Annual report for ... Dowd Dairy Farm mitigation site, Bladen County, project no. 8.1241802, TIP no. R-2204WM

              ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2004
Dowd Dairy Farm Mitigation Site
Bladen County
Project No. 8.1241802
TIP No. R-2204WM
Prepared By:
Office of Natural Environment & Roadside Environmental Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
December 2004
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………….. 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………… 2
1.1 Project Description…………………………………………………. 2
1.2 Purpose……………………………………………………………… 2
1.3 Project History…………………………………………………..…... 4
2.0 HYDROLOGY………………………………………………………………… 5
2.1 Success Criteria…………………………………………………….. 5
2.2 Hydrologic Description……………………………………………... 5
2.3 Results of Hydrologic Monitoring…………………………………. 7
2.3.1 Site Data…………………………………….……………… 7
2.3.2 Climatic Data………………………………………………. 10
2.4 Conclusions…………………………………………………………… 10
3.0 VEGETATION………………………………………………………………… 12
3.1 Success Criteria…………………………………………………….. 12
3.2 Description of Species……………………………………………… 12
3.3 Results of Vegetation Monitoring…………………………………. 14
3.4 Conclusions…………………………………………………………. 16
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/ RECOMMENDATIONS……………………. 16
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TABLES
TABLE 1 – 2004 HYDROLOGIC MONITORING RESULTS………………… 8
FIGURES
FIGURE 1 – SITE LOCATION MAP……………………………………….…….. 3
FIGURE 2 – MONITORING GAUGE LOCATION MAP…….…………………. 6
FIGURE 3 – 2004 HYDROLOGIC MONITORING RESULTS…………..…. 9
FIGURE 4 – 30-70 PERCENTILE GRAPH……………………………………… 11
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A – GAUGE DATA GRAPHS
APPENDIX B – SITE PHOTOS, PHOTO AND VEGETATION PLOT
LOCATIONS
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The following report summarizes the monitoring activities that have occurred in
the past year at the Dowd Dairy Farm Mitigation Site. Phase I of this site was
constructed in 1998 and Phase II was completed in 2000. Monitoring of the site
began in 1999 following Phase I site construction. The monitoring activities in
2004 represent the fourth official year of monitoring following completion of the
entire site. The site must demonstrate hydrologic and vegetation success for a
minimum of five years or until the project is deemed successful.
The site is being monitored with thirty-eight groundwater-monitoring gauges, two
rain gauges, and thirty-eight vegetation plots.
Rainfall data has been collected from an onsite rain gauge. Also, monthly rainfall
data recorded from a rain gauge maintained by the NC State Climate Office in
Elizabethtown was used for the historical data.
For the 2004 monitoring year, twenty-nine of thirty-eight gauges met the
jurisdictional hydrologic success of at least 12.5% during the growing season;
conversely, nine gauges recorded hydrology for less than 12.5% of the growing
season.
The 2004 vegetation monitoring of the 619 acres of planted areas revealed an
average density of 474 trees per acre, which is above the minimum requirement
of 320 trees per acre.
Per the letter from the Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) to NCDOT
dated August 25, 2004, the EEP has accepted the transfer of all offsite mitigation
projects. The EEP will be responsible for fulfilling the remaining monitoring
requirements and future remediation for this project.
2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Description
The Dowd Dairy Farm Wetland Mitigation Site is located 7 miles north of
Elizabethtown and 2 miles east of White Oak in Bladen County (Figure 1). It is
bounded by SR 1324 (Dowd Dairy Farm Road) to the north, SR 1332 (Oak
Grove Church Road) to the west, and dense forest to the south and east. The
site represents a Coastal Plain interstream divide converted for agricultural use.
The site receives drainage from elevated sandy terraces and discharges into Ellis
Creek and Panther Branch, tributaries of the Cape Fear River.
The site encompasses approximately 658 acres and is designed as a mitigation
site for the Cape Fear River Basin.
1.2 Purpose
In order to demonstrate successful mitigation, hydrologic and vegetative
monitoring must be conducted for a minimum of five years or until success
criteria are fulfilled. Success criteria are based on federal guidelines for wetland
mitigation. These guidelines stipulate criteria for both hydrologic conditions and
vegetation survival. The following report details the results of hydrologic and
vegetative monitoring during 2004 on the Dowd Dairy Farm Mitigation Site.
Activities in 2004 reflect the fourth year of monitoring following the construction of
the Phase II portion of the site. Included in this report are analyses of both
hydrologic and vegetative monitoring results, as well as local climate conditions
throughout the growing season.
