20021217 Ver 1_Other_20030403

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MichAel F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
•. In the event that stream restoration activities are not undertaken on Bear Creek, future documentation and
planning should consider the placement of cuts in the man-made leeves along Bear Creek to promote overbank
flooding.
r -'kTft ve ta*6 i nitoring plan only requires the placement of two sample plots on the site. The DWQ requests
additional lots l(r placed to ensure 5 percent of the site is being monitored for vegetative success.
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• The proposed buffer restoration along Bear Creek is supported by the DWQ. However, the plan should indicate
that the buffers will be planted for a distance of 50 feet perpendicular from Bear Creek. Moreover, and
pursuant to 15A NCAC 2B .0242, the buffers should be planted at a stem density of 680 stems per acre and
shall be 320 stems per acre after five years. Sampling plots should be established in the restored buffer areas.
Examination of the reference sites and an assessment of the site-specific data, indicates that the historic wetland
hydroperiod of this site (at least portions of it) were greater than 12.5 percent. In addition, the plan proposes the
creation of, and the generation of credits for, for Swamp Hardwood wetlands. If these credits will be used to
offset impacts from Swamp Hardwood systems elsewhere, then the hydroperiod of the restored wetlands should
be commiserate with the impact sites. Therefore, the DWQ recommends the hydrologic success criteria for the
section of the site be restored as a Swamp Hardwood System, be changed to have a hydroperiod of greater than
12.5 percent. In addition, the use of the reference sites, as part of the site success criteria,. should be included.
• Please provide a copy of the proposed conservation easement for the project site.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact John Hennessy at 919-733-5694.
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orney
Quality Certification Pr gam
cc: George Howard, Restoration Systems, LLC
Kathy Matthews, USEPA
Gary Jordan, USFWS
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
C:\ncdot\Mitigation\correspondence\Bear Creek Mitigation Site.doc
N. C. Division of Water Quality 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1650 [phone]
Customer Service: 1 800 623-7748