ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2012
UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F Mitigation Site
Madison County
TIP No. R-2518A
COE Action ID: SAW-2007-2197-357/300
DWQ #: 20071134
Prepared By:
Natural Environment Section & Roadside Environmental Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
December 2012
TABLE 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 STREAM ASSESSMENT: ......................................................................... 5
.1 Success Criteria ............................................................................. 5
.2 Stream Description .......................................................................... 5
.2.1 Post Construction Conditions .......................................................... 5
.2.2 Monitoring Conditions ..................................................................... 5
.3 Results of Stream Assessment ....................................................... 6
.3.1 Site Data ......................................................................................... 6
3.0 VEGETATION ............................................................................................ 7
.1 Description of Species ..................................................................... 7
.2 Results of Vegetation Monitoring ..................................................... 7
.3 Conclusions .................................................................................... 7
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS ................................. 7
5.0 REFERENCES: ......................................................................................... 8
FIGURES
Figure 1 – Vicinity Map ........................................................................................ 3
Figure 2 – Site F Map .......................................................................................... 4
TABLES
Table 1 – Site F Morphological Summary ............................................................ 6
APPENDICES
Appendix A – Cross Sections
Appendix B – Site Photographs
1
SUMMARY
The following report summarizes the stream monitoring activities that have
occurred during the Year 2012 at the UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F Mitigation
Site in Madison County. The North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) completed this project in November 2008 and water was turned in
January 2009. This report provides the monitoring results for the third formal
year of monitoring (Year 2012). The Year 2012 monitoring period was the third
of five scheduled years of monitoring on the UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F
Mitigation Site (See Success Criteria Section 2.1).
Based on the overall conclusions of monitoring at the UT to Middle Fork Creek
Site F, it has met the required monitoring protocols for the third formal year of
monitoring on the stream and first formal year of monitoring on the planted
vegetation. The ACOE and NCDWQ agreed with NCDOT on emails sent on
April 2, 2012 to discontinue the longitudinal profile survey for the remainder of the
five year monitoring period due to heavy vegetation within the channel. In lieu of
doing the longitudinal profile, visual inspection of the channel stability throughout
the reach and photo documentation at the permanent photo point locations would
be completed. All other monitoring activities will continue to be completed
throughout the five year monitoring period. The channel throughout the stream
relocation site is stable at this time. The streambank and buffer area were
planted in March 2012 with live stakes and bareroot seedlings. The planted
vegetation is surviving at this time.
NCDOT will continue stream and vegetation monitoring at the UT to Middle Fork
Creek Site F Mitigation Site in 2013.
2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Description
The following report summarizes the stream monitoring activities that have
occurred during the Year 2012 at the UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F Mitigation
Site. Site F is located on US 19 in Madison County at Sta. 37+80 to 38+40 Lt.
-L- (Figure 1). The UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F was constructed to provide
mitigation for stream impacts associated with Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) number R-2518A in Madison County.
The mitigation site provided approximately 226 linear feet of stream relocation.
Construction was completed during November 2008 and water was turned in
January 2009 by the NCDOT. Stream relocation involved excavation of a new
floodplain and channel, installing several in-stream cross vane structures and
planting the riparian buffer zone.
1.2 Purpose
In order for a mitigation site to be considered successful, the site must meet the
success criteria. This report details the monitoring in 2012 at the UT to Middle
Fork Creek Site F Mitigation Site. Hydrologic monitoring was not required for this
site.
1.3 Project History
November 2008
January 2009
March 2009
Construction Completed
Water Turned Into Stream
Site Planted (Type I only)
October 2009 As-Built Survey Completed
November 2010 Stream Channel Monitoring (Year 1)
November 2011 Stream Channel Monitoring (Year 2)
March 2012 Site Planted (Type I and II)
September 2012 Vegetation Monitoring (Year 1)
November 2012 Stream Channel Monitoring (Year 3)
1.4 Debit Ledger
The entire UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F stream mitigation site was used for the
R-2518A project to compensate for unavoidable stream impacts.