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FIGURE 1: SITE LOCATION MAP
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1.3 Project History
Summer 1998 Construction – Phase I
Spring 1999 Tree Planting – Phase I
February – April 1999 Installation of Monitoring Gauges
March – November 1999 Hydrologic Monitoring (Year 1)
September 1999 Construction Begins – Phase II
November 1999 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 1)
March – November 2000 Hydrologic Monitoring (Year 2)
June 2000 Construction Completed – Phase II
November 2000 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 2)
February 2001 Tree Planting – Phase II
March – November 2001 Hydrologic Monitoring (Restart Year 1)
October 2001 Vegetation Monitoring (Restart Year 1)
August 2002 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 2)
March – November 2002 Hydrologic Monitoring (Year 2)
May 2003 Onsite Agency Meeting
August 2003 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 3)
March – November 2003 Hydrologic Monitoring (Year 3)
July 2004 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 4)
March – November 2004 Hydrologic Monitoring (Year 4)
Phase I construction consisted of clearing, grubbing, ripping, filling lateral ditches, and
adding ditch plugs. Phase II construction consisted of filling in the central canal.
Completion of the site was delayed until June 2000 due to the saturated conditions from
the hurricane activity in the fall of 1999.
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2.0 HYDROLOGY
2.1 Success Criteria
In accordance with federal guidelines for wetland mitigation, the success criteria for
hydrology state that the area must be inundated or saturated (within 12” of the surface)
by surface or groundwater for at least 12.5% of the growing season. Areas inundated
less than 5% of the growing season are always classified as non-wetlands. Areas
inundated between 5% - 12.5% of the growing season can be classified as wetlands
depending upon other factors, such as the presence of hydrophytic vegetation and
hydric soils.
The growing season in Bladen County begins March 16 and ends November 14. These
dates correspond to a 50% probability that temperatures will drop to 28o F or lower after
March 16 and before November 14.1 The growing season is 243 days; therefore the
optimum duration for wetland hydrology is 31 days. Also, local climate must represent
average conditions for the area.
2.2 Hydrologic Description
Historically, wetlands on the tract were created by a combination of radial groundwater
and surface water flow from adjacent terraces, as well as precipitation and vertical
groundwater fluctuations maintained within the site. After an extensive study of the
site’s hydrology, it was concluded that blocking and filling the drainage ditches within
the site would elevate the groundwater to a level that would saturate the soil stratum
within the required twelve inches. It was predicted that this, in addition to surface water
and runoff would be sufficient to restore wetland hydrology.
Thirty-one groundwater-monitoring gauges and two rain gauges were installed in 1999
(Figure 2). Five additional gauges were installed in transects along the main channel in
2001 to examine potential drainage effects of the large remaining canal. In June 2003,
two additional groundwater gauges were installed. The rain gauges and groundwater
monitoring gauges record daily readings of rainfall and depth to groundwater,
respectively.
1 Natural Resources Conversation Service, Soil Survey of Bladen County, North Carolina, p.
123.
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2.3 Results of Hydrologic Monitoring
2.3.1 Site Data
The maximum number of consecutive days that the groundwater was within
twelve inches of the surface was determined for each groundwater gauge. This
number was converted into a percentage of the 243-day growing season. Table
1 presents the hydrologic monitoring results for 2004.
Figure 3 provides a graphical representation of the hydrologic results. Gauges
highlighted in blue indicate wetland hydrology for more than 12.5% of the
growing season. Gauges highlighted in red show hydrology between 8% and
12.5% of the growing season, while those in green indicate hydrology between
5% and 8%. Gauges highlighted in black indicate no wetland hydrology (less
than 5% of the growing season).
Appendix A contains a plot of the groundwater depth for each monitoring gauge.
Daily rainfall is included on each graph as bars (recorded by rain gauges located
on the site). The maximum number of consecutive days that the groundwater
was within 12 inches of the surface is noted on each graph.
It should also be noted that the following gauges malfunctioned during the 2004-
growing season: G2, G6, G18, G22, G29, G30. These interruptions prevented
accurate determinations of the percentage of the growing season that the site
met the saturation criteria.
