20190862 Ver 1_Post Contract IRT Site Visit Minutes_20190801

Nesbit Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site
Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit: 7-22-2019
NC DMS Project # 100121 NC DMS Contract # 7868 RFP # 16-007704
Task 1 a.) Inter -Agency Post Contract Site Visit: Site Visit Notes
As specified within RFP #16-007704, an on-site meeting with regulatory agencies and DMS staff was
conducted on July 22t", 2019. Below is a list of attendees and general site visit notes.
Attendees:
USACE:
- Todd Tugwell
- Kim Browning
NC WRC:
- Olivia Munzer
INC DMS:
- Kelly Phillips (PM)
- Paul Wiesner
- Matthew Reid
- Periann Russell
- Kirsten Ullman
NC DWR:
- Mac Haupt
- Erin Davis
Restoration Systems:
- Matthew Harrell (PM)
- Raymond Holz
- Alex Baldwin
Axiom Environmental
- Grant Lewis
- Kenan Jernigan
Site Visit Notes:
- Members of the IRT evaluated this site for wetland and stream restoration potential and
assessed credit ratios outlined in the Technical Proposal.
- IRT would like to see historic aerials included in future technical proposals to better illustrate in
recent changes in land use, including tree clearing.
- RS noted history of beavers on the site and continuing landowner management activities
relating to beaver removal.
- RS noted heavy presence of invasive species (mainly privet) and plan to treat those species
beginning before construction.
Stream Notes:
- Main Channel (Glen Branch): The proposed credit ratios were accepted as proposed with little
comment.
- UT 1: Proposed approach included Level II Enhancement (2.5:1) and Restoration (1:1). IRT stated
the portion above the confluence with UT1A should be treated as Level I Enhancement for
design purposes but still credited at 2.5:1. The IRT requested a gauge be installed in the upper
reaches of UT 1 to determine the flow regime, particularly if the channel bed elevation is raised.
- UT1A: Proposed approach was Level II Enhancement at 2.5:1 credit ratio. IRT is willing to accept
Level II enhancement at 5:1 credit ratio.
- UT 2: Proposed credit ratios were accepted as proposed, pending the official JD call for origin
location.

Nesbit Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site
Post Contract Award IRT Site Visit: 7-22-2019
NC DMS Project # 100121 NC DMS Contract # 7868 RFP # 16-007704
UT 3: It appeared this reach may not be considered jurisdictional. If it is not jurisdictional, the
favored option is to install a BMP as the valley enters the buffer of Glen Branch. If it is
jurisdictional, flow gauges will be required.
Wetland Notes:
- IRT had questions about tree clearing within existing wetlands circa 2012 and the potential for a
violation. T. Tugwell stated that given the current condition of the project area he did not see a
reason to hold up the project, but that he would pass the information along to the Charlotte
USACE office for their review.
- Some areas of Wetland Enhancement depicted on Figure S of the Technical Proposal may be
suitable for Wetland Rehabilitation. Wetland Rehabilitation may be suitable for portions of the
Site currently characterized by hydric soils and jurisdictional hydrology that have been cleared of
woody vegetation and are affected by groundwater table alterations from the adjacent, incised
stream channel. Gauges must be installed and monitored to verify the hydrologic modifications
prior to mitigation activities.
- The extent of wetland potential on the site as shown in the figures was difficult to assess during
the visit due to lush vegetation and dry conditions. Axiom explained that the extent shown in
the technical proposal figures is based on soil hydrology observed in December 2018 as well as
elevation data derived from the latest NC Lidar data. The JD process is expected to clarify any
questions about extent of wetland potential on the site. The delineation process will begin this
month.
- IRT requested that more comprehensive soil borings be taken in each of the primary wetland
areas and included at the Draft Mitigation Plan stage at a minimum. This will be addressed by
including logs of the soil borings taken during the JD process.