HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 Wetlands Inventory Methodology Coastal Zone Mngt GrantK
Jefferson County
Planning and Building Department
David Goldsmith, Director
J
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Jefferson County would like to thank Michelle Stevens, Terri
Granger, and Andy McMillan of the Department of Ecology for
providing training; Jeremiah Gorsline, Ron Hirschi, Esther Howard,
Michael Reed, Tim Rymer, and Timothy Witten for technnical
assistance; Admiralty Audubon for wildlife data; and the landowners
for allowing access to their land for the purposes of the wetland
inventory. Last but not least, the county would like to thank the
volunteers who assisted in the field: Pete Harris, Larry Heater,
Kurt Klingman, Mark Kubiak, and Tom Foley.
The format for this report and much of the content, particularly
the portions on values and functions, were drawn from the Wetlands
Inventory Methodology Report prepared by the City of Auburn in
January, 1989.
John Heal
Wetlands Specialist
r
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
Page
Background
7
Inventory Background
7
Results
8
Costs
10
Process
10
Methodology
12
Functions and Values
12
Conclusion
14
Recommendation
14
CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY
Introduction
16
Parameters Defined
16
Wetland Hydrology
16
Hydric Soils
17
Hydrophytic Vegetation
17
Inventory Planning Process
18
Inventory Crew and Volunteers
18
Existing Sources
19
Quarter Section Orthophotographs
19
Aerial Photographs
19
Soil Conservation Service Maps
20
FEMA Maps
20
National Wetland Inventory Maps
20
Data Sheet Development
20
Delineation Procedure
20
Wetland Hydrology
20
Hydric Soils
20
Hydrophytic Vegetation
21
Habitat Information
21
Final Mapping
22
CHAPTER III: FUNCTIONS AND VALUES
Introduction
22
Flood Reduction
23
Water Quality Improvement
24
Groundwater Exchange
26
Fisheries
26
Wildlife
27
Recreation
28
Education and Research
28
Historical and Cultural
29
Summary
29
ABSTRACT
Jefferson County has completed the initial phase of their wetlands
inventory, which is necessary to the development of an effective
wetlands management program. A primary goal of this first phase of
the inventory was to refine the methodology and train staff and
volunteers to continue the inventory beyond the scope of the grant.
A wetlands inventory training session for county staff and
volunteers was arranged with Ecology staff. Another meeting was
held with county staff to discuss the goals of the project, and a
meeting was held with the general public to orient them to the
purpose of a wetlands inventory. A paper inventory was completed
using the National Wetland Inventory maps and Soil Conservation
Service soils maps, and the approximate wetland boundaries were
drawn on orthophotos. Wetlands inventory data sheets were developed
in conjunction with Hood Canal Coordinating Council staff (see
Appendix A). Landowners were notified of the inventory, and their
permission for access to the wetlands was requested (see letter in
Appendix C).
Field work was conducted according to the guidelines outlined in
A Guide To Conducting Wetland Inventories (Draft) and the training
provied by Ecology staff. Field work was conducted by John Heal
with the assistance of several volunteers and prioritized on the
• most threatened wetlands. Wetlands mapped represent the estuarine,
lacustrine, and palustrine wetlands found in the project area and
are threatened with residential development, filling, dredging,
drain field construction, and stormwater impacts. Approximately 220
acres of wetlands have been mapped, using both obligate wetland and
facultative wetland vegetation as well as hydrology and soils as
indicators in determining approximate wetland boundaries. Data on
wildlife habitat, stormwater detention, flood control, water
quality mitigation, aesthetics, cultural and educational /scientific
research value has also been gathered, and threats to the wetlands
were noted where possible. In addition, these wetlands have been
classified according to the U.S.F.W.S. system (Cowardin).
I
NOTE TO READER
The purpose of this report is to provide supplemental information
related to the county's wetland inventory program. Included in the
report is a discussion of the results and methodology of the
Jefferson County inventory, and an overview of wetland functions
and values. Discussions concerning wetland functions have been
drawn from existing research and analysis conducted by agencies and
experts in the wetlands field, notably the City of Auburn Wetlands
Inventory Methodology Report. Most government agencies and wetland
experts recognize common wetland functions which comprise physical,
biological, and socioeconomic elements. Wetland functions discussed
in this report have been structured around these same wetland
functions. The report discusses in a general way how the character
of the county's wetlands relates to these functions.
a
INTRODUCTION
Background
For years, wetlands in Jefferson County have been filled for
construction, dredged for navigation, drained for agriculture, and
otherwise degraded by logging, erosion, stormwater, litter, and
other insults. The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE)
estimates that over fifty percent of Washington's wetlands have
been drained, dredged, or filled. Only recently has it been widely
recognized that the values that these natural systems provide may
no longer be taken for granted, and may in fact be lost altogether
if wetlands are not protected and enhanced.
Much of eastern Jefferson County's lowlands are wetlands: all of
the shorelines of Hood Canal, Oak Bay, Port Townsend Bay, the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Discovery Bay; the shorelines of the
rivers and creeks from Fulton Creek to Contractor's Creek; lakes,
ponds, and marshes; and the deep peat soils of the Chimacum and
Beaver Valleys. Most of these areas are characterized by hydric
(wet) soils. These soils are conducive to the growth of hydrophtic
(wetland) vegetation, resulting in the formation of wetland
environments.
Wetlands provide a transition between land and water environments;
they are lands where groundwater is usually at or near the surface,
or where the land is covered by shallow water for all or part of
the growing season. This saturation with water is the dominant
factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of
plants and animal communities that live within these environments.
Inventory Background
In conjunction with a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce
Coastal Zone Management Program, Jefferson County funded an initial
wetlands inventory program. DOE provided grant management,
training, and technical assistance. This first phase was consumated
during the first six months of 1989. This initial wetlands
inventory was conducted within the area encompassed by the Chimacum
watershed and the Quimper peninsula, and the wetlands to be
inventoried were prioritized based on the perceived threat of
destruction or alteration.
The purpose of the inventory was to map "threatened" wetlands as
examples of the types found in eastern Jefferson County and to
thereby demonstrate the methodology necessary to complete an
inventory of Jefferson County's wetlands should the manpower become
available. Volunteers were included in the inventory training,
paper inventory, and field work, as per their availability.
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Wetlands were identified in this inventory based on criteria
related to soils, hydrology, and plant life. In conducting this
inventory, Jefferson County used the wetland definition and
classification system used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) as described in Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater
Habitats of the United States (Cowardin, et al, 1979). Products of
the inventory are:
1. Maps. Wetland maps were produced at 1" to 200' scale and
include wetland boundaries and classifications. This is
consistent with the scale of maps used by Jefferson County
for planning and project review.
2. Data sheets. Data collected in the field is recorded on data
sheets, including information on vegetation, soils, hydrology,
and wetland functions.
3. Final Report. This Final Wetlands Inventory Methodology Report
includes a summary of methods, sample data sheets, results,
conclusions, recommendations, and a breakdown of costs
associated with each stage of the inventory.
Results
The palustrine, lacustrine, and estuarine wetlands mapped during
this initial inventory represent a small fraction of the wetland
resources in eastern Jefferson County. A total of 220 acres were
mapped and a paper inventory conducted on several hundred
additional acres. These additional acreages may be mapped when the
manpower becomes available. Due to funding constraints, the
wetlands of eastern Jefferson County may never be fully mapped, and
the use of a comprehensive paper inventory may the only feasible
method of incorporating the physical resources into a local wetland
management program.
Over time, wetlands develop, expand, and contract due to changes
in climate, season of the year, and other natural and anthropogenic
conditions. Wetland boundaries should always be considered
approximate, and evaluations of specific development proposals
should include site inspections.
Blue Heron Lake. This small basin holds runoff from the uplands and
apparently was a lake until the Good Friday earthquake in 1964.
