An Overview of Recent Changes To the EEP Restoration Plan and Mitigation Plan Templates Steven D. Roberts Vegetation Senior Specialist

Overarching Goals of Changes Transform the mitigation plan document from an after the fact account to a guidance document and repository of closeout related information. Transform the mitigation plan document from an after the fact account to a guidance document and repository of closeout related information. Increase functionality and congruency among the series of documents being applied to mitigation projects from the design phase to close out. Increase functionality and congruency among the series of documents being applied to mitigation projects from the design phase to close out.

Diagram of Process Inefficiency Site Selection Close Out Restoration Plan Construction Mitigation Plan Monitoring Reports Maintenance/Repair Contingencies

Diagram of Process Linkage Site Selection Close Out Restoration Plan Mitigation Plan Construction Monitoring Reports Maintenance

Presentation Outline Mitigation Plan Format Changes Mitigation Plan Format Changes Primary Issues with Previous Mitigation Plan Formats Primary Issues with Previous Mitigation Plan Formats Means of Mitigation Plan Improvement Means of Mitigation Plan Improvement Beyond Minimum Success Criteria Beyond Minimum Success Criteria Refinement of Terminology Refinement of Terminology Diagram of Document Congruency Diagram of Document Congruency Restoration Plan Format Changes Restoration Plan Format Changes Primary Issues with Previous Restoration Plan Formats Primary Issues with Previous Restoration Plan Formats Means of Restoration Plan Improvement Means of Restoration Plan Improvement Comments and Discussion Comments and Discussion

Primary Issues with Previous Mitigation Plan Formats The conventional process has involved submitting Mitigation Plans after design and construction activities have occurred The conventional process has involved submitting Mitigation Plans after design and construction activities have occurred Application of multiple formats from different agencies and inconsistency Application of multiple formats from different agencies and inconsistency Unclear accounts of applicable “success criteria” Unclear accounts of applicable “success criteria” The lack of a standard method for addressing endeavors to achieve more than the minimum success criteria The lack of a standard method for addressing endeavors to achieve more than the minimum success criteria

Means of Mitigation Plan Improvement Processes Requiring the development and review of the mitigation plan document to occur in concert with restoration plan development Requiring the development and review of the mitigation plan document to occur in concert with restoration plan development Phasing in this new approach to document development on all new projects Phasing in this new approach to document development on all new projects Mitigation Template Format Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum success criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted law- Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum success criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted law- Restoration Template Format Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and documents endeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteria Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and documents endeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteria

Primary Agency Involvement

List of Applicable Guidelines, Official Rules and Laws Stream Mitigation Guidelines (2003) US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington NC District ( Stream Mitigation Guidelines (2003) US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington NC District ( NC Administrative Code NCAC 15A 02B.0100,.0200, and (May 1, 2007) NC Division of Water Quality: NC Administrative Code NCAC 15A 02B.0100,.0200, and (May 1, 2007) NC Division of Water Quality: The Coastal Area Management Act ARTICLE 7. NC Division of Coastal Management: The Coastal Area Management Act ARTICLE 7. NC Division of Coastal Management: Endangered Species Act of 1973 (As amended through 2008) US Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered Species Act of 1973 (As amended through 2008) US Fish and Wildlife Service: Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 (As amended through 2007) The NC Sedimentation Control Commission: Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 (As amended through 2007) The NC Sedimentation Control Commission: Etc. Etc.

Means of Mitigation Plan Improvement Processes Requiring the delivery and review of the mitigation plan document before baseline monitoring is done Requiring the delivery and review of the mitigation plan document before baseline monitoring is done Phasing in the new standard format to all new projects Phasing in the new standard format to all new projects Mitigation Template Format Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum success criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted law Requirement of complete outlines of all applicable minimum success criteria, including official rules, guidelines and adopted law Restoration Template Format Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and document endeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteria Standard format improvement intended to facilitate and document endeavors that go beyond the minimum success criteria

Beyond Minimum Success Criteria Simply stated, the “minimum success criteria” are inadequate for addressing the achievement of variable amounts of project success and corresponding credit. Simply stated, the “minimum success criteria” are inadequate for addressing the achievement of variable amounts of project success and corresponding credit. Great, lets go further! Wait, why go further?

Terminology Refinement Minimum Success Criteria: Defined by official rules, guidelines and adopted law administered by various regulatory agencies. Goals: Measures of success necessary to achieve and go beyond the minimum success criteria. Objectives: The means of achieving goals.

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

Diagram of Document Congruency Restoration Plan Define Goals/Objectives Close Out Document Outline of Goal/Objective Achievement Mitigation Plan Est. Monitoring Approach Goals/Objectives/Methods Monitoring Reports Tempered Analysis Goals/Objectives

Example Goals Reduce the dominance of exotic invasive vegetation to a non detrimental level Reduce the dominance of exotic invasive vegetation to a non detrimental level Reduce or eliminate soil erosion Reduce or eliminate soil erosion Restore historic wetland hydrology Restore historic wetland hydrology Enhance the vegetative community structure Enhance the vegetative community structure

Example Objectives Mechanically remove and dispose of all vegetative portions of existing exotic invasive species using heavy equipment Mechanically remove and dispose of all vegetative portions of existing exotic invasive species using heavy equipment Survey for exotic invasive species throughout the construction phase of the project and treat with herbicide as needed Survey for exotic invasive species throughout the construction phase of the project and treat with herbicide as needed Execute maintenance contract during monitoring years 1-3 for the purpose of controlling exotic invasive vegetation Execute maintenance contract during monitoring years 1-3 for the purpose of controlling exotic invasive vegetation Install temporary and permanent seed mixes along with live stakes immediately after construction Install temporary and permanent seed mixes along with live stakes immediately after construction Staged installation of plant species derived from natural community reference data in the form of bare root, containerized and burlap plant material Staged installation of plant species derived from natural community reference data in the form of bare root, containerized and burlap plant material Alter the hydrology of the given site based on hydrology gauge data from nearby reference wetlands Alter the hydrology of the given site based on hydrology gauge data from nearby reference wetlands Install seeds, plugs and containerized forms of plant species derived from natural community reference data Install seeds, plugs and containerized forms of plant species derived from natural community reference data

Primary Issues with Previous Restoration Plan Formats Lack of an adequate template for addressing the range of activities that potentially happen within each planting zone. Lack of an adequate template for addressing the range of activities that potentially happen within each planting zone.

Means of Restoration Plan Improvement Introduction of a standard format for tables pertaining to vegetation establishment and soil treatments for each zone Introduction of a standard format for tables pertaining to vegetation establishment and soil treatments for each zone

Restoration Plan Template 7.7 Soil Restoration Table 7-Soil Preparation and Amendment Summary

Restoration Plan Template 7. 8 Natural Plant Community Restoration Table 8-Seeding Plan Summary

Restoration Plan Template 7. 8 Natural Plant Community Restoration Table 9-Planting Plan Summary