ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2013
Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impact Site
Brunswick County
TIP No. B-0682
COE Action ID: 1993-88-010
DWQ Project #: 20061743
CAMA Permit #: 22-07
Prepared By:
Natural Environment Section & Roadside Environmental Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
July 2013TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................1
1.0 Introduction ...............................................................................................2
.1 Project Description .........................................................................2
.2 Purpose .........................................................................................2
.3 Project History ................................................................................2
.4 Debit Ledger....................................................................................2
2.0 Vegetation: ................................................................................................3
.1 Success Criteria .............................................................................3
.2 Description of Species.....................................................................3
.3 Results of Vegetation Monitoring ....................................................3
.4 Conclusions. ...................................................................................3
3.0 Overall Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................4
FIGURES
Figure 1 – Site Location Map ...............................................................................5
APPENDICES
Appendix A – Site PhotosSUMMARY
The Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impacts Site is located in Brunswick County. This is an annual report for temporary impacts associated with the bridge replacement of Bridge No. 198 over the Intercoastal Waterway. The site was completed in May 2011.
The temporary impacts encompass approximately 0.589 acres. The area that was impacted is being monitored to ensure that it re-attains wetland jurisdictional status. Hydrologic monitoring is not required for this site; however, vegetation monitoring is required for three years.
Impacts from erosion control devices account for 0.410 acres of the total impacts. Based on inspection and approval by the USACE and DCM after removal of the erosion control devices, these impacts may be called temporary. If approved the 0.410 acres would then be added back into the wetland assets onsite.
After the third year of monitoring, the Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impacts Site shows by visual observation that the temporarily impacted area is re-attaining wetland jurisdictional status.
NCDOT proposes to discontinue vegetation monitoring at the Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impact Site.
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Description
The Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impacts Site is located in Brunswick County at Bridge No. 198 over the Intercoastal Waterway and approaches on SR 1172 at Sunset Beach (Figure 1). The temporary impacts encompass approximately 0.589 acres. The area that was impacted is being monitored to ensure that it re-attains wetland jurisdictional status. Hydrologic monitoring is not required for this site; however, vegetation monitoring is required for three years.
Impacts from erosion control devices account for 0.410 acres of the total impacts. Based on inspection and approval by USACE and DCM after removal of the erosion control devices, these impacts may be called temporary. If approved the 0.410 acres would then be added back into the wetland assets onsite.
1.2 Purpose
In order for a mitigation site to be considered successful, a site must meet vegetation success criteria. This report details the vegetation monitoring in 2013 at the Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impacts Site. Hydrologic monitoring was not required for the site.
1.3 Project History
May 2011 Marsh Grass Planting
July 2011 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 1)
July 2012 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 2)
July 2013 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 3)
1.4 Debit Ledger
The restoration of the Sunset Beach Temporary Impacts site was used entirely to compensate for temporary wetland impacts on the B-0682 project. There were no wetland mitigation credits generated from the B-0682 temporary impacts site.
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2.0 VEGETATION: SUNSET BEACH BRIDGE TEMPORARY IMPACTS SITE
(YEAR 3 MONITORING)
2.1 Success Criteria
CAMA Condition #44 (Temporary Impacts)
Due to the possibility that compaction, mechanized clearing and/or other site alterations might prevent the temporary wetland impact area from re-attaining pre-project wetland functions, the permittee shall monitor temporary wetland impacts for three years after project completion. The permittee shall schedule a meeting with NCDCM and NCDWQ to verify the extent and location of temporary impacts upon project completion. The permittee shall then provide an annual update for 3 years on any wetland areas temporarily impacted by this project. This annual update shall consist of photographs and written report on the progress of these temporarily impacted areas in re-attaining wetland jurisdictional status. Three years after project completion, the permittee shall schedule an agency field meeting with NCDCM and NCDWQ to determine if the wetland areas temporarily impacted by this project have re-attained pre-project wetland functions. If at the end of 3 years the wetland areas temporarily impacted by this project have not re-attained pre-project wetland functions, NCDCM and NCDWQ shall determine whether compensatory wetland mitigation shall be required.
2.2 Description of Species
The following wetland species were planted in the temporary impact areas:
Spartina alterniflora, Smooth Cordgrass
2.3 Results of Vegetation Monitoring
The temporary impact areas were planted in May 2011. The temporary work bridge area was only planted in small sections due to the unstable soil conditions at the time of planting. The impacted area where the temporary impacts occurred is re-attaining wetland jurisdictional status and the smooth cordgrass plants are surviving. The smooth cordgrass is continuing to spread across the temporary impact areas. See photos 1 through 9.
The impacted area where the erosion control devices were installed is re-attaining wetland jurisdictional status and the smooth cordgrass is re-vegetating. See photos 10 through 15.
Other species noted within these areas included mash-elder, glasswort, and saltgrass.
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2.4 Conclusions
There were approximately 0.589 acres of temporary impacts and 0.410 acres of impacts from erosion control devices. There were no plots established on the site. By visual observation, the Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impacts Site shows that the planted species are surviving and the impacted areas are re-attaining wetland jurisdictional status.
3.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
NCDOT proposes to discontinue vegetation monitoring at the Sunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impact Site.
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Figure 1. Site Location MapAPPENDIX A
SITE PHOTOSSunset Beach Bridge Temporary Impact Site
Photo 1 (Temp. Detour) Photo 2 (Temp. Detour)
Photo 3 (Temp. Detour) Photo 4 (Temp. Detour)
Photo 5 (Temp. Detour) Photo 6 (Temp. Detour)
July 2013Sunset Beach Temporary Impact Photos
Photo 7 (Temp. Work Bridge) Photo 8 (Temp. Work Bridge)
Photo 9 (Temp. Work Bridge) Photo 10 (EC Device Impact)
Photo 11 (EC Device Impact) Photo 12 (EC Device Impact)
July 2013Sunset Beach Temporary Impact Photos
Photo 13 (EC Device Impact) Photo 14 (EC Device Impact)
Photo 15 (EC Device Impact)
July 2013