Blue Heron Lake is a 6.5 acre palustrine wetland and is dominated
by scrub /shrub vegetation (Salix, Urtica, and Oenanthe) and also
consists of open water and emergent (Typha, Lemna, and Equisitum)
vegetation. Wildlife value is considerable, particularly for
nesting, roosting, and feeding habitat for the Great Blue Heron
(Ardea herodias) . Threats include the adjacent construction of a
community drainfield and stormwater from nearby roads. The present
status is an oral agreement with the landowner to maintain at least
a 100 foot setback for the drainfield.
8
Chevy Chase Wetland. This 105 acre palustrine wetland drains in a
southerly direction over peat soils. An extensive system, the Chevy
Chase wetland is dominated by emergent persistent vegetation
(Juncus, Phalaris, and Potentilla) . Wildlife includes Pileated
Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) and Red - tailed Hawk (Buteo
jamaicensis). Soils are Semiahmoo and Mukilteo mucks. Threats are
the mining of peat as permitted by the Washington State Department
of Natural Resources, agriculture, runoff, and residential
development.
Gibbs Lake. This pristine lake and associated wetlands are the
headwaters of Naylor's Creek, tributary to Chimacum Creek. A bog
system of Labrador tea ( Ledum) and peat soils (Mukilteo peat) is
adjacent to the south end of the lake. Gibbs Lake is a 46 acre
lacustrine wetland and the vegetation includes Typha and Ledum as
well as Carex. Wildlife value is considerable because of the
habitat impacts to nearby Beausi -te Lake and the heavily logged
forests in the general vicinity. Wildlife on the site includes an
active Osprey nest (Pandion haliaetus), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus), and Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus).
Recreational value ranges from a Boy Scout camp of many years
standing to a popular swimming hole. Threats are from logging and
conversion to residential development. The present status is a
change in ownership that will ultimately result in county ownership
for recreational development and preservation.
Lower Hadlock. This 62 acre low gradient estuarine wetland is
dominated by an intertidal unconsolidated shore that supports
eelgrass (Zoostera marina) . Intertidal emergent vegetation includes
Salicornia, Atriplex, and Carex. Soils are hydric (Coastal Beaches
according to the SCS) . Wildlife values include Bald Eagle roosting
and feeding habitat, a Great Blue Heron roosting site on Skunk
Island, and intensive waterfowl utilization. Lower Hadlock is part
of the Hadlock Bay Cultural Resources District, as documented by
the State Office of Historic Preservation. This site may have been
continuously inhabited longer than any other site in the state of
Washington. Threats are from residential development, stormwater
from the Port Hadlock commercial area, filling, and indiscriminate
archeological destruction.
E
Costs.
Breakdown of Staff Time
Developing scope of work
Staff training
Working with landowners and residents
Purchasing equipment and orthophotos
Conducting paper inventory
Identifying landowners
Field work
Mapping
Documentation
Total
Other costs:
Reference books
Mileage
Orthophotos
Staff time
Mapping materials
Shovel
Process.
35 hours
70 hours
80 hours
20 hours
35 hours
15 hours
115 hours
80 hours
75 hours
525 hours
$100.00
$15.00
One meeting was held with the general public in March of 1989 and
was attended by six residents. Another meeting was held in May with
the Planning Department staff, and one meeting each with local
environmental groups such as the Admiralty Audubon, Jefferson
County Watershed Council, and the Jefferson County Conservation
District. During these meetings, the purpose and importance of the
wetlands inventory was discussed. Along with answers to
participants' questions, the meetings provided a forum for
landowners to voice their concerns about government regulation and
the loss of private property rights.
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With input from the Planning Department staff, wetlands to be
mapped were selected on the basis of the imminence of threats. In
the cases of Blue Heron and Gibbs Lakes, negotiations were
initiated by the county with landowners to protect the values of
the wetlands. The Lower Hadlock wetland and Gibbs Lake are
partially protected by the Shorelines Master Program, but
otherwise, along with the Chevy Chase wetland, are largely
unprotected.
The next step for Jefferson County is to develop a wetlands
management program. Once such a program is in place, limited
resources can be prioritized for completing the wetlands inventory.
Wetlands management programs are being developed across the
country. Many actions have been taken recently by federal, state,
and local governments to limit the loss of remaining wetland areas.
In January 1987, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) increased
regulatory authority over wetlands. The Corps regulatory authority
moved away from wetlands directly associated with streams and
rivers, to isolated areas having no direct hydrological
relationship with streams or rivers.
The National Wetlands Policy Forum recently recommended that the
U.S. Congress adopt a "no net loss" policy regarding wetlands. In
addition to protecting the remaining wetland areas, wetland
functions and wetland values, the policy suggests that additional
wetland area should be developed over time.
The Puget Sound Water Quality Authority (PSWQA) has released a
series of reports related to regional water quality. The reports
have dealt extensively with wetlands and have made several
recommendations. These recommendations include such actions as
developing a regulatory program for wetlands management and
adopting the USFWS definition of wetlands.
Since wetlands legislation failed.to pass in-1989, the Washington
State legislature is reconsidering legislation in the 1990 session.
The proposed legislation, affecting a small but crucial 2 percent
of the state's land base, would require local governments such as
Jefferson County to approve any change to most wetlands larger than
a half -acre. Local wetland regulations would have to comply with
the state's overall wetland policy. Exceptions could be allowed for
farming, timber activities which are already regulated under the
Forest Practices Act, and other uses designated as having a "minor"
impact. (Editor's note: A wetlands bill did not pass during the
1990 session, although the Govenor did sign a proclamation
stressing no net loss of wetlands.)
Locally, many communities have prepared wetlands inventories and
adopted policy or regulatory programs for wetland management. Such
programs have been developed in response to recent agency
activities related to regulation of development within wetlands,
11
in anticipation of new legislation and mandates, and in order to
become more environmentally responsible in managing one of this
region's limited natural resources. A key product of wetland
inventories and policy programs is the establishment of better
certainty and predictability in a community's environmental and
development processes.
Methodology
Wetlands within the Chimacum watershed and on the Quimper
Peninsula were mapped in accordance with the USFWS definition and
field methodologies for wetland delineation. This definition is as
follows:
"Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic
systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or
the land is covered by shallow water... Wetlands must have one or
more of the following attributes: (1) at least periodically, the
land supports predominantly hydrophytes, (2) the substrate is
predominantly undrained hydric soil, and (3) the substrate is
nonsoil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at
some time during the growing season of each year."
Several existing sources of data on wetlands were used, including
aerial photographs, soil maps, National Wetland Inventory maps, and
anecdotal accounts of fish and wildlife. The field survey process
included an evaluation of soil samples, an ocular survey of
vegetation, evidence of hydrology, and inspection of the sites for
evidence of wildlife habitat. Threats to the integrity of the
wetlands were noted where possible. Chapter II provides more
detailed information and background on the inventory methodology.
Functions and Values
Wetlands within eastern Jefferson County serve as both community
and regional resources. As community resources, wetlands provide
a number of local functions, including stormwater mitigation, fish
and wildlife habitat, pollution and erosion mitigation, ground
water exchange, open space and aesthetic contrast, and
recreational, educational and cultural opportunities. These
community functions combine with other wetlands to form a regional
system. These larger systems may range from a regional to an
international scale, as in the case of providing habitat for
migratory waterfowl or anadromous fish.
The location of wetlands can affect the functions provided by
wetland environments. Salt water marshes and estuaries provide
different functions than do freshwater wetlands. Similarly,
wetlands which are hydrologically associated with rivers and
streams provide a different function than do isolated wetlands
which have no hydrological relationship with riverine systems. Even
when comparing the same type of wetland environments, they can
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provide significantly different levels of functions based on their
size, location, and characteristics. In addition, each community '
may place a different value on the various functions that wetlands
provide. Understanding the nature of a particular wetland system
and the system's relationship to both the community and surrounding
region is critical to establishing the actual value of benefits and
opportunities derived from wetland resources.
All five classes of wetlands are found in eastern Jefferson County:
marine, estuarine, riverine, lacustrine, and palustrine. Each of
these classes of wetlands entails a number of functions and values.
From a local perspective, our wetlands provide:
-- Mitigation of stormwater, both peak flows and water quality.
