamy sand
This series consists of well -drained soils found
NoA
(Typic Kandiudults)
Non -hydric
along 0-2 percent slopes on broad smooth flats of
uplands.
3.2 Nutrient Model
A preliminary land use nutrient model was developed to estimate nitrogen and phosphorus inputs
from row crops at the Site. Model inputs include Site area, percent land use, and row -crop type.
Using published values of Nitrogen and Phosphorus the model predicts the nutrient input of
fertilizer associated with land uses (NC State 2016). A copy of the model input and output is
presented in Appendix B.
Based on the land use nutrient model, cessation of active row crops at the Site will result in a direct
reduction of 160 pounds of nitrogen and 280 pounds of phosphorus per year.
3.3 Project Site Wetlands
Following guidelines set forth in the Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and
subsequent regional supplements, there are currently no jurisdictional areas present within the Site
(Environmental Laboratory 1987). This was verified by United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) representative Gary Beecher during a field meeting on October 30, 2018; the signed,
Approved Jurisdictional Determination, is provided in Appendix D.
3.3.1 Hydrological Characterization
Construction activities are expected to restore 16.0 acres of drained non -riparian hydric soils.
Areas of the Site targeted for non -riparian wetlands will receive hydrological inputs from direct
precipitation, upland/stormwater runoff, and to a lesser extent, groundwater migration into
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 6
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

wetlands resulting in surface ponding due to the presence of an impervious soil layer. Hydrological
impairment in drained soils has resulted from lateral draw -down of the water table from an existing
network of agricultural ditches.
A water balance calculation was performed to determine if wetland hydrology will be restored by
removing the ditch outlet and restoring the broken restrictive soil layer in the existing ditches. The
water balance calculation was performed using nearby state operated weather station for
hydrological inputs and outputs as no direct hydrological measurements from the site are available.
The calculation determined a surplus of —32 acre-feet for the site on an annual basis which will
support wetland hydrology success criteria during years of normal precipitation.
3.3.2 Soil Characterization
The system is characterized as a clay -based Carolina bay of the McColl series; however, the term
clay -based is too specific when describing the mechanism whereby these bays develop a perched
water table. Inherent soil factors that contribute to ponding of water in the Carolina bays
characterized by sandy clay loam soil of the McColl series includes the presence of a fragipan, an
iron hardpan, a mixture of organic substances that binds soil particles into a relatively water -tight
layer, and possibly a spodic horizon (NatureServe 2018).
The entire Site was analyzed to verify the depth of the restrictive layer (Figure 5, Appendix A).
This analysis included soil borings, soil horizon identification along ditch margins, and mapping
of historic ditches from aerial photographs. The restrictive layer appears to be intact across the site
and occurs within a depth range of 2 — 32 -inches below the soil surface. The locations of soil
borings and ditch margin analysis are depicted on Figure 4 (Appendix A). Detailed soil boring logs
are included in Appendix B.
Hydrological impairment at the Site results from drainage ditch excavation. The drainage ditch
invert has been excavated below impervious layer and into coarse sand, thereby draining the entire
Site. During large rain events surface water may flow from the ditch; however, the majority of the
groundwater table alterations appear to result from subsurface, groundwater drawdown in coarse
sand below the ditch bottom.
Drained hydric soils were verified by a licensed soil scientist (NC LSS # 1233) in January 2018
and the entire 16.0 -acre Site (Figure 4, Appendix A) is comprised of drained hydric soil of the
McColl series.
3.3.3 Plant Community Characterization
Areas proposed for wetland restoration are currently used for agricultural row crops. Ditches
contain opportunistic herbaceous species with very little vegetative diversity. The entire Site
including ditches is subject to regular maintenance including bush hogging and herbicide
application.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 7
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

4.0 REFERENCE FOREST ECOSYSTEM
A Reference Forest Ecosystem (RFE) is a forested area on which to model restoration efforts at
the Site in relation to soils and vegetation. RFEs should be ecologically stable climax communities
and should be a representative model of the Site as it likely existed prior to human disturbances.
Data describing plant community composition and structure should be collected at the RFEs and
subsequently applied as reference data in an attempt to emulate a natural climax community.
An RFE for this project was difficult to locate as the majority of Carolina bays in the area have
been ditched and drained in support of agricultural and silvicultural practices. Therefore, data from
the NatureServe Explorer, in addition to Schafale and Weakley (1990) and Schafale (2012)
community descriptions were used for development of the planting plan. These wetland systems
are ovoid, shallow, nearly flat-bottomed depressions with dense, diverse herbaceous layers and a
fairly open canopy. A natural transition between community types is expected moving from the
bottom of the bay up to the higher rim. Based on this gradient, two target communities were
selected from Schafale (2012) to capture the diversity expected in this landscape position: Cypress
Savanna (Typic Subtype) (Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay -based Carolina Bay Wetland, Unique ID
# CES203.245, NatureServe 2018) and NonRiverine Wet Hardwood Forest (Oak Flat
Subtype)( Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest
Unique ID # CES203.304, NatureServe 2018). Table 6 summarizes the dominant tree and shrub
species found in these systems.
Table 6. Reference Forest Ecosystems (Trees and Shrubs)
Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay -based Carolina Bay Wetland/Cypress Savana
Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
Swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora)
Southern spicebush (Lindera melissifolia)
Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp & Wet Hardwood Forest
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica)
Swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora)
Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda)
Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia)
Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
Coastal sweet pepperbrush (Clethra alnifolia)
Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)
Fetterbush (Leucothoe axillaris)
Georgia False Indigo (Amorpha
georgiana var. georgiana)
Southern spicebush (Lindera melissifolia)
5.0 FUNCTIONAL UPLIFT AND PROJECT GOALS/OBJECTIVES
The project is not located in a Regional or Local Watershed Planning Area; however, Cape Fear
River Basin Restoration Priorities (CFRBRP) report (NCEEP 2009) goals are addressed by project
objectives as follows.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 8
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

1. CFRBRP Goal — Reduce and control sediment inputs
Site specific objective — Cessation of row crop production and conversion of a ditched
Carolina Bay to a depressional wetland will remove agricultural sediment inputs leaving
the Site and control sediment within the Site.
2. CFRBRP Goal — Reduce and manage nutrient inputs
Site specific objective — Cessation of row crop production may result in a direct reduction
of 160 pounds of nitrogen and 280 pounds of phosphorus per year (nutrient model [Section
3.2]) from the elimination of agricultural nutrient inputs/fertilizer application at the Site.
Site specific mitigation goals have been developed through the use of North Carolina Wetland
Assessment Method (NC WAM) analyses (NC WFAT 2010). This methodology rates functional
metrics for wetlands as high, medium, or low based on field data collected on forms and transferred
into a rating calculator. Using Boolean logic, the rating calculator assigns a high, medium, or low
value for each metric and overall function. Site functional assessment data forms are available
upon request and model output is included in Appendix B.
Table 7A summarizes NC WAM metrics targeted for functional uplift and the corresponding
mitigation activities proposed to provide functional uplift. Metrics targeted to meet the Site's goals
and objectives are depicted in bold.
Table 7A. Arabia Bav NC WAM Summary
NC WAM Sub -function Rating Summary
Arabia Bay
Wetland Type
Pocosin
(1) HYDROLOGY
Jim -
(2) Surface Storage & Retention
LOW
(2) Sub -surface Storage and Retention
LOW
(1) WATER QUALITY
LOW
(2) Pollution Change
LOW
(1) HABITAT
LOW
(2) Physical Structure
LOW
(2) Landscape Patch Structure
LOW
(2) Vegetative Composition
LOW
OVERALL
LOW
Due to a lack of wetland hydrology in reestablishment areas, it is inappropriate to conduct an NC
WAM evaluation. However, the NC WAM description of a pocosin, as well as data collected at
the Site were utilized to determine wetland functions to target for uplift. Based on NC WAM data,
all three primary wetland functional metrics (Hydrology, Water Quality, and Habitat), as well as
all six sub -metrics are currently under -performing as exhibited by a LOW metric rating. LOW
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 9
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

performing metrics are to be targeted for functional uplift through mitigation activities, goals and
objectives, as well as, monitoring and success criteria.
Table 713 below presents wetland metrics targeted for functional uplift, in addition to Site specific
project goals and objectives.
Table 7B. Wetland Targeted Functions, Goals, and Objectives
Targeted Functions
Goals
Objectives
(1) HYDROLOGY
(2) Surface Storage &
• Fill agriculture ditches to restore
jurisdictional hydrology
Retention
• Minimize downstream
• Plant native woody vegetation
• Cease row crop production within the
flooding to the
easement
(2) Sub -surface Storage &
maximum extent
• Plow soils (6-8 inches) to reduce surface
possible.
compaction and increase surface
Retention
roughness
• Protect the Site with a perpetual
conservation easement
(1) WATER QUALITY
• Remove agricultural land uses and
• Remove direct nutrient,
agricultural inputs from the Site
(2) Pollution Change
sediment, and pollutant
• Fill the ditch network to restore ground
and surface hydrology within the Site
inputs from the Site.
• Plant woody vegetation
• Restore jurisdictional wetlands
(1) HABITAT
(2) Physical Structure
• Plant woody vegetation to provide
organic matter and shade
(2) Landscape Patch Structure
• Improve wildlife habitat
• Fill ditches to provide groundwater
hydrology and plant woody native
within and adjacent to
vegetation
(2) Vegetation Composition
the Site.
• Protect the Site with a perpetual
conservation easement
• Restore jurisdictional wetlands
6.0 SITE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSTRAINTS
The presence of conditions or characteristics that have the potential to hinder restoration activities
on the Site was evaluated. The evaluation focused primarily on the presence of hazardous
materials, utilities and restrictive easements, rare/threatened/endangered species or critical
habitats, and the potential for hydrologic trespass. Existing information regarding Site constraints
was acquired and reviewed. In addition, any Site conditions that have the potential to restrict the
restoration design and implementation were documented during the field investigation.
No known Site constraints, that may hinder proposed mitigation activities, were identified during
field surveys. Potential constraints reviewed include the following.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 10
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

6.1 Threatened & Endangered Species
Six federally protected species are listed as occurring in Hoke County (USFWS 2018); the
following table summarizes potential habitat and preliminary biological conclusions for each.
Table 8. Threatened and Endangered Species
Species
Habitat
Potential
Biological
Federal Status
Habitat at Site
Conclusion
American alligator
(Alligator mississippiensis)
Found in rivers, streams, canals, lakes,
No
Not Required
Threatened due to Similarity
swamps, and coastal marshes.
of Appearance
Red -cockaded woodpecker
Open stands of pine containing trees 60 years
(Picoides borealis)
or older for nesting and roosting. Cavity
No
No Effect
Endangered
excavation occurs in living pine trees.
Saint Francis' Satyr
Occurs only in the sandhills of North
(Neonympha mitchellii)
Carolina in Hoke and Cumberland Counties.
No
No Effect
Endangered
Occurs in sandy (sandy peat, sandy loam),
acidic, seasonally moist to dry soils.
American chaffseed
Generally found in habitats described as
(Schwalbea americana)
open, moist pine flatwoods, fire -maintained
No
No Effect
Endangered
savannas, ecotonal areas between peaty
wetlands and xeric sandy soils, and other
open grass -sedge systems.
Michaux's sumac
Occurs in sandy or rocky open woods in
(Rhus michauxii)
association with basic soils
No
No Effect
Endangered
6.2 Cultural Resources
The term "cultural resources" refers to prehistoric or historic archaeological sites, structures, or
artifact deposits over 50 years old. "Significant" cultural resources are those that are eligible or
potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Evaluations of site
significance are made with reference to the eligibility criteria of the National Register (36 CFR
60) and in consultation with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
Field visits were conducted at the Site in early 2018 to ascertain the presence of structures or other
features that may be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. No structures
were identified within proposed easement boundaries; however, coordination with SHPO will
occur prior to construction activities to determine if any significant cultural resources are present.
6.3 North Carolina Natural Heritage Elements
A query of the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) database indicates there are
no records for rare species, important natural communities, natural areas, or conservation/managed
areas within the proposed project boundary. Within a one -mile radius of the project boundary
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 11
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

NCNHP lists seven element occurrences including three amphibians, a butterfly, two vascular
plants, and a natural community. NCNHP correspondence is included in Appendix C.
The nearest North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services (NCDMS) project is Hillcrest Bay,
located approximately three miles northwest of the Site.
6.4 Utilities
No utilities are located on the Site.
6.5 Air Transport Facilities
No known air transport facilities are located within 5 miles of the Site.
7.0 DESIGN APPROACH AND MITIGATION WORK PLAN
7.1 Wetland Restoration
Portions of the Site underlain by hydric soils have been impacted by drainage ditch excavation,
vegetative clearing, agriculture plowing, herbicide application, and other land disturbances
associated with land use management. Precipitation driven wetlands are dependent on retaining all
direct precipitation and benefit from secondary inputs including overland flow and subsurface
groundwater from within the surrounding watershed. The site naturally retains hydrology due to
its convex shape, so by filling existing ditches and elevating the sole drainage outlet the site will
retain all hydrological inputs. Also, the restrictive soil layer in the existing ditches will be restored
in order to eliminate potential lateral drainage within the existing ditches which have penetrated
the restrictive soil layer. Finally, the upper 6 — 8 inches of the soil surface will be plowed to reduce
compaction of the soil surface and increase soil surface roughness. Plowing will occur when the
soil moisture is less than 30 percent of field capacity at the maximum depth of tillage. Wetland
restoration will focus on the restoration of vegetative communities, filling drainage ditches, and
reestablishing a perched water table (Figure 6, Appendix A).
Ephemeral pool "habitat areas" will be constructed to provide microtopography, prolong surface
water availability for wildlife benefit, and provide a source of material to fill existing ditches. The
size and extent of these areas was determined by calculating the volume of fill needed to fill in the
existing ditches. The volume of fill required to fill the ditches is 2,300 cubic -yards, which equates
to 1.4 acre-feet. When factoring in a 6 -inch max depth of the ephemeral pool "habitat areas", as
found in reference Carolina Bays, the area required computes to 2.8 acres. These shallow
depressions will vary in shape and are distributed throughout the Project, but were not placed in
the middle of the Project as it is expected this will be the wettest area and would not benefit from
additional depth. In review, these ephemeral pool "habitat areas" will comprise 2.8 -acres and be
constructed by excavating multiple depressions ranging in size from 0.10-0.35 acres with a depth
of no greater than 6 -inches.
7.2 Ditch Plugging
In order to retain hydrological inputs the existing ditches will be plugged and backfilled with
impervious material. Impervious material will consist of clay borrow located from the Site within
the limits of disturbance. The clay borrow will be collected from areas adjacent to the existing
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 12
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

ditches where it was previously side cast during ditch excavation. Clay borrow will also be
collected from constructed ephemeral pool "habitat areas" (small depressions, <6 inches deep)
throughout the project area, and excess clay borrow from relocating the driveway.
The ditch plugs will be placed in three locations including the ditch outlet and in the two 90 -degree
bends of the ditch alignment. Existing ditch sections between the plugs will be backfilled with
impervious material as well.
As discussed in Section 1.3 a historic ditch located in the center of the bay was determined, through
a field investigation, to still have the restrictive layer intact. No additional plugging or backfilling
of the historic ditch is anticipated.
7.3 Driveway Relocation & Terracell Structure
In support of wetland restoration activates the existing driveway will be relocated outside of the
easement/historic bay. To prevent flooding of the driveway during large rainfall events a Terracell
structure will be constructed in the current ditch outfall location. The Terracell will be situated
approximately 2.5 feet above the elevation of the bay floor, where it will be keyed in below the
surface of the road. The Terracell will only be accessed by flow during a significant and prolonged
storm. The existing culvert will be removed and subsequently plugged with impervious material.
A road will be built to a base elevation of 221.5 feet (elevation not tied to grid). The Terracell
structure will extend approximately 50 feet down gradient (northwest) from the road crossing with
a final elevation grade matching the existing ditch at 215.01 feet (Figure 7, Appendix A).
7.4 Natural Plant Community Restoration
RFE data from the NatureServe Explorer in addition to Schafale and Weakley (1990) and Schafale
(2012) community descriptions were used to develop the primary plant community restoration
plan. Two target communities were selected to capture the diversity expected in this landscape
position: Cypress Savanna (Typic Subtype) (Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay -based Carolina Bay
Wetland, Unique ID # CES203.245, NatureServe 2018) and NonRiverine Wet Hardwood Forest
(Oak Flat Subtype)( Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood
Forest Unique ID # CES203.304, NatureServe 2018). It should be noted that both target
communities experience a range of hydroperiods which results in dry and wet subtypes of each
community. This range of hydroperiods creates variations in the vegetative communities as it
relates to the duration of the hydroperiods. Due to the variation in hydroperiods noted in these
target communities, there is a potential that during years of excessive rainfall up to 20% of the
project will experience prolonged periods of inundation and saturation. These wetter areas will
correlate to locations where the restrictive soil layer is shallow to the surface and will be
represented by ephemeral pool "habitat areas". Vegetation for these areas will consist of
herbaceous vegetation including floating -leaved aquatic vegetation and/or tall graminoids as well
as appropriate tree species.
Bare -root seedlings will be planted throughout the Site at a density of 680 stems per acre on 8 -foot
centers. Table 9 depicts the total number of stems and species distribution to be planted (Figure 8,
Appendix A). Planting will be performed between December 1 and March 15.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 13
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Table 9. Tree Planting Plan
Area (acres)
16.0
Year 2
Species
# Planned
% of total
Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
3500
32
Swamp tupelo (Nyssa b flora)
2000
18
Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
1000
9
Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia)
1000
9
Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
1000
9
Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda)
600
6
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
600
6
Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
600
6
Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana)
600
6
TOTAL
10,900
100
While site success criteria are driven by establishment of appropriate tree species, restoration of
understory vegetation will provide significant additional ecological benefit. An herbaceous seed
mix including native grasses and forbs will be planted throughout the site. Following tree
establishment native shrubs may be planted where site conditions are favorable for their survival.
Potential shrub species include Cephalanthus occidentalis, Clethra alnofolia, Cyrilla racemiflora,
Ilex Amelanchier, Leucothoe racemosa, Lyonia lucida, and Lindera melissifolia (Endangered).
Any efforts related to listed species will be coordinated through USFWS and NCPCP.
7.4.1 Nuisance Species Management
No nuisance species controls are proposed at this time. Inspections for feral hogs and other
potential nuisance species will occur throughout the course of the monitoring period. Appropriate
actions may be taken to ameliorate any negative impacts regarding vegetation development and/or
water management on an as -needed basis. The presences of nuisance species will be monitored
over the course of the monitoring period. Appropriate actions will be taken to amend any negative
impacts regarding vegetation development and/or water management on an as -needed basis.
8.0 MONITORING AND SUCCESS CRITERIA
Monitoring will be conducted by Axiom Environmental, Inc based on the schedule in Table 10. A
summary of monitoring is outlined in Table 11 (Figure 9, Appendix A). Annual monitoring reports
will be submitted to the NCDMS by Restoration Systems no later than December 1St of each
monitoring year data is collected.
Table 10. Monitoring Schedule
Resource
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
Wetlands
Vegetation
Visual Assessment
Report Submittal
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061)
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site
Hoke County, North Carolina
page 14
Restoration Systems, LLC
June 2019

