19870371 Ver 1_Complete File_19870101 (3)

WORSLEY TRUCK STOP
Wetland Restoration and Mitigation Plan
Success Report
New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, N.C.
1
Prepared for:
Mr. John Dorney
NC Division of Water Quality
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
I,
Prepared by:
Land Management Group, Inc.
July 20, 1999
Job# 94-048
INTRODUCTION
The initial mitigation plan for the Worsley Tract was submitted on March 8, 1994. The
final plan called for the excavation of 0.6 acres of uplands, located 0.5 mile south of Jackey's
Creek along NC Hwy 133 (Figure 1), in order to create an additional wetlands at the same
elevation of an adjacent riverine wetland (Figure 2). The initial wetland creation and planting
was completed in the spring of 1996. Although a monitoring report was submitted six months
later, there has been a lapse of monitoring for 2.5 years. Therefore, this is only the second update
of progress for the Worsley mitigation plan, which required monitoring for 3 years.
1 HYDROLOGY
Ground water levels were monitored for 6 months after the wetland was initially created.
Yet once wetland hydrology was established and documented (see first success report, Sept.
1996), the well was removed. Therefore, wetland success is now based on vegetation and
secondary indicators of soil morphology such as rhizosphere development. Furthermore, even
though the spring and early summer months of 1999 have been relatively dry, there is evidence of
surface ponding during these conditions (Figure 3), indicating drainage from the surrounding
swamp forest into this area.
VEGETATION
In March of 1996, 400 tree seedlings (100 Quercus nigra, 100 Q. michauxii, 100 Q.
phellos, and 100 Acer rubrum) were planted at this site with an 8 ft. x 8 ft. spacing. Six months
later, a 66 % survival rate was observed of these species, with Juncus effusus and Typha latifolia
volunteering in the lower areas. Although a minimum 75 % survival rate was initially required by
ACOE, the observed rate was permitted because of the unusually wet season.
Two and one-half years later, in June of 1999, the vegetation was again analyzed. Stem
densities of the planted species were obtained by sampling 3 circular plots, each with a radius of
11.8 feet (.01 acre) (Figures 4 & 5). A 45% survival rate was observed (Table 1), which may
have been caused by browsing from deer. Although this is lower than the 75 % minimum
survival rate, a majority of the species that have volunteered into the area are considered wetland
plants (Table 2). It should also be noted that although many of the original Acer rubrum
seedlings that were planted did not survive (few saplings were seen), there were many Acer
rubrum seedlings observed in the area (Figure 6), which most likely volunteered from the
surrounding maple seed source (Drummond red maple).
SUMMARY
It appears that this mitigation site has become a functional wetland. Although many of the
original planted seedlings did not survive, most of the vegetation volunteering into the area has
an indicator status of FAC + or wetter. Therefore, we believe that the site has been successful and
will continue to be intimately connected with the adjacent swamp forest. Because 3 years have
passed since the wetland creation and because wetland establishment has been successful, this is
the final monitoring report.

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Figure 1. Vicinity map of tract.
LAND MANAGEMENT GROUP, ING :
SCALE:1 "=2 MILES
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Scale: 1" = 50°
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Vegetation sample point
Figure 2. Mitigation LAND MANAGEMENTWorsley Tract
Tract. GROUP, INC Brunswick County, NC
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Figure 3, Pictures of ponding at Worsiey mitigation site. Worsley Tract
Bruns*ck County, NC
Land Management Group, inc

iy Plot 21ccated ir. middle of tract,

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`Worsley Tract
Figure 4. 1 /100th acre sampling plots. Brunswick County, NC
Land Manager i ent Group, Inc,
Plot 1, Located on southern end of tract.
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Plot 3 at Worsley. Located at northern end of tract,
Figure 5. 1 /100th acre sampling plot. Worsley Tract
Brunswick County, NC
' Land Management Group, Inc,
Worsley Tract
Figure 6, Red maple seedlings found on the tract.
Brunswick Countv, NC
Land Management Group, Inc,
Table 1. Number of trees observed in each of the sample plots.

lot 1 lot 2 lot 3
Quercus nigra 0 0 0
Quercus michauxii 0 1 2
Quercus phellos 0 0 1
Acer rubrum 2 2 1
Total 2 3 4
Average # trees per plot = 3
3 trees per .01 acre
3 * 60 = 180 trees per .6 acre
180 / 400 = 45% survival rate
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Table 2. Dominant volunteer species observed at the Worsley Tract and their indicator status.
Most plants have an indicator status of FAC + or wetter, a requirement of the mitigation plan.
Volunteerspecies Indicator status
Typha latifolia OBL
Lachnocaulon anceps OBL
Acer rubrum (Drummond red maple) OBL
Juncus effusus FACW+
Hydrocotyle bonariensis FACW
Myrica cerifera FAC+
Pinus taeda FAC
Liriodendron tulipifera FAC
Eu atorium c illi olium FACU