Ground water exchange, allowing aquifers to recharge.
- -Fish and wildlife habitat.
-- Aesthetic contrast to uplands and developed areas.
-- Recreational opportunities.
-- Unique educational, scientific, and cultural opportunities.
From a regional perspective, our wetlands provide different levels
of function. A summary of principal regional functions provided by
wetland systems are noted as follows:
-- Provide for storage of regional floodwaters and the slowing of
floodwater velocity.
-- Provide pollution control and improve the quality of water
entering Puget Sound.
-- Increase ground water exchange opportunities between regional
surface and subsurface hydrological systems.
-- Provide critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and anadromous
fish.
The functions of eastern Jefferson County's wetlands vary with the
class of wetland and the values of these functions are dependent
upon the priorities of the community and region. A more complete
discussion of the functions and values of our wetland resources is
found in Chapter III.
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Conclusion
The four wetlands mapped in the initial phase of Jefferson County's
inventory raises the awareness of these systems for both the
community and the county government. As a society, we are more
likely to protect those resources that we are aware of and
therefore appreciate.
However, mapping wetlands is necessary but not sufficient for
ensuring their protection. Building on the data base that now
exists on Jefferson County's wetlands resouces, we must develop a
wetlands management program; otherwise, we are merely documenting
their destruction.
There are perhaps two strategies for developing a county wetlands
protections program. One would be to strengthen wetland policies
within the county Shoreline Master Program, and the other would be
to append such policies to the county's Environmentally Sensitive
Area Ordinance. In either case, the development of wetland
management policies would require guidance from the DOE and
considerable input from the community. Simply not addressing
wetland issues would leave unpredictability and uncertainty in the
county's environmental and development processes and leave wetland
resources vulnerable.
In any event, the county's wetlands protection program must balance
the various interests of the community. Because sensitive
environmental areas typically affect a community's ability for
growth and development, there is a strong need to balance the
county's commitment to both growth and environmentally related
interests.
The final and most important step in rational wetland resource
management is to provide the general public and specific landowners
with the opportunity to learn where our wetlands are located, why
they are important, and how they can be protected for the benefit
of all. Knowlege of wetlands ecology, functions, and values is too
important to leave in the hands of experts.
Recommendations.
Existing wetland policies outlined in Jefferson County's Shoreline
Master Program and Environmentally Sensitive Area Ordinance do not
reflect recent developments in state and federal regulations, or
current management practices for wetland areas. At present,
Comprehensive Plan policies are used extensively in conjunction
with the county's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review
process. Because development related impacts to wetlands are
evaluated through the SEPA process, the addition of wetland
policies to the county Comprehensive Plan would provide better
direction to the community regarding the county's philosophy. In
addition, policy amendments to the Plan would not change the
14
county's existing procedures related to environmental and
development processes. Impacts to wetlands would continue to be
evaluated in conjunction with project development through the SEPA
environmental review process, or other existing regulatory
programs, such as the Shoreline Master Program, where applicable.
Over the short term, amendment of the county's Comprehensive Plan
to include wetland policies would give interim protection, yet not
conflict with the preparation of a wetlands management program with
a regional perspective. In consideration of the present strong
pressures to develop shorelines and convert forest lands in eastern
Jefferson County, this would be a prudent approach.
15
METHODOLOGY
' Introduction
Attitudes towards wetlands have evolved slowly from seeing them as
wastelands, to realizing their value as critical natural resources.
These attitude changes have in turn lead to various regulations
governing the use of wetlands. Different agencies within the
federal and state governments developed their own definitions as
the need arose, and there is still no single nationally accepted
definition for wetlands. For the purposes of this inventory, the
USFWS definition was used. This is also the definition used by DOE
and the PSWQA.
The USFWS developed an ecological or functional definition through
wildlife habitat research and the compilation of a National
Wetlands Inventory (NWI). This definition is supported by a fairly
sophisticated classification scheme which carries specific
information about each wetland. This is the classification scheme
that Jefferson County has adopted. The NWI was derived from high
altitude infrared aerial photographs, and this National Wetlands
Data Base can be accessed throughout the country. The Jefferson
County Planning and Building Department has copies of the most
recent NWI maps for eastern Jefferson County.
Parameters Defined
The USFWS definition (see above) utilizes three parameters to
separate wetlands from adjacent uplands. These are: wetland
hydrology, presence of hydric soils, and presence of hydrophytic
vegetation.
°_Parameter 1: Wetland Hydrology. Wetland hydrology simply means
the presence of water on a particular site for a significant
portion of the growing season. Soils must be inundated or saturated
for a sufficient length of time to develop hydric soils and
hydrophytic vegetation. A rule of thumb used in the field is
saturation to within 12" of the soil surface for at least one week
during the growing season. The growing season is defined by the
USDA Soil Conservation Service as that period of time when the
ground is above "biological zero," or five degrees centigrade.
This is the most critical parameter for wetlands delineation, and
is often the most dificult to establish. The onset of the growing
season varies from region to region, and collaboration with various
agencies such as the Agricultural Extension office is essential to
determine the appropriate time to examine each site, if no positive
field evidence can be found.
The Corps and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) use
similar methods and timing to determine the presence of hydrology.
Field evidence of inundation or soil saturation at the appropriate
ir-
time and historical records are considered to be positive
indicators of wetland hydrology. The amount of time water is on a
site determines the extent to which the other two parameters will `
be present. Water causes formation of hydric soils, and the types
of plants which can survive in flooded conditions are limited.
0 Parameter 2: Hydric Soils. Hydric soils are defined by the SCS
as soils that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during
the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions that favor the
growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation. Hydric soils
may be either organic or mineral in origin. Organic soils, which
contain high levels of peat, are formed in bogs at the rate of
about 1" per 100 years. Mineral soils are often formed from stream
depositions, or sediments dropping out of flood waters.
When a soil is flooded or saturated, water fills the air spaces in
the soil, and drives the air out, which reduces the amount of
oxygen in the soil. The lack of oxygen (anaerobic conditions) in
the soil causes changes in the iron and manganese in the soil and
characteristic colors develop; these colors may be used to
idenitify the soil with the use of a standardized soil color chart.
Bright orange mottles or splotches in the soil column indicate a
fluctuating water table, and the presence of gleying is also an
indication of flooding. Gleyed soils in Jefferson County are
bluish -grey in color, and most have a sticky, clay -like texture.
This particular color change is found in mineral soils, and must
be within the plant root zone to indicate the presence of hydric
soil.
°Parameter 3: Hydrophytic Vegetation.
Hydrophytaic vegetation consists of plants which are typically
adapted to life in saturated, low oxygen or anaerobic conditions.
All plant roots require oxygen in order to carry out cell division
and growth, and to take up water for the above- ground stems and
leaves. Hydrophytic and aquatic plants are capable of carrying out
these tasks in flooded (low oxygen) conditions, and get oxygen
either through structural changes in their roots, which make oxygen
from the surface available to them, or through internal chemical
proceses which allow them to function in low oxygen environments.
Hydrophytic plants are capable not only of existing in these
conditions, but maturing and successfully reproducing in them.
The USFWS definition of a wetland requires a predominanace of
hydrophytic vegetation to be present on a site for a positive
finding of this parameter. The USFWS produces the National List of
Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands, which gives the liklihood of
a plant species being found in a wetland. This probability is
reflected by an indicator, which is specific to geographical
regions. The indicator categories range from "Obligate Wetland,"
a plant almost always occurring in saturated conditions, to
17
"Obligate Upland," a plant which rarely occurs in wetlands, and is
killed by exposure to flooding conditions for extensive amounts of
time. The "Facultative" indicator implies a plant found in
wetlands, but not restricted to wetlands, and is divided into three
subcategories. All agencies working with wetland delineations refer
to this same list of plants. The list is periodically reviewed and
updated by wetland specialists in federal, state, and academic
organizations.
