20190865 Ver 1_Meeting Minutes_20190801

Strickland, Bev
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Wiesner, Paul
Thursday, August 01, 2019 2:23 PM
Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Kim Browning; Haupt, Mac; Davis, Erin B;
Leslie, Andrea J
Raymond Holz; Worth Creech; Reid, Matthew; Russell, Periann; Ullman, Kirsten J;
Lewis, Grant; Raymond Holz; Worth Creech
Meeting Minutes- Laurel Springs -DMS# 100122 - Post Contract IRT Site Visit - July 24,
2019
Laurel Springs_100122_Post Contract IRT Site Visit Minutes_2019.pdf
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Flagged
Please see the attached Laurel Springs Post Contract IRT site visit meeting minutes
additional comments or concerns.
The final memo will also be included in the mitigation plan for IRT review.
Thanks
Paul Wiesner
Western Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Mitigation Services
828-273-1673 Mobile
Pau l.wiesnera-ncdenr.gov
Western DMS Field Office
5 Ravenscroft Drive
Suite 102
Asheville, N.C. 28801
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Laurel Springs Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site
Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit: 7-24-2019
NC DMS Contract # 7890 RFP # 16-007725 DMS/Project # 100122
Task 1 a.) Inter -Agency Post Contract Site Visit: Site Visit Notes
As specified within RFP #16-007725, an on-site meeting with regulatory agencies and DMS staff was
conducted on July 24th, 2019. Below is a list of attendees and general site visit notes.
Attendees:
USACE:
- Todd Tugwell
- Kim Browning
NC WRC:
Andrea Leslie
- Paul Wiesner
- Matthew Reid
- Periann Russell
- Kirsten Ullman
Site Visit Notes:
- The Project can proceed as proposed
NC DWR:
- Mac Haupt
- Erin Davis
Restoration Systems:
- Raymond Holz
- Worth Creech
Axiom Environmental
- Grant Lewis
- Mitigation credit cannot be gained beneath powerlines located on the site. RS will remove the
existing powerline easement from the conservation easement and excluded the break from the
wider buffer tool GIS analysis.
- RS plans to align the dirt road which crosses UT -4 under the existing Powerline Easement to
minimize encroachment on the Project.
- All culverts which outfall into the project or are within the project will be reconnected to
streambed elevations to allow for aquatic species passage. Where required, culverts will be
removed, replaced, and inlets/outfalls buried for aquatic species passage.
- Riparian wetland credits are not currently contracted with DMS. RS will approach DMS and
propose to add wetland credit to the site (and DMS contract) upon receipt and review of the
project's USACE jurisdictional determination.
Stream Notes:
- A detailed topographic survey will be conducted to determine the practicality of restoring Fork
Creek to the valley center within the upper 1/3 of the project. The approach was approved in
theory by the IRT, though both the IRT and DMS voiced concerns of habitat loss from a relatively
high functioning reach of Fork Creek located immediately upstream of the existing barn. This is
not how the project was proposed, and any deviation from the proposal will be vetted and
approved by DMS before IRT review.
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Laurel Springs Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site
Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit: 7-24-2019
NC DMS Contract # 7890 RFP # 16-007725 DMS/Project # 100122
RS discussed the potential of restoring a 5th unnamed tributary located along the western
property boundary of the Project. Restoration would be achieved through priority 1, new
channel design within the valley footprint. The additional hydrology would help restore drained
hydric soils within the upper 1/3 of the Project. Detailed topo work would determine if the
stream would tie back into Fork creek above the existing barn, or stay within the valley and
connect below the upper crossing. The Project was not proposed with this option, and any
deviation from the proposal will be vetted and approved by DMS.
IRT members noted historical issues with maintaining channels within the floodplain of larger
systems. In this case, the restoration of UT -3 and UT -4 within Fork Creek's floodplain.
UT -1: crediting and approach approved as proposed.
UT -2: crediting and approach approved as proposed with further justification on approach
required. Given the high amount of sedimentation within the system immediately above and
below the existing crossing, DWR Rep. Mac Haulpt raised concerns regarding the mitigation
approach in this area. During the detailed topographic survey of the Site, these areas will be
probed and surveyed to determine the most suitable mitigation approach, paying particular
attention to the existing wetlands and the stabilization of those wetlands.
The alignment of the existing road will be altered to fit within the existing powerline easement,
minimizing long-term impacts to the project.
- UT -3: approved as proposed with the removal of stream credit under the existing powerline
easement.
- UT -4: approved as proposed.
Wetland Notes:
- The appropriate wetland type (forested vs. scrub -shrub) for the project was discussed throughout
the site. RS will attempt to locate reference wetlands within the area to determine an appropriate
balance of forested and scrub -shrub wetland for the site. Detailed topography of the valley will
aide in this determination. A habitat description, restoration approach, monitoring standard, etc.
will be completed for each type within the Mitigation Plan.
- Existing Wetlands (labeled as Enhancement in Figure 5 of the Technical Proposal) are suitable for
Rehabilitation (1.5:1 ratio) if groundwater gauges are installed to survey a baseline, and
monitoring shows an increase in the hydroperiod.
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