FIRST YEAR MONITORING REPORT

Transcription

1 FIRST YEAR MONITORING REPORT FOR WAY/ /MED /0.00 (PID 14017) USACE Permit: NWP 14# OEPA ID#: STREAM MITIGATION AREA Prepared by The Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Environmental Services 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio December 2009

2 Introduction: The WAY/MED /0.00 project widened IR 71 to 6 lanes, including the reconstruction and widening of structures to accommodate the wider roadway. A bridge over a large Category 3 wetland complex in Medina County just southwest of SR 83 and Little Killbuck Creek was reconstructed in 2007/2008. This project impacted acres of the Category 3 wetland. To mitigate for this impact, 2.41 acres of credit were purchased from the Panzner Wetland Mitigation Bank, and 1.5 acres of wetland were to be reconstructed under the bridges. In compliance with the Special Conditions of NWP Permit # and OEPA Certification ID# , ODOT is monitoring the restoration and re-vegetation of the impacted area under the bridges for five years. Included in this report are the photos and vegetation information for the first monitoring year. Vegetation Monitoring: This site was monitored on August 12, Four plant community types were noted from the monitoring site; the undisturbed wetland (persistent emergent herbaceous vegetation), the restored wetland (persistent and non-persistent emergent herbaceous vegetation), disturbed right-of-way (herbaceous vegetation), and disturbed areas under the bridge that have not regained wetland characteristics (upland herbaceous vegetation and barren ground) (Figure 2). Photos were taken from four locations set in 2009 to document the re-vegetation of the new floodplain, and supplemental aerial photos are included to show the location of plant communities (Figure 3). The un-disturbed wetland areas remained the same as they were pre-construction. This large wetland area contains herbaceous, scrub/shrub, and forested components, but is dominated by emergent herbaceous vegetation adjacent to the bridge. The dominant plants are broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Other plants found in the undisturbed wetland areas included blue vervain (Verbena hastata), spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis), small water plantain (Alisma subcordatum), three-square (Schoenoplectus pungens ), and common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum). The restored wetland areas were dominated by reed canary grass along the edges, and duckweed in the deeper areas. Other plants such as mud plantain, blue vervain, and cattail species were starting to colonize the areas. These areas were planted with wetland plant seeds that included a species of iris (probably Iris versicolor) and a species of crowsfoot (probably Ranunculus hispidus or Ranunculus sceleratus). Neither plant was flowering, so identification to species was not possible. The deeper areas near the culvert under the railroad bed are heavily shaded by the bridges, and vegetation development and diversity is hindered. The roadside slopes and right-of-way in the areas that are not shaded by the bridges were completely revegetated with common roadside grasses and forbs including perennial rye (Lollium perenne ), timothy (Phleum pratense), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), wild carrot (Daucus carota), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida ), and white and yellow sweet clovers (Melilotis alba and M. officinalis). Other plants observed in the right-of-way included yellow goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratensis), bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), chicory (Cichorium intybus), and teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris). The areas under the bridge that have not converted to wetland, but had been marked for restoration were dominated by barren ground. Scattered clumps of plants, consisting mostly of salt-tolerant species, were found in these areas. Dominant plant species include spearscale (Atriplex patula), salt-marsh sandspurry (Spergularia marina), and common mallow (Malva neglecta). Other plants found in these barren areas included tall sea-blight (Suaeda linearis), lady s thumb (Polygonum persicaria), and white and yellow sweet clovers, and rough barnyard grass (Echinocloa muricata) in scattered puddles.