The five basic indicator categories, abbreviations, and the
respective probabilities of a species occurring in a wetland are:
Obligate Wetland
OBL
>99%
Facultative Wet ( + / -)
FACW
67%-99%
Facultative ( + / -)
FAC
34%-66%
Facultative Upland ( + / -)
FACU
1%-33%
Obligate Wetland
UPL
<1%
Pluses and minuses may be added to each category to indicate those
plants that may be at either end of the range of that category. A
plant that occurs throughout the country could have a different
indicator status in each of the nine geographic regions.
The USFWS definition of hydrophytec vegetation includes species
categorized as OBL, FACW, and FAC, including FAC- species that may
be functioning as hydrophytes in saturated conditions and hydric
soils. Although all of the agencies responsible for administering
wetland delineation programs refer to the same plant list, they do
not all interpret the list in the same manner.
Inventory Planning Process
® Inventory Crew and Volunteers. One wetlands specialist, John
Heal, was hired to work for Jefferson County to conduct the field
survey. John has a Master's degree in Environmental Studies and has
studied plant physiology, wet land/ stormwater interactions, water
quality, fish and wildlife biology, lichen and moss biology,
environmental geology, and arctic ecology. Because he had a limited
background in plant identification, John relied on the assistance
of volunteers, particularly Jeremiah Gorsline, president of the
Olympic Chapter of the Native Plant Society. John and some of the
volunteers participated in an intensive training session developed
by Ecology staff on wetland delineation and field methodologies.
It is possible to utilize volunteers to assist in the conduction
of a wetlands inventory with several caveats in mind:
1. Volunteers often require inordinate amounts of training.
2. The logistics of scheduling meeting times and assuring safety
in the field are problematic.
3. Credibility of data gathered by non - professionals may be
called into question.
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4. Volunteers are typically interested in specific areas, i.e.,
their "backyard ".
However, volunteers may be not only useful, but critical to the
protection of wetlands. They can provide historical background or
other relevant data on an area they know well. They may also
provide valuable technical assistance in the identification of
flora and fauna.
Landowners that are willing to learn about the importance of
protecting wetland functions are the most important volunteers of
all. Education of the general public, as well as those who control
wetlands, is crucial to the development of local wetlands
management policies. Local environmental organizations that work
to protect wetlands, such as the Jefferson County Land Trust,
Admiralty Audubon, and the Jefferson County Watershed Council, must
also be educated on the relevance and priorities of wetland
management. Last, but not least, the Jefferson County Conservation
District must be kept informed of the progress and goals of any
local wetland inventory and management program. Because of the
tremendous influence of agricultural practices on wetlands, working
closely with the Conservation District is absolutely essential.
*Existing Sources. Soils maps, NWI maps, stereo interpretation of
aerial photos, flood hazard maps, and other studies of wetlands
are all excellent sources of information that were compiled before
going into the field. Utilizing these sources is called a paper
inventory, the product of which is a reconnaissance map. These
reconnaissance maps were created by drawing the relevant
information, e.g., soils, on quarter section orthophotographs.
Soils and the NWI maps were felt to be more accurate than either
aerial photos or flood hazard maps and were therefore used as the
basis for the reconnaissance maps.
e_Quarter Section Orthophotogra hs. These photographs are available
from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) . Orthophotographs
are on a smaller scale than some of the other aerial photographs
available (1:12,000), but have been corrected for distortion and
are therefore more accurate.
A Aerial Photographs. Blue line section maps, on a larger scale
than the orthophotos, tend to be distorted near the perimeter.
These may also be used as base maps. The Jefferson County Public
Works Department has maps of the Tri -Area taken from aerial
photographs. The SCS can also obtain aerial photographs blown up
to scale. Portions of Jefferson County have been photographed
aerially, particularly the shorelines, and these photographs may
be interpreted stereoscopically. Infrared photographs have the most
information on vegetation, yet are more expensive to produce than
conventional photographs.
19
-® SCS Maps. According to Kerry Perkins, District Conservationist,
the Soil Survey of Jefferson County Area, Washington (1975) is
quite accurate. This survey was developed from field samples and
aerial photograph interpretation. Hydric soils found in Jefferson
County are:
Lummi silt loam
McMurray and Mukilteo peats
Semiahmoo muck
Snohomish silty clay loam
Tidal Marsh
Tisch silt loam
Wapato silty clay loam
*Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA has developed
maps showing floodplains and floodways which are used to determine
flood insurance rates. These maps may be used to identify areas
likely to experience sufficient flooding to produce a positive
finding for the hydrology parameter. Other data on hydrology that
may be gathered in the office is stream, lake, and tidal gauge
data; flooding information; historic data; and other information
available from the Corps, USGS or SCS.
USFWS NWI Maps. National wetland inventory maps are created
through the use of high altitude infrared aerial photography in
conjunction with the Cowardin classification system. Although these
maps are excellent starting points for a local inventory, they are
produced at such a small scale (1:24,000) that they do not provide
the detail required for project review. The Jefferson County
Planning Department has copies of the latest NWI maps, and these
were used during the paper inventory.
® Data Sheet Development.
inventory were developed by
with assistance from Ecolog y
in Appendix A.
Delineation Procedure
Data sheets for Jefferson County's
the Hood Canal Coordinating Council
staff. A sample data sheet is found
Wetland Hydrology. Field determination of the presence of wetland
hydrology requires documentation of positive evidence of soil
saturation during the growing season. Watermarks, floodlines,
debris deposited from flooding, standing and flowing water, and
the filling of soil pits with water were all used as positive
indicators of hydrology. Hydrology may be assumed if both soils
and vegetation are positive indicators of wetlands.
Hydric Soils. Soils were sampled in the various zones of wetlands
inventoried, and shifts in soil types were often associated with
changes in vegetation. Soil pits were dug at least 10" deep and
soil samples compared to paint chips in the Munsell Soil Color
Chart. The Jefferson County Planning Department has a copy of this
color chart and a soil sampling shovel.
Soils within a series fall within a certain range of colors, and
those in the wetlands inventoried were usually a dark brown,
particularly the peats and mucks. The mucks also stain your
fingers. The greyer a soil is, the less oxygen is present. A value
of 2 or less for chroma (large amount of grey), with mottling
present in the soil, indicated a hydric soil. Soils lacking
mottling, but with chromas of 1 or less (very grey) are also
considered to be hydric.
Soils are a critical factor in delineating wetlands, and tend to
change more slowly than vegetation, or hydrology, which can change
overnight. Topographical features, such as dikes, levees, or other
diversion structures, may induce ponding and influence hydric soil
formation.
v Hydrophytic Vegetation. When examining wetlands, plants were
identified and plant communities determined. These plant species
were compared to the National List of Plant Species That Occur in
Wetlands for indicator status. If the plants could not be
identified in the field, a sample was taken (only if the species
was abundant) and later identified in the office.
The dominance of plants were roughly estimated, by looking at the
abundance, density, or areal cover of the species or communities.
Changes in vegetation were especially noted when determining
wetland boundaries. Other factors, such as the buttressed roots of
Alnus rubra (Red alder) were taken into consideration.
q Habitat Information. Observations were made at each site to
determine the value of each wetland to wildlife. Historical and
anecdotal accounts, along with information from wildife
professionals and Audubon members, was included where deemed
appropriate.
Habitat includes everything a creature requires or utilizes for its
existence and /or well being. Animals require, at least to some
extent, food, water, breeding and nesting sites, protection from
predators, and shelter from the weather. Virtually any open space
can provide habitat for some type of bird or animal, but certain
characteristics combine to provide higher quality habitats to
larger numbers of wildlife species.
The type of vegetation on a site determines to a great extent the
amount and type of food that is available. Berries, fruit, and
grains are obvious supplies of food, as well as mixtures of
grasses, shrubs and herbs for birds that eat seeds or animals that
graze on foliage. Shrubs and trees provide cover for nesting and
perching birds, and protection for smaller animals from predators.
A site with a variety of vegetation types will support more types
21
of wildlife than one with a single, or monotypic composition. A
variety of vegetation types will also provide more shelter from
weather extremes. The presence of shelter, protection and food not
only tends to increase the number of smaller birds and animals on
a site, but also increases the number of predators due to an
increased prey base.