Table 11. Monitoring Summary
*Soil Temperature will be measured with a continuous recording soil probe. Temperatures will be measured from February to the end of April in each monitoring year.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 15
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019
Wetland Parameters
Parameter
Method
Schedule/Frequency
Number/Extent
Data Collected/Reported
As -built, Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
Soil temperature* at the beginning of
Groundwater gauges
and 7 throughout the year with
14 gauges spread throughout
each monitoring period to verify the start
the growing season defined as
restored wetlands
of the growing season, groundwater and
March 1 -November 12
rain data for each monitoring period
Wetland
Restoration
Terracell outlet structure and ditch
Visually inspect features to ensure they
Visual Assessment
As -built, Years 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7
plugs
are performing as designed and retaining
hydrological inputs
Vegetation Parameters
Parameter
Method
Schedule/Frequency
Number/Extent
Data Collected/Reported
Permanent vegetation plots 0.0247 acre
(100 square meters) in size; CVS-EEP
As -built Years 1 2 3 5 and 7
14 plots spread across the Site
Species, height, planted vs. volunteer,
Vegetation
Protocol for Recording Vegetation,
stems/acre
establishment and
Version 4.2 (Lee et al. 2008)
vigor
Annual random vegetation plots, 0.0247
As needed
As needed
Species and height
acre (100 square meters) in size
*Soil Temperature will be measured with a continuous recording soil probe. Temperatures will be measured from February to the end of April in each monitoring year.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 15
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

8.1 Success Criteria
Monitoring and success criteria for stream restoration should relate to project goals and objectives
identified from NC WAM data collection. From a mitigation perspective, several of the goals and
objectives are assumed to be functionally elevated by restoration activities without direct
measurement. Other goals and objectives will be considered successful upon achieving success
criteria. The following summarizes Site success criteria.
Table 12. Success Criteria
Wetland Hydrology
• Saturation or inundation within the upper 12 inches of the soil surface for, at a minimum, 10 percent of the
growing season, during average climatic condition based on the Wilmington District Stream and Wetland
Compensatory Mitigation Update (USACE 2016), Table 1, for a Typic Paleaquult (Rains).
Vegetation
• Within planted portions of the site, a minimum of 320 stems per acre must be present at year 3; a minimum of
260 stems per acre must be present at year 5; and a minimum of 210 stems per acre must be present at year 7.
• Trees must average 7 feet in height at year 5, and 10 feet in height at year 7 in each plot.
• Planted and volunteer stems are counted, provided they are included in the approved planting list for the site;
natural recruits not on the planting list may be considered by the IRT on a case-by-case basis. Volunteer
Loblolly pine which is not included on the planting list is a desirable species for the restoration of the vegetative
community and will count towards vegetative success.
• Any single species can only account for 50% of the required stems within any vegetation plot.
o Ephemeral pool "habitat areas" are a normal component of Carolina bays. Areas of freshwater marsh
are expected to be comprised of herbaceous emergent vegetation and not forested woody vegetation.
Ephemeral pool "habitat areas" are expected to encompass approximately 20% of the bay area and
should not be held to the above vegetative success criteria.
8.2 Contingency
In the event that success criteria are not fulfilled, a mechanism for contingency will be
implemented.
8.2.1 Wetland Contingency
Hydrological contingency will require consultation with hydrologists and regulatory agencies if
wetland hydrology enhancement is not achieved. Recommendations for contingency to establish
wetland hydrology will be implemented and monitored until Hydrology Success Criteria are
achieved.
8.2.2 Vegetation Contingency
If vegetation success criteria are not achieved, supplemental planting may be performed with tree
species approved by regulatory agencies. Supplemental planting will be performed as needed until
achievement of vegetation success criteria.
8.3 Compatibility with Project Goals
The following table outlines the compatibility of Site performance criteria described above to Site
goals and objectives that will be utilized to evaluate if Site goals and objectives are achieved.
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 16
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Table 13. Compatibility of Performance Criteria to Project Goals and Objectives
Goals
Objectives Success Criteria
(1) HYDROLOGY
• Fill agriculture ditches to restore
• Row crop production ceased within the
jurisdictional hydrology
easement
• Plant native woody vegetation
• Monitoring wells will be successful if the
• Minimize downstream
• Cease row crop production within
water table is within 12 inches of the soil
flooding to the
the easement
surface for 10% of the growing season
maximum extent
• Plow soils to reduce surface
• Vegetation plots will be successful if the
possible.
compaction and increase surface
plant density is 210 stems per acre with
roughness (6-8 inches)
an average plant height of 10 feet at 7
• Protect the Site with a perpetual
years following planting
conservation easement
• Conservation Easement recorded
(1) WATER QUALITY
• Row crop production ceased within the
• Remove agricultural land uses
easement
and agricultural inputs from the
• Monitoring wells will be successful if the
• Remove direct nutrient,
Site
water table is within 12 inches of the soil
sediment, and pollutant
• Fill the ditch network to restore
surface for 10% of the growing season
ground and surface hydrology
. Vegetation plots will be successful if the
inputs from the Site.
within the Site
• Plant woody vegetation
plant density is 210 stems per acre with
• Restore jurisdictional wetlands
an average plant height of 10 feet at 7
years following planting
(1) HABITAT
• Plant woody vegetation to
• Monitoring wells will be successful if the
provide organic matter and shade
water table is within 12 inches of the soil
• Improve wildlife habitat
' Fill ditches to provide
surface for 10% of the growing season
groundwater hydrology and plant
• Vegetation plots will be successful if the
within and adjacent to
native woody vegetation
plant density is 210 stems per acre with
the Site.
• Protect the Site with a perpetual
an average plant height of 10 feet at 7
conservation easement
years following planting
• Restore jurisdictional wetlands
• Conservation Easement recorded
9.0 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN
In the event the mitigation Site or a specific component of the mitigation Site fails to achieve the
necessary performance standards as specified in the mitigation plan, the sponsor shall notify the
members of the IRT and work with the IRT to develop contingency plans and remedial actions.
10.0 LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Site will be transferred to the NCDEQ Stewardship Program. This party shall serve as
conservation easement holder and long-term steward for the property and will conduct periodic
inspection of the Site to ensure that restrictions required in the conservation easement are upheld.
Funding will be supplied by the responsible party on a yearly basis until such time an endowment
is established. The NCDEQ Stewardship Program is developing an endowment system within the
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 17
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

non -reverting, interest-bearing Conservation Lands Conservation Fund Account. The use of funds
from the Endowment Account will be governed by North Carolina General Statute GS 113A -
232(d)(3). Interest gained by the endowment fund may be used for the purpose of stewardship,
monitoring, stewardship administration, and land transaction costs, if applicable.
11.0 REFERENCES
Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Technical
Report Y-87-1. United States Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg,
Mississippi.
Griffith, G.E., J.M. Omernik, J.A. Comstock, M.P. Schafale, W.H. McNab, D.R. Lenat, T.F.
MacPherson, J.B. Glover, and V.B. Shelbourne. 2002. Ecoregions of North Carolina and
South Carolina. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
Lee, M.T., R.K. Peet, S.D. Roberts, and T.R. Wentworth. 2008. CVS-EEP Protocol for Recording
Vegetation. Version 4.2. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, Ecosystem Enhancement Program. Raleigh, North Carolina.
NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application].
Version 7.1. Ecological System Comprehensive Report, Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay -Based
Carolina Bay Wetland, Unique Identifier CES203.245. Available:
http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_renort.wmt
&loadTemplate=s, sem_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.
wmt&summaryView=tabular_ report.wmt&e1Key=723240&paging=home&save=true&st
artIndex=l &nextStartlndex= l &reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=723240&offPageSel
ectedElType=systems&offPageYesNo=true&post processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton
&selectedIndexes=723240&selectedlndexes=683613&selectedIndexes=685765 [August
3, 2018]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://explorer.natureserve.org.
North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ). 2005. Cape Fear River Basinwide Water
Quality Plan. Available: https:// https:Hdeq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-
resources/planning/basin-planning/water-resource-plans/cape-fear-2005 [December 8,
2016]. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR). 2013. River Basin Classification
Schedule -Cape Fear River Basin (online). Available:
https:Hfiles.nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/CSU/Surface%2OWater/River%20
Basin%20Water%2OQuality%20CIassifications%20as%20of%o2ODec%209%202013/Cap
eFear_Hydro _order.pdf [May 8, 2018]. North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality, Raleigh.
North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR). 2018. Final 2016 Category 5
Assessments -303(d) List. Available:
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 18
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

https:Hfiles.nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303dl2Ol6/2Ol6 NC_Cate
gory 5_303d list.pdf [May 18, 2018]. North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality, Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP). 2009. Cape Fear River Basin
Restoration Priorities 2009 (online). Available
http://portal.ncdenr.org/c/document_hbrary/get file?uuid=864e82e8-725c-415e-8ed9-
c72dfcb55012&group1d=60329
North Carolina State University (NC State 2016). NC State University and A&T State University
Cooperative Extension Resources. 2016 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual.
Available: http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/north-carolina-agricultural-chemicals-manual
North Carolina Wetland Functional Assessment Team. (NC WFAT 2010). N.C. Wetland
Assessment Method (NC WAM) User Manual. Version 4.1.
Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the Natural Communities of North
Carolina: Third Approximation. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of
Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural
Resources. Raleigh, North Carolina.
Schafale, M.P. 2012. Guide to the Natural Communities of North Carolina: Fourth Approximation.
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources. Raleigh, North Carolina.
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2010. Interim Regional Supplement to the
Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Eastern Mountains and Piedmont
Region.
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2016. Wilmington District Stream and Wetland
Compensatory Mitigation Update.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 1984. Soil Survey of Cumberland and Hoke
Counties, North Carolina. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2017. Web Soil Survey (online). Available:
https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda. og v/App/HomePage.htm [May 8, 20181. United States
Department of Agriculture.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2018. Endangered Species, Threatened
Species, Federal Species of Concern, and Candidate Species, Hoke County, North Carolina
(online). Available: https://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/cntylist/hoke.html [May 9,
2018].
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) page 19
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

APPENDIX A
FIGURES
Figure 1. Site Location
Figure 2. Hydrologic Unit Map
Figure 3. Topography
Figure 4. Historical Aerial Photograph (1956)
Figure 5. Existing Conditions and Soils
Figure 6. Impervious Layer Depth Analysis
Figure 7. Proposed Conditions
Figure 8. Outfall Structure
Figure 9. Planting Plan
Figure 10. Monitoring Plan
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

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JAN 2019
NCDOT Roads
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Scale:
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'1^�-
rl �. �� •R`,,. - 18-016
Directions to the Site from Raleigh:
Take 1-40 E out of Raleigh; travel -30 miles
Take exit 328A to merge onto 1-95 S; travel -40 miles FIGURE
Take exit 41 for NC -59 towards Hope Mills and Parkton
Turn right onto NC -59 N, and after 0.7 miles, turn left onto Shipman Rd
After 1 mile, turn right onto US -301 S; travel 2.4 miles
.- 'o•.��@ I' 9 2p -� _i s� °i j Turn right onto NC -71 S; travel 2.7 miles
Turn right onto 3rd St and continue straight onto Barlow Rd and Chason Road; approx. 5.5 miles 1
NOTE: No air trans Turn left on Arabia Rd; travel approx. 3 miles
IWOort facilities are located r .�- ,
p I _ � ` ,, ,,� - The Site is located on the right, down a gravel driveway.
P�xd - within 5 miles of the project area. } Site Latitude, Longitude 34.9570, 79.1379 WGS84)
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USGS Hydrologic Unit 03030004 FIGURE
��ocxin9h '= 14 Digit Hydrologic Unit Boundaries
Location of Arabia Bay
`
Wetland Mitigation Site within Targeted Local Watersheds ,!' $
USGS Hydrologic Unit and -�_ arAfon
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Targeted Local Watershed - L"ml-rgrid�
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03030004150011 �' Miles

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Title:
Sand• TOPOGRAPHY
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voScale: JAN 2019
1:10,000
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FIGURE
. . . . .
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Title:
a HISTORICAL
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PHOTOGRAPH
(1956)
Drawn by:
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Date:
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Scale:
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Project No.:
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Construct splash pool with
Class A rip -rap. Rip -rap should
overlay base of TerraCell.
t',o t. ,. -
TerraCell length = 50 ft.
Remove culvert and plug with
impervious material. Build road
base to elevation 221.5 ft.
r
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I I
I I
Key in base of TerraCell to
I bottom of ditch. Final elevation
I matches existing ditch grade
I at 215.01 ft.
I I
Key in TerraCell below road bed
and use filter -cloth to push water
onto TerraCell surface. +
Road bed will be finished
with 6-8 inches of mix of
Class A rip -rap and crush/run
with finished elevation of 221.5 ft.
WATER SURFACE
ELEVATION
---------L_
8 I TERRACEL
SYNTHETIC GEOGRID
` \ \
RIP RAP
(SEE NOTES)
TERRACELL STRUCTURE NOTES:
1. CONTRACTOR WILL INSTALL 18 -INCH TERRACELL SYNTHETIC GEOGRID AS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S
SPECIFICATIONS.
2. AT BOTTOM RIFFLE DOWNSTREAM FROM TERRACELL STRUCTURE THE POOL WILL BE ARMORED WITH
EROSION CONTROL FABRIC AND CLASS 1 RIP RAP OR OTHER SUITABLE MATERIAL.
8 IN TERRACELL
SYNTHETIC GEOGRID
— — — — — — 3 3 ------
1 1
to 10 fl
FILTER CLOTH
W bol 3.5 to 6.0 fl
CROSS-SECTION
TERRACELL STRUCTURE NOTES:
1. CONTRACTOR WILL INSTALL 18 -INCH TERRACELL SYNTHETIC GEOGRID AS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S
SPECIFICATIONS.
2. ONCE THE SYNTHETIC GEOGRID HAS BEEN INSTALLED, GEOCELLS WILL BE BACKFILLED WITH GRAVEL
AND TOPSOIL AND PLANTED WITH EROSION CONTROL GRASSES AND WILLOW STAKES (SAL/XN/GRA.
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
NOTES/REVISIONS
Project:
Arabia Bay
Mitigation Site
Hoke County
North Carolina
Title:
OUTFALL
STRUCTURE
Scale: FIGURE NO.
NA
Date:
Aug 2018 8
Project No.:
18-016