3
Figure 1. Vicinity Map
4
Figure 2. Site F Map
5
2.0 STREAM ASSESSMENT
2.1 Success Criteria
The permittee shall monitor the restoration and enhancement mitigation sites
following the Level 1 protocols outlined in the “Stream Mitigation Guidelines,”
dated April 2003 with the following exceptions:
1. Pebble counts shall not be conducted.
2. Two cross sections shall be conducted for streams less than 500
linear feet and five (5) cross sections shall be conducted for streams
greater than 500 linear feet.
3. Riparian success shall be by visual inspection of plant survival. Photos
will be taken and comments noted on plant survival.
The permittee shall monitor the preservation sites by visual inspection. Photos
will be taken and comments noted on plant survival. The monitoring shall be
conducted annually for a minimum of five (5) years after final planting. The
monitoring results shall be submitted to DWQ in a final report within sixty (60)
days after completing monitoring. After 5 years the NCDOT shall contact the
DWQ to schedule a site visit to “close out” the mitigation site.
2.2 Stream Description
2.2.1 Post-Construction Conditions
The relocation of the UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F Mitigation Site involved
excavation of a new floodplain and channel, installing several in-stream cross
vane structures and planting the riparian buffer zone.
2.2.2 Monitoring Conditions
The objective of the UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F stream restoration/relocation
was to restore a B4c stream as identified in Rosgen’s Applied River Morphology.
A total of two cross sections (one in a riffle and one in a pool) were surveyed. For
this report, only cross sections containing riffles were used in the comparison of
channel morphology presented below in Table 1 (Site F).
6
Table 1. Abbreviated Morphological Summary (UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F)
Variable
Proposed
Cross-
Section #1
(Riffle)
Cross-
Section #1
(Riffle)
Cross-
Section #1
(Riffle)
Cross-
Section #1
(Riffle)
Cross-
Section #1
(Riffle)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Drainage Area (mi2) 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22
Bankfull Cross
Sectional Area (ft2) 3.94 1.78 4.11 2.63
Maximum Bankfull
Depth (ft.) 0.68 - 0.86 0.51 0.49 0.42
Width of the
Floodprone Area (ft.) 11.7 13.06 14.87 14.83
Bankfull Mean Depth
(ft.) 0.57 0.23 0.34 0.22
Width/Depth Ratio 12 33.52 35.44 53.91
Entrenchment Ratio 1.7 1.69 1.23 1.25
Bankfull Width (ft.) 6.9 7.71 12.05 11.86
* Riffle values are used for classification purposes, pool values are shown in Appendix A.
2.3 Results of the Stream Assessment
2.3.1 Site Data
The assessment included the survey of two cross sections of the UT to Middle
Fork Creek Site F established by NCDOT after construction. Two cross sections
were established during the as-built monitoring year. Cross section locations
were subsequently based on the stationing of the longitudinal profile and are
presented below. The locations of the cross sections are shown in Appendix A.
UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F Cross-Sections:
¨ Cross-Section #1: UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F, Station 41+00,
midpoint of riffle
¨ Cross-Section #2: UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F, Station 124+00,
midpoint of pool
Based on comparisons of the As-Built to the monitoring data, all of the cross
sections appear stable with little or no active bank erosion. Graphs of the cross
sections are presented in Appendix A. Future survey data will vary depending on
actual location of rod placement and alignment; however, this information should
remain similar in appearance.
The ACOE and NCDWQ agreed with NCDOT on emails sent on April 2, 2012 to
discontinue the longitudinal profile survey for the remainder of the five year
monitoring period due to heavy vegetation within the channel. In lieu of doing the
longitudinal profile, visual inspection of the channel stability throughout the reach
and photo documentation at the permanent photo point locations would be
completed. All other monitoring activities will continue to be completed
throughout the five year monitoring period. Photo points 1 and 2 showed an
extensive growth of herbaceous and woody vegetation. The channel bed is
stable throughout the stream site at this time. Pebble counts were not required
per the permit conditions and therefore were not completed.