The overall condition and age of the vegetation influences the
benefits provided. A young stand of alders may provide some shelter
and food, while an older stand would provide more nesting sites but
not as much food. A snag would no longer provide food, but might
have cavity- nesting birds such as woodpeckers or owls. Likewise,
a mowed meadow provides grazing and loafing opportunities for
waterfowl, but an unmowed meadow provides much more shelter and
nesting sites for rodents and other birds.
Presence of water bodies provides food and habitat for both fish
and predators. All animals require water for metabolic processes,
although the presence of open water tends to increase the numbers
of some species and decrease others. Many animals such as waterfowl
and beavers (Castor canadensis) escape predatores by taking to the
water and diving for long periods of time. The quality of the
water, whether or not it is affected by runoff, whether it is
ponded or free - flowing, and the vegetation will affect the type of
animals supported.
The actual physical shape or contour of the land surface can affect
the types of wildlife found on any site. Open, flat sites are
better for flocking waterfowl, as well as predators such as
Northern Harrier Hawks (Circus cyaneus) who cruise over open fields
looking for field mice. The size of a particular site can determine
the value of that site to wildlife. Larger sites tend to have a
wider variety of habitats available to animals, and may provide
more types of food, thereby increasing the variety of animals found
on the site. It is because wetlands include a wide variety of
habitats that they are so important to our wildlife resources.
® Final Mapping. Final base maps were created by blowing up
topograhpic maps of the wetland areas to the proper scale, 1:2400.
Wetland boundaries and classifications were transferred to the base
maps from the reconnaissance maps by hand and with the advice of
a cartographer, Timothy Witten.
FUNCTIONS AND VALUES OF WETLANDS
Introduction
Wetlands are known to perform many functions which have intrinsic
value and ecological benefit. Among these functions are controlling
flood and stormwater, filtering sediments from rivers and streams,
and allowing exchange of ground and surface water supplies.
Wetlands are the basis of vast food chains which support fish and
22
wildlife, and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and
research. These functions often may not be what are typically
considered economic values, but indirectly, these functions
contribute to the resource base that is the foundation of any
economy. Wetlands are of benefit to our community, and can reduce
costs of water treatment, water supply, flood control, and the
maintenance required for the upkeep of these structures.
Similar types of wetlands may vary in function and value because
of their size, or their location. A large and diverse wetland can
provide more habitat for wildlife than a smaller or monotypic site,
although smaller wetlands might be performing functions that are
all the more valuable if habitat for wildlife continues to
disappear. Wetlands associated with open water may provide a
greater degree of flood control or more recreational opportunities
than those which are isolated from lakes, rivers, and streams.
Introduction of pollutants into a wetland can lessen a wetland's
abililty to benefit both wildlife and the local community. How a
particular wetland is functioning and the values it provides
ultimately depends on its relative position in a drainage basin,
and the basin's overall relationship to a community. In other
words, to understand the value of a particular wetland, it is
important to assess the entire watershed's operation, and the part
each wetland plays in the watershed.
This chapter discusses the diverse functions and values that
wetlands provide to both the Puget Sound region and Jefferson
County. Individual sections are organized to discuss regional
functions of wetlands first, followed by the role Jefferson `
County's wetlands may have in these functions.
Flood Reduction
Wetlands directly reduce losses related to flooding by providing
temporary storage of floodwater and slowing floodwater velocity.
They act as buffers between open water and upland areas by
absorbing energy contained in flood peak flows. When rivers and
streams are buffered by wetlands, peak events in floods tend to be
less extreme, and the soil binding action of the vegetation's roots
decreases erosion of river and stream banks. Filling and replacing
wetland areas tends to have the opposite effect: velocity of
floodwater and runoff from impermeable surfaces increases,
resulting in greater erosion and property damage. Slowing the
velocity of floodwater allows sediments carried in the water to
settle, which reduces its scouring capabilities. Losses from
flooding can be substantial, including road and bridge washouts,
residential damage, landscape destruction, and the costs of
emergency response crews. As flood damage risks rise, higher flood
insurance rates are put into effect. These rate increases are
incurred whether the property has experienced flood damage
directly, or is simply at higher risk due to reduced flood storage
capacity and increased runoff on sites miles upstream.
23
Data cited in the City of Bellevue's 1976 Drainage Master Plan
indicate that the cost of constructing and maintaining artificial
structural controls for flood and stormwaters is substantially
greater than that of utilizing natural systems (City of Bellevue,
1976). Other studies incicate that watersheds whose wetlands have
been filled or destroyed experience up to 80% more flood events
than similar basins whose wetlands are intact (WA Dept. of Ecology,
1988) .
Water Quality Improvement
One of the most important contributions wetlands make to both
regional and local communities is that of water quality
improvement. Much of this function relates to a wetland's ability
to serve as a natural filtration system of both sediments and
nutrients carried by rivers, streams, and overland flow. When water
enters a wetland, the physical barrier of the plants slows the
water and may stop it entirely. Sediments carried in suspension in
the water are deposited and tend to stay in place unless the water
velocity increases again. This deposition of sediments provides
nutrients needed by plants while at the same time filtering the
water.
The length of time the water is in the wetland determines how much
sediment filtration will occur. Gradual removal of sediments as
rivers flow through wetlands benefits the estuaries and bays that
these rivers eventually empty into. Certain levels of sediments in
a river provide nutrients for estuarine organisms, and estuaries
themselves develop from the deposition of sediments. However, a
heavy load of sediments, especially from polluted urban areas, can
destroy the shellfish and finfish communities that thrive in
estuaries and are critical to Puget Sound's fishing industries.
Sediments carried in the water can clog the gills of mature fish,
causing suffocation and death. Sediment loading of bays and
estuaries is increased by grading and filling activities in
Jefferson County.
The presence of high levels of particulate matter has several
physical effects on the quality of water in a river system. The
amount of light that penetrates through the water, and the depth
of light penetration is greatly diminished by particulates. This
attenuation of light can kill or decrease the numbers of organisms
that require light, significantly decreasing plant and animal
communities that normally thrive on a river bed. Particulates tend
to raise the temperature in a river, because they absorb whatever
sunlight that strikes the water surface and release the energy as
heat. A slight temperature rise can change the kinds of fish living
in a river. Many game fish, such as trout, steelhead, and salmon,
require cold, clear, highly oxygenated water and cannot tolerate
a warmer, opaque, low oxygen habitat. Other species which are
generally considered to be less desireable to sportsmen and
24
commercial fishing industries will replace these more valuable
species as the water quality is degraded.
Another water qualtiy function performed by wetlands is their
ability to convert nitrates from agricultural wastes and fertilizer
runoff into atmospheric nitrogen. The anaerobic conditions in
wetland soils are an ideal place for incoming nitrates to react
with bacteria associated with plant roots, resulting in a gas which
diffuses into the atmosphere. Plants use nitrogen to make protein,
which, in turn is eaten by grazing animals. Agricultural inputs of
nitrates into the ecosystem are far in excess of surrounding
waters. The costs of replacing these natural filtration systems are
unknown, and whether replacement is technically feasible has not
been determined.
This ability of wetlands to filter sediments is being incorporated
into many stormwater drainage plans. Although floodwater storage
and sediment filtering are major functions of wetlands, a
stormwater managment plan must encompass more than a naturally
occuring wetland. The direct diversion of runoff water from parking
lots, industrial sites, and agricultural areas can introduce high
levels of oil, antifreeze, solvents, cement and particulate
contaminants, as well as intolerable levels of nutrients and fecal
coliform bacteria from manure. The uncontrolled and unfiltered
input of these types of pollutants can destroy a wetland, leaving
a rotting and decaying area that may be difficult to clean up or
replace.