Due to the relatively mild topographic relief across the site and the intended
construction of borrow pits/ vernal pools, final planting zones will be selected
post -construction to ensure that species are planted in appropriate landscape
positions. All planting will be on 8'x 8' spacing.
The wetter areas will be planted with the specified cypress and swamp tupelo
as well as a minor portion of sweetbay and swamp
chestnut oak.
The dryer areas will receive the balance of the species listed in the table.
S Y 'T�yTfj! S
,a
Area (acres) 16
Species # Planned % of total
b Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) 3500 32
• "�� Swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora) 2000 18
Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) 1000 9
Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) 1000 9
Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii) 1000 9
1'e Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) 600 6
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) 600 6
Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) 600 6
Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) 600 6
TOTAL 10,900 100
M
s'
F ..
f
JL
Legend
Expected_Vernal_Pools
OArabia Bay Conservation Easement—Draft to State
Remainder—of—Planting—Area
Feet
0 55 110 220 330
440 1
r - W. 7
r
Project:
ARABIA BAY
WETLAND
MITIGATION
SITE
Hoke County, NC
Title:
PLANTING
PLAN
Date:
6/4/2019
Scale:
1 in=125ft
Project No:
SITE: L-03-001
FIGURE
9

P
El
�' tr O
❑
O
A 4�
i,.
ip
O
` ❑ O
t
O
V� i t ❑
MEe
Legend
1. t
QArabia Bay Easement = 16.1 ac
❑ Proposed CVS Plots
O Proposed Groundwater Gauges
2 foot Topographic Contour
0 150 300 600
m Feet
r"
O❑
A
Axiom En)pronmenlo, inc.
Prepared for:
Project:
--
ARABIA BAY
WETLAND
MITIGATION
SITE
k
Hoke County, INC
Title:
MONITORING
�► "
PLAN
1 �y
r�
Drawn by:
KRJ
Date:
a_
MAY 2019
Scale:
1:1400
Project No.:
18-016
+
1
FIGURE
-
10

Appendix B
Existing Wetland Data
NC WAM Forms
Soil Boring Log
Nutrient Model Output
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual
Version 5.0
Wetland Site Name Arabia Bay
Date
1/31/18
Wetland Type Pocosin
Assessor Name/Organization
Jernigan/Axiom
Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N)
NO
Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N)
YES
Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N)
YES
Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N)
Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N)
NO
Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N)
NO
Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N)
NO
Sub -function Rating Summary
Function Sub -function
Metrics
Rating
Hydrologi Surface Storage and Retention
Condition
LOW
Sub -Surface Storage and Retention
Condition
LOW
Water Quality Pathogen Change
Condition
NA
Condition/Opportunity
NA
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
NA
Particulate Change
Condition
NA
Condition/Opportunity
NA
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
NA
Soluble Change
Condition
NA
Condition/Opportunity
NA
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
NA
Physical Change
Condition
NA
Condition/Opportunity
NA
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
NA
Pollution Change
Condition
LOW
Condition/Opportunity
LOW
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
YES
Habitat Physical Structure
Condition
LOW
Landscape Patch Structure
Condition
LOW
Vegetation Composition
Condition
LOW
Function Rating Summary
Function Metrics/Notes
Rating
Hydrologi Condition
LOW
Water Quality Condition
LOW
Condition/Opportunity
LOW
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
YES
Habitat Condition
LOW
Overall Wetland Rating LOW

AXIOM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
919-215-1693
SOIL BORING LOG
Project/Site: Arabia Bay Wetland Mitigation Site
County, State: Hoke, NC
Sampling Point/
Coordinates: Hydric Soil/ 34.957125, -79.137307
Investigator: Lewis
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
Notes: Location of soil profile
is depicted on Figure 4.
Matrix
Depth (inches) Color %
Mottlin€
Color %
Texture
0-9 10YR 4/1 98
10YR 5/6 2
clay
9-14 10YR 6/2 60
10YR 5/6 40
clay
14+ 10YR 6/2 40
10YR 5/6 60
clay
North Carolina Licensed Soil Scientist
Number: 1233
Signature: fit) Aaa
Name/Print: W. Grant Lewis

AXIOM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
919-215-1693
SOIL BORING LOG
Project/Site: Arabia Bay Wetland Mitigation Site
County, State: Hoke, NC
Sampling Point/
Coordinates: Hydric Soil/ 34.957807, -79.138144
Investigator: Lewis
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
Notes: Location of soil profile
is depicted on Figure 4.
Depth (inches)
Matrix
Mottlin€
Texture
Color % Color %
0-3
10YR 4/2
100
sandy clay loam
3-8
10YR 4/2
95
10YR 5/6
5
sandy clay loam
8-14
10YR 4/2
90
10YR 5/6
10
sandy clay loam
14+
10YR 4/2
75
10YR 5/6
7.5YR 6/2
15
10
sandy clay loam
North Carolina Licensed Soil Scientist
Number: 1233
Signature: fit) Aaa
Name/Print: W. Grant Lewis

Land Use Nutrient Model
Woods Minimal Nutrients
Concentration
Land Use %
Total
Rainfall
Stream Length
Runnoff
N (mg/1)
Pasture
N (Ibs)
Annual
Site Buffer Width
0
2.2
Woods
0
0
Commercial/Industrial6L]
0
2.3
Row Crop 100
0
0
Site Area (ft sq) 697396
0
3.0
Urban
0
0
must total 100 100
0.0 1
0.0 ITotal Urban N and P
Number
N inputs
P inputs
Total
Total
Land Use Characteristics
of Animals
lbs/au/yr
lbs/au/yr
N (Ibs)
P (Ibs)
Pasture Beef
113
40
0
0
Dairy
164
26
0
0
Pig
153
58
0
0
Horse
102
40
0
0
fert/ac
60
45
0
0
0
0 ITotal Pasture N and P
%
N inputs
P inputs
Total
Total
Row Crop Area
Ibs/ac/yr
Ibs/ac/yr
N
P
Row Crop Corn
20
20
160
160
Cotton
20
20
0
0
Soybeans
50
L
0
15
0
120
Hay Fescue
50
45
0
0
Hay Bermuda
70
45
0
0
must total 100
100
1
160
1 280 ITotal Row Crop N and P
Woods Minimal Nutrients
Notes: Residential Assumes 25 % Impervious Surfac
Commercial/Industrial Assumes 75% Impervous Surface
Roadway Assumes 100% Impervious Surface
Annual Load (Ibs) = 0.226*Annual Runoff (inches)*Concentration (mg/I)*Acres
Total Nutrients Removed within Easement
Total N Removed (Ibs/yr) 160
Total P Removed (Ibs/yr) 280
Concentration
Concentration
Total
Total
% Area
Runnoff
N (mg/1)
P (mg/1)
N (Ibs)
P (Ibs)
Urban Residential
0
2.2
0.4
0
0
Commercial/Industrial6L]
0
2.3
0.3
0
0
Roadway
0
3.0
0.5
0
0
0.0 1
0.0 ITotal Urban N and P
Notes: Residential Assumes 25 % Impervious Surfac
Commercial/Industrial Assumes 75% Impervous Surface
Roadway Assumes 100% Impervious Surface
Annual Load (Ibs) = 0.226*Annual Runoff (inches)*Concentration (mg/I)*Acres
Total Nutrients Removed within Easement
Total N Removed (Ibs/yr) 160
Total P Removed (Ibs/yr) 280

Appendix C
NHP Report
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Natural Heritage Program
Govemor Roy Cooper
February 2, 2018
Phillip Perkinson
Axiom Environmental Inc.
218 Snow Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612
RE: Arabia Bay; 17-001.06
Dear Phillip Perkinson:
Secretary Susi H. Hamilton
NCNHDE-5261
The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) appreciates the opportunity to provide information
about natural heritage resources for the project referenced above.
A query of the NCNHP database, based on the project area mapped with your request, indicates that there are
no records for rare species, important natural communities, natural areas, or conservation/managed areas
within the proposed project boundary. Please note that although there may be no documentation of natural
heritage elements within the project boundary, it does not imply or confirm their absence; the area may not have
been surveyed. The results of this query should not be substituted for field surveys where suitable habitat exists.
In the event that rare species are found within the project area, please contact the NCNHP so that we may
update our records.
The attached `Potential Occurrences' table summarizes rare species and natural communities that have been
documented within a one -mile radius of the property boundary. The proximity of these records suggests that
these natural heritage elements may potentially be present in the project area if suitable habitat exists and is
included for reference. Tables of natural areas and conservation/managed area within a one -mile radius of the
project area, if any, are also included in this report.
Please note that natural heritage element data are maintained for the purposes of conservation planning, project
review, and scientific research, and are not intended for use as the primary criteria for regulatory decisions.
Information provided by the NCNHP database may not be published without prior written notification to the
NCNHP, and the NCNHP must be credited as an information source in these publications. Maps of NCNHP
data may not be redistributed without permission.
The NC Natural Heritage Program may follow this letter with additional correspondence if a Dedicated Nature
Preserve (DNP), Registered Heritage Area (RHA), Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) easement,
or Federally -listed species are documented near the project area.
If you have questions regarding the information provided in this letter or need additional assistance, please
contact Rodney A. Butler at rod ney.butler o_ncdcr.gov or 919.707.8603.
Sincerely,
NC Natural Heritage Program
MAILING ADDRESS: Tele hone: [919', 7D7-8107 LOCA.TICN
16`1 MaiI Ser,rice Center �n�rr&ncnh2.org 121 VVest hones S-reat
Ralaigh, NC 27899-1881 Ralaigh, NC 27603

Natural Heritage Element Occurrences, Natural Areas, and Managed Areas Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Arabia Bay
Project No. 17-001.06
February 2, 2018
NCNHDE-5261
Element Occurrences Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Taxonomic
EO ID
Scientific Name
Common Name
Last
Element
Group
G5
S2
Significantly
Observation
Occurrence
Rare
Significantly
Date
Rank
Amphibian
21003
Ambystoma mabeei
Mabee's Salamander
2005-03-05
E
Amphibian
21000
Ambystoma tigrinum
Eastern Tiger
2005-03-05
B?
Vulnerable
Salamander
G4
S2
Amphibian
20998
Pseudacris ornata
Ornate Chorus Frog
2005-03-05
E
Butterfly
34472
Neonympha areolatus
Georgia Satyr
1980 -Pre
H
Natural
11205
Cypress Savanna (Typic
---
2003-09-09
B
Community
Subtype)
Vascular Plant
21661
Rhexia aristosa
Awned Meadow -beauty
2003-09-09
B
Vascular Plant 21754 Scleria reticularis Netted Nutrush 2003-09-09 B
Natural Areas Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Site Name Representational Rating
Arabia Bay R3 (High)
No Managed Areas are Documented Within a One -mile Radius of the Project Area
Accuracy Federal
Status
3 -Medium
2 -High
3 -Medium
5 -Very
Low
3 -Medium
2 -High
2 -High
Collective Rating
C4 (Moderate)
State Global State
Status Rank Rank
Significantly
G4
S2?
Rare
Threatened
G5
S2
Significantly
G4
S2
Rare
Significantly
G3G4
S2
Rare
---
G2G3
S2
Special
G3G4
S3
Concern
Vulnerable
Threatened
G4
S2
Definitions and an explanation of status designations and codes can be found at https://ncnhde.natureserve.org/content/help. Data query generated on February 2, 2018; source: NCNHP, Q4 October 2017. Please resubmit
your information request if more than one year elapses before project initiation as new information is continually added to the NCNHP database.
Page 2 of 3

NCNHDE-5261: Arabia Bay
v
t a
�4
n
r
r
Arabi s x
it
r
r
r �r
N f`
W E
February 2, 2018
Project Boundary
E] Buffered Project Boundary
NHP Natural Area (NH NA)
Page 3 of 3
1:22,150
0 0.175 0.35 0.7 mi
0 0.3 0.6 1.2 km
Sources: Emi, HERr, QeLon—. Inlermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO. USGS,
FAO, NRS. NRCAN, Geo.8a5e, IGN, Kadasler NL, Ordnance Survey„ Emi Japan,
METI_ EsriChina (Hong KoruJ). suns top*, Mapmylnriia. ® 9pen$trae;Map
oonlnbutors, and Iha GIS Uw Commundy

Appendix D
Jurisdictional Determination
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
WILMINGTON DISTRICT
Action Id. SAW -2018-02135 County: Hoke County U.S.G.S. Quad: Raeford
NOTIFICATION OF JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION
Property Owner/Applicant: Fred Harris
Address:
Telephone Number:
Size (acres)
Nearest Waterway
USGS HUC
3941 Arabia Road
Raeford, NC 28376
[phone]
16 acres
Little Marsh Swamp
03030004
Nearest Town Raeford, NC
River Basin Cape Fear
Coordinates Latitude: 34.9570
Longitude: -79.1379
Location description: This 16 acre site is located in a Carolina Bay. It's located off Hwy 20 to Pate Road then to
Arabia Road in Raeford, Hoke County, NC. The bay will be restored into a wetland mitigation site.
Indicate Which of the Following Apply:
A. Preliminary Determination
_ There are waters, including wetlands, on the above described project area, that may be subject to Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act (CWA)(33 USC § 1344) and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) (33 USC § 403). The
waters, including wetlands, have been delineated, and the delineation has been verified by the Corps to be sufficiently accurate
and reliable. Therefore this preliminary jurisdiction determination may be used in the permit evaluation process, including
determining compensatory mitigation. For purposes of computation of impacts, compensatory mitigation requirements, and other
resource protection measures, a permit decision made on the basis of a preliminary JD will treat all waters and wetlands that
would be affected in any way by the permitted activity on the site as if they are jurisdictional waters of the U.S. This preliminary
determination is not an appealable action under the Regulatory Program Administrative Appeal Process (Reference 33 CFR Part
331). However, you may request an approved JD, which is an appealable action, by contacting the Corps district for further
instruction.
_ There are wetlands on the above described property, that may be subject to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)(33
USC § 1344) and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) (33 USC § 403). However, since the
waters, including wetlands, have not been properly delineated, this preliminary jurisdiction determination may not be used in the
permit evaluation process. Without a verified wetland delineation, this preliminary determination is merely an effective
presumption of CWA/RHA jurisdiction overall of the waters, including wetlands, at the project area, which is not sufficiently
accurate and reliable to support an enforceable permit decision. We recommend that you have the waters of the U.S. on your
property delineated. As the Corps may not be able to accomplish this wetland delineation in a timely manner, you may wish to
obtain a consultant to conduct a delineation that can be verified by the Corps.
B. Approved Determination
_ There are Navigable Waters of the United States within the above described property subject to the permit requirements of
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) (33 USC § 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)(33 USC §
1344). Unless there is a change in law or our published regulations, this determination may be relied upon for a period not to
exceed five years from the date of this notification.
_ There are waters of the U.S., including wetlands, on the above described project area subject to the permit requirements of
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 USC § 1344). Unless there is a change in the law or our published regulations,
this determination may be relied upon for a period not to exceed five years from the date of this notification.
_ We recommend you have the waters of the U.S. on your property delineated. As the Corps may not be able to accomplish
this wetland delineation in a timely manner, you may wish to obtain a consultant to conduct a delineation that can be verified by
the Corps.
Page 1 of 2

saw -2018-0213s
_ The waters of the U.S., including wetlands, on your project area have been delineated and the delineation has been verified
by the Corps. We strongly suggest you have this delineation surveyed. Upon completion, this survey should be reviewed and
verified by the Corps, Once verified, this survey will provide an accurate depiction of all areas subject to CWA jurisdiction on
your property which, provided there is no change in the law or our published regulations, may be relied upon for a period not to
exceed five years.
Me waters of the U.S„ including wetlands, have been delineated and surveyed and are accurately depicted on the plat signed
by the Corps Regulatory Official identified below on . Unless there is a change in the law or our puhlished
regulations, this determination may be relied upon for a period not to exceed five, years from the date of this notification.
X There are no waters of the U..S...to_i.aPlude wetlands. }present an_the abh3y i described..16 acre2MLect site Viiich are subiect to the
portal#requirements of Sec ion 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344). Unless there is a change in the law or our published
rpgulati_ons,tliis_determination May be relied upon fora period not to exceed five years from the data of this notification.
The property is located in one of the 20 Coastal Counties subject to regulation under the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA).
You should contact the Division of Coastal Management in Morehead City, NC, at [phone] to determine their
requirements.
Placement of dredged or fill material within waters of the US, including wetlands, without a Department of the Army permit may
constitute a violation of Section 301 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1310. placement of dredged or fill material, construction or
placement of structures, or work within navigable waters of the United States without a Department of the Army permit may
constitute a violation of Sections 9 and/or 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 USC § 401 and/or 403). 1f you have any questions
regarding this determination andlor the Corps regulatory program, please contact Cary Beecher at (910) 251-40.29 pr
Ga rv.FI.BeeeherAusace.army.rrtil,
C. Basis For Determination. This site did not exhibit the required wetland criteria as described in the 1487 Corns
Wetland Delineation Manual and the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Regional Sunolement.
D. Remarks; There are no wetlands nr waters of the US located within this 16 acre aroiect site. To restore hydroloo
on this she the existing dii.che.N will bo tthigged and a wetland mixture will be planted.
E. Attention USDA Program Participants
This delineation/determination has been conducted to identify the limits of Corps' Clean Water Act jurisdiction for the particular site
identified in this request. The del ineation/determination may not be valid for the wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security
Act of 1985. I f you or your tenant are USDA Program participants, or anticipate participation in USDA programs, you should request
a ocrtified wetland determination frorn the local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, prior to starting work,
F. Appeals Information for Approved Jurisdiction Determinations (as indicated in Section H. above)
If you object to this determination, you may request an administrative appeal under Corps regulations at 33 CFR Part 331. Enclosed
you will find a Notification of Appeal Process (NAP} faot sheet and Request for Appeal (RFA) forth. If you request to appeal this
determination you must submit a completed RFA form to the following address;
US Army Corps of Engineers
South Atlantic Division
Attn: Jason Steele, Review Officer
60 Forsyth Street SW, Room 10M15
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8801
In order for an RFA to be accepted by the Corps, the Corps must determine that it is complete, that it meats the criteria for appeal
under 33 CFR part 331 .5, and that it has been received by the Division Office within 60 days of the date of the NAP, Should
you decide to submit an RFA form, it must be received at the above address by January 11, 2019,
It is not necessary to submit an RVA form to the Division office if you do not object to the determination in this
correspondence.
A
Corps Regulatory Official:
Date: November 13.2018 Expiration Date: November 13, 2023

