An Overview of Recent Changes To the EEP Restoration Plan and Mitigation Plan Templates

An Overview of Recent Changes To An Overview of Recent Changes To the EEP Restoration Plan and the EEP Restoration Plan and

Mitigation Plan TemplatesMitigation Plan Templates

Steven D. RobertsSteven D. RobertsVegetation Senior SpecialistVegetation Senior [email protected]@ncmail.net

Overarching Goals of ChangesOverarching Goals of Changes Transform the mitigation plan document from Transform the mitigation plan document from

an after the fact account to a guidance an after the fact account to a guidance document and repository of closeout related document and repository of closeout related information.information.

Increase functionality and congruency among Increase functionality and congruency among the series of documents being applied to the series of documents being applied to mitigation projects from the design phase to mitigation projects from the design phase to close outclose out..

Diagram of Process InefficiencyDiagram of Process Inefficiency

Site Selection

Close OutRestoration PlanConstruction

Mitigation PlanMonitoring ReportsMaintenance/Repair

Contingencies

Diagram of Process LinkageDiagram of Process Linkage

Site Selection

Close OutRestoration PlanMitigation Plan

Construction

Monitoring Reports

Maintenance

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline Mitigation Plan Format ChangesMitigation Plan Format Changes

Primary Issues with Previous Mitigation Plan FormatsPrimary Issues with Previous Mitigation Plan Formats Means of Mitigation Plan ImprovementMeans of Mitigation Plan Improvement Beyond Minimum Success CriteriaBeyond Minimum Success Criteria

Refinement of TerminologyRefinement of Terminology Diagram of Document CongruencyDiagram of Document Congruency

Restoration Plan Format ChangesRestoration Plan Format Changes Primary Issues with Previous Restoration Plan FormatsPrimary Issues with Previous Restoration Plan Formats Means of Restoration Plan ImprovementMeans of Restoration Plan Improvement

Comments and DiscussionComments and Discussion

Primary Issues with Previous Primary Issues with Previous Mitigation Plan FormatsMitigation Plan Formats

The conventional process has involved submitting The conventional process has involved submitting Mitigation Plans after design and construction Mitigation Plans after design and construction activities have occurredactivities have occurred

Application of multiple formats from different Application of multiple formats from different agencies and inconsistencyagencies and inconsistency

Unclear accounts of applicable “success criteria”Unclear accounts of applicable “success criteria” The lack of a standard method for addressing The lack of a standard method for addressing

endeavors to achieve more than the minimum success endeavors to achieve more than the minimum success criteriacriteria

Means of Mitigation Plan Means of Mitigation Plan ImprovementImprovement

ProcessesProcesses Requiring the development and review of the mitigation plan document to Requiring the development and review of the mitigation plan document to

occur in concert with restoration plan developmentoccur in concert with restoration plan development Phasing in this new approach to document development on all new projectsPhasing in this new approach to document development on all new projects

Mitigation Template FormatMitigation Template Format Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum success Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum success

criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted law-criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted law-

Restoration Template FormatRestoration Template Format Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and documents Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and documents

endeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteriaendeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteria

Primary Agency InvolvementPrimary Agency Involvement

List of Applicable Guidelines, List of Applicable Guidelines, Official Rules and LawsOfficial Rules and Laws

Stream Mitigation Guidelines (2003) US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington Stream Mitigation Guidelines (2003) US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington NC District NC District (http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/wetlands/Mitigation/stream_mitigation.html) (http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/wetlands/Mitigation/stream_mitigation.html)

NC Administrative Code NCAC 15A 02B.0100 , .0200, and 0300. (May 1, 2007) NC Administrative Code NCAC 15A 02B.0100 , .0200, and 0300. (May 1, 2007) NC Division of Water Quality: NC Division of Water Quality: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/admin/rules/documents/Redbook2007_000.pdfhttp://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/admin/rules/documents/Redbook2007_000.pdf

The Coastal Area Management Act ARTICLE 7. NC Division of Coastal The Coastal Area Management Act ARTICLE 7. NC Division of Coastal Management: http://dcm2.enr.state.nc.us/Rules/cama.htmManagement: http://dcm2.enr.state.nc.us/Rules/cama.htm

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (As amended through 2008) US Fish and Endangered Species Act of 1973 (As amended through 2008) US Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ESACT.HTMLWildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ESACT.HTML

Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 (As amended through 2007) The NC Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 (As amended through 2007) The NC Sedimentation Control Commission: Sedimentation Control Commission: http://www.dlr.enr.state.nc.us/pages/sedimentation_new.htmlhttp://www.dlr.enr.state.nc.us/pages/sedimentation_new.html

Etc.Etc.