This problem is addressed by most stormwater utilities, but
specific data on contaminant levels that can be safely handled by
a natural system are lacking. PSWQA's 1989 Water Quality Management
Plan requires that all major cities and counties develop plans for
stormwater controls and systems. In response to this requirement,
King County is conducting research on retention of stormwater in
wetlands. The study is in its third year and currently has funding
to monitor twenty wetlands receiving stormwater for four more
years. Interim guidelines for stormwater plans will be produced
this year and will provide minimum standards for local stormwater
plans. In the long term, it is hoped that this study will provide
the definitive data necessary to manage risks to wetlands from
stormwater (Stockdale, E., 1989).
Locally, wetlands in Jefferson County exhibit many of these water
quality enhancement functions. As a result, this community's
wetlands contribute to water qualtiy in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
and Hood Canal. Nutrients, bacteria, and sediment loading carried
by stormwater effluents from Jefferson County's industrial,
commercial, residential, and agricultural practices can affect
downstream water quality adversely. Examples of wetlands being
utilized as stormwater retention ponds in Jefferson County can be
seen at Kah Tai lagoon, Chinese Gardens, and the golf course pond.
The county's purchase of a conservation easement on a 25 acre salt
25
marsh at the north end of Quilcene Bay allows this natural system
to function as a filtering system for agricultural runoff before
it enters the bay.
Groundwater Exchange
Wetlands, by definition, are places where the water table is close
enough to the surface to interact significantly with vegetation and
soils on a regular basis. This interaction varies from saturated
soils to inundation, flooding, and permanent surface ponding of
water. Because of the close proximity of groundwater to the
surface, wetlands are points where exchange between surface and
groundwater takes place. Recharging of aquifers has been regarded
as one of the primary functions of wetlands and is one of the most
crucial parts of the water cycle, particularly in areas as dry as
eastern Jefferson County.
In the Puget Sound drainage basin, the abundance of available water
near the surface is taken for granted by many people. In eastern
Jefferson County, however, regular recharging of groundwater
supplies for irrigation, drinking water, and replenishment of
streams and lakes should be of great concern. As water is removed
from an aquifer for our community's use, it must be replaced. This
is usually accomplished by percolation of rainfall and snowmelt
through the soil. For many years, it was believed that water moved
y only from a wetland down into an aquifer. More recent hydrological
studies indicate that an actual exchange between surface and
groundwaters may take place.
A local aspect of ground and surface water interaction is
maintenance of flow levels and temperatures in streams such as
Chimacum Creek. The gradual release of water stored in wetlands
into streams helps assure normal flows and cooler temperatures in
small streams that might otherwise warm and dry up during summer
months. Removing or lessening the storage capacity of a wetland
associated with smaller streams changes hydrological patterns which
ensure flow levels necessary for all aquatic life in the streams.
Salmon and other fish spawn throughout the year and require water
levels sufficient to support migration and spawning. Water levels
are crucial to the survival of the newly hatched fish as well, and
a lost run may never recover.
Fisheries
As discussed above, wetlands and estuaries serve as spawning and
nursery sites for fish, shrimp, crab, and other shellfish in the
Puget Sound area. The commercial fishing industry is important in
the Puget Sound region, and in 1986 well over $202 million (retail
value) in finfish and shellfish were harvested (PSWQA, 1988). Sport
catches were significant as well, contributing to the economy in
areas such as Hood Canal. Besides poviding the actual physical site
for spawning and nurseries, estuaries produce the microscopic
26
plants and animals which are the base of the food chain supporting
these industries.
The freshwater wetlands associated with rivers feeding the
estuaries contribute directly to the quality of the water and
successful reproduction of salmon and steelhead. These fish require
clear, clean water for spawning, and may reside for one to three
years in the streams where they were spawned. Once they have
reached the fingerling stage they migrate downstream where they
mature further in estuaries. As they migrate, they undergo
physiological changes which allow them to live in a saltwater
environment. This process requires a specific amount of time, and
an increase in velocity of a river through channelization and
filling can lead to significant fish kills if the smolts are not
ready to survive in the saltwater yet.
Shellfish live in estuarine sediments, such as the deltas of the
Big Quilcene, Dosewallips, and Duckabush Rivers. Since they feed
by filtering large amounts of water, they are far more sensitive
to toxins and pollutants in their beds. Metals and other toxic
substances found in sediments accumulate in their tissues and can
lead to the eventual closing of many commercial and recreational
shellfish beds. In addition to toxicity problems, substantial
increases in the amount of sediments deposited in estuaries can
smother and suffocate shellfish, destroying commercially and
ecologically critical natural communities. In this sense, both
riverine and estuarine wetlands are a "safety net" for shellfish
with respect to water quality.
Wildlife
Some of the most valuable functions that wetlands perform in an
ecological sense are those related to wildlife habitat. Migrating
shorebirds and waterfowl use these areas for resting and feeding
on migrations. The mere presence of open space for resting is
insuficient for these birds' needs; protection from predators,
abundant food supplies, and remoteness from human activities are
all essential factors in their successful migration and breeding.
Puget Sound's freshwater and estuarine wetlands, whose production
of detritus, phytoplankton, and insects has been impaired through
pollution and degradation, directly affect the survival rate of
millions of birds. Draining a site drastically alters the
vegetation and changes the interaction between soil and water which
is responsible for driving the high food production rates. This
can only result in degradation of the site for wildlife use.
Filling and destruction of any wetland, of course, completely
removes that site from an already limited resource base.
Besides migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, many local species
depend upon wetlands for food, shelter, breeding and nesting sites,
and water. Great Blue Heron require the presence of frogs, snakes,
27
and small fish for their diet. They nest in trees near wetlands,
and can be seen hunting in local marshes and estuaries. A heron
nesting site (heronry) is located at Blue Heron Lake, and they
roost and feed there, at Lower Hadlock, Gibbs Lake, and Chevy Chase
among other sites. Northern Harrier Hawks are another species
associated with wetlands, and they can be seen hunting rodents in
the fields of Jefferson County. The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus
palustris) and the Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) both require
marsh plants for nesting and are found in Jefferson County.
Mammals, such as beavers, live in wetlands and require lodging,
food, and predator evasion.
The presence of open water provides a place for nonwetland species
to come for drinking water, something that all animals require.
The continual depletion and removal of these natural watering holes
places a physiological stress on these animals which is compounded
when they are forced to travel extensive distances between food and
water sources.
Recreation
For many people, marshes and estuaries provide scenic opportunities
that are rapidly decreasing due to urbanization of the Puget Sound
basin. There is a genuine enjoyment in seeing open water and flocks
of waterfowl or shorebirds along highway corridors, and many people
would rank the natural beauty of the coasts and estuaries as a
valuable resource. Open space in cities provides visual relief from
urbanization, an idea that many communities are begining to take
into consideration when laying out new residential, commercial, and
industrial areas. The recreational possibilities for wetlands
include nature trails, observation points, canoeing, boating,
fishing, swimming, and hunting.
Education and Research
There are many educational uses of wetlands, and these can be
accessible to virtually any age group. Much of the ecological
research that is being conducted at the university level in
Washington is being done in Puget Sound wetlands. Wetlands are
integrated ecosystems which present opportunities to study the
interactions of land and water interfaces. The variety of animals
and plants found in wetlands create a community whose complexity
is not often matched in upland -based systems. This primary research
provides data and information which is translated into usable
products by many applied sciences, such as agriculture.
The proximity of schools to Jefferson County's wetlands provides
an outdoor laboratory for junior high and high school science
classes. The chance to observe a functioning ecosystem and conduct
water quality tests using samples collected in the local wetland
brings obscure concepts into focus. For elementary school students,
collecting tadpoles, studying birds, and learning about nature is
28
fun, and teachers realize the value of bringing the local
environment into their classroom. Nearby wetlands provide the
opportunity for a short excursion without planning a field trip to
a remote site. Many of Jefferson County's wetlands are within 1
mile of either primary or secondary schools.