SAW -2018-02135
The Wilmington District is committed to providing the highest level of support to the public. To help us ensure we
continue to do so, please complete our Customer Satisfaction Survey, located online at
http://corl2smapu.usace.army.mil/cm apex/Pp=136:4:0.
Copy Furnished via e-mail to.
Grant Lewis
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
3941 Arabia Road
Raeford, NC, 28376
[phone]
glewisA axiomenvironmental.or�

SAW -2018-02135
NOTIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL OPTIONS AND PROCESS AND
REQUEST FOR APPEAL
Applicant:
File Number:
Date:
Fred Harris
SAW -2018-02135
November 13, 2018
Attached is: See Section below
INITIAL PROFFERED PERMIT (Standard Permit or Letter of permission) A
PROFFERED PERMIT (Standard Permit or Letter of permission) B
PERMIT DENIAL C
APPROVED JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION D
PRELIMINARY JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION E
SECTION I - The following identifies your rights and options regarding an administrative appeal of the above decision.
Additional information may be found at http://www.usace.g.M.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Re ug latoD ProgramandPermits.aspx
Corps regulations at 33 CFR Part 331.
A: INITIAL PROFFERED PERMIT: You may accept or object to the permit.
• ACCEPT: If you received a Standard Permit, you may sign the permit document and return it to the district engineer for final
authorization. If you received a Letter of Permission (LOP), you may accept the LOP and your work is authorized. Your signature
on the Standard Permit or acceptance of the LOP means that you accept the permit in its entirety, and waive all rights to appeal the
permit, including its terms and conditions, and approved jurisdictional determinations associated with the permit.
• OBJECT: If you object to the permit (Standard or LOP) because of certain terms and conditions therein, you may request that the
permit be modified accordingly. You must complete Section II of this form and return the form to the district engineer. Your
objections must be received by the district engineer within 60 days of the date of this notice, or you will forfeit your right to appeal
the permit in the future. Upon receipt of your letter, the district engineer will evaluate your objections and may: (a) modify the
permit to address all of your concerns, (b) modify the permit to address some of your objections, or (c) not modify the permit
having determined that the permit should be issued as previously written. After evaluating your objections, the district engineer
will send you a proffered permit for your reconsideration, as indicated in Section B below.
B: PROFFERED PERMIT: You may accept or appeal the permit
• ACCEPT: If you received a Standard Permit, you may sign the permit document and return it to the district engineer for final
authorization. If you received a Letter of Permission (LOP), you may accept the LOP and your work is authorized. Your signature
on the Standard Permit or acceptance of the LOP means that you accept the permit in its entirety, and waive all rights to appeal the
permit, including its terms and conditions, and approved jurisdictional determinations associated with the permit.
• APPEAL: If you choose to decline the proffered permit (Standard or LOP) because of certain terms and conditions therein, you
may appeal the declined permit under the Corps of Engineers Administrative Appeal Process by completing Section II of this form
and sending the form to the division engineer. This form must be received by the division engineer within 60 days of the date of
this notice.
C: PERMIT DENIAL: You may appeal the denial of a permit under the Corps of Engineers Administrative
Appeal Process by completing Section II of this form and sending the form to the division engineer. This form
must be received by the division engineer within 60 days of the date of this notice.
D: APPROVED JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION: You may accept or appeal the approved JD or
provide new information.
• ACCEPT: You do not need to notify the Corps to accept an approved JD. Failure to notify the Corps within 60 days of the date of
this notice means that you accept the approved JD in its entirety, and waive all rights to appeal the approved JD.
• APPEAL: If you disagree with the approved JD, you may appeal the approved JD under the Corps of Engineers Administrative
Appeal Process by completing Section II of this form and sending the form to the division engineer. This form must be received by
the division engineer within 60 days of the date of this notice.

SAW -2018-02135
E: PRELIMINARY JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION: You do not need to respond to the Corps
regarding the preliminary JD. The Preliminary JD is not appealable. If you wish, you may request an approved
JD (which may be appealed), by contacting the Corps district for further instruction. Also you may provide new
information for further consideration by the Corps to reevaluate the JD.
SECTION II - REQUEST FOR APPEAL or OBJECTIONS TO AN INITIAL PROFFERED PERMIT
REASONS FOR APPEAL OR OBJECTIONS: (Describe your reasons for appealing the decision or your
objections to an initial proffered permit in clear concise statements. You may attach additional information to
this form to clarify where your reasons or objections are addressed in the administrative record.)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The appeal is limited to a review of the administrative record, the Corps
memorandum for the record of the appeal conference or meeting, and any supplemental information that the
review officer has determined is needed to clarify the administrative record. Neither the appellant nor the Corps
may add new information or analyses to the record. However, you may provide additional information to clarify
the location of information that is already in the administrative record.
POINT OF CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION: Id
If you have questions regarding this decision and/or the
If you only have questions regarding the appeal process you may
appeal process you may contact:
also contact:
District Engineer, Wilmington Regulatory Division,
Mr. Jason Steele, Administrative Appeal Review Officer
Attn: Gary Beecher
CESAD-PDO
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division
60 Forsyth Street, Room l OM 15
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8801
Phone: [phone]
RIGHT OF ENTRY: Your signature below grants the right of entry to Corps of Engineers personnel, and any government
consultants, to conduct investigations of the project site during the course of the appeal process. You will be provided a 15 day
notice of any site investigation, and will have the opportunit to participate in all site investiations.
Date:
Telephone number:
Signature of appellant or agent.
For appeals on Initial Proffered Permits send this form to:
District Engineer, Wilmington Regulatory Division, Attn: Gary Beecher, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North
Carolina 28403
For Permit denials, Proffered Permits and approved Jurisdictional Determinations send this form to:
Division Engineer, Commander, U.S. Army Engineer Division, South Atlantic, Attn: Mr. Jason Steele,
Administrative Appeal Officer, CESAD-PDO, 60 Forsyth Street, Room 1OM15, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8801
Phone: [phone]

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Appendix E
Categorical Exclusion Document
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Arabia Bay Wetland Mitigation Site
Hoke County, North Carolina
DMS Project No. 100061
Categorical Exclusion/ERTR
Prepared for:
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1652
June 2018

TASK 1 b.) Categorical Exclusion Summary:
Part 1: General Project Information
(Attached) Part 2: All Projects
Regulation/Questions
Coastal Zone Management Act
Not applicable — project is not located within a CAMA county.
CERCLA
No issue within project boundaries— please see the attached Executive Summary from a Limited
Phase 1 Site Assessment performed by Environmental Data Resources, Inc. (EDR) on June 12th,
2018.
National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106)
No Issue — please see attached letter from Ramona M. Bartos- State of the Historic Preservation
Office.
Uniform Act
Please see the attached letter, sent to the landowner June 12th, 2018.
Part 3: Ground -Disturbing Activates Regulation/Questions
American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA)
Not applicable — project is not located in a county claimed as "territory" by the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians.
Antiquities Act (AA)
Not applicable — project is not located on Federal land.
Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA)
Not applicable — project is not located on federal or Indian lands.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Project activities were determined to pose "No Effect" to Endangered or Threatened Species. The
proposed project will occur in existing agricultural fields which are intensively managed for row
crops. There is no Critical Habitat on-site, nor is there any suitable habitat for any of the T&E
species identified. Additionally, no T&E species were observed during field surveys. Record
searches from the Natural Heritage Program indicate that federally protected species are not
documented within a mile of the Site boundaries.
Executive Order 13007 (Indian Sacred Sites)
Not applicable — project is not located in a county claimed as "territory" by the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians.
Farmland Protection Policv Act (FPP
Please find the attached Form AD -1006 and letter from Milton Cortes of the NRCS.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)

Please find the attached response from the Fish and Wildlife Service
Land & Water Conservation Fund Act (Section 6(f))
Not applicable
Magnuson -Stevens Fishery Conservation and management Act (Essential Fish Habitat)
Not applicable — project is not located within an estuarine system
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
USFWS has no recommendation with the project relative to the MBTA
Wilderness Act
Not applicable—the project is not located within a Wilderness area.

Appendix A
Categorical Exclusion Form for Ecosystem Enhancement
Program Projects
Version 1.4
Note: only Appendix A should to be submitted {along with any supporting documentation} as the
environmental document.
6 Version 1.4, 8/18105
ProjectPart 1: General .
■
Project Name: Arabia Bay Welland Mitigatron Site
Count Name: Hoke
DMS Number: ID#:100061 Contract# 7529
Project 5 onsor: Restoration Systems, LLC
Project Contact Name: JD Hamby
Project Contact Address: 1101 Haynes street, suite 211, Raleigh, NC 27604
Project Contact E-mail: [e-mail]
DMS Project Manager: UndsayCrec: [e-mail]
Pro-Proiect Description
Ylie Site is located within 14 -digit Cataloging !Unit and Targeted Local Watershed
030300041500111. approximately 4.5 miles southeast of Raeford,
NC. The Site is situated in a
Carolina bay that has been cleared, drained, and farmed. Ditches will be plugged in order to
rehydrate the drained soils and woody vegetation planted.
For Official Use Only
Reviewed By: Lindsay Crocker
71131201$
Date
DMS Project Manager
Conditional Approved By:
Date
For Division Administrator
FHWA
❑ Check this box if there are outstanding issues
Final Approval By:
Date
For Division Administrator
FHWA
6 Version 1.4, 8/18105

Part 2: All Projects
Response
Coastal Zone Management Act CZMA
1. Is the project located in a CAMA county?
® Yes
E]No
2. Does the project involve ground -disturbing activities within a CAMA Area of
❑ Yes
Environmental Concern (AEC)?
❑ No
✓❑ N/A
3. Has a CAMA permit been secured?
❑ Yes
❑ No
Q N/A
4. Has NCDCM agreed that the project is consistent with the NC Coastal Management
❑ Yes
Program?
❑ No
✓❑ N/A
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liabilit Act CERCLA
1. Is this a "full -delivery" project?
0 Yes
❑ No
2. Has the zoning/land use of the subject property and adjacent properties ever been
❑ Yes
designated as commercial or industrial?
0 No
❑ N/A
3. As a result of a limited Phase I Site Assessment, are there known or potential
❑ Yes
hazardous waste sites within or adjacent to the project area?
0 No
❑ N/A
4. As a result of a Phase I Site Assessment, are there known or potential hazardous
❑ Yes
waste sites within or adjacent to the project area?
❑ No
✓❑ N/A
5. As a result of a Phase 11 Site Assessment, are there known or potential hazardous
❑ Yes
waste sites within the project area?
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
6. Is there an approved hazardous mitigation plan?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑� N/A
National Historic Preservation Act Section 106
1. Are there properties listed on, or eligible for listing on, the National Register of
❑ Yes
Historic Places in the project area?
❑✓ No
2. Does the project affect such properties and does the SHPO/THPO concur?
❑ Yes
❑ No
✓❑ N/A
3. If the effects are adverse, have they been resolved?
❑ Yes
❑ No
✓❑ N/A
Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real PropertV Acquisition Policies Act Uniform
Act
1. Is this a "full -delivery" project?
0 Yes
❑ No
2. Does the project require the acquisition of real estate?
❑✓ Yes
❑ No
❑ N/A
3. Was the property acquisition completed prior to the intent to use federal funds?
❑ Yes
❑✓ No
❑ N/A
4. Has the owner of the property been informed:❑
Yes
* prior to making an offer that the agency does not have condemnation authority; and
❑ No
* what the fair market value is believed to be?
❑ N/A
Version 1.4, 8/18/05

Version 1.4, 8/18/05
Part 3: Ground-Disturbing Activities
Regulation/Question
..
American Indian Religious Freedom Act AIRFA
1.
Is the project located in a county claimed as "territory" by the Eastern Band of
❑ Yes
Cherokee
Indians?
0 No
2.
Is the site of religious importance to American Indians?
❑ Yes
❑ No
✓❑ N/A
3.
Is the project listed on, or eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic
❑ Yes
Places?
❑ No
❑ N/A
4.
Have the effects of the project on this site been considered?
❑ Yes
❑ No
El N/A
Antiquities Act AA
1.
Is the project located on Federal lands?
❑ Yes
No
2.
Will there be loss or destruction of historic or prehistoric ruins, monuments or objects
❑ Yes
of antiquity?
❑ No
Q N/A
3.
Will a permit from the appropriate Federal agency be required?
❑ Yes
❑ No
N/A
4.
Has a permit been obtained?
❑ Yes
❑ No
Q N/A
Archaeological Resources Protection Act ARPA
1.
Is the project located on federal or Indian lands (reservation)?
❑ Yes
Q No
2.
Will there be a loss or destruction of archaeological resources?
❑ Yes
❑ No
0 N/A
3.
Will a permit from the appropriate Federal agency be required?
❑ Yes
❑ No
[Z] N/A
4.
Has a permit been obtained?
❑ Yes
❑ No
0 N/A
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
1.
Are federal Threatened and Endangered species and/or Designated Critical Habitat
Yes
listed for the county?
❑ No
2.
Is Designated Critical Habitat or suitable habitat present for listed species?
❑ Yes
Q No
❑ N/A
3.
Are T&E species present or is the project being conducted in Designated Critical
❑ Yes
Habitat?
❑ No
[Z] N/A
4.
Is the project "likely to adversely affect' the species and/or "likely to adversely modify"
❑ Yes
Designated
Critical Habitat?
❑ No
Q N/A
5.
Does the USFWS/NOAA-Fisheries concur in the effects determination?
❑ Yes
❑ No
Q N/A
6.
Has the USFWS/NOAA-Fisheries rendered a "jeopardy" determination?
❑ Yes
❑ No
Q N/A
Version 1.4, 8/18/05

Executive Order 13007 Indian Sacred Sites
1. Is the project located on Federal lands that are within a county claimed as "territory"
❑ Yes
by the EBCI?
❑✓ No
2. Has the EBCI indicated that Indian sacred sites may be impacted by the proposed
❑ Yes
project?
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
3. Have accommodations been made for access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred
❑ Yes
sites?
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
Farmland Protection Polic Act FPPA
1. Will real estate be acquired?✓❑
Yes
❑ No
2. Has NRCS determined that the project contains prime, unique, statewide or locally
❑✓ Yes
important farmland?
❑ No
❑ N/A
3. Has the completed Form AD-1006 been submitted to NRCS?
Yes
❑ No
❑ N/A
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act FWCA
1. Will the project impound, divert, channel deepen, or otherwise control/modify any
❑ Yes
water body?
❑✓ No
2. Have the USFWS and the NCWRC been consulted?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act Section 6 f
1. Will the project require the conversion of such property to a use other than public,
❑ Yes
outdoor recreation?✓❑
No
2. Has the NPS approved of the conversion?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish
Habitat
1. Is the project located in an estuarine system?
❑ Yes
Q No
2. Is suitable habitat present for EFH-protected species?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
3. Is sufficient design information available to make a determination of the effect of the
❑ Yes
project on EFH?
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
4. Will the project adversely affect EFH?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
5. Has consultation with NOAA-Fisheries occurred?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
Migratory Bird Treat Act MBTA
1. Does the USFWS have any recommendations with the project relative to the MBTA?
❑ Yes
❑✓ No
2. Have the USFWS recommendations been incorporated?
❑ Yes
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
Wilderness Act
1. Is the project in a Wilderness area?
❑ Yes
❑� No
2. Has a special use permit and/or easement been obtained from the maintaining
❑ Yes
federal agency?
❑ No
❑✓ N/A
Version 1.4, 8/18/05