Means of Mitigation Plan Means of Mitigation Plan ImprovementImprovement

ProcessesProcesses Requiring the delivery and review of the mitigation plan Requiring the delivery and review of the mitigation plan

document before baseline monitoring is donedocument before baseline monitoring is done Phasing in the new standard format to all new projectsPhasing in the new standard format to all new projects

Mitigation Template FormatMitigation Template Format Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum

success criteria, including official rules, guidelines and success criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted lawadopted law

Restoration Template FormatRestoration Template Format Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and

document endeavors that go beyond the minimum success document endeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteriacriteria

Beyond Minimum Success CriteriaBeyond Minimum Success Criteria

Simply stated, the “minimum success criteria” Simply stated, the “minimum success criteria” are inadequate for addressing the achievement are inadequate for addressing the achievement of variable amounts of project success and of variable amounts of project success and corresponding credit.corresponding credit.

Great, lets go further! Wait, why go further?Great, lets go further! Wait, why go further?

Terminology RefinementTerminology Refinement

Minimum Success Criteria:Minimum Success Criteria: Defined by official Defined by official rules, guidelines and adopted law rules, guidelines and adopted law administered by various regulatory agencies.administered by various regulatory agencies.

Goals: Goals: Measures of success necessary to achieve Measures of success necessary to achieve and go beyond the minimum success criteria.and go beyond the minimum success criteria.

Objectives: Objectives: The means of achieving goals.The means of achieving goals.

Linking Restoration With FunctionLinking Restoration With Function(Exert taken from 2008 Restoration Plan Template)(Exert taken from 2008 Restoration Plan Template)

Diagram of Document CongruencyDiagram of Document Congruency

Restoration PlanDefine Goals/Objectives

Close Out DocumentOutline of Goal/Objective

Achievement

Mitigation PlanEst. Monitoring ApproachGoals/Objectives/Methods

Monitoring ReportsTempered Analysis

Goals/Objectives

Example Example GoalsGoals Reduce the dominance of exotic invasive Reduce the dominance of exotic invasive

vegetation to a non detrimental levelvegetation to a non detrimental level Reduce or eliminate soil erosionReduce or eliminate soil erosion Restore historic wetland hydrologyRestore historic wetland hydrology Enhance the vegetative community structureEnhance the vegetative community structure

Example Example ObjectivesObjectives Mechanically remove and dispose of all vegetative portions of Mechanically remove and dispose of all vegetative portions of

existing exotic invasive species using heavy equipmentexisting exotic invasive species using heavy equipment Survey for exotic invasive species throughout the construction Survey for exotic invasive species throughout the construction

phase of the project and treat with herbicide as neededphase of the project and treat with herbicide as needed Execute maintenance contract during monitoring years 1-3 for Execute maintenance contract during monitoring years 1-3 for

the purpose of controlling exotic invasive vegetation the purpose of controlling exotic invasive vegetation Install temporary and permanent seed mixes along with live Install temporary and permanent seed mixes along with live

stakes immediately after constructionstakes immediately after construction Staged installation of plant species derived from natural Staged installation of plant species derived from natural

community reference data in the form of bare root, community reference data in the form of bare root, containerized and burlap plant materialcontainerized and burlap plant material

Alter the hydrology of the given site based on hydrology Alter the hydrology of the given site based on hydrology gauge data from nearby reference wetlandsgauge data from nearby reference wetlands

Install seeds, plugs and containerized forms of plant species Install seeds, plugs and containerized forms of plant species derived from natural community reference dataderived from natural community reference data

Primary Issues with Previous Primary Issues with Previous Restoration Plan FormatsRestoration Plan Formats

Lack of an adequate template for addressing Lack of an adequate template for addressing the range of activities that potentially happen the range of activities that potentially happen within each planting zone.within each planting zone.