Historical and Cultural
Historically, wetlands have played a strong role in the native
cultures of the Northwest. Important native archaeological sites
are located in and near rivers, peat bogs, lakes, and estuaries,
and the loss of these sites is irreparable. (The Tsetsibus site at
Lower Hadlock is a noteworthy local example.) Wetlands are the
homes of animals, birds and spirits that are the basis of tribal
rituals that embody man's knowlege of the natural world. The
interdependency of the surrounding natural world and man is an
ancient philosophy now reflected in contemporary ecolocical theory.
The arrival of settlers in the last century began a process of
clearing and filling wetlands to build cities and establish
commerce. Despite this loss, these early settlers were dependent
upon the products of wetlands for survival. This cultural heritage
is important today for residents of the Puget Sound basin. Many
families enjoy boating, fishing, and clamming; maintaining these
resources and the clean water necessary to support them has become
a priority for Jefferson County.
Summary
The complex ecological interactions of wetlands provide many direct
benefits to the Puget Sound region. These valuable resources
contribute to improved water quality and quantity by acting as
natural filtration systems for sediments and waste products,
recharging groundwater, controlling flood peaks, and moderating
water temperatures in rivers and creeks. Physical and biological
functions are combined into one of the most productive ecosystems
on earth, and support the commercial and recreational harvesting
of shellfish, finfish, and vast flocks of migratory birds. Wetland
sites are also valuable ecological laboratories for education and
research, and these qualities provide opportunities for many
recreational uses.
Jefferson County's wetlands provide storage for floodwaters and
stormwater runoff, thereby reducing downriver flood peaks and
decreasing water pollution in both fresh and marine waters. The
water holding capacity and groundwater exchange taking place in
these wetlands helps to maintain water levels and moderate
temperatures in creeks and rivers, which increases the chances of
survival of salmon and other aquatic life. Salmon and steelhead
runs in Jefferson County's rivers are dependent upon continuing
water quality and the surrounding wetlands for aquatic insects,
detritus, and other food. Stormwater retention in Jefferson
29
County's wetlands can filter and contain runoff from agricultural,
industrial, commercial, and residential areas, again adding to
improved water quality.
The eastern Jefferson County corridor provides resting and feeding
sites for thousands of migratory waterfowl in the spring and fall.
These birds require open expanses of marsh or wetland areas during
long migratory flights, and loss of these areas can impact the
survival of other wildlife as well. Breeding habitat for local
birds and animals is greatly diminished by the loss of wetlands.
Passive recreational opportunities in Jefferson County are enhanced
by the presence of wetlands for birdwatching and solitude for all
ages, from seniors to scouts. Jefferson County schools can take
advantage of the proximity of wetlands for field trips and other
ecological studies. Our wetlands are an integral part of Puget
Sound's many drainage basins, and as such, contribute to the
overall quality of Puget Sound and the quality of life around it.
Many critical issues need to be addressed to protect wetlands and
maintain private property rights. These issues include: 1. a
comprehensive inventory of wetlands and the natural values they
provide; 2. education of landowners, natural resource managers, and
the general public about these wetlands and natural values; 3. a
coordinated and integrated approach to managing wetlands for
posterity with incentives, regulations, and outright purchase.
There are many issues to resolve and time is short. The protection
of our wetland resources requires immediate and continual
attention, if the benefits of these natural assetts are to be
realized into the 21st century.
30
GLOSSARY
Aerobic: Living, active, or occuring in the presence of oxygen.
Most biological activities require oxygen to produce energy.
Anaerobic: Living, active, or occurring in the absence of oxygen.
Some bacteria function only in the absence of oxygen. This lack of
oxygen causes formation of hydric soils and restricts the type of
plant that can grow there.
Detritus: Broken down fragments of organic matter that result from
disintergrating and decaying organisms.
Ecosystem: An interacting system of one to many living organisms
and their physical interaction.
Estuarine: Where freshwater meets saltwater.
Flooded: A condition in which the soil surface is temorarily
covered with flowing water from any source, such as streams,
runoff, or tides.
Gleying: A soil condition resulting from prolonged saturation and
the resulting anaerobic, reducing state. Iron and manganese change
chemical states, and these changes result in bluish, greenish, or
greyish colors. `
Groundwater: Underground water supplies stored in aquifers.
Groundwater is created and recharged by precipitation percolating
through the soil.
Habitat: The physical environment which supplies an organism's
needs for shelter, water, food, and reproduction.
Hydric: That which is influenced or determined by the presence of
water.
Hydrophytic Plants: Those plants which are characteristically
adapted to growth and reproduction in water or a substrate that is
at least periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive
water content. Also referred to as hydrophytes.
Hydric Soil: Soil that is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough
during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the
upper layers.
Hydrology: The properties, distribution, and circulation of water.
Wetland hydrology is the total of all wetness characteristics in
areas that are inundated or have saturated soils for a sufficient
duration to support hydrophytec vegetation.
31
Indicator Status: Reflects the probability that a plant species
will occur in wetlands.
Inundated: A condition in which a soil is periodically or
permanently flooded or ponded by water.
Lacustrine: Of or pertaining to a lake.
Mineral Soil: A soil consisting of and having properties determined
mostly by mineral material.
Mitigation: Avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing or
eliminating, compensating, and /or monitoring impacts.
Monotypic: Comprised of only one species.
Mottling: Splotches of different colors interspersed with the
primary color of a soil sample.
Nutrients: The essential chemicals needed by plants or animals for
growth and reproduction.
Organic Soil: Soil consisting mainly of organic or plant material,
usually some type of peat or muck.
Palustrine Wetland: A swamp or marshy area; a shallow wetland.
Parameter: A characteristic that can be defined or measured. Soils,
vegetation, and aspects of hydrology are characteristics that can
be defined or measured with respect to wetlands.
Periodic: Occurring or recurring at intervals which do not need to
be regular or predictable.
Pollutant: A contaminant that adversely alters the physical,
chemical, or biological properties of the environment. This
includes pathogens, toxic substances, carcinogens, garbage, sewage
and all other harmful substances.
Riverine: Located on or near a river; riparian.
Saturated: A condition in which all the pores between soil
particles in the root zone are filled with water to a level at or
near the soil surface.
Sediment: Material carried in suspension by flowing water which
will ultimately settle to the bottom after the water loses
velocity. Also the material deposited or accumulated on the bottom
of waterways.
32
Soil: A dynamic natural body on the surface of the earth in which
plants grow, composed of mineral and organic materials, air, water,
and living fungi, algae, and microscopic organisms.
Species: A single, distinct kind of plant or animal, with
distinguishing characteristics.
Storm Drain: A system of gutters, pipes, ditches, or connecting
ponds used to carry stormwater from surrounding lands to streams,
lakes, or the ocean. These systems can also encompass naturally
occurring or synthetic wetlands.
Stormwater: Water that is generated by precipitaion and is often
routed into drain systems in order to prevent flooding. This water
carries oil, heavy metals, antifreeze, and other pollutants from
impermeable surfaces in urban areas and fecal coliform bacteria and
nutrients from rural areas.
Treatment: Chemical, biological, or mechanical precedures applied
to sanitary sewage or stormwater to remove, reduce, or neutralize
contaminants.
33
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SELECTED REFERENCES
City of Auburn, 1989. Wetlands Inventory Methodology Report.
Department of Planning and Community Development.
City of Bellevue, 1976. Drainage Master Plan. Storm and Surface
Water Utility.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe, 1979.
Classsification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the
United States. USFWS, Dept. of the Interior.
Granger, Terri, 1989. A Guide to Conducting Wetland Inventories.
WA Dept. of Ecology, Shorelands and CZM.
Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist, 1973.Flora of the Pacific
Northwest. U. of W. Press.
Perkins, Kerry, 1989. USDA Soil Conservation Service. Pers. Comm.
with J. Heal.
Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, 1988. State of the Sound
Report. PSWQA, Seattle.
Randall, W.R., R. Keniston, D. Bever, and E. Jensen, 1985. Manual
" of Oregon Trees and Shrubs. Oregon State University.
Stockdale, E.C., 1986. The Use of Wetlands for Stormwater Storage
4
and Nonpoint Pollution Control: A Review of the Literature.
King County Dept. of Planning and Community Development.