Appendix F
Performance Bond
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

e
PERFORMANCE BOND Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America
One Tower Square, Hartford, CT 06183
Bond No. 106979588
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, Restoration Systems, LLC as Principal, and Travelers Casualty
and Surety Company of America, licensed to do business in the State of, North Carolina as Surety, are held and firmly
bound unto North Carolina -Department of Environmental Qualiy — Division of Mitigation Services (Obligee), in the
penal sum of t=our Hundred Thirteen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($413,600.00), lawful money of the United States
of America, for the payment of which sum, well and truly to be made, the Principal and Surety do bind themselves, their
heirs, executors, administrators, and successors and assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
THE CONDITION OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUCH, that whereas the above bounden Principal has entered into certain
written Contract with the above named Obligee, effective the 9th day of April, 2018 for Arabia_ Bay Non-Riyerine
Wetland Mitigation Site in the Cape Fear River Basin, Cataloging Unit 03030004 (Contract _7529) -per R_FP-16-
007332 and more fully described in said Contract, a copy of which is attached, which Contract is made a part hereof and
incorporated herein by reference, except that nothing said therein shall alter, enlarge, expand or otherwise modify the
term of the bond as set out below.
NOW, THEREFORE, if Principal, its executors, administrators, successors and assigns shall promptly and faithfully
perform the Contract, according to the terms, stipulations or conditions thereof, then this obligation shall become null and
void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect. This bond is executed by the Surety and accepted by the Obligee
subject to the following express condition:
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Contract, this bond will commence on the date of approval of the Arabian Bay Non-
Riverine Wetland Mitigation Site Mitigation Plan and will remain in effect until the Principal has received written
notification from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality - Division of Mitigation Services that the
requirements of Task 6 (Submittal of Baseline Monitoring Report) have been met, but may be extended by the Surety at
its sole option by Continuation Certificate. However, neither nonrenewal by the Surety, nor the failure or inability of the
Principal to file a replacement bond in the event of nonrenewal, shall itself constitute a loss to the Obligee recoverable
under this bond or any renewal or continuation thereof. The liability of the Surety under this bond and all Continuation
Certificates issued in connection therewith shall not be cumulative and shall in no event exceed the amount as set forth in
this bond or in any additions, riders, or endorsements properly issued by the Surety as supplements thereto.
Sealed with our seals and dated this 19th day of February . 2019.
;� 9. -.0 1,%.e '--, ::�
Witness
4
Witness
Agreed and acknowledged this _ day of , 2018
By:
S-5025 (08-99)
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America
JW4 0. KA kltt
NgK-
Julia C. McElligott, Attorn -in-Fact
Obligee
McGriff Insurance Services
4309 Emperor Blvd Suite 300
Durham, NC 27709

WARNING: THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY IS INVALID WITHOUT THE RED BORDER
• POWER OF ATTORNEY
TRAVELERSJ Farmington Casualty Company St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company
Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company Travelers Casualty and Surety Company
Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America
St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company
St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company
Attorney -In Fact No. 230519
Certificate No. 007077194
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That Farmington Casualty Company, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance
Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, and United States
Fidelity and Guaranty Company are corporations duly organized under the laws of the State of Connecticut, that Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company is a
corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Iowa, and that Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., is a corporation duly organized under the
laws of the State of Wisconsin (herein collectively called the "Companies"), and that the Companies do hereby make, constitute and appoint
Angela B. Britt, Richard V. Haar Jr., Phoebe C. Honeycutt, Kenneth J. Peeples, Heather Burroughs, Neil B. Biller, Bobbi D. Pendleton, Christopher A.
Lydick, Julia C. McElligott, Adam Pfanmiller, and Jason Lee Sayers
of the City of Durham • State:o.f North Carolina , their true and lawful Attorney(s)-in-Fact,
each in their separate capacity if more than one is named above, to sign, execute, seal and acknowledge any and all bonds, recognizances, conditional undertakings and
other writings obligatory in the nature thereof on behalf of the Companies in their business of guaranteeing the fidelity of persons, guaranteeing the performance of
contracts and executing or guaranteeing bonds and undertakings required or permitted in any actions or proceedings allowed by law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Companies have caused this instrument to be signed and their corporate seals to be hereto affixed, this
day of December 1416
Farmington Casualty Company
Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company
Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters, Inc.
St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company
St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company
21st
St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America
United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company
�nsuti� _�91ii1' 'i ilrs � �wK SMS y �KsyA *.ir aqa � Y
' s�] n INCOAFDRAtED !°�PY�°;' w�`pp40RA T��Ye^ `
HAOOHNRD, i t1Rq 8 '� tggsEO
a • 1.� � t� Qi'tANCI ` q'y� �•� tam �j�......�� q � F�'r � '"'�1 �� A,y�
State of Connecticut
City of Hartford ss.
By:
Y
Robert L. Raney, Senior Vice President
On this the 21st day of December 2016 before me personally appeared Robert L. Raney, who acknowledged himself to
be the Senior Vice President of Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., St. Paul
Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers
Casualty and Surety Company of America, and United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, and that he, as such, being authorized so to do, executed the foregoing
instrument for the purposes therein contained by signing on behalf of the corporations by himself as a duly authorized officer.
G•T�
In Witness Whereof, I hereunto set my hand and official seal. Y
My Commission expires the 30th day of June, 2021. Lip ,tr
58440-5-16 Printed in U.S.A.
EY IS INVALID
ED
Marie C. Tetreault, Notary Public

Appendix G
Site Protection Instrument
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

BK 1262 PG 0077
This certifies that pin: 794530001033
is fr of any delinquent ad valorem Tax liens charged to the
Hok County Tax Collect bu � d es not certify that the deed
des iption match the
�U(g Date: 4125/2019
lection Clerk Signature NCGS 161-31
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
gt,- i380•CO
+?05"% =1P1 IgHS30Co 1033
HOKE COUNTY
SPO File Number: 47 -AA
DMS Project Number: 100061
FILED Apr 25, 2019 11:42:51 am
BOOK 01262
FILED
PAGE 0077 THRU 0087
HOKE COUNTY, NC
INSTRUMENT # 02193
CAMILLE D. HURST
RECORDING $26.00
REGISTER
EXCISE TAX $386.00
OF DEEDS
NL
DEED OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT
AND RIGHT OF ACCESS PROVIDED
PURSUANT TO
FULL DELIVERY
MITIGATION CONTRACT
Prepared by: Office of the Attorney General
Property Control Section
Return to: NC Department of Administration
State Property Office
1321 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1321
THIS DEED OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND RIGHT OF ACCESS, made
this 25`h day of April, 2019, by Fred B. Harris and wife, Agnes T. Harris ("Grantor"), whose
mailing address is 3941 Arabia Road, Raeford, NC 28376-9615, to the State of North Carolina,
("Grantee"), whose mailing address is State of North Carolina, Department of Administration,
State Property Office, 1321 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1321. The designations of
Grantor and Grantee as used herein shall include said parties, their heirs, successors, and assigns,
and shall include singular, plural, masculine, feminine, or neuter as required by context.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-214.8 et seq., the State
of North Carolina has established the Division of Mitigation Services (formerly known as the
Ecosystem Enhancement Program and Wetlands Restoration Program) within the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources for the purposes of acquiring, maintaining, restoring,
enhancing, creating and preserving wetland and riparian resources that contribute to the
protection and improvement of water quality, flood prevention, fisheries, aquatic habitat, wildlife
habitat, and recreational opportunities; and
3082833v4.JBB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0078
WHEREAS, this Conservation Easement from Grantor to Grantee has been negotiated,
arranged and provided for as a condition of a full delivery contract between Restoration Systems,
LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company, 1101 Haynes St., Suite 211, Raleigh, NC
27604-1499 and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to provide wetland
mitigation pursuant to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Purchase and
Services Contract Number 7529.
WHEREAS, The State of North Carolina is qualified to be the Grantee of a Conservation
Easement pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 121-35; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the United
States Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding, (MOU) duly executed by all parties on November 4, 1998. This MOU
recognized that the Wetlands Restoration Program was to provide effective compensatory
mitigation for authorized impacts to wetlands, streams and other aquatic resources by restoring,
enhancing and preserving the wetland and riparian areas of the State; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the North Carolina
Department of Transportation and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington
District entered into a Memorandum of Agreement, (MOA) duly executed by all parties in
Greensboro, NC on July 22, 2003, which recognizes that the Division of Mitigation Services
(formerly Ecosystem Enhancement Program) is to provide for compensatory mitigation by
effective protection of the land, water and natural resources of the State by restoring, enhancing
and preserving ecosystem functions; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, and the National Marine
Fisheries Service entered into an agreement to continue the In -Lieu Fee operations of the North
Carolina Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mitigation Services (formerly Ecosystem
Enhancement Program) with an effective date of 28 July, 2010, which supersedes and replaces
the previously effective MOA and MOU referenced above; and
WHEREAS, the acceptance of this instrument for and on behalf of the State of North
Carolina was granted to the Department of Administration by resolution as approved by the
Governor and Council of State adopted at a meeting held in the City of Raleigh, North Carolina,
on the 8th day of February 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Mitigation Services in the Department of Environmental
Quality, which has been delegated the authority authorized by the Governor and Council of State
to the Department of Administration, has approved acceptance of this instrument; and
WHEREAS, Grantor owns in fee simple certain real property situated, lying, and being
in Stonewall Township, Hoke County, North Carolina (the "Property"), and being more
3082833v4.JBB.2627532 8673

BK 1262 PG 0079
particularly described as that certain parcel of land containing approximately 85.80 acres and
being conveyed to the Grantor by deed as recorded in Deed Book 276 at Page 518 of the Hoke
County Registry, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Grantor is willing to grant a Conservation Easement and Right of Access
over the herein described areas of the Property, thereby restricting and limiting the use of the
areas of the Property subject to the Conservation Easement to the terms and conditions and
purposes hereinafter set forth, and Grantee is willing to accept said Easement and Access Rights.
The Conservation Easement shall be for the protection and benefit of the waters of Rockfish
Creek.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and
restrictions hereinafter set forth, Grantor unconditionally and irrevocably hereby grants and
conveys unto Grantee, its successors and assigns, forever and in perpetuity, a Conservation
Easement along with a general Right of Access.
The Conservation Easement Area consists of the following:
BEING ALL OF the Conservation Easement area containing a total of 16.08 acres, more or less,
as shown on the plat of survey entitled "Final Plat, Conservation Easement for North Carolina
Division of Mitigation Services, Project ID No. 10061, SPO File No. 47 -AA, of the Arabia Bay
Mitigation Site Over and Across a Portion of the Lands Currently Owned by Fred B. Harris and
wife, Agnes T. Harris Per D.B. 276, PG 518," dated April 18, 2019, by John A. Rudolph. PLS
Number L-4194, K2 Design Group, and recorded in the Hoke County, North Carolina Register
of Deeds at Plat Book 4125, Page 1.
See attached "Exhibit A", Legal Description of area of the Property hereinafter referred to as the
"Conservation Easement Area"
The purposes of this Conservation Easement are to maintain, restore, enhance, construct,
create and preserve wetland and/or riparian resources in the Conservation Easement Area that
contribute to the protection and improvement of water quality, flood prevention, fisheries,
aquatic habitat, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities; to maintain permanently the
Conservation Easement Area in its natural condition, consistent with these purposes; and to
prevent any use of the Easement Area that will significantly impair or interfere with these
purposes. To achieve these purposes, the following conditions and restrictions are set forth:
I. DURATION OF EASEMENT
Pursuant to law, including the above referenced statutes, this Conservation Easement and
Right of Access shall be perpetual and it shall run with, and be a continuing restriction upon the
use of, the Property, and it shall be enforceable by the Grantee against the Grantor and against
Grantor's heirs, successors and assigns, personal representatives, agents, lessees, and licensees.
3082833v4.JBB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0080
IL GRANTOR RESERVED USES AND RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES
The Conservation Easement Area shall be restricted from any development or usage that
would impair or interfere with the purposes of this Conservation Easement. Unless expressly
reserved as a compatible use herein, any activity in, or use of, the Conservation Easement Area
by the Grantor is prohibited as inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement.
Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor have been acquired by the Grantee.
Any rights not expressly reserved hereunder by the Grantor, including the rights to all mitigation
credits, including, but not limited to, stream, wetland, and riparian buffer mitigation units,
derived from each site within the area of the Conservation Easement, are conveyed to and belong
to the Grantee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following specific uses are
prohibited, restricted, or reserved as indicated:
A. Recreational Uses. Grantor expressly reserves the right to undeveloped recreational
uses, including hiking, bird watching, hunting and fishing, and access to the Conservation
Easement Area for the purposes thereof.
B. Motorized Vehicle Use. Motorized vehicle use in the Conservation Easement Area is
prohibited except within a Crossing Area(s) or Road or Trail as shown on the recorded survey
plat.
C. Educational Uses. The Grantor reserves the right to engage in and permit others to
engage in educational uses in the Conservation Easement Area not inconsistent with this
Conservation Easement, and the right of access to the Conservation Easement Area for such
purposes including organized educational activities such as site visits and observations.
Educational uses of the property shall not alter vegetation, hydrology or topography of the site.
D. Damage to Vegetation. Except within Crossing Area(s) as shown on the recorded
survey plat and as related to the removal of non-native plants, diseased or damaged trees, or
vegetation that destabilizes or renders unsafe the Conservation Easement Area to persons or
natural habitat, all cutting, removal, mowing, harming, or destruction of any trees and vegetation
in the Conservation Easement Area is prohibited.
E. Industrial, Residential and Commercial Uses. All industrial, residential and
commercial uses are prohibited in the Conservation Easement Area.
F. Agricultural Use. All agricultural uses are prohibited within the Conservation Easement
Area including any use for cropland, waste lagoons, or pastureland.
G. New Construction. There shall be no building, facility, mobile home, antenna, utility
pole, tower, or other structure constructed or placed in the Conservation Easement Area.
H. Roads and Trails. There shall be no construction or maintenance of new roads, trails,
walkways, or paving in the Conservation Easement.
3 08283 3 v4.JBB.2627532 8673

