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Home My WebLink AboutSpecial Report (003)Olympic Wetland Resources PrinciOai . .- Dixie Llewellin, 856 50~, Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 360 385-6432 dllewell@olympus,net Monitoring Report ................. South Pmnt Wetland Revegetat} Trail End Estates ~![ }~': JUL 2 7 2001 July 2 0 01 : ~ Introduction .... .: ' The wetlands ~ the Tra~ End Estate were ~ed March 19, 1997 to ~crease upl~d space for potential use for recrezion. The ~ was subsequently removed, the so~ levels brought back to the off,al elevation, and the site re-vegetated in December of 1998. Native wetland emergents, s~ubs, and trees were planted and a seed ~x was spread the lo,owing sp~g. Ra~a~ was above average ~ 1998 and 1999 and pond~g water e~sted at several locations ~ the site. As stated in the Wetland Revegetation Planting Plan, South Point Wetlands (November 4, 1998) monitoring is required over a 5 years period to evaluate the success of the project in the years 1999, 2001, and 2003. A monitoring report was submitted to the County in 1999. Monitoring was conducted by Dixie Llewellin> Olympic Wetland Resources, for the 1999 monitoring and again on Julyl0, 2001. Planted species were counted to determine whether the performance standards of the revegetation plan were met. A re-vegetation project is successful when, after 3 years, over 80% of the plants consist of native species and are healthy and vigorous. Weedy species should comprise not more than 10% of the ground cover. This report represents the third year analysis of the projects success. Results and Discussion The overall vegetation was examined on the three parcels planted: Area A (Parcel 950100905), Area B (Parcel 950100907) and Area C (part of Parcel 950100804 and part of parcel 950100806). The total area re-vegetated was approximately 19,471 square feet. Water levels throughout Jefferson County are down due to lower than average rainfall. Hydrology and saturated soils were only present in ditches duping the July visit. Non-native and invasive plants were observed on the adjacent lots but these did not appear to be invading the planted areas. Weedy species including curly dock, Himalayan blackberry, and reed canarygrass covered far less than 10% of the ground cover of the planted areas. Native vegetation was the dominant plant cover found in the wetlands. A summary of plant survivorship of planted species is included in the summary. A vicinity map and planting plan is included at the end of this report. Ol.xanpic Wetland Resources, Inc. Project # 2001-0092 Page 1 Jul3' 2001 Area A 103' X 107' Area A is bordered on the north by Ferry Street and on the south and west by mowed vacant lot. Species planted in 1998 include salmonberry, slough sedge, red-osier dogwood, ninebark, and Sitka spruce. The only species that did not survive past the first year was the red-osier dogwood. Overall condition of plants observed during the 2001 monitoring was healthy. Stands of native trees and shrubs create a dense cover; all species were very healthy with signs of vigorous new growth. The native species returning and dominating the site include red alder, cattails, and water parsley. In some locations, alders are out-competing planted species. The overall return of native species (in addition to the planted species) exceeds the 80% native vegetation cover required by the performance standards. There is less than 10% weed cover on site. The photograph of Area A in Figure 1 shows a dense stand of cattails and alders returning to the site. Area B 90' X65' Area B has highly saturated soils, which were ponded during the 1998 planting and 1999 monitoring. Standing water was not observed but the soils were moist in July of 2001. Planted species include Sitka spruce, pacific willow, twinberry, and bulrush. During the 1999 monitoring it was noted that the planted spruce trees did not survive. The willows are thriving; several trees are over 10 feet tall. The twinberry is healthy and the bulrush is spreading. Where ponding was present in the past years, very dense stands of cattails 6 to 7 feet tall grow with an under layer of water parsley. Native vegetation is extremely thick and healthy throughout the site. Additional native species becoming established include salmonberry and common rush. Weedy species include thistle and Himalayan blackbemes; they comprise less than 10% of the cover. Area B was previously dominated by Himalayan blackberries prior to the original disturbance. Now the area supports a diverse community of native species, structural layers, and habitat features. A recently toppled spruce was observed in the wetland. Dead standing snags and down trees add to habkat value of this wetland by creating nesting cavities for birds, amphibians, and small mammals. Restoration efforts for this site exceed the required performance standards. The photograph of Area B in Figure 1 shows the dead standing spruce snag, dense cattails and willows. Area C 40' X 50' with an adjacent 100' X 6' strip along South Beach Road A drainage ditch borders the western edge of this lot; cattails are present there. Species planted include hardstem bulrush, red-osier dogwood, and twinberry. The dogwood did not survive the first year but all other species were present and thriving. The hardstem bulrush planted in this area is becoming dominant and seven of the ten twinberry planted are healthy (same count as in 1999). Other natives identified, which were not planted, include alder, thimbleberry, cattail, and seacoast bulrush (Scirpus maritimus). This dry, open site has a greater number of weedy species than Area A or Area B. These include rumex, reed canary grass, blackberry, and tansy ragwort. The percentage of weedy species is still less than 10% of the existing cover. Ol.wnpic Wetland Resources, Inc. Project # 2001-0092 Page 2 July 2001 The photograph of Area C in Figure 1 shows a view of the emergent layer of hardstem bulrush and common rush with volunteer alders and thimbleberry in the foreground. Summary Plant Survivorship and Health Species Name Common name Planted Observed Condition Comments Emergent Sc usacutus Hardstembukushl 100 >400I excenentIspreading Carex obnupta Slough sedge 200 100 good spreading Scrub-Shrub Comus sericea * Red osier dogwvood 5 0 *see note below Physocarpus capitatus Pacific ninebark 30 10 excellent vigorous Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry 20 20 excellent spreading Lonicera involucrata Twin-berr~ 20 17 good healthy Trees Picea sitchensis Sitka spruce I 10 Salix lucida var. lasiandra Pacific willow I 30 3 30 excellent excellent new ~owth 10' tall * Live stakes of red-osier dogwood did not survive. This report fulfills the third year monitoring requirements by the Jefferson County Department of Community Development'. On-site conditions reveal that the majority of planted species are healthy and vigorous on all three planted sites: Area A, Area B, and Area C at South Point Wetlands, Trail End Estates. Site conditions exceed the performance standards three years after the final planting. Final approval of the project occurs after the 5-year monitoring is completed in 2003. This monitoring should be done by a professional wetland biologist during the growing season in July or August. At the end of the monitoring year a copy of the report with the resuks will be submitted to Jefferson County Department of Community Development. Ol_~rnpic Wetland Resources, Inc. Project # 2001-0092 Page 3 Julv 2001 South Point Wetland Revegetaion Location of Areas Planted // wood :~'.,. Olympic ~/efland Resources, Inc. ~..;., ...-: '¥;I? 856so~ , 360 385-6432 %u'l'h Poinf Wefland Vicini~ Map And Planfing Plan Waller Pederson ~(ale: lhed --. July 2001 ]ob #: 01-0092 South Point Wetlands Monitoring 2001 Figure 1 Area B Area A Area C All photographs taken looking west Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc, July 2001