1989. Resource Planner, King County Planning
and Community Development Dept. Pers. Comm. with J. Civille,
1989.
Udvardy, M. D., 1977. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North
American Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, SCS, 1985. Hydric Soils of the
State of Washington.
1975. Soil Survey of
Jefferson County Area, Washington.
U.S. Department of the Interior, USFWS, 1988. National List of
Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1988 Northwest (Region
9. ADVANCE COPY.
Washington State Department of Ecology, 1988. 1988 Washington
Wetlands Study Report.
34
Washington Natural Heritage Program, 1987. Endangered, Threatened
and Sensitive Vascular Plants of Washington. WA Department
of Natural Resouces.
Weinmann, F.C., M. Boule, K. Brunner, J. Malek, and V. Yoshino,
1984. Wetland Plants of the Pacific Northwest. U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Seattle District.
Yates, Steve, 1989. Adopting a Wetland. Snohomish County Planning
and Community Development.
35
Appendix A: Wetland Data Form
36
TT ....A cnordlnatina Council Wetland Invento
11V Vim+
1/4 1/4
Wetland No-
1/4 Township No. —
wetland Name
Size (Acres) —
Team Leader
Team Members Time Ena
Date T,me Begin
1
Access Points
Landowner
We
parcel No.
FWS Wetland Type:
A. System =ALUSTRINE
'
1. Class
A -1 Subcl. /Dom.
A -2 Subcl . /Dom.
A -3 Subcl . /Dom. —
Special Modifier
Codes C1 %_
2.
2. Class
B -1 Subcl. /Dom.
B -2 Subcl. /Dom
B -3 Subcl. /Do
Special Modifi
Codes —
3.
3. Class
C -1 cl. /Dom.
C- Subcl
C Sub . /Dom.
S Modifier
Co s C °
D. S
4. Class
1
D -1 Subcl - /Dom
D -2 Subcl. /D
D -3 Subci. /Lom.
Special Modifier
Codes_ C1%
B. System R17 c�R1`�B
1. Subsyst. /C1.
A -1 Subcl. /Dom.
A -2 Subcl . /Dom.
A -3 Subcl . /Dom.
Special Modifier
Codes C1%
2. Subsyst. /C1.
° B -i Subcl. /Dom.
3-2 Subc1. /Dom.
B -3 Subcl . /Dom.
Special Modi -
Codes C1'
—
Data Form
/2 S T R
ne
tom T - t- USTRINE
Subsyst. /C1
A -1 Subcl. /Dom
A -2 Subc1. /Dom
A -3 Subcl. /Dom
Special Modifier
Codes Cl%
Class
B -1 Subcl. /Dom.
B -2 Subcl. /Dom.
B -3 Subcl. /Dom.
Special Modifier _
Codes C1%
Class
C -1 Subcl. /Dom.__
C-2 S ub c 1. /Dom .
C -3 Subcl. /Dom.
Special ModifierCl%
Codes
ESTUARINE
Subsyst - /C1.
A -1 Subcl. /Dom-
A -2 Subcl. /Dom.
A -3 Subc1. /Dom.
Special Modifier
Codes C1%
2, Subsyst. /C1.•
B -1 Subcl. /C1.
B -2 Subcl. /Cl.
B -3 Subcl. /C1.
Special Modifier
Codes_ C1%
3. Subsyst. /Cl.
C -1 Subcl . /Dom.
C -2 Subcl. /Dom.
C -3 Subcl . /Dom.
Special Modifier r
Codes C1%
Date
--land ID
drologv� Yes No De ---nth
1, Standing water
2. Running water
3. Saturated soils
4. Tidal influence
ro e Of Outlet:
1. None
2. Overland: constricted unconst
3. Open channel: (artificial) not measured
l 4 i- channel
7. Ot er,
S. Unknown
Impoundment Capacity:
1, Flat wetland with impoundment capability (describe)
2. Fiat wetland without impoundment capability (describe)
3, Sloped wetland without impoundment capability (describe)
channe w
4.
Pipe: type e
•
not me
diameter _.
5 .
Other
6.
Unknown
Tune Of inlet: --
1.
No visible inlet
2.
Seep
3.
Spring
4.
Wetland (in ate of nnection)
5,
Stream or r' er -
6.
Storm water page pi _- -
h .
7. Ot er,
S. Unknown
Impoundment Capacity:
1, Flat wetland with impoundment capability (describe)
2. Fiat wetland without impoundment capability (describe)
3, Sloped wetland without impoundment capability (describe)
eland ID
Date
:man Impacts: Circle all that apply, describe briefly (type, extent,
1. Mechanical: filling, clearing, grading, trails, impoundment,
ditching, draining, dredging
2. pollution: runoff, garbage, sewage
3. Agricultural or Commercial: pasture, ti ed field, peat
mining
4. Sedimentation, erosion, flooding
5. Other
Suffers
!and use within 200 feet
N
_ S
E _
W
Which of t
between the i
Different
1.
Wt W111
a. site /upland
b. upland /site
Similar:
1.
t!�4 4t�ti14Ntll�ll`ll(11
a. site /upland
a. ' site /upland
b. upland /site
2.
u -��
:he difference in height
Land?
3
. 11144WIII W1,
a. site /upland
b. upland /site
3.
a. site/upland
s
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w
Appendix B: Plant List
37
Scientific Name
Common Name
Indicator
Acer circinatum
Big -leaf Maple
FACU
Alnus rubra
Red Alder
FAC
Atriplex patula
Fat Hen
FACW
Carex lyngbei
Lyngbye's Sedge
OBL
Carex obnupta
Slough Sedge
OBL
Cornus stolonifera
Red -osier Dogwood
FACW
Deschampsia caespitosa
Tufted Hairgrass
FACW
Drosera rotundiflora
Round -leaf Sundew
OBL
Epilobium ciliatum
Hairy Willow -herb
FACW -
Juncus effusus
Soft Rush
FACW+
Ledum groenlandicum
Labrador -tea, Greenland
OBL
Lemna minor
Duckweed
OBL
Lonicera involucrata
Four -line Honeysuckle
FAC
Lysichitum americanum
Skunk Cabbage
OBL
Mimulus guttatus
Common Monkey Flower
OBL
Nuphar polysephalum
Spatterdock
OBL
Oenanthe sarmentosa
Water Parsley
OBL
Oplopanix horridum
Devil's Club
FAC
Phalaris arundinacea
Reed's Canary Grass
FACW
Potentilla pacifica
Pacific Silverweed
OBL
Pyrus fusca
Pacific Crabapple
FAC+
Ranunculus repens
Creeping Buttercup
FACW
Rubus spectabilis
Salmonberry
FAC
Salicornia virginica
Pickleweed
OBL
Salix sitchensis
Sitka Willow
FACW
Scirpus maritimus
Saltmarsh Bulrush
OBL
Sparganium spp.
Burreed
OBL
Spartina alterniflora
Smooth Cordgrass
OBL
Spiraea douglasii
Douglas Spiraea
FACW
Thuja plicata
Western Red Cedar
FAC
Triglochin maritimum
Seaside Arrowgrass
OBL
Typha angustifolia
Narrow -leaf Cattail
OBL
Urtica dioica
Stinging Nettle
FAC+
Vaccinium oxycoccos
Small Cranberry
OBL
Zoostera marina
Eelgrass
OBL
38
L
Appendix C: Letter to Landowners
39
0
April 20, 1989 -
Dear Landowner:
The Jefferson County Planning and Building Department has
received a small grant from the federal Coastal Zone Management
Program to initiate a wetlands inventory in eastern Jefferson
County. A wetland has been identified on a parcel of property owned
by you by the use of aerial photograph interpretation.
I would like to field check this wetland, which involves
identifying plants and soils as well as the presence of water. If
you are concerned about my gaining access to your property or would
like more information about Jefferson County's Wetland Management
Program, please contact me at 437 -9143. If I have not heard from
you by early May, I will assume that briefly accessing your land
does not present any problems.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
John C. Heal
Wetlands Specialist
4
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oa