BK 1262 PG 0081
All existing roads, trails and crossings within the Conservation Easement Area shall be shown on
the recorded survey plat.
I. Signs. No signs shall be permitted in the Conservation Easement Area except
interpretive signs describing restoration activities and the conservation values of the
Conservation Easement Area, signs identifying the owner of the Property and the holder of the
Conservation Easement, signs giving directions, or signs prescribing rules and regulations for the
use of the Conservation Easement Area.
J. Dumping or Storing. Dumping or storage of soil, trash, ashes, garbage, waste,
abandoned vehicles, appliances, machinery, or any other material in the Conservation Easement
Area is prohibited.
K. Grading, Mineral Use, Excavation, Dredging. There shall be no grading, filling,
excavation, dredging, mining, drilling, hydraulic fracturing; removal of topsoil, sand, gravel,
rock, peat, minerals, or other materials.
L. Water Quality and Drainage Patterns. There shall be no diking, draining, dredging,
channeling, filling, leveling, pumping, impounding or diverting, causing, allowing or permitting
the diversion of surface or underground water in the Conservation Easement Area. No altering
or tampering with water control structures or devices, or disruption or alteration of the restored,
enhanced, or created drainage patterns is allowed. All removal of wetlands, polluting or
discharging into waters, springs, seeps, or wetlands, or use of pesticide or biocides in the
Conservation Easement Area is prohibited. In the event of an emergency interruption or
shortage of all other water sources, water from within the Conservation Easement Area may
temporarily be withdrawn for good cause shown as needed for the survival of livestock on the
Property.
M. Subdivision and Conveyance. Grantor voluntarily agrees that no further subdivision,
partitioning, or dividing of the Conservation Easement Area portion of the Property owned by the
Grantor in fee simple ("fee") that is subject to this Conservation Easement is allowed. Any future
transfer of the Property shall be subject to this Conservation Easement and Right of Access and to the
Grantee's right of unlimited and repeated ingress and egress over and across the Property to the
Conservation Easement Area for the purposes set forth herein.
N. Development Rights. All development rights are permanently removed from the
Conservation Easement Area and are non-transferrable.
O. Disturbance of Natural Features. Any change, disturbance, alteration or impairment of
the natural features of the Conservation Easement Area or any intentional introduction of non-
native plants, trees and/or animal species by Grantor is prohibited.
The Grantor may request permission to vary from the above restrictions for good cause
shown, provided that any such request is not inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation
Easement, and the Grantor obtains advance written approval from the Division of Mitigation
Services, 1652 Mail Services Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1652.
3082833v4.JBB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0082
III. GRANTEE RESERVED USES
A. Right of Access, Construction, and Inspection. The Grantee, its employees and agents,
successors and assigns, receive a perpetual Right of Access to the Conservation Easement Area
over the Property at reasonable times to undertake any activities on the property to restore,
construct, manage, maintain, enhance, protect, and monitor the stream, wetland and any other
riparian resources in the Conservation Easement Area, in accordance with restoration activities
or a long-term management plan. Unless otherwise specifically set forth in this Conservation
Easement, the rights granted herein do not include or establish for the public any access rights.
B. Restoration Activities. These activities include planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous
vegetation, installation of monitoring wells, utilization of heavy equipment to grade, fill, and
prepare the soil, modification of the hydrology of the site, and installation of natural and
manmade materials as needed to direct in -stream, above ground, and subterraneous water flow.
C. Signs. The Grantee, its employees and agents, successors or assigns, shall be permitted
to place signs and witness posts on the Property to include any or all of the following: describe
the project, prohibited activities within the Conservation Easement, or identify the project
boundaries and the holder of the Conservation Easement.
D. Fences. Conservation Easements are purchased to protect the investments by the State
(Grantee) in natural resources. Livestock within conservations easements damages the
investment and can result in reductions in natural resource value and mitigation credits which
would cause financial harm to the State. Therefore, Landowners (Grantor) with livestock are
required to restrict livestock access to the Conservation Easement area. Repeated failure to do so
may result in the State (Grantee) repairing or installing livestock exclusion devices (fences)
within the conservation area for the purpose of restricting livestock access. In such cases, the
landowner (Grantor) must provide access to the State (Grantee) to make repairs.
E. Crossing Area(s). The Grantee is not responsible for maintenance of crossing area(s),
however, the Grantee, its employees and agents, successors or assigns, reserve the right to repair
crossing area(s), at its sole discretion and to recover the cost of such repairs from the Grantor if
such repairs are needed as a result of activities of the Grantor, his successors or assigns.
IV. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES
A. Enforcement. To accomplish the purposes of this Conservation Easement, Grantee is
allowed to prevent any activity within the Conservation Easement Area that is inconsistent with
the purposes of this Conservation Easement and to require the restoration of such areas or
features in the Conservation Easement Area that may have been damaged by such unauthorized
activity or use. Upon any breach of the terms of this Conservation Easement by Grantor, the
Grantee shall, except as provided below, notify the Grantor in writing of such breach and the
Grantor shall have ninety (90) days after receipt of such notice to correct the damage caused by
such breach. If the breach and damage remains uncured after ninety (90) days, the Grantee may
enforce this Conservation Easement by bringing appropriate legal proceedings including an
action to recover damages, as well as injunctive and other relief. The Grantee shall also have the
3082833v4.JBB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0083
power and authority, consistent with its statutory authority: (a) to prevent any impairment of the
Conservation Easement Area by acts which may be unlawful or in violation of this Conservation
Easement; (b) to otherwise preserve or protect its interest in the Property; or (c) to seek damages
from any appropriate person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee reserves the
immediate right, without notice, to obtain a temporary restraining order, injunctive or other
appropriate relief, if the breach is or would irreversibly or otherwise materially impair the
benefits to be derived from this Conservation Easement, and the Grantor and Grantee
acknowledge that the damage would be irreparable and remedies at law inadequate. The rights
and remedies of the Grantee provided hereunder shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all
other rights and remedies available to Grantee in connection with this Conservation Easement.
B. Inspection. The Grantee, its employees and agents, successors and assigns, have the
right, with reasonable notice, to enter the Conservation Easement Area over the Property at
reasonable times for the purpose of inspection to determine whether the Grantor is complying
with the terms, conditions and restrictions of this Conservation Easement.
C. Acts Beyond Grantor's Control. Nothing contained in this Conservation Easement
shall be construed to entitle Grantee to bring any action against Grantor for any injury or change
in the Conservation Easement Area caused by third parties, resulting from causes beyond the
Grantor's control, including, without limitation, fire, flood, storm, and earth movement, or from
any prudent action taken in good faith by the Grantor under emergency conditions to prevent,
abate, or mitigate significant injury to life or damage to the Property resulting from such causes.
D. Costs of Enforcement. Beyond regular and typical monitoring expenses, any costs
incurred by Grantee in enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement against Grantor,
including, without limitation, any costs of restoration necessitated by Grantor's acts or omissions
in violation of the terms of this Conservation Easement, shall be borne by Grantor.
E. No Waiver. Enforcement of this Easement shall be at the discretion of the Grantee and
any forbearance, delay or omission by Grantee to exercise its rights hereunder in the event of any
breach of any term set forth herein shall not be construed to be a waiver by Grantee.
V. MISCELLANEOUS
A. This instrument sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
Conservation Easement and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings or
agreements relating to the Conservation Easement. If any provision is found to be invalid, the
remainder of the provisions of the Conservation Easement, and the application of such provision
to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is found to be invalid, shall not be
affected thereby.
B. Grantor is responsible for any real estate taxes, assessments, fees, or charges levied upon
the Property. Grantee shall not be responsible for any costs or liability of any kind related to the
ownership, operation, insurance, upkeep, or maintenance of the Property, except as expressly
provided herein. Upkeep of any constructed bridges, fences, or other amenities on the Property
are the sole responsibility of the Grantor. Nothing herein shall relieve the Grantor of the
3082833 v4. JBB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0084
obligation to comply with federal, state or local laws, regulations and permits that may apply to
the exercise of the Reserved Rights.
C. Any notices shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the
parties at their addresses shown herein or to other addresses as either party establishes in writing
upon notification to the other.
D. Grantor shall notify Grantee in writing of the name and address and any party to whom
the Property or any part thereof is to be transferred at or prior to the time said transfer is made.
Grantor further agrees that any subsequent lease, deed, or other legal instrument by which any
interest in the Property is conveyed is subject to the Conservation Easement herein created.
E. The Grantor and Grantee agree that the terms of this Conservation Easement shall survive
any merger of the fee and easement interests in the Property or any portion thereof.
F. This Conservation Easement and Right of Access may be amended, but only in writing
signed by all parties hereto, or their successors or assigns, if such amendment does not affect the
qualification of this Conservation Easement or the status of the Grantee under any applicable
laws, and is consistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement. The owner of the
Property shall notify the State Property Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in writing
sixty (60) days prior to the initiation of any transfer of all or any part of the Property or of any
request to void or modify this Conservation Easement. Such notifications and modification
requests shall be addressed to:
Division of Mitigation Services Program Manager
NC State Property Office
1321 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1321
and
General Counsel
US Army Corps of Engineers
69 Darlington Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403
G. The parties recognize and agree that the benefits of this Conservation Easement are in
gross and assignable provided, however, that the Grantee hereby covenants and agrees, that in
the event it transfers or assigns this Conservation Easement, the organization receiving the
interest will be a qualified holder under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 121-34 et seq. and § 170(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code, and the Grantee further covenants and agrees that the terms of the
transfer or assignment will be such that the transferee or assignee will be required to continue in
perpetuity the conservation purposes described in this document.
3082833A JBB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0085
VI. QUIET ENJOYMENT
Grantor reserves all remaining rights accruing from ownership of the Property, including
the right to engage in or permit or invite others to engage in only those uses of the Conservation
Easement Area that are expressly reserved herein, not prohibited or restricted herein, and are not
inconsistent with the purposes of this Conservation Easement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Grantor expressly reserves to the Grantor, and the Grantor's invitees and
licensees, the right of access to the Conservation Easement Area, and the right of quiet
enjoyment of the Conservation Easement Area,
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said rights and easements perpetually unto the State of
North Carolina for the aforesaid purposes,
AND Grantor covenants that Grantor is seized of said premises in fee and has the right to
convey the permanent Conservation Easement herein granted; that the same is free from
encumbrances and that Grantor will warrant and defend title to the same against the claims of all
persons whomsoever.
3082833v4.JBB.26275328673

BK 1262 PG 0086
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Grantor has hereunto set his hand and seal, the day
and year first above written.
Z ,. /� k'" (SEAL)
Fred B. Harris
714 CX,iLt.,4) (SEAL)
Agnesh. Harris
NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF 4b�(C_
I, MayM6 M607) , a Notary Public in and for the County and State
aforesaid, do hereby certify that Fred B. Harris and wife, Agnes T, Harris, Grantor, personally
appeared before me this day and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Notary Seal this the O st)
day of NM 120B_.
Notary Public�achel `�
Y
��°''�.•,���
. � .
Notate
My commission expires: 'C)
C '4
dw 001%
11088111104
308283 3 v4.J BB.26275.T28673

BK 1262 PG 0087
Exhibit A
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
OF THE ARABIA BAY MITIGATION SITE
All of the Conservation Easement Area of the Arabia Bay Wetland Mitigation Site lying and being situated in
Stonewall Township, Hoke County, North Carolina and particularly described as follows (all distances are ground
distances unless otherwise noted):
Beginning at an iron stake (Point of Beginning) labeled as Point No. 1 and being a Western corner of the
Conservation Easement Area and being located South 14°53'47" West 169.59 feet from an iron stake with a blue cap
inscribed: "K2 DESIGN CONTROL POINT" (Point No. 27) with N.C. Grid Coordinates N=439,282.1121',
E=1,958,342.8839' (NAD '83, 2011).
Thence from the Point of Beginning (Point No. 1), North 34°56'37" West 256.36' to an iron stake; thence North
05°59'37" West 143.41' to an iron stake; thence North 42°49'02" East 306.21' to an iron stake; thence North
82°34'28" East 272.03' to an iron stake; thence South 81°03'10" East 152.75' to an iron stake; thence South
60°40'41" East 175.16' to an iron stake; thence South 42°16'38" East 222.48' to an iron stake; thence South
28°44'52" East 157.47' to an iron stake; thence South 10°23'04" East 287.19' to an iron stake; thence South
39°26'11" West 258.55' to an iron stake; thence South 64°03'47" West 116.22' to an iron stake; thence North
84°50'34" West 144.86' to an iron stake; thence North 71°47'27" West 204.62' to an iron stake; thence North
49°07'49" West 188.30' to an iron stake; thence North 47°58'31" West 197.94' to an iron stake, which is the Point of
Beginning (Point No. 1), having an area of 16.08 acres, more or less.
The foregoing Conservation Easement Areas is also as shown on the plat of survey titled "Conservation Easement
Survey for The State of North Carolina, Division of Mitigation Services, DMS Project ID No. 100061, SPO File
Number 47 -AA of Arabia Bay Mitigation Site over and across a Portion of the Lands Currently Owned by Fred B.
Harris and wife, Agnes T. Harris" dated April 18, 2019, by John A. Rudolph. PLS Number L-4194, K2 Design
Group, and recorded in the Hoke County, North Carolina Register of Deeds at Plat Book 4125, Page 1.
TOGETHER WITH that certain new twenty (20) foot -wide non-exclusive access easement, for ingress, egress, and
regress labeled as Access Easement as shown on the foregoing described plat of survey recorded in Plat Book Plat
Book 4125, Page 1, Hoke County Registry.
3082833v4.JBB.26275.T28673

Appendix H
Credit Release Schedule
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

The standard release schedule for ILF credits generated through wetland mitigation projects has
been modified to meet the new standards for the monitoring timeframes provided in this guidance
document.
The schedules below list the updated credit release schedules for wetland mitigation projects
developed by ILF sites in North Carolina:
Arabia Bay Wetland Mitigation Site Credit Release Schedule and Milestones
Credit
ILF/NCDMS
Release
Milestone
Release Activity
Interim Release
Total Released
Site Establishment (includes all required criteria
1
stated above)
0%
0%
Completion of all initial physical and biological
improvements made pursuant to the Mitigation
30%
30%
2
Plan
Year 1 monitoring report demonstrates that
3
interim performance standards have been met
o
10%
0
40/o
Year 2 monitoring report demonstrates that
4
interim performance standards have been met
o
10/0
50%
Year 3 monitoring report demonstrates that
5
interim performance standards have been met
o
15%
0
65/o
Year 4 monitoring report demonstrates that
6
interim performance standards have been met
o
5 /0
0
70/o
Year 5 monitoring report demonstrates that
7
interim performance standards have been met
o
15%
°
85/o
Year 6 monitoring report demonstrates that
8*
interim performance standards have been met
o
5 /0
0
90/o
Year 7 monitoring report demonstrates that
9
performance standards have been met
o
10%
100 0
/o
*Please note that vegetation plot data may not be required with monitoring reports submitted during these
monitoring years unless otherwise required by the Mitigation Plan or directed by the NCIRT.
31

Appendix I
Maintenance Plan
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Maintenance Plan
The Site shall be monitored on a regular basis and a physical inspection of the site shall be conducted a
minimum of once per year throughout the post -construction monitoring period until performance
standards are met. These Site inspections may identify Site components and features that require routine
maintenance. Routine maintenance should be expected most often in the first two years following site
construction and may include the following:
Component/Feature
Maintenance through project close-out
Vegetation shall be maintained to ensure the health and vigor of the targeted
plant community. Routine vegetation maintenance and repair activities may
include supplemental planting, pruning, mulching, and fertilizing. Exotic invasive
Vegetation
plant species shall be controlled by mechanical and/or chemical methods. Any
vegetation control requiring herbicide application will be performed in
accordance with NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA) rules and regulations.
Site boundaries shall be identified in the field to ensure clear distinction between
the mitigation site and adjacent properties. Boundaries may be identified by
Site Boundary
fence, marker, bollard, post, tree- blazing, or other means as allowed by site
conditions and/or conservation easement. Boundary markers disturbed,
damaged, or destroyed will be repaired and/or replaced on an as needed basis.
Terracell Drop
Routine maintenance and repair activities may include removal of debris and
supplemental installation of live stakes and other target vegetation along the
Structure
channel. Undermining of the structure may require repair or replacement.

Appendix J
Construction Plans
Erosion Control Plan
Structure Details
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6F67C349-2A91-4EB7-85DD-E1CO85A2D73F
VICINITY MAP
Not to Scale
fa
CONSTRUCTION PLANS
ARABIA BAY SITE
LOCATION. HOKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE OF WORK: WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION (CLEARING,
GRUBBING, GRADING, AND EROSION CONTROL)
THESE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLANS COMPLY
WITH THE REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE
NCG-010000 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2016
ISSUED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY - DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES.
Restoration Systems
1 101 Haynes St.
Suite 211
Raleigh NC 27604
WORTH CREECH
SITE CONSTRUCTION :WANAGER
7
BTATB
Designed By.
SHEET
Axiom Environmental
N.C.
218 Snow Ave
I
Raleigh NC 27603
GRANT LEWIS
A.—Er,--t.1, Ioc,
PROJECT DESIGNER
Restoration Systems
1 101 Haynes St.
Suite 211
Raleigh NC 27604
WORTH CREECH
SITE CONSTRUCTION :WANAGER
7
BTATB
BI'ATB YROI6GT RBPBRBNCB NQ
SHEET
N.C.
ARABIA BAY SITE
I
DWR PROJECT #2018-0784
INDEX OF SHEETS:
1
2 - 213
3
4
5
TITLE SHEET
DETAILS
NOTES
MITIGATION PLAN OVERALL
MITIGATION PLAN VIEW -IN
LIMITS OF CONSTRUCTION:
17.4 ACRES
I
CID
M
O DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL
Q UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED
Z
Prepared in Ile Office of.
SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
905 JONES AD
RALEIGH, NORTHKLIN CARO�NA 27606
TEL [phone]
M 1-1� ENG FIRM LICENSE NO. C-890
JOSHUA G. DALTON, P.E.
PROJECT ENGINEER
UocuSignedby:
9089A08C14994C3..- � �; /
26971 = _
/C/os�NGIINE�� off\\ \
GI QPM
5/30/2019

