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SOIL WATER <br /> <br />CONSERVATION <br /> <br />Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District <br />715 Cabarrus Avenue West · Concord, North Carolina 2B027 <br /> <br /> Phone: (704) 792~0400 · Fax: (704) 795-6432 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Kelly Sifford, Cabarrus County Pla~,i,g Depa~en~ <br /> <br />Dennis Testerman, Resource Conservation Specialist <br /> <br />February 26, 2001 <br /> <br />Review Form for Harrison Crest SfD Site Plan <br /> <br />This site is known locally as "Egg Reek Woods." The topography and boulders on this site and the <br />surrounding area make it one of the most impressive natural areas in Cabarrus Coanty. I discussed this <br />proposed subdivision with the developer, Terry Bluto on February 22, 2001. He explained to me the process <br />he w~t through o£ carefully locating the streets in a way that blended in with the terrain. Mr. Bluto also <br />assured me that the boulders on this site were to be part of the resultinglandscape. <br /> <br />This site is under consideration for designation as a Cabarms County Natural Heritage Site. Botanists from <br />area universities have visited this site previously. Plant specimens from this site are likely in the herbarium at ' <br />the University o£Notth Carolina at Charlotte. During a visit to this site on February 21, our staff identified <br />species of plants that suggest that this site may be botanieally rich. The pink lady slipper is one of the more <br />uncommon plants observed previously on this site. <br /> <br />A review of historical aerial photographs of this site shows that the site has been covered with forest back to <br />1938, and therefore has seen little human disturbance except for periodic logging. This fact alone explains in <br />pa~t the biological richness of this site. Based on the cursory plant survey on Februa~ 21 and historical data, <br />our staffhas requested a consuhnnt to conduct a more thorough natural heritage survey. <br /> <br />Every effort should be made to relocate wildflowers in the path of development on this site. Relocation <br />efforts should be coordinated with the North Carolina Wildflower Preservation Societythrough Cabarrus Soil <br />and Water Conservation District. Oppommifies may exist to place conservation easements on open space in <br />the proposed development to provide long term protection. <br />The Land Trust for C~al North Carolina has been informed of this possibility. Protective barriers should be <br />erected around sign~cant biological and geological features prior to development. <br /> <br />The two predominant soils on this site, Cecil soils with "D" slope and Pacolet soils with "F" slope, average <br />slopes between 8-15 percent and 15-45 percent, respectively. According to the soil descriptions for these two <br />soils, "If this soil is unprotected, runoff is very rapid and erosion is a very severe hazard." This <br />condition will present a very real threat to water quality during the proposed development. Standard erosion <br />control measures such as silt fences and sediment basins are more likely to fail on site of this proposed <br />development, and failure of these conservation measures would result in discharges to the Rocky River. <br />Diligent monitoring of this site would be necessary if this site were to be developed. Grading on this site <br />should be kept to a minimum~ and large areas of soil should not be exposed at one time. For these <br />reasons, our staff recommends that the density of houses be reduced. <br /> <br />Pacolet has severe limitations fo,r septic systems due to slope, and Cecil has moderation limitations for the <br />same reason. In addition, percolation is slow on Cecil, presenting another moderate lirnit~tion for septic <br />Sy~elTI5. <br /> <br /> <br />