7
3.0 VEGETATION: UT TO MIDDLE FORK CREEK SITE F
3.1 Description of Species
The following tree species were planted on the streambank:
Salix nigra, Black Willow
Cornus amomum, Silky Dogwood
The following tree species were planted in the buffer area:
Liriodendron tulipifera, Yellow Poplar
Platanus occidentalis, Sycamore
Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash
Quercus alba, White Oak
3.2 Results of Vegetation Monitoring
Streambank & Buffer Vegetation: The streambank reforestation was completed
in March 2012. The Year 1 vegetation monitoring evaluation noted: Type I: Black
Willow, Silky Dogwood and Type II: Sycamore, Green Ash, Tulip Poplar, and
White Oak were surviving at the time of monitoring evaluation. A small patch of
Japanese Knotweed was noted on the fill slope at Upper Bailey Branch Road
adjacent to Site F. NCDOT will complete a herbicide application on the
Japanese Knotweed in 2013.
3.3 Conclusions
NCDOT will continue to monitor the planted vegetation in 2013.
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
The UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F Mitigation Site has met the required
monitoring protocols for the third formal year of monitoring on the stream and the
first formal year of monitoring on the planted vegetation. The channel throughout
the stream relocation site is stable and the planted vegetation is surviving at this
time. NCDOT will continue monitoring the UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F
Mitigation Site in 2013.
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5.0 REFERENCES
Stream Mitigation Plan, US Highway 19, R-2518A On-Site Mitigation
Madison County, North Carolina, August 2006.
Design Plans for R-2518A, US 19 from I-26 to 0.8 KM east of the Yancey Co.
Line, Stream Mitigation (Preservation, Enhancement, and Restoration),
HSMM.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), April 29, 2008. 404 and
401 Individual Permits for R-2518A and R-2518B (ACOE Permit No. 2007-
2197-357/300 and DWQ Project No. 20071134, Individual Certification No.
3706).
Rosgen, D.L, 1996. Applied River Morphology. Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa
Springs, Colorado.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 2003. Stream Mitigation Guidelines.
Prepared with cooperation from the US Environmental Protection Agency,
NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and the NC Division of Water Quality.
APPENDIX A
CROSS SECTIONS
Site F: Cross-Section #1 (Riffle) Abbreviated Morphological Summary
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Bankfull Cross Sectional Area
(ft2)
1.78 4.11 2.63
Maximum Bankfull Depth (ft.) 0.51 0.49 0.42
Width of the Floodprone Area
(ft.)
13.06 14.87 14.83
Bankfull Mean Depth (ft.) 0.23 0.34 0.22
Width/Depth Ratio 33.52 35.44 53.91
Entrenchment Ratio 1.69 1.23 1.25
Bankfull Width (ft.) 7.71 12.05 11.86
Site F: Cross-Section #2 (Pool) Abbreviated Morphological Summary
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Bankfull Cross Sectional Area
(ft2)
13.55 8.86 7.12
Maximum Bankfull Depth (ft.) 2.83 2.25 1.63
Bankfull Mean Depth (ft.) 1.37 1.21 0.79
Bankfull Width (ft.) 9.89 7.34 9
*According to the Rosgen Classification of Natural Rivers floodprone width, entrenchment
ratio, and width depth ratio are not measured in pool, glide, or run features.
APPENDIX B
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS
Cross Section #3 at Station 4+95.6
Cross Section #7 at Station 17+75.6
UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F
Photo Point #1 (Upstream) Photo Point #1 (Downstream)
Photo Point #2 (Upstream) Photo Point #2 (Downstream)
November 2012
UT to Middle Fork Creek Site F
Vegetation Overview Photo
September 2012