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6F67C349-2A91-4EB7-85DD-E1CO85A2D73F
WATER SURFACE
ELEVATION
Z_
TR TERRACELL
8 IN TERRACELL
SYNTHETIC GEOGRID
DROP STRUCTURE - TERRACELL
BR TERRACELL
-----------
GEOTEXTILE FABRIC \
PROFILE ARMORED POOL
(SEE NOTES)
TERRACELL STRUCTURE NOTES:
1. CONTRACTOR WILL INSTALL 8 -INCH TERRACELL SYNTHETIC GEOGRID AS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S
SPECIFICATIONS.
2. THE POOL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DROP STRUCTURE WILL BE ARMORED WITH GEOTEXTILE FABRIC
AND SUITABLE NATURAL BED MATERIAL.
3. NATURAL BED MATERIAL IS DEFINED AS MATERIAL OBTAINED FROM STOCKPILES AT THE SITE RANGING
IN SIZE FROM 5" - 17" AVERAGE DIAMETER WITH THE MAJORITY OF MATERIAL HAVING 10" AVERAGE
DIAMETER, OR EQUIVALENT MATERIAL.
5" CLASS 'A' RIP RAP
C
-o
7
8 IN TERRACELL
SYNTHETIC GEOGRID
GEOTEXTILE FABRIC
CROSS-SECTION
SHEET NAME I SHEET NUMBER
DETAILS 1 2
PROJECT NAME: ARABIA BAY WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION SITE
COUNTY: MCKE DATE: 2019
SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
■ ■ 905 JONES FRANKLIN ROAD
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27606
TEL[phone]
ENG FIRM LICENSE NO. C-890
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
TERRACELL STRUCTURE NOTES:
1. CONTRACTOR WILL INSTALL 8 -INCH TERRACELL SYNTHETIC GEOGRID AS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S
SPECIFICATIONS.
2. ONCE THE SYNTHETIC GEOGRID HAS BEEN INSTALLED, GEOCELLS WILL BE BACKFILLED WITH GRAVEL
AND TOPSOIL AND PLANTED WITH EROSION CONTROL GRASSES AND WILLOW STAKES (SALIA-NIGRA.
TDP AND BOTTOM S
SHALL BE 10 GAUG
NOTES
(8' MAX_ WITH WIRE
fi' MAX. WITHOUT WIRE]
DocuSigned by.- �O
1089ADSC14994C3... O�
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26971 = _
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5/30/2019
DATE:
DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL
UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED
USE GEOTEXTILE A MINIMUM OF
36" IN WIDTH AND FASTEN ADEQUATELY
TO THE POSTS AND WIRE AS DIRECTED.
USE WIRE A MINIMUM OF 32"
IN WIDTH AND WITH A MINIMUM
OF 5 LINE WIRES WITH 12" VERTICAL
SPACING.
PROVIDE 5'-0" -STEEL POST OF
THE SELF -FASTENER ANGLE STEER
TYPE.
FOR MECHANICAL SLICING METHOD
INSTALLATION, GEOTEXTILE SHALL
BE A MAXIMUM OF 18" ABOVE GROUND
SURFACE,
GEOTEXTILE
GEOTEXTILE -
COMPACTED FILL
B
�57EEL POG7 - 2'-O" DEPTH
EXTENSIONOF GEOTEXTILE AND
WIRE INTO TRENCH
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NOTES
USE NO. 5 OR NO. 57 STONE FOR SEDIMENT
CONTROL STONE.
VARIABLE
DIMENSION ' *
3 it
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SEDIMENT CDNTRDL STONE
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INSTALL 5 FT. SELF FASTENER ANGLE STEEL
Z
POST 2 FT., DEEP MINIMUM.
W
�LL.
O
ATTACH HARDWARE CLOTH TO POSTS WITH WIRE
STAPLE DR OTHER ACCEPTABLE METHODS.
CUL
5 C
SPACE POSTS A MAXIMUM OF 3 FT.
H CC
F
FOR INSTALLATION BETWEEN SECTIONS OF
bq WIRE MESH
¢ x
o
SILT FENCE, EXTEND SEDIMENT CONTROL
STONE A MINIMUM OF 12" ON EACH SIDE OF
SEDIMENT
CONTROL STONE
p
SPECIAL SEDIMENT CONTROL FENCE SECTION.
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aEDTNEIlT CONTRDL STC
STRUCTURAL
FI OW
PLAN
NOTES
USE CLASS B EROSION CONTROL STONE
FOR STRUCTURAL STONE.
USE NO. 5 OR NO. 57 STONE FOR SEDIMENT
CONTROL STONE.
213 pX"EL
IYS DTH I H�ti
MIN
12"
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SHEET NAME I SHEET NUMBER
DETAILS I 2A
PROJECT NAME: ARABIA BAY WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION SITE
COUNTY: -;RE---DATE: 20/9
SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
■ ■ 905 JONES FRANKLIN ROAD
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 11111
TEL[phone]
ENG FIRM LICENSE NO. C-890
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
DocuSignedby;\ IR////
6S� 0461A,°
i 9
1089A08C14994C3... �j/
=� SEAL
26971 = _
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5/30/2019
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DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL
UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6F67C349-2A91-4EB7-85DD-E1CO85A2D73F
EXTEND CHANNEL BLOCK �✓ NV
MIN. OF BEYOND LIMITS
OF EXISTING CHANNEL
PLAN VIEW
1607.01
NEW STREAMBANK SHALLUNCOMPACTED
BE TREATED AS BACKFILL
SPECIFIED IN PLANS 5' Min. 10' 1.5'
FINISH GRADE
XTEND CHANNEL BLOCK
IN. OF BEYOND INVERT
F EXISTING CHANNEL FLOW
CHANNEL
INVERT
MIN.
LENGTH UNCOMPACTED
BACKFILL
'OMPACTED
3ACKFILL
COMPACTED SECTION A - A
BACKFILL
SECTION B -B
STREAM PLUG
NOT TO SCALE
rr y
2; r Lu
>
COMPACTED
BACKFILL
IMPERVIOUS SELECT
MATERIAL (SEE PROJECT
SPECIAL PROVISIONS)
NOTES:
1) CHANNEL BLOCK SHALL BE INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS.
2) BLOCK SHOULD BE INSTALLED AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN EXISTING
CHANNEL AND PROPOSED CHANNEL.
3) BOTTOM OF BLOCK SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF BELOW THE INVERT
OF THE EXISTING CHANNEL.
4) BLOCK SHOULD EXTEND A MINIMUM OF BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE
EXISTING STREAM CHANNEL.
5) INSTALL EROSION CONTROL MATTING AND SEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADING.
6) COMPACT BACKFILL TO EXTENT POSSIBLE OR AT THE DIRECTION OF
THE ENGINEER.
SHEET NAME SHEET NUMBER
DETAILS 28
PROJECT NAME: ARABIA BAY WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION SITE
COUNTY: HOKE I DATE: 2019
SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
`■ ■ 905JONESFRANKLIN ROAD
r . RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27606
TEL
V11f1� �_ 859
ENG(FIRM L CENSE NO. C-890
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
�AlI1IlIIl//
DocuSigned by: Ro
�as� NUN&
9
9089AU8C14994C3... 0/G ;
=� SEAL
26971 = _
qs`
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5/30/2019
DATE:
DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL
UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED
2
�r
r
as
NOTES
O
Y.
PROVIDE TURNING RADIUS SUFFICIENT TO ACCOODATE LARGE
MM
¢ ( ¢ o C
TRUCKS.
F =~z y
2.
LOCATE ENTRANCES TO PROVIDE FOR UTILIZATION
BY ALL CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES.
3,
MUST BE MAINTAINED IN A CONDITION WHICH WILL PREVENT
TRACKING OR DIRECT FLOW OF MUO ONTO STREETS.
a
PERIODIC TOPDRESSING WITH STONE WILL SE NECESSARY.
c
4.
ANY MATERIAL TRACKED ONTO THE ROADWAY MUST BE
CLEANED UP IMMEDIATELY.
S.
LOCATE GRAVEL CONSTRUCTIONENTRANCE AT ALL POINTS OF
INGRESS AND EGRESS UNTIL SITE IS STABILIZED. PROVIDE
FREOUENT CHECKS OF THE DEVICE AND TIMELY VAINTENANCE.
6.
NUMBER AND LOCATION OF CONSTRUCTION ENTRANCES TO
V
8E DETERMINED 9Y THE ENGINEER.
7.
USE CLASS A' STONE OR OTHER COARSE AGGREGATE APPROVED
BY THE ENGINEER.
o
B.
INSTALL CONSTRVCTIDN ENTRANCES IN A WAY TS} PREVENT VEHICLES
FROM BYPASSING CONSTRUCTION ENTRANCE LEAVING PROJECT SITE.
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NOTE:
PLACE GEOTEXTILE FOR DRAINAGE BENEATH STONE
1607.01
NEW STREAMBANK SHALLUNCOMPACTED
BE TREATED AS BACKFILL
SPECIFIED IN PLANS 5' Min. 10' 1.5'
FINISH GRADE
XTEND CHANNEL BLOCK
IN. OF BEYOND INVERT
F EXISTING CHANNEL FLOW
CHANNEL
INVERT
MIN.
LENGTH UNCOMPACTED
BACKFILL
'OMPACTED
3ACKFILL
COMPACTED SECTION A - A
BACKFILL
SECTION B -B
STREAM PLUG
NOT TO SCALE
rr y
2; r Lu
>
COMPACTED
BACKFILL
IMPERVIOUS SELECT
MATERIAL (SEE PROJECT
SPECIAL PROVISIONS)
NOTES:
1) CHANNEL BLOCK SHALL BE INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS.
2) BLOCK SHOULD BE INSTALLED AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN EXISTING
CHANNEL AND PROPOSED CHANNEL.
3) BOTTOM OF BLOCK SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF BELOW THE INVERT
OF THE EXISTING CHANNEL.
4) BLOCK SHOULD EXTEND A MINIMUM OF BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE
EXISTING STREAM CHANNEL.
5) INSTALL EROSION CONTROL MATTING AND SEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADING.
6) COMPACT BACKFILL TO EXTENT POSSIBLE OR AT THE DIRECTION OF
THE ENGINEER.
SHEET NAME SHEET NUMBER
DETAILS 28
PROJECT NAME: ARABIA BAY WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION SITE
COUNTY: HOKE I DATE: 2019
SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
`■ ■ 905JONESFRANKLIN ROAD
r . RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27606
TEL
V11f1� �_ 859
ENG(FIRM L CENSE NO. C-890
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
�AlI1IlIIl//
DocuSigned by: Ro
�as� NUN&
9
9089AU8C14994C3... 0/G ;
=� SEAL
26971 = _
qs`
y�A i G
5/30/2019
DATE:
DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL
UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6F67C349-2A91-4EB7-85DD-E1CO85A2D73F
EROSION CONTROL CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE,
1) Obtain grading permit,
2) Install temporary construction entrance. silt fnneing, access roads. and other measures shown on the
approved erosion and sedimentation control plan.
3) Install rain gage an site. Contractor shall pro-, ide a log book at the project site and shall rear} and record
rain amounts at the Same time each day -
4) Contact local Soil Erosion Authority or State for on-site inspection by Environmental Inspector and
obtain certificate of compliance.
5) Beein clearing - maintain devices as necessary.
C) Begin channel rill in - stockpile waste material in designated spoil areas and staround %t ith silt feneing,
7) -temporary or permanent ground cover stabilization shall occur within 7 calendar days from the last
land -disturbing activity, with the t'nllowing exceptions in which temporary or permanent ground cover
shall be provided within 14 calendar days From the last land -disturbing activity:
■ Slopes between 2:1 and 3.1, with a slope length of' 10 feet or less
■ Slopes 3: l or flatter, with a slope length of 30 feet or less
■ Slopes 4:1 or llatler
8) Roughen the soil using dist plow method, not deep ripping -
9) All graded areas must he seeded, mulched. and matted al the end of each day. For this reaso it, daily
disturbance is limited to the length of ditch that can be compleled within daily work ho srs_
10)Once a existing channel fill in section is stabilized, water may be reintroduced to the channel,
I [)When construction is complete and all areas are stabilized completely, call fir inspection by
Environmental Inspector.
12)If site is approved, remove silt fencing, other measures, elc- and seed out any resulting bare areas,
13) When vegelation has been established, call toy final site inspeeIion by Environmental Inspeclor-
SEEDING SCHEDULE
1'EJMPORARl Ill• RI3AC EOtIS SEED
Common Name
Scientific Name
Application Rate
Application Dates
7 DAYS
NONE
130 tbs. per acre
7 DAYS
Grain Rye "
Seralecereale
(3 lbs, per I.000It')
Year-round
Clrchard Grass a
Ducn'!is glorneraru
15 lbs per acre
September - March
14 DAYS
7 DAYS FOR SLOPES GREATER THAN 50' IN
(0-35 lbs. per 1,000 R)
5"6
Brown Top Millet n
Panicvol romosu
40 lbs. per acrem
May - September
Pani-wm virgarum
101-0
(Lo lbs. per 1,000 tt)
EljtMvs rirgillicwz
15%
1 i M16
Total
25 lbs- per acre
German Millet a
Setaria ilauca
May Se tent her
Y - P
(115 lbs. per 1,000 Ir)
" PJinrarity utili7.ed on disturbed or stockpiled areas-
° Primah1v utilized near strum channels and streambanl:s.
SITE DESCRIPTION
STABILIZATION TIME
TIMEFRAME EXCEPTIONS
PERIMETER DIKES, SWALES, DITCHES AND SLOPES
7 DAYS
NONE
HIGH DUALITY WATER (HOW) ZONES
7 DAYS
NONE
SLOPES STEEPER THAN 3:1
7 DAYS
IF SLOPES ARE 10' OR LESS IN LENGTH AND ARE
Indian Lnss
SrrrXlurs'rrrlm rtrrrrrrrs
NOT STEEPER THAN 2:1,14 DAYS ARE ALLOWED.
SLOPES 3:1 OR FLATTER
14 DAYS
7 DAYS FOR SLOPES GREATER THAN 50' IN
C'hanraecrisra_Ir+scirulme
5"6
LENGTH,
ALL OTHER AREAS WITH SLOPES FLATTER THAN 4:1
14 DAYS
NONE, EXCEPT FOR PERIMETERS AND HOW ZONES.
E
0
SEEDING SCHEDULE
PERNLANENT YIERIl,►C'EOUS SEEM
SHEET NAME
SHEET NUMBER
PROJECT NAME ARABIA BAY WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION SITE
COUNTY: HOKE I DATE: 2019
SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
'.. 905 JONES FRANKLIN ROAD
. . RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27606
tt HCL1919) 859-2243
ENG FIRM LICENSE NO. C-890
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
DoctiSignedlby, I RI11
6s�. h aw °<% ;
/ 9
r089A88C14994C3... �j/.
=� SEAQ
26971 = _
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5/30/2019
DATE:
DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL I
UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED
Permanent herbaceous seeds containing a custom mix of the following forbs and grasses will he used From
within the bankrull channel to the limits of the riparian buffer. The application timeframe for the mix is March
through June and the minimum rate is 30 lbs/acre. This mix will also be used to plant the staging and stockpile
areas and any other areas as directed by the designer,
Common Name
Scientille Name
Mix Percents e
Big Bluestein
.4ndr'opagon gerardii
151/9
Deer tongue
Dichantheliunr clandslina m
10%
Gama grass
Tr osicum drrcrylaldEs
10%
I01 4
Indian Lnss
SrrrXlurs'rrrlm rtrrrrrrrs
i -ante Ieaf tickseed
Little Bluestein
C'oreopsis Janceololu
5chizachvrilim seoparium
5,0
1040
Partridge pea
C'hanraecrisra_Ir+scirulme
5"6
Purple -top
Trrdens•/Irn,us
1 {Y" a
Switch erass
Pani-wm virgarum
101-0
vlrgiaia wild rye
EljtMvs rirgillicwz
15%
1 i M16
Total

IInaIGirm Fn%/AlnnA In. RFF7('.'ld9-9A91-AFR7-S5,nn-F9(:(1RF;Agn73F
` SHEET NAME SHEET NUMBER
" 22� 50' 25' 0 50' 100' : MITIGATION PLAN 4
PROJECT NAMEARABIA BAY WETLAND RESTORATION AND MITIGATION SITE
//SSE PSH COUNTY: FIOKf DATE: 2019
V 9/ SCALE: 1"=100'
j / �2, , — — �� �� SUNGATE DESIGN GROUP, P.A.
y. ■ 905 JONES FRANKLIN CA OLIN
/ . RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27606
TEL [phone]
/ \\, ENG FIRM LICENSE NO. C-890
7 / / {\ on -- - - — - -- NEW G VEL DRI�E�AY _ .
Axiom Environmental, Inc.
\ 1 / 1 ` / / •- - ` ft •.: \ \ \z SEE TYPICAL (PSH 02) I
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..� i 5/30/2019
ti� DATE:
STAG INy 4 DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED FINAL
AI�EA \s � `\ UNLESS ALL SIGNATURES COMPLETED
/ GRAVEL II
RILE IN EXISTING CONSTRUCTION -�1!1:
TOPOGRAHY BASED ON
ENTRANCE —SEE 1/bRAINAGE DITCH \ NC SPATIAL DATA OL2 LIDAR
/ TO EXISTING FIELD DETAIL (PSH 0213) I\
IW ELEVATION
EST 2300 CY Iti 1
1
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ELEVATION AREA -MAX DEPTH b INCHES
1
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2 1 ♦♦ , / / /
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z\z /♦♦� I �\ DITCH PLUG
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z — ♦♦'' — /z2 ,�♦� / / r / 111 CheDk Type'A
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I �\ \ \ • - - - - - - -a - 10/ ( / / // Gravel Construction
_ S / Entrance
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 6Fs;7rR4a-9na1-AFR7-R�,nn-F'I('nk�;A7n7�F

Appendix K
Water Balance Calculations
Mitigation Plan (DMS Project No. 100061) Appendices
Arabia Bay Wetland Restoration Site Restoration Systems, LLC
Hoke County, North Carolina June 2019

