WHAT IS A WETLAND?

Wetlands are areas in the landscape where water is typically at or within 12 inches of the ground surface for a least two weeks during the growing season. Wetlands are considered to be waters of the U.S. along with streams, rivers, lakes, bays and other bodies of waters.

WHAT IS A STREAM?

A stream is a body of concentrated flowing water within a channel. Streams are divided into three types: ephemeral, intermittent, or perennial. Ephemeral streams only flow during or immediately after precipitation events and are not regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the NCDEQ. Intermittent streams contain flowing water for only parts of the year and Perennial streams flow year-round. Both Intermittent and Perennial streams are considered to be waters of the U.S. and are regulated by both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the NCDEQ.

WHO DETERMINES IF A WETLAND OR STREAM IS JURISDICTONAL?

Wetlands and streams (waters of the U.S.) are determined to be jurisdictional by the USACE and the NCDEQ. HARP can provide you with a preliminary jurisdictional determination based on the information used by the USACE and NCDEQ to make these determinations. HARP can then request a Jurisdictional Determination from the USACE for your property to let you know the location, type and quality of the waters.

I DON’T KNOW IF I HAVE A REGULATED WETLAND OR STREAM ON MY PROPERTY. HOW CAN I FIND OUT?

Jurisdictional wetlands are determined by environmental experts using soils, hydrology and vegetation to determine the boundaries of the wetland. Jurisdictional streams are determined by environmental experts using Performing this work is called a wetland delineation. Call HARP!! We can do the work.

I HAVE DISCUSSED DOING SOME DEVELOPMENT ON PROPERTY I OWN. I MAY HAVE WETLANDS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED?

Yes, depending on how you are funding the development, you may need a biological report on the endangered/threatened species that could possibly be present.

I AM THINKING ABOUT DOING SOME WORK THAT MAY IMPACT A WETLAND. I DON’T KNOW THE RULES FOR WETLAND IMPACTS. CAN HARP HELP?

Yes, we know the rules and we can do the permitting. Property owners can face steep fines for impacting wetlands without a permit. Getting a permit can be simple or complicated, depending on the situation and the proposed impact(s). Give us a Call!

WHAT IS A 404/401 WATER QUALITY PERMIT?

Before a project is undertaken that will impact streams or wetlands (by grading and construction) permits have to be obtained from the United States Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act (Section 404) and the NC Division of Water Quality (Section 401). These may be complicated or not, depending on the impact(s) and may require some months to obtain. HARP can help obtain these. We specialize in Interagency Coordination. Give us a Call!

I HAVE A LARGE AREA OF PROPERTY WITH UPLANDS, WETLANDS AND STREAM BANKS THAT NEED TO BE PLANTED WITH BOTH HERBACEOUS AND WOODY VEGETATIVE SPECIES. CAN HARP DO THIS?

Give us a Call! We can and we do it all the time. We can develop a planting plan to suit your needs and desires.

WHAT DOES SCM MEAN?

The abbreviation “SCM” stands for Stormwater Control Measures and refers to the best way to control storm water runoff from a site. There are several types of SCMs ranging from grassed swales to rain gardens to wet ponds. HARP designs and plants all of the various SCMs following the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Minimum Design Criteria (MDC). Call us!

WHAT IS A RAIN GARDEN?

A rain garden is a SCM that collects and filters storm water runoff and discharges the water in a cleaner state into the ground or into a nearby stream. Plants in the rain garden absorb organic and inorganic contents from the runoff, helping to clean the water as it filters through the sandy soil.

MY RAIN GARDEN(S) HOLD WATER FOR WEEKS AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. DO I HAVE A PROBLEM?

Yes - Rain gardens are designed to drain down after about 24-48 hours. There is often a drainpipe at the base of the soil fill. Typical problems are the soil filtering ability has been negated by the infiltration of clay which stops drainage in the sandy soil. Some, or all of the soil may have to be replaced or, the drain may be stopped up causing water to back up into the soil. Another problem for slow draining water is the possibility of a pack of leaves (leaf pack) on top of the soil. Possibly the leaves were not removed from the Rain Garden.

I WANT A NICE LOOKING GROUP OF PLANTS IN MY SCM. DO I HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHAT IS PLANTED?

Yes, you do have a choice. However, the initial planting plan may not have considered aesthetics, only function. There is a relatively wide range of species adapted to the various habitats in SCMs. HARP wrote the book on planting SCMs in the Piedmont. Give us a call!

I HAVE A SCM THAT I WANT TO MAINTAIN PROPERLY, BUT DON’T HAVE THE EXPERTISE OR TIME. DOES HARP DO SCM MAINTENANCE?

Yes, we do. We can develop a cost effective, year-round maintenance plan to accomplish your needs. Give us a call!

MY SCM'S WERE INSPECTED AND DID NOT PASS. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO NOW?

Determine the reason(s). They should be noted on the inspector’s sheet. Call HARP, we are Rain Garden Certified!

