HomeMy WebLinkAboutVisual AnalysisVisual Analysis of Oyster Tumble Bags in Dabob Bay
Jamestown S'Klallam and Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe Oyster and C,
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Physical Conditions near Proposed Activity
The overall visual impact of growing oysters in tumble bags on app'i
of tidelands on the eastern shore of Dabob Bay is expected to be minimal.
the proposed project area are steep, heavily wooded, and highly erosional
the project area from the private adjacent uplands is prohibitively steep. Access to the Or"jf
tidelands for the general public is by boat only and the closest public boat launch is
approximately 5 miles away at Point Whitney. Data from WDFW shows that recreational usage
of the East Dabob public tidelands to the south of the proposed activity area is light.
Twenty residential structures have been identified as potentially lying within visual
range of the proposed activity (please see Appendices A, B, and C for photos and additional
information). Of these, two have been purchased by WA DNR (numbers 4 and 11 in the
Appendices) and are not actively used as residential structures. Thirteen of the remaining
eighteen structures (72%) are likely part-time residences based on the respective owners'
mailing addresses as indicated in Jefferson County tax records.
Only five of the identified residences will be closer than 950 feet to the proposed
activity. Additionally, all but four of the residences (numbers 1, 2, 19, and 20 in the
Appendices) sit high above the tidelands at elevations between 144 ft. and 529 ft. above sea
level with most above 350 ft. elevation.
The stability of the bluff above the proposed activity area has been classified by
Washington's Department of Ecology as 'Unstable' or 'Unstable Recent Slide' (see Image 1
below). A large slide occurred in 1998 resulting in a 1,400 ft. wide section of the bluff collapsing
onto the tidelands below. A visible scar from this slide is evident in Appendices B and C just
below residential structure number 11. Landowners in the impacted area have largely
preserved the native vegetation around their homes, presumably in part to prevent further
erosion. This vegetation restricts the views from the impacted residences toward Dabob Bay
and the shoreline. The steepness of the bluff (50-70 degree slope) and the relatively short
distance of the proposed activity from the toe of the bluff (maximum distance approximately
500 feet) would further limit visibility of the activity area from within the impacted residences.
Residential structures along the western shoreline of Dabob Bay are likely too far away
to be impacted by the proposed activity.
Image 1 (From INA Department of Ecology)
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Regional Precedent for Proposed Activity
Besides the physical barriers described above, there is ample evidence to suggest that
what would be seen of the proposed activity would be consistent with both the historical and
contemporary character of Dabob Bay. The following is a brief timeline of the long and storied
history of oyster farming in Dabob Bay.
• Prior to 1918 Dabob Bay became one of the first places in Puget Sound or Hood Canal to
receive transplants of the non-native Pacific oyster (at the time called the Japanese oyster).
• In 1934 and 1935 Pacific oysters spawned in Dabob Bay. These were the first
documented spawning events for this species in Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Prior to this,
growers believed that the waters in the Pacific Northwest were too cold to induce the species
to spawn.
• Between the mid -1930's and the wide availability of hatchery seed in the 1970's, Dabob
Bay was one of just three areas in the Pacific Northwest where oyster seed could be reliably
procured. In 197133,000 cases of seed were collected from shell strings placed in Dabob Bay
amounting to approximately 500 million spat. This was more than the entire amount of seed
planted in all of Washington the previous year.
• In 1943 E.N. Steele, founder and owner of Rock Point Oyster Company and a pioneer of
the Washington oyster farming industry, purchased 200 acres of tidelands in Tarboo Bay at the
head of Dabob Bay. Rock Point Oyster Company has grown oysters on these tidelands for more
than 80 years using a variety of culture methods. In addition to the tidelands, the company also
maintains a boat launch, dock, shell stockpiling area, and other structures associated with their
business on a waterfront parcel in Tarboo Bay less than two miles from the proposed activity
area.
• In 1948 Jerry Yamashita, founder and owner of Western Oyster Company and also a
pioneer of the Washington oyster farming industry, began farming tidelands in the northern
part of Dabob Bay, including parts of the proposed activity area. Western Oyster Company
continued leasing tidelands in Dabob Bay through the summer of 2015.
