BC 1993 12 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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487 over 70 mitigation areas by North Carolina State University, Forestry Department (NCSU) mitigation planting contractor; * recruitment in the mitigation areas of native vegetation; * baseline and successional data for wildlife and vegetation in preservation areas; * recruitment of mosquito-eating fishes into the reservoir pool; this will include assessment of adult mosquito population data which may be available from the local Mosquito Control District. Monitoring of the above parameters will be required at the beginning, middle and end of each growing season for the first 4 years, and at the beginning and end of each growing season for years 5 through 7. This results in a total of 18 monitoring events. In addition, the 404 permit requires a baseline evaluation of the preservation areas. Quantitative monitoring will be done in 20 of the planting areas using standard ecological assessment techniques. The remaining planting areas will be qualitatively assessed for survivorship, percent area coverage of recruited vegetation (including nuisance species), and depredation, vandalism or other problems. 1.6.3.1.1. Administration and Set-up. Implementation of the post- planting monitoring program will require a number of preliminary efforts, including development of a detailed monitoring program for submittal to, and approval by, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Extensive work will be required to set up monitoring stations in each of the 20 quantitative sites, as well as in the preservation areas and at fish sampling stations. 1.6.3.1.2. Habitat Creation Areas. Wetland and upland planting areas delineated in the Planting Area Drawings (#1 through#ii) developed by HDR as support for contract documents, and any subsequent areas illustrated in site-specific mapping developed by NCSU, will be monitored for survivorship of planted species of vegetation, recruitment of native species of vegetation, percent coverage of planted and recruited vegetation, and growth of all vegetation. Methodology - A specific monitoring program using standard techniques, including regularly spaced parallel transects, shrub and herbaceous quadrats, photographic stations and quantitative evaluation of recruitment, will be implemented for 20 of the habitat creation areas. Qualitative monitoring will be performed in the remaining planting areas. Monitoring will be performed by experienced biologists. Cabarrus County has required that NCSU provide a warranty for installed vegetation such as the bare-root tree and shrub saplings. This warranty guarantees survivorship of at least 80% of planted individuals through the ends of years 1, 2, 3 and 4. An 80% area coverage of non-nuisance wetland vegetation is required for all habitat creation areas by the end of the 7-year monitoring period. If it is noted on any monitoring events during years 1-4 that percent survivorship of installed species has dropped below 80%, the report for that event may recommend that NCSU replant as necessary to accomplish an 80% survivorship level. If it is noted on any monitoring event during years 5-7 that percent cover of non-nuisance wetland vegetation has fallen below 80% area coverage, the report for that event may recommend a remediation plan to meet permit conditions. 1.6.3.1.3. Preservation Areas. As partial mitigation for wetland impacts, Cabarrus County will preserve over 160 acres of moderate to high quality forested uplands and wetlands in the reservoir buffer. These areas will be monitored to assess the natural process of succession and wildlife utilization. Methodology Associated with monitoring of the various habitat creation areas, transects will be established across specific areas