20040325 Ver 1_Mitigation Evaluation_20090914

LPIWA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
9/14/2009
DWQ # 20040325
Cumberland County
Mr. Christian Preziosi
Land Management Group
P.O. Box 2522
Wilmington, NC 28402
Subject Property: Barra Farms
Re: Site visit for EPA Program Development Grant - Review of mitigation projects by DWQ
Dear Mr. Preziosi:
As part of a Wetland Program Development Grarit from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the
Division of Water Quality (DWQ) 401 Oversight and Express Review Permitting Unit is conducting a
statewide evaluation of compensatory stream and wetland mitigation success. Tammy Hill and Eric Kulz
from this Unit conducted a site visit with you at the above-referenced mitigation project on September 4,
2009. Our comments are as follows:
Phase I of the project has been constructed, monitored for five years, and all credits have been released
and debited from the original mitigation bank. Pursuit of stream credit, as described in the mitigation
plan, was abandoned after the second year of monitoring. Instead, the entire site was eligible for non-
riverine wetland credit. Several points within the wetland mitigation areas were visited, and these
appeared to have been constructed according to the approved mitigation plan and to be performing the
expected ecological functions. The 401 Certification requirement for long-term protection of the
mitigation parcel was being met.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation with our evaluation and your continued stewardship of the
mitigation project at Barra Farms. If the landowner chooses to conduct further restoration work on the
site, we will look forward to the upcoming plan to expand the bank area. Please contact Tammy Hill or
Eric Kulz at [phone] if you have any questions regarding our comments or the mitigation review
project.
Sincerely,
Cyndi B. Karoly, Program Manager
401 Oversight and Express Review Program
cc: File Copy (Tammy Hill)
401 Oversight/Express Review Permitting Unit
1650 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1650
Location: 2321 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Internet: http:0h2o.enr.state.nc.us/ncwetlands/
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