• In 1990 Taylor Shellfish United built a clam and oyster hatchery on the western shore of
Dabob Bay. This hatchery is still in operation and is visible less than two miles from the
proposed activity area.
• Oysters and clams continue to be farmed in Dabob Bay by several companies using a
variety of methods. Some of these same companies also collect wild spat in the bay using bags
of oyster shell cultch. Image 2 below shows the current shellfish culture activities in Dabob Bay.
Image 2
Dabob
11fish Facility
iosed
Appendix A
Individual Parcel Information
Map Number: 1 Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance and orientation of windows makes it
701223002
unlikely that proposed activity would be seen
Distance from
from within the residence. Proposed activity
Proposed Activity:
may be visible from private tidelands, but
2,700 ft. (0.51 miles)
distance would make the visual impact
Elevation:
minimal.
12 ft.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by trust
331 ft
with a Burien, WA address.
Map Number: 2
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance and orientation of windows makes it
701223002
unlikely that proposed activity would be seen
Distance from
from within the residence. Proposed activity
Proposed Activity:
may be visible from private tidelands, but
2,575 ft. (0.49 miles)
distance would make the visual impact
Elevation:
minimal.
11 ft.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by trust
with a Burien, WA address.
Map Number: 3
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, tree
701222003
cover, and orientation of windows makes it
Distance from
unlikely that proposed activity would be seen
Proposed Activity:
from within the residence. There are no
1,720 ft. (0.33 miles)
private tidelands attached to this parcel and
Elevation:
access to the tidelands from the residence
331 ft
would be prohibitively difficult due to the
steepness of the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part, time; owned by trust
with a Ravensdale, WA address.
Map Number: 4
Potential Visual Impact: None. This property
Tax ID:
was purchased by DNR and the dwelling (if
701222002
extant) is not being used as a residence.
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from the
Proposed Activity:
lower story of the residence. Some of the
1,430 ft. (0.27 miles)
proposed project area may be visible from the
Elevation:
upper story of the residence and from parts of
295 ft.
the property outside of the residence. There
Map Number: 5
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal. Distance,
Tax ID:
elevation above tidelands, and tree cover
701222012
makes it unlikely that proposed activity would
Distance from
be seen from within the residence. There are
Proposed Activity:
no private tidelands attached to this parcel
1,270 ft. (0.24 miles)
and access to the tidelands from the residence
Elevation:
would be prohibitively difficult due to the
392 ft.
steepness of the terrain.
Occupancy: Possibly full-time; owned by
individual with Quilcene, WA PO box.
{6
Map Number: 6
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or
Tax ID:
Moderate. Distance, elevation above
701222011
tidelands, and tree cover makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from the
Proposed Activity:
lower story of the residence. Some of the
1,190 ft. (0.23 miles)
proposed project area may be visible from the
Elevation:
upper story of the residence and from parts of
391 ft.
the property outside of the residence. There
are no private tidelands attached to this parcel
and although the terrain is steep and prone to
erosion, there may be a trail from the
residence to the tidelands.
Occupancy: Possibly full-time; owned by
individual with Quilcene, WA PO box.
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Map Number: 7
Tax ID:
701222001
Distance from
Proposed Activity:
1,025 ft. (0.19 miles)
Elevation:
383 ft.
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal. Distance,
elevation above tidelands, and tree cover
makes it unlikely that proposed activity would
be seen from within the residence. There are
no private tidelands attached to this parcel
and access to the tidelands from the residence
would be prohibitively difficult due to the
steepness of the terrain.
Occupancy: Possibly full-time; owned by
individual with Quilcene, WA PO box.
Map Number: 8
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, tree
701153008
cover, and topography makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. There are no private tidelands
1,500 ft. (0.28 miles)
attached to this parcel and access to the
Elevation:
tidelands from the residence would be
509 ft.
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
attached to this parcel and access to the
the terrain.
Elevation:
513 ft.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Vancouver, WA address.
Map Number: 9
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, tree
701153004
cover, and topography makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
e
Proposed Activity:
the residence. There are no private tidelands
1,515 ft. (0.29 miles)
attached to this parcel and access to the
Elevation:
513 ft.
tidelands from the residence would be
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual withSeattle, WA address.