3 Wetland Restoration Monitoring: According to the Special Conditions in the Section 401 WQC, 1.5 acres of wetland were to be restored in the disturbed area under and around the bridges. OES attempted to survey the area that had been restored to wetland condition with a hand-held GPS unit, but the unit would not work under the bridges. On-site photos, sketches, and Bing Maps aerial photographs were used to estimate the location and acreage of the restored wetland areas. Approximately 0.30 acre of wetland was restored, which is approximately 20% of the impacted area. OES believes that the cause of this failure is the replacement of the collapsed culvert that carried water between the two wetland areas. This culvert was replaced to provide equipment access under the bridge (the collapsed culvert could have completely failed and caused damage to equipment) and to maintain access to the old rail bed to the property owner. The original culvert had collapsed, and the water from the wetland flooded over the areas under the bridge instead of flowing through the old culvert, providing hydrology to the impacted wetlands under the bridge. The new culvert reconnected the flow between the two wetland areas, and the areas under the bridge no longer flood, removing the hydrology to these wetlands. This was not foreseen by ODOT or the designers. The land under the bridge has been returned to its original elevations, and was confirmed by the contractor and ODOT District 3. The area under the bridge cannot be lowered further because the pier footers could be compromised. OES believes that most of the required acreage will not be restored to its original condition as a wetland because of the change in hydrology from the new culvert. To offset this failure, OES proposes to mitigate the 1.2 acres that were not restored by using 1.8 acres of mitigation credit from Panzner Mitigation Bank where the original off-site credits were purchased. This represents a 1.5:1 ratio for the 1.2 acres that failed to revert to wetland. The entire 1.5 acres was mitigated originally at 1.5:1 by purchasing 2.41 credits at Panzner. This represents a total 3:1 ratio for the portion of the impacted area that did not revert back to wetland. As stated earlier, ODOT does not believe that additional on-site mitigation will be possible. If this alternate mitigation is accepted, ODOT-OES requests to be released from future monitoring of this site.

4 Table Plant species found within the WAY/MED /0.00 wetland restoration area in Latin Common Wetland (X) Acer negundo boxelder X Alisma subcordatum small water plantain X Ambrosia trifida giant ragweed Atriplex patula spearscale Cichorium intybus chicory Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Daucus carota wild carrot Dipsacus sylvestris teasel Echinacea purpurea purple coneflower Erigeron annuus daisy fleabane Eupatorium perfoliatum boneset X Impatiens capensis spotted jewelweed X Iris sp. iris X Lemna minor. duckweed X Leucanthemum vulgare oxeye daisy Malva neglecta common mallow Melilotus alba white sweet clover Melilotus officinalis yellow Sweet Clover Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass X Phragmites australis common reed X Pilea pumila clearweed X Poa pratenis Kentucky bluegrass Polygonum persicaria lady s thumb Populus deltoides cottonwood X Ranunculus sp. buttercup X Schoenoplectus pungens three square X Solidago canadensis Canada goldenrod Spurgularia marina sand spurrey Suaeda linearis tall sea-blight Tragopogon pratensis yellow goatsbeard Trifolium pratense red clover Tussilago farfara coltsfoot X Typha angustifolia narrowleaf cattail X Typha latifolia broadleaf cattail X Verbena hastata blue vervain X

5 State of Ohio Project Area Medina County Medina County Feet Figure 1: MED (PID 14017) West Salem 7.5' USGS Qhadrangle

6 Un-disturbed Wetland Legend Restored Wetland Un-disturbed Wetland Non-restored Area Upland Right-of-way Figure 2. Aerial Photo showing vegetative communities present at the WAY/MED /0.00 bridge in 2009.

7 Legend Restored Wetland Area Photo Locations Figure 3: Photo Log for 2009 Monitoring.

8 Photo 1: Looking southeast at the restored wetland area under the northbound bridge. Photo 2: Looking northwest at the restored wetland area under the southbound bridge. These two wetland areas are connected by a culvert under the old railroad bed.

9 Photo 3: Taken just west of Pier 5 on the southbound bridge looking west at the old railroad bed and a segment of the restored wetland area. Photo 4: Taken between Piers 2 and 3 under the southbound bridge looking northwest at part of the restored wetland area, and a segment that has not been restored. The red line marks the areas that are now wetland.

10 Photo 5: Taken between Piers 3 and 4 of the northbound bridge facing southeast looking at a portion of the restored wetland and an area that has not been restored. The red line shows the wetland boundary. Photo 6: Taken from the railroad bed at the southern end of the project area looking north at the un-restored areas between the two bridges.

11 Photo 7: Taken just south of the northbound bridge looking north between Piers 1 and 2 of the northbound bridge. This area was originally marked to be restored, but does not meet wetland criteria.