I AM ADJACENT TO A NEW DEVELOPMENT AND STORM WATER RUNOFF IS IMPACTING A NEARBY STREAM AND MY PROPERTY ALSO. WHAT DO I DO?

If you are in the Charlotte city limits, then call Charlotte Land Development. If you are in Mecklenburg County, then call Mecklenburg County Land Development. If you are in Iredell County, then call the Iredell County Planning and Development Erosion Control Section. If you need an assessment as to what the problem is or if you have had an evaluation by Land Development and want a solution, Call HARP!

I RECEIVED A NOV (NOTICE OF VIOLATION). WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Tell us what type of violation you have received. Generally, a NOV will detail the problem(s). If it involves erosion on newly cleared property, a sedimentation impact from runoff on a neighboring property, or a poorly functioning or constructed SCM, Call HARP!

MY NOV CALLED FOR DEVELOPING A REMEDIATION PLAN. WHO DOES REMEDIATION PLANS?

HARP does remediation plans, give us a Call!

I WAS TOLD TO GET A TREE SURVEY FOR A PROPERTY BEING CONSIDERED FOR DEVELOPMENT. WHO DOES TREE SURVEYS?

HARP does, give us a call!

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TYPE(S) OF PLANT COMMUNITIES ARE ON MY PROPERTY AND IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIAL OR PROTECTED SPECIES. CAN HARP DO THIS?

Yes, we have provided the data for the Natural Heritage Surveys for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston and Lincoln Counties and are very familiar with the threatened and endangered species that are found in Piedmont plant communities. Give us a Call!

MY COMPANY IS DEVELOPING A TRACT OF LAND. WE DON’T WANT PROBLEMS WITH EROSION, ETC. HOW CAN WE STAY AHEAD OF THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY DEVELOP?

You need to have a sediment and erosion control plan prepared for the development and put in place prior to site clearing. You will also need a certified site inspector who will report potential problems with the sediment and erosion control before they become REAL problems and will recommend how to fix these problems. Call HARP! We have a certified inspector.

A STREAM ON MY PROPERTY IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR RESTORATION. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, OR HOW COMPLICATED IT IS AND HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS. FIRST, I WANT TO SEE A RESTORED STREAM AND THEN DISCUSS HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. DOES HARP DO THIS?

Yes, we do. We can show you some streams we have restored and discuss the overall aspects. We specialize in restoration design, construction, and monitoring. Give us a Call!

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF INVASIVE PLANTS, SUCH AS KUDZU, JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE, CHINESE PRIVET AND RUSSIAN OLIVE (ELAEAGNUS). HOW DO I GET RID OF THESE SPECIES?

Call HARP, we specialize in Invasive Species Management!

WHAT IS A LIVE STAKE?

Live stakes are pieces of dormant woody stems of vegetation that are planted into stream banks. There are six native species of plants that grow in the Piedmont that can be used for live stakes. During the winter, the nodes on the live stake stems develop roots, and in the spring the food that is stored in the stems provides the energy for leaf production. The newly developing plants stabilize the soil due to the root growth. HARP installs tens’s of thousands of live stakes each year. If you need help call HARP!

CAN ROOTS REALLY GROW DURING THE WINTER?

Yes. The soil temperature remains fairly constant even in the winter. One reason the live stakes are at least 18 in. long is to get the live stake nodes below the freeze line.

WHEN CAN LIVE STAKES BE PLANTED?

The live stake stems need to be dormant before harvesting or planting. The leaves of the live stake source plant usually fall about mid-November. Live stakes can be harvested at that time and can be planted up until about March 15, although a late planting may not develop the root support needed to supply water to the leaves. For more, call HARP!

SHOULD HERBACEOUS WETLAND PLANTS BE INSTALLED IN THE FALL?

No. Contrary to planting woody plants (which can be installed in the fall), herbaceous species, as plugs or bare root plants, need about 6 weeks to develop new roots. When the water gets cold the roots do not grow as well and often the plants will die and rot. Herbaceous wetland plants should be planted no later than September 1, and if the habitat is a wetland they can be planted in late spring and all during the summer (assuming the available water in the wetland does not dry up).

WHAT IS A PLUG?

A plug is an herbaceous seedling or newly rooted plant growing in a container about 2 inches by 5 inches in size. A plug has a well-developed root system and, when removed from the container and planted immediately, can adapt and grow with limited effects of the transplanting. If you want to know which species will fit best into your system, Call HARP!

HOW DOES A BARE ROOT PLANT DIFFER FROM A PLUG?

Bare root plants have no soil around the roots. Bare root plants are dormant or semi-dormant. Bare root trees or shrubs should be planted in the winter to allow time for new root growth. Bare root herbaceous plants also need to develop new roots, but usually grow roots faster. Bare root material is usually less expensive than plugs, but the survivorship may be less in bare root material. If you want an analysis of the best species and whether to use plugs or bare root, Call HARP!