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Table 1. 2004 HYDROLOGIC MONITORING RESULTS
Monitoring
Gauge
< 5% 5 - 8% 8 – 12.5% > 12.5% Actual % Dates Meeting
Success
DDF-G1+ r 42.6 March 16-June 26
DDF-G2 r 5.0
DDF-G3 r 5.0
DDF-G4 r 2.9
DDF-G5+ r 22.3 April 11-June 3
DDF-G6+ r 46.3 March 16-July 5
DDF-G7+ r 16.9 April 11-May 21
DDF-G8+ r 22.3 April 11-June 3
DDF-G9+ r 40.9 March 16-June 22
DDF-G10+ r 47.5 March 16-July 8
Aug 30-Oct 4
DDF-G12+ r 47.5 March 16-July 8
Aug 30-Oct 6
DDF-G13 r 2.5
DDF-G14+ r 33.1 March 16-June 3
DDF-G15+ r 48.3 March 16-July 10
Aug 13-Nov 14
DDF-G16+ r 28.1 March 16-May 22
Aug 15-Oct 18
DDF-G17+ r 51.7 March 16-July 18
DDF-G18+ r 20.2 Aug 15-Oct 2
DDF-G19+ r 38.4 April 6-July 7
Aug 14-Oct 3
DDF-G20+ r 45.5 April 6-July 24
Aug 12-Oct 9
DDF-G21+ r 25.0 March 16-May 15
Aug 14-Oct 5
DDF-G22 r 10.2
DDF-G23+ r 24.2 May 1-June 28
DDF-G24+ r 45.1 March 16-July 3
DDF-G25+ r 45.9 March 16-July 5
DDF-G26+ r 36.5 March 16-June 12
DDF-G27+ r 27.5 March 16-May 21
DDF-G28+ r 47.1 March 16-July 8
DDF-G29+ r 29.1 March 25-June 3
DDF-G30+ r 20.5 March 16-May 4
DDF-G31+ r 45.5 March 16-July 4
DDF-G32+ r 32.8 March 16-June 3
DDF-G34+ r 15.6 April 11-May 18
DDF-G35 r 8.6
DDF-G36 r 2.0
DDF-G37 r 5.3
DDF-G38+ r 27.0 March 16-May 20
DDF-39 r 6.1
DDF-40+ r 21.7 April 11-June 2
+ Gauges met the success criterion during an average rainfall month (May, June,
July, September, October, and November).
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2.3.2 Climatic Data
Figure 4 provides an evaluation of the local climate in comparison with historical
data in order to determine whether 2004 was “average” in terms of climate
conditions. The two lines represent the 30th and 70th percentiles of monthly
precipitation for Elizabethtown, NC. The bars are monthly rainfall totals for 2003
and 2004. The historical data was collected from the State Climate Office of
North Carolina.
For the 2004-year, December (03’), February, April, and August experienced
above average rainfall. The months of November (03’), January and March
recorded below average rainfall for the site. May, June, July, September,
October, and November experienced average rainfall. Overall, 2004
experienced an average rainfall year.
2.4 Conclusions
For the 2004 monitoring year, twenty-nine of thirty-eight gauges met jurisdictional
hydrologic success of saturation in the upper twelve inches for at least 12.5%
(consecutive) during the growing season; conversely, nine gauges recorded
hydrology for less than 12.5% of the growing season.
The majority of the gauges not meeting the criteria are located in the northwest
portion of the subject property. These gauges include G2 (5%), G4 (2.9%) &
G36 (2%). It is likely that the perimeter canal that is located adjacent to these
gauges likely caused them to fail.
EEP will begin monitoring the hydrology at the Dowd Dairy Mitigation Site for the
2005 monitoring year.
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FIGURE 4. 30-70 PERCENTILE GRAPH
Dowd Dairy 30-70 Percentile Graph
Elizabethtown , NC
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Nov 03' Dec 03' Jan 04' Feb 04' Mar 04' Apr 04' May 04' Jun 04' Jul 04' Aug 04' Sep 04' Oct 04' Nov 04' Dec 04'
DATE
Precipitation
2003 Rainfall 2004 Rainfall 30th Percentile 70th Percentile
30th Percentile
70th Percentile
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3.0 VEGETATION: DOWD DAIRY MITIGATION SITE (YEAR 4)
3.1 Success Criteria
The success criteria state that there must be a minimum of 320 trees per acre
living for at least three consecutive years. A minimum of five character tree
species must be present, with no more than 20% of any one species, with the
exception of Atlantic White Cedar, which may comprise up to 75% of the swamp
forest restoration. Loblolly Pine cannot comprise more than 10% of the 320 trees
per acre requirement.