Map Number: 10
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None. "? •=r
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, tree
701153013
cover, and topography makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. There are no private tidelands
1,645 ft. (0.31 miles)
attached to this parcel and access to the
Elevation:
tidelands from the residence would be
529 ft.
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Possibly full-time; owned by
individual with Quilcene, WA PO box.
Map Number: 11 Potential Visual Impact: None. This property
Tax ID: was purchased by DNR and the dwelling (if
701153016 extant) is not being used as a residence.
Distance from
Proposed Activity:
995 ft. (0.19 miles)
Elevation:
444 ft.
Map Number: 12
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or
Tax ID:
Moderate. Distance, elevation above
701153014
tidelands, and tree cover makes it unlikely that;
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from the
Proposed Activity:
lower story of the residence. Some of the
970 ft. (0.18 miles)
proposed project area may be visible from the
Elevation:
upper story of the residence and from parts of
445 ft.
the property outside of the residence. There
are no private tidelands attached to this parcel
and access to the tidelands from the residence
would be prohibitively difficult due to the
steepness of the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Sammamish, WA address.
70t/5301q
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Map Number: 13
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, tree
cover, and topography makes it unlikely that
701153020
cover, and topography makes it unlikely that
Proposed Activity:
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
attached to this parcel and access to the
Proposed Activity:
the residence. There are no private tidelands
401 ft.
1,000 ft. (0.19 miles)
attached to this parcel and access to the
the terrain.
Elevation:
tidelands from the residence would be
438 ft.
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
Occupancy: Possibly full-time; owned by
the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Port Townsend, WA PO box.
Map Number: 14
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, tree
701153021
cover, and topography makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. There are no private tidelands
1,405 ft. (0.27 miles)
attached to this parcel and access to the
Elevation:
tidelands from the residence would be
401 ft.
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Chehalis, WA address.
I %,H f I, '. 1 -7011 ; "0;-1
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Map Number: 15
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or
Tax ID:
Moderate. Distance, elevation above °«
701153022
tidelands, and tree cover makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. Some of the proposed project
690 ft. (0.13 miles)
area may be visible from parts of the property
Elevation:
outside of the residence. There are no private I
219 ft.
tidelands attached to this parcel and access to
the tidelands from the residence would be
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Possibly full-time; owned by
individual with Chimacum, WA PO box.
Map Number: 16
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance, elevation above tidelands, lack of
701153025
windows, and tree cover makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. There are no private tidelands
560 ft. (0.11 miles)
attached to this parcel and access to the
Elevation:
tidelands from the residence would be
261 ft.
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Walterboro, SC address.
Map Number: 17
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or
Tax ID:
Moderate. Distance, elevation above
701153026
tidelands, and tree cover makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. Some of the proposed project
630 ft. (0.12 miles)
area may be visible from parts of the property
Elevation:
outside of the residence. There are no private
196 ft.
tidelands attached to this parcel and access to
the tidelands from the residence would be
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Seattle, WA address.
Map Number: 18
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or
Tax ID:
Moderate. Distance, elevation above
701164001
tidelands, and tree cover makes it unlikely that
Distance from
proposed activity would be seen from within
Proposed Activity:
the residence. Some of the proposed project
520 ft. (0.10 miles)
area may be visible from parts of the property
Elevation:
outside of the residence. There are no private
144 ft.
tidelands attached to this parcel and access to
the tidelands from the residence would be
prohibitively difficult due to the steepness of
the terrain.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Sequim, WA PO box.
Map Number: 19
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance, tree cover, and orientation of
701164004
windows makes it unlikely that proposed
Distance from
activity would be seen from within the
Proposed Activity:
residence. Proposed activity may be visible
1160 ft. (0.22 miles)
from private tidelands, but distance would
Elevation:
make the visual impact minimal.
40 ft.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Seattle, WA address.
Map Number: 20
Potential Visual Impact: Minimal or None.
Tax ID:
Distance and orientation of windows makes it
701164003
unlikely that proposed activity would be seen
Distance from
from within the residence. Proposed activity
Proposed Activity:
may be visible from private tidelands, but
1,460 ft. (0.28 miles)
distance would make the visual impact
Elevation:
minimal. This is likely a beach house and not
11 ft.
an overnight residence.
Occupancy: Likely part-time; owned by
individual with Seattle, WA address.
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