Means of Restoration Plan Means of Restoration Plan ImprovementImprovement

Introduction of a standard format for tables Introduction of a standard format for tables pertaining to vegetation establishment and soil pertaining to vegetation establishment and soil treatments for each zonetreatments for each zone

Community Type, or Zone 1 Acres 6.50

Mechanical Treatment Approx. Date

Ground Cover Fabric Mulch Type

Mulch Density /

ThicknessNutrient

Amendments Nutrient Total lbs

Disking 1 01/08-02/08 Coir Wheat Straw 75% Cover Pellet Fertilizer 600Etc.

Subtotal 600

Community Type, or Zone 2 Acres 3.30

Mechanical Treatment Approx. Date

Ground Cover Fabric Mulch Type

Mulch Density /

ThicknessNutrient

Amendments Nutrient Total lbs

Disking 1 01/08-02/08 NA NA Limestone 350Disking 2 02/08 NA Wheat Straw 75% Cover Pellet Fertilizer 600

Etc.Subtotal 950

Community Type, or Zone 3 Acres 1.50

Mechanical Treatment Approx. Date

Ground Cover Fabric Mulch Type

Mulch Density /

ThicknessNutrient

Amendments Nutrient Total lbs

Herbicide 1 06/07 NA NA NA NAHerbicide 2 08/07 NA NA NA NA

Roto Tilling 1 01/08-02/08 NA NA NA Organic Fertilizer 600Roto Tilling 2 02/08 NA Wood/Bark 3" Compost 6000

Etc.Subtotal 6600

Total 7200 11.30

Restoration Plan Template7.7 Soil Restoration

Table 7-Soil Preparation and Amendment Summary

Acres 6.50Approved Date Species Name Stratum Common Name Total lbs

Jan 1-May 15 Secale cereale Herb Rye Grain 50May 15-Aug 15 Setaria itallica Herb German Millet 50Aug 15-Dec 31 Secale cereale Herb Rye Grain 50

NA Betula nigra Canopy River Birch 10NA Sambucus canadensis Shrub Elderberry 15NA Rhus typhina Shrub Staghorn Sumac 15Etc.

Subtotal 190

Acres 3.30Approved Date Species Name Stratum Common Name Total lbs

Jan 1-May 15 Secale cereale Herb Rye Grain 50May 15-Aug 15 Setaria itallica Herb German Millet 50Aug 15-Dec 31 Secale cereale Herb Rye Grain 50

NA Panicum clandestinum Herb Deer Tongue Grass 5NA Saururus cernuus Herb Lizard's Tail 5Etc.

Subtotal 160Total 172 9.80

Community Type, or Zone 1

Community Type, or Zone 2

Restoration Plan Template7. 8 Natural Plant Community Restoration

Table 8-Seeding Plan Summary

Restoration Plan Template7. 8 Natural Plant Community Restoration

Table 9-Planting Plan Summary

Acres 6.50

Species Common NameMax

SpacingUnit

Type* Size** StratumIndiv.

Spacing# of

StemsTotal

lbsSalix nigra Black Willow 2' L 2-3' Subcanopy 4 ft. 600Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood 2' L 2-3' Shrub 4 ft. 600Etc.

Subtotal 1200

Acres 3.30

Species Common NameMax

SpacingUnit

Type* Size** StratumIndiv.

Spacing# of

StemsTotal

lbsQuercus nigra Water Oak 10' B 3" Cali. Canopy 40' 15Ilex Opaca American Holly 10' P 5 Gal SubCanopy 20' 10Plantanus Occidentalis Sycamore 10' R 2-3' Canopy 10' 50Lindera benzoin Spice Bush 10' P 2-3 Gal Shrub 10' 50Panicum clandestinum Deer Tongue Grass NA S NA Herb NA 5Saururus cernuus Lizard's Tail NA S NA Herb NA 5Etc.

Subtotal 125 10Total 1325 10 9.80

** Size units may vary, but must be stated.

Community Type, or Zone 2

Community Type, or Zone 1

* Unit Type choices inlcude: Transplant (T), Lives stake (L), Ball and Burlap (B), Pot (P), Tubling (T), Bare Root (R), Mechanically Planted (M), and Seed (S)

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