3.2 Description of Species
The following tree species were planted in the Wetland Planting Areas:
Zone 1: Non-Riverine Wet Hardwood Forest (320.25 acres)
Quercus falcata var. pagodaefolia, Cherrybark Oak
Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash
Quercus laurifolia, Laurel Oak
Quercus lyrata, Overcup Oak
Quercus michauxii, Swamp Chestnut Oak
Nyssa aquatica, Water Tupelo
Quercus nigra, Water Oak
Quercus phellos, Willow Oak
Zone 2: Pine/Oak Hickory (17.68 acres)
Juglans nigra, Black Walnut
Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica, Blackgum
Pinus palustris, Longleaf Pine
Quercus falcata var. falcata, Southern Red Oak
Quercus nigra, Water Oak
Quercus alba, White Oak
Quercus phellos, Willow Oak
Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Poplar
Quercus lyrata, Overcup Oak
13
Zone 3: Non-Riverine Swamp Forest (201.2 acres)
Chamaecyparis thyoides, Atlantic White Cedar
Taxodium Distichum, Baldcypress
Quercus falcata var. pagodaefolia, Cherrybark Oak
Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash
Quercus laurifolia, Laurel Oak
Quercus lyrata, Overcup Oak
Quercus nigra, Water Oak
Quercus phellos, Willow Oak
Nyssa aquatica, Water Tupelo
Zone 4: Headwater (Slope) Swamp (12.05 acres)
Taxodium Distichum, Baldcypress
Quercus falcata var. pagodaefolia, Cherrybark Oak
Quercus laurifolia, Laurel Oak
Quercus lyrata, Overcup Oak
Quercus michauxii, Swamp Chestnut Oak
Quercus nigra, Water Oak
Quercus phellos, Willow Oak
Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Poplar
Zone 5: Atlantic White Cedar Slope (67.76 acres)
Chamaecyparis thyoides, Atlantic White Cedar
Taxodium Distichum, Baldcypress
Pinus serotina, Pond Pine
Quercus michauxii, Swamp Chestnut Oak
Nyssa aquatica, Water Tupelo
Quercus phellos, Willow Oak
Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Poplar
Quercus falcata var. pagodaefolia, Cherrybark Oak
Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash
Quercus laurifolia, Laurel Oak
Quercus lyrata, Overcup Oak
14
3.3 Results of Vegetation Monitoring
ZONE
Plot #
Swamp Chestnut Oak
Laurel Oak
Willow Oak
Cherrybark Oak
Water Tupelo
Water Oak
Green Ash
Overcup Oak
White Oak
Southern Red Oak
Longleaf Pine
Pond Pine
Blackgum
Black Walnut
Tulip Poplar
Baldcypress
Atlantic White Cedar
Total (4 year)
Total (at planting)
Density (Trees/Acre)
1 1 8 2 6 10 26 37 478
3 4 6 1 3 14 40 238
4 3 1 3 2 1 18 28 28 680
5 6 3 4 1 9 12 35 39 610
8 4 1 3 4 9 21 38 376
14 5 3 6 9 23 39 401
15 1 2 10 1 14 32 298
17 13 3 1 6 1 24 41 398
19 4 2 2 1 1 10 35 194
28 2 10 3 8 4 27 37 496
29 4 2 2 5 18 31 41 514
30 3 10 18 2 33 39 575
31 16 1 1 5 5 28 37 515
32 6 3 1 10 3 23 38 412
33 3 4 23 14 44 44 680
34 4 3 1 5 7 10 30 39 523
ZONE 1 AVERAGE 462
2 2 1 1 21 1 1 25 25 680
12 4 1 9 14 26 366
ZONE 2 AVERAGE 523
15
Z O NE
Plot #
Swamp Chestnut Oak
Laurel Oak
Willow Oak
Cherrybark Oak
Water Tupelo
Water Oak
Green Ash
Overcup Oak
White Oak
Southern Red Oak
Longleaf Pine
Pond Pine
Blackgum
Black Walnut
Tulip Poplar
Baldcypress
Atlantic White Cedar
Total (4 year)
Total (at planting)
Density (Trees/Acre)
3 6 2 1 5 1 2 4 8 7 30 30 680
7 1 0 3 2 0 3 3 4 0 5 6 1
9 4 10 4 18 34 360
1 0 5 3 2 1 0 1 2 1 3 3 4 4 5 1 0
11 2 12 2 4 7 1 28 28 680
2 0 1 2 1 0 1 3 3 7 2 3 9
2 4 1 4 3 4 1 2 3 4 2 4 0
2 5 4 5 6 5 1 6 2 7 3 1 5 9 2
2 6 2 2 0 1 6 2 3 1 3 5 6 0 2
2 7 1 5 1 1 0 4 2 1 3 6 3 9 7
3 5 1 4 6 2 1 1 4 3 7 2 5 7
3 6 4 5 1 3 2 1 5 3 6 2 8 3