Arabia Water Budget Calculation
Water Budget Equation
The hydrologic cycle of a wetland can be expressed in a water budget that accounts for water
inflows and outflows to the system, as follows:
where:
AS = [P + Si + Gi] — [ET + So +Go]
AS = change in volume of water storage in a defined area over time
P = precipitation
Si = surface -water inflow
Gi = ground -water inflow
ET = evapotranspiration
So = surface water outflow
Go = groundwater outflow
Water Budget Calculation Assumptions
This drained Carolina Bay will be restored as a single wetland polygon. The following
assumptions apply to the water budget calculation:
1. Precipitation that falls within the 16 -acre footprint will be the primary hydrologic input.
2. Surface -water and ground -water inflow will be secondary hydrologic inputs and are not
expected to be critical factors in restoring wetland hydrology. This is assumed because
of the smaller size of the local watershed (24 -acres excluding the 16 -acre footprint of the
restoration area) and the Site is bounded on the upslope side by the Candor soil series
which consist of excessively drained sandy textured soils.
3. Currently surface water outflow for the site is being conveyed off the Site via a ditch
network system, and will be eliminated by removing the culvert outlet during restoration
of the Carolina Bay.
4. The existing ditches have broken through the Site's restrictive soil layer. The restrictive
soil layer supports wetland hydrology by creating a perched water table. During
construction the ditches will be filled with clay material which will restore the
fragmented restrictive soil layer and prevent potential for vertical groundwater outflow.
Based on these assumptions it is assumed that no significant groundwater or surface water
inflow/outflow will occur at the Site to the degree that it will affect the restoration of wetland

hydrology. Applying these assumptions to the water budget equation, modifies the water balance
equation for the Site to:
AS = [P] — [ET]
Precipitation
The USDA NRCS provides Wetlands Climate Tables through the Agricultural Applied Climate
System (AgACIS) which includes climate data and summary reports. There are seven AgACIS
weather stations listed for Hoke County, however when queried all of these weather stations
displayed a message that there was insufficient data to provide probability analysis of
precipitation data. Therefore, the nearest weather station (Red Springs 1 SE, NC) which is
located —10 -miles to the south in Robeson County was used as it provided the data needed. The
precipitation data is the average of precipitation data collected from 1971 — 2000.
Evapotranspiration
As discussed above in the water budget calculation assumptions surface water and groundwater
outflows will be eliminated during construction of the Site, leaving evapotranspiration as the
only water loss for the system after construction is complete. The State Office of North Carolina
at NCSU developed the NC Climate Retrieval and Observations Network Of the Southeast
Database (NC CRONOS) provides Daily Reference Crop Evapotranspiration (ETo) and Daily
Crop Evapotranspiration (ETc) for the previous 48 -months at their weather stations around the
state. A crop coefficient is multiplied by the ETo in order to calculate ETc. The closest weather
station to the Site is the Fayetteville Airport (Station ID: KFAY) in Cumberland County, NC.
The KFAY weather station is —14 -miles east northeast of the Site.
The data was accessed from the NC CRONOS KFAY weather station in January 2019, and
provided ETo and ETc data. Field corn at mid-season growth stage was selected for ETc as this
crop has the highest water loss through evapotranspiration of the crops previously grown at the
Site. The ETo and ETc data provided was from Jan 2015 — Dec 2018, and was averaged for each
month in order to perform the water budget calculation.

Summary of Water Budgetysis Results
Month
Total
Precipitation
(in)
Wetland
Area (ac)
Direct
Precipitation
on Wetland
(ac -ft)
Total
Water
Available
(ac -ft)
Avg Eto
Rate (in)
Avg Etc
Rate (in)
ET Water
Loss (ac -ft)
Water
Water Budget
Budget Net Remaining
Balance +/- Total +/-
(ac -ft) (ac -ft)
Jan
4.03
16
5.37
5.37
2.16
2.59
1.16
4.21
Feb
3.42
16
4.56
4.56
2.87
3.44
1.31
3.25
7.47
Mar
4.24
16
5.65
5.65
4.54
5.45
2.57
3.09
10.55
Apr
3.07
16
4.09
4.09
5.77
6.93
2.36
1.73
12.28
May
3.30
16
4.40
4.40
6.72
8.06
2.96
1.44
13.73
Jun
4.19
16
5.59
5.59
7.33
8.79
4.09
1.49
15.22
J u I
5.83
16
7.77
7.77
7.48
8.97
5.81
1.96
17.18
Aug
4.70
16
6.27
6.27
6.37
7.64
3.99
2.28
19.46
Sep
4.58
16
6.11
6.11
4.96
5.95
3.03
3.08
22.53
Oct
3.15
16
4.20
4.20
3.68
4.42
1.55
2.65
25.19
Nov
3.04
16
4.05
4.05
2.38
2.86
0.97
3.09
28.27
Dec
3.20
16
4.27
4.27
1.85
2.22
0.79
3.48
31.75
Totals:
46.75
62.33
62.33
56.11
67.33
30.58
31.75
Results and Conclusions
The monthly and annual water budget results for the proposed wetlands are presented in the
"Water Budget Net Balance +/-" column of the table above. A monthly running total of the water
budget is presented in "Water Budget Remaining Total +/-" column of the table above. No water
deficits were observed in the calculation during any month of the year. A water surplus is
available on a monthly and annual basis. This analysis reflects monthly water budget conditions
based on monthly direct precipitation and subtracting monthly evapotranspiration to arrive at
monthly water budget summaries.
Based on this calculation -2-feet surplus of water will cover the entire 16 -acre on an annual
basis. Considering the approximate depth to the restrictive soil layer the proposed wetland
project will be able to meet the wetland hydrology requirement during years of normal
precipitation.
References
Kreiser, G.S. 2003. A Wetland Restoration Project: Water Budget and Nutrient Analysis of a
Drained Carolina Bay (Master's Thesis). Retrieved from NCSU Library Repository. (Acessed on
December 14, 2018 hgps://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/handle/1840.16/243)
Mitsch, W.J., and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands. 3rd edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York,
NY, USA.

Regulatory Division
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
April 30, 2019
Re: NCIRT Review and USACE Approval of the Arabia Bay Mitigation Plan; SAW -2018-01151;
NCDMS Project # 100061
Mr. Tim Baumgartner
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program
1652 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1652
Dear Mr. Baumgartner:
The purpose of this letter is to provide the North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services
(NCDMS) with all comments generated by the North Carolina Interagency Review Team (NCIRT) during
the 30 -day comment period for the Arabia Bay Mitigation Plan, which closed on March 29, 2019. These
comments are attached for your review.
Based on our review of these comments, we have determined that no major concerns have been
identified with the Draft Mitigation Plan, which is considered approved with this correspondence.
However, several minor issues were identified, as described in the attached comment memo, which must
be addressed in the Final Mitigation Plan.
The Final Mitigation Plan is to be submitted with the Preconstruction Notification (PCN)
Application for Nationwide permit approval of the project along with a copy of this letter. Issues identified
above must be addressed in the Final Mitigation Plan. All changes made to the Final Mitigation Plan
should be summarized in an errata sheet included at the beginning of the document. If it is determined
that the project does not require a Department of the Army permit, you must still provide a copy of the
Final Mitigation Plan, along with a copy of this letter, to the appropriate USACE field office at least 30
days in advance of beginning construction of the project. Please note that this approval does not preclude
the inclusion of permit conditions in the permit authorization for the project, particularly if issues
mentioned above are not satisfactorily addressed. Additionally, this letter provides initial approval for the
Mitigation Plan, but this does not guarantee that the project will generate the requested amount of
mitigation credit. As you are aware, unforeseen issues may arise during construction or monitoring of the
project that may require maintenance or reconstruction that may lead to reduced credit.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter, and if you have any questions regarding this
letter, the mitigation plan review process, or the requirements of the Mitigation Rule, please call me at
919-554-4884, ext 60.
Sincerely,
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager
for Henry Wicker
Enclosures
Electronic Copies Furnished:
NCIRT Distribution List
Jeff Schaffer — NCDMS
Lindsay Crocker — NCDMS
Raymond Holz — Restoration Systems

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
69 DARLINGTON AVENUE
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403-1343
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF:
CESAW-RG/Browning
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
April 12, 2019
SUBJECT: Arabia Bay Mitigation Site - NCIRT Comments during 30 -day Mitigation Plan Review
PURPOSE: The comments listed below were posted to the NCDMS Mitigation Plan Review Portal during the
30 -day comment period in accordance with Section 332.8(g) of the 2008 Mitigation Rule.
NCDMS Project Name: Arabia Bay Mitigation Site, Hoke County, NC
USACE AID#: SAW -2018-01151
NCDMS #: 100061
30 -Day Comment Deadline: March 29, 2019
Todd Bowers, EPA.-
Section
PA:Section 7.4/Table 9/Page 15: Natural Plant Community Restoration
o Schafale 2012 lists two distinct Cypress Savannas (typic and acidic). Recommend providing some
discussion and justification on which type is being implemented for the target plant community at
Arabia Bay.
• Table 9 planted total should be 10,200 based on the number of each species provided. I also noted that with
10,200 planted stems over 16 acres would result in only 638 stems per acre, well below the desired planting
density of 680.
• Section 8.1/Table 12/Page 18: Success Criteria
o If shallow freshwater marsh is expected to encompass approximately 20% of the bay area, some
discussion on this habitat type should be included in Section 7 as a subcomponent of the cypress
savannah target habitat.
• 1 am bit confused by the inclusion of many of the shrub species (namely Leucothoe racemosa, Lindera
melissafolia, and Lyonia lucida) being a) counted towards stem density and b) potentially counted toward tree
height averages. Most of the shrubs in Table 9 may not grow above 2 meters tall and contain multiple stems.
Recommend some additional clarity as to which species will be counted towards stem density and tree height
averages.
• Section 8.3/Table 13/Page 19:
o See notes above as they pertain to success criteria for vegetation. "Plant" density, which implies all
species, is dependent on stem counts, however "plant" height may only be referring to tree species.
Average plant height of 10 feet will be difficult to achieve if the shrubs are included in the height
estimations. Recommend some clarity to differentiate between planted shrubs and trees and how they
contribute to the parameter estimations for success.

Kathy Matthews, USFWS:
• The Service reviewed the public notice for this project in June 2018, before a mitigation plan was
developed. Although pondberry is not on the county list for Hoke County, it likely was historically in
the county, and is found in Carolina bays and similar habitats. Pondberry was listed as endangered on
July 31, 1986.
The Service is very pleased that Restoration Systems (RS) is proposing to plant pondberry on the site.
We do not recommend any specific requirements for monitoring or replanting of the species other than
what is already proposed. We do not recommend any specific requirements for survival of the species
on the site.
We recommend that RS ensure that the planted stems are correctly identified as the listed species, the
plants are propagated and transported in North Carolina (unless appropriate permits are in -hand for
interstate transport/commerce), and that we are provided with name and location of the propagation
facility. Also, the Service would appreciate the opportunity to survey the site in the coming years to
determine the success of the planted population. This is in addition to the annual monitoring efforts,
since we would be interested in determining population numbers over time throughout the site, and not
just in the vegetation plots. These plants are rhizomatous, frequently propagating by vegetative sprouts
and forming clonal colonies, and we hope that planted individuals will spread throughout appropriate
habitat on the site.
It is through efforts such as this that a species may be recovered and eventually down -listed or removed
from the endangered species list. We recommend that NCDMS consider recommending the planting of
pondberry in appropriate habitat (described below) to all mitigation providers, and we will strive to also
do that when given the opportunity. As you may know, plants that are not on federally -owned lands are
not subject to take provisions, (unless such take is in violation of a State law), so hopefully, other
mitigation providers will not be discouraged from planting the species.
• Habitat (USFWS website; Beckley and Gramling 2013) : Pondberry is associated with coastal wetland
habitats such as mixed pine or hardwood sinks, ponds and other depressions, including pocosins and
successional swamp forest. The plants generally grow in shaded areas but may also be found in full sun.
As for the vegetation success criteria, I believe that the loblolly recruitment may more than make up for
any deficit in numbers of planted trees. We welcome planting of additional tree species, however we
would not like to see a reduction in the number of planted pondberry stems.
The mitigation provider will need to contact the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program (NC PCP)
for a permit before planting any state -listed (which includes all federally -listed) species. Please let me
know if the Service can be of assistance in any way.
Mac Haupt, NCD WR:
1. DWR liked the discussions of the soils in the comment/response letter from DMS (Lindsay Crocker) to
RS. DWR is still concerned with the possibility of ponding (other comments will cover later). In addition,
DWR would like to know the location and soil series of the Reference Wetland that this section
(question/statement #2) referenced.
2. DMS comment letter # 10- states that much of the ditch plug material will come from "habitat areas" within
the site. DWR cautions that the depressions should not be over 6 inches in depth and obviously the IRT
does not expect to find wetland gauges in these areas. In addition, there should be some representation of
the location and extent of the depressions in the design sheets (DWR realizes the location will be
determined once construction initiates, however, there should be some plan showing extent).

3. DMS comment letter #I I - as DWR reads it no surface water will leave the site unless it reaches the outlet
elevation of the Terracell structure. DWR is concerned about excessive ponding for the site. More
comments will be mentioned later regarding surveyed elevations versus QL2 Lidar.
4. DMS comment letter #12- DWR appreciates the inclusion of a water budget.
5. Section 7.3- DWR appreciates the moving of the current dirt road outside the easement, however, DWR
is concerned that the road will be built and the outlet placed based on QL2 Lidar. DWR would prefer that
these elevations would be verified by traditional survey methods.
6. Table 11- the growing season for Hoke County, as per the Soil Survey, is from April 5th to October 28th.
As been stated in the past, another growing season may be proposed based on soil temperature, however,
no growing season may start before March 1St. In addition, any change in growing season must be noted
in each wetland hydrologic summary table.
7. Table 12- DWR accepts the proposed 10% saturation minimum for this site, however, DWR will not
accept the proposed 8% saturation standard for monitoring years 1 and 2. That will be an IRT decision
once the data for these monitoring years have been reviewed.
8. Design sheets-PS4- DWR realizes the ditches will be filled to grade, however, does RS have any concerns
that the ditches, other than the plugged areas may still facilitate drainage of the wetland? In other words,
unless work is undertaken to compact the material (clay?) filling the ditches, areas may still drain. Will
RS/Axiom require the entire ditch be filled with compacted clay or non -impervious material?
9. Design sheets 5 and 6- DWR would prefer that the figures be supported with surveyed in elevations,
especially the constructed road, inlet, outlet of the Terracell and on sheet 6 spot elevations within the site
showing elevation differences near the rim and in the center of the site.
10. DWR found (in a different section than the other figures) a Figure 3 with Arabia Bay elevations based on
the QL2 Lidar. This figure should have been with the others, however, it does show a considerable amount
of elevation variation which would remove the need to create "habitat areas".
11. Figure 10 displays the monitoring components proposed for the site. DWR would like at least four gauges
placed near the outer rim or outside the innermost elevation line as seen in Figure 7. For example, DWR
would like a gauge in the outer area where the road was removed, also, the other 3 gauges should be
spaced within these outer areas. The other 11 gauges should be placed to address differences in elevation
throughout the site.
12. Each wetland gauge should be tied to a specific ground elevation. These elevations should be
representative of the site and tied to a surveyed in elevation.
Kim Browning, USA CE:
1. It is anticipated that water levels for this project will vary seasonally and across years from inundated to
dry, especially given the fact that the main input is rainfall; however, the hydrology standard should be at
least 10% (preferably 12%) across the site, with considerations to be taken in the first few years after
construction.
2. From a wildlife standpoint, I would be interested to know the amphibian species composition at the closure
of this project, both in the summer and the winter, assuming it's successful in restoring wetland habitat.
These isolated wetlands are often the only landscape feature available for amphibian reproduction in large
areas.
a. Has any consideration been made regarding the condition of the existing soil, specifically the
effects of agricultural nutrients and pesticides, on proposed vegetation and habitat? (Perhaps a
good justification for Table 7B -Habitat)
3. I would recommend conducting hydrology monitoring often, in the first few years, using a combination
of piezometers, wells and water level gauges in order to get accurate data. I think a few of the wells should
be moved closer to the outer edge of the site. Also, considering that this proposed system is rainfall driven,
perhaps gathering data on air temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc. would be beneficial in justifying the
hydrology each monitoring year.
a. Is there a reference wetland with a gauge?
4. Section 3.3: since the approved JD indicates that there are currently no jurisdictional wetlands, a 404
permit may not be required, unless the outlet of the project involves jurisdictional waters.

5. Table 6: In the reference forest ecosystem, were wetland grass species present? Since 20% of the bay area
is expected to be freshwater marsh, this may be an opportunity to incorporate desirable herbaceous species.
6. Table 11: Under Wetland Restoration, adding annual inspections of the clay plugs (if possible) may be
beneficial in ensuring you meet this parameter.
a. Also, it would be helpful to add a section in the monitoring section to including inspecting site
boundaries and terracell drop structures (I did find some of this in the Maintenance Plan).
7. It is likely that you will not be able to plant vegetation until the wetland establishes, so vegetative
monitoring may need to be extended a year.
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager
Regulatory Division