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October 21, 1997 <br /> <br />Mr. Blair Bennett <br />Finance Director <br />Cabarrus County Governmental Center <br />P.O. Box 707 <br />Concord, NC 28026-0707 <br /> <br />I-DR <br /> <br />Re: <br /> <br />Coddle Creek Reservoir Preserved Buffer Area <br />HDR Project # 08427-003-018 <br /> <br />Dear Blair: <br /> <br />Recently a portion of the preserved upland buffer area surrounding the Coddle Creek <br />Reservoir was partially cleared of trees. In response to this, Emie Brock (WSACC), <br />Cabarrus County Deputy Sheriff Rick Coker, and myself met with the property owner on <br />the site Thursday, October 16. We inspected the results oft_he partial cleating oft.he 1/2- <br />acre area and I made notes regarding the size and species of trees which had been cut. <br />Since this area is the property of Cabarrus County, the decision regarding an official <br />response rests largely with county officials. <br /> <br />The trees cut included individuals of the following species: White oak (Quercus alba), <br />Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), <br />Southern red oak (Quercus falcata), Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), Green ash <br />(Frc~rinus pennsylvanica), Dogwood (Comus florida), and Virginia pine (Pinus <br />virginiana). Approximately 35-40 trees with 1-14" diameters were removed. While the <br />presence of debris piles and logs may have hidden some additional stumps from view', the <br />majority of understory species appeared similar to the dominant canopy species. <br /> <br />As you are aware, the forested buffer around the reservoir serves to protect water quality <br />and provide important wildlife habitat. When portions of it are cleared of vegetation, its <br />ab~!!ty to meet *_h_ese needs is sign.~fic~_nt!y ,_'mpa,.'red. To continue meeting pe...rmJt <br />requirements and safeguard water quality, impacts like those described here require some <br />form of mitigation. <br /> <br />One possible means of compensation would be to require the installation of appropriate <br />replacement trees at the property owner's expense. The property owner in question has <br />been cooperative in past discussions and is currently involved in the landscaping <br />business. As a result, he has an adequate number of trees (of appropriate species) on <br />hand to meet the likely replanting demands. A second response option would involve <br />fining the property owner and awarding a tree-planting contract to an outside source. <br /> <br />HDR Engineering, Inc. <br />of North Carolina <br /> <br />Employee-owned <br /> <br />Suite 1400 Telephone <br />128 S. Tryon Street 704 338-6700 <br />Charlotte, North Carolina Fax <br />28202-5001 704 338-6760 <br /> <br /> <br />