Z O N E 3 A V E R A G E 4 5 0
4 1 6 3 1 5 1 2 2 1 3 1 4 6 1
1 8 7 3 1 2 9 2 2 3 5 4 2 7
Z O N E 4 A V E R A G E 4 4 4
5 13 1 1 5 4 3 1 4 2 4 3 9 7
2 1 4 6 1 6 2 6 2 9 6 1 0
2 2 2 2 3 8 15 2 7 3 7 8
2 3 1 9 5 5 1 3 3 3 3 8 5 9 1
3 7 1 2 1 0 4 2 1 5 4 3 4 7 6 2 2
3 8 2 1 1 2 4 2 8 3 5 0 5 0 6 8 0
Z O N E 5 A V E R A G E 5 4 6
T O T A L A V E R A G E 4 7 4
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Site Notes:
Zone 1: Other species noted: goldenrod, briars, red maple, broomsedge, pine,
sweetgum, stinkweed, sicklepod, trumpet creeper, Juncus sp., Aster sp., switchgrass,
giant foxtail, fennel, sassafras, ragweed, Baccharis halimifolia, Panicum sp., woolgrass,
cattail, and Bidens sp.
Zone 2: Other species noted: ragweed, Aster sp., Juncus sp., broomsedge, pine,
goldenrod, Panicum sp., and cacti.
Zone 3: Other species noted: fennel, broomsedge, goldenrod, winged sumac,
Baccharis halimifolia, cattail, stinkweed, Juncus sp., black willow, foxtail, sweetgum,
briars, sassafras, ragweed, smartweed, sicklepod, bahia, winged sumac, woolgrass,
and Aster sp. Planted green ash noted outside of plot 9.
Zone 4: Other species noted: sweetgum, briars, fennel, red maple, broomsedge, Aster
sp., and Juncus sp.
Zone 5: Other species noted: fennel, briars, sweetgum, red maple, bermuda grass,
Juncus sp., cattail, Aster sp., winged sumac, and broomsedge.
3.4 Conclusions
The Dowd Dairy Farm Mitigation Site included 619-acres (out of 658 acres) of tree
planting. There were thirty-eight test plots established throughout the planting areas,
covering all of the plant communities. The 2004 vegetation monitoring of the planted
areas revealed an average density of 474 trees per acre, which is well above the
minimum requirement of 320 trees per acre. It should be noted that since this was a
phased project the majority of the plots contain 5-year old trees. Sweetgum, red maple,
and pine are more abundant around the perimeter of the site towards the woods and in
the cut over area, however they are not out competing the planted species.
EEP will begin monitoring the vegetation at the Dowd Dairy Mitigation Site for the 2005
monitoring year.
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/ RECOMMENDATIONS
For the 2004 monitoring year, twenty-nine of thirty-eight gauges met jurisdictional
hydrologic success of saturation in the upper twelve inches for at least 12.5%
(consecutive) during the growing season; conversely, nine gauges recorded hydrology
for less than 12.5% of the growing season.
The fourth year of vegetation monitoring (of the 619 acres planted in trees), revealed an
average density of 474 trees per acre, which is above the minimum requirement of 320
trees per acre. Sweetgum, red maple, and pine are more abundant around the
perimeter of the site towards the woods and in the cut over area, but are not out
competing the planted species.
17
Per the letter from the Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) to NCDOT dated
August 25, 2004, the EEP has accepted the transfer of all off-site mitigation projects.
The EEP will be responsible for fulfilling the remaining monitoring requirements and
future remediation for this project.
APPENDIX A
GAUGE DATA GRAPHS
APPENDIX B
SITE PHOTOS
PHOTO AND VEGETATION PLOT LOCATIONS
DOWD DAIRY
Photo 1 Photo 2
Photo 3 Photo 4
Photo 5 Photo 6
2004
DOWD DAIRY
Photo 7 Photo 8
Photo 9 Photo 10
Photo 11 Photo 12
2004
DOWD DAIRY
Photo 13 Photo 14
2004