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Home My WebLink AboutStream Buffer Report 002283007Sc';�2og Eagle Creek Property Initial Wetland/Stream Buffer Report Survey Dates: September 7, 2016 Report Date: September 13, 2016 Prepared for: Beau Taylor 1382188' Ave Ct. NW Gig Harbor, WA Site address: Jefferson County, WA Township: 30N2W Parcel: 002283007 15U brW 2 7 2017DO E S U�\ A MARINE SURVEYS fx ASSESSMENTS 267 Hudson Street Port Townsend WA 98368 (360)385-4073 marine.surveys.inc@gmail.com JEFFERSON COUNTY DOD Purpose To identify and subsequently describe wetland/stream-related buffers and setbacks that should be avoided in any construction activity on or near Parcel # 002283007, Township 30N2W. This mini -report is designed to give basic knowledge and understanding of aforementioned buffers, as they are desiquated by Appendix B, Jefferson County Code 181i Critical Areas Ordinance. This report is not exhaustive, and may not itie] ude other state or federal requrr lents or designations. This report includes: • Summary of survey activities (date, time, surveyors' names); • Physical description of surveyed area; ■ Photographs from survey; NOV 2 7 2017 ■ Generated image with recommended buffer. JEFFERSON COUNTY DCD Summary of Survey Activities Marine Surveys and Assessments (MSA) wetland specialists James Ialeggio and Meg Amos assessed the aforementioned property on September 7h, 2016. Over the course of 1.5 hours, MSA wetland specialists walked the bottom of the drainage on the parcel and took GPS points along the drainage bottom, identified dominant vegetation types, assessed slope, and took measurements of the drainage bed. Physical Description of Surveyed Area Parcel #002283007 is approximately 10. 10 acres, a rectangle running east -west, with a 1.14 acre parcel (#002283026) removed from the western side, through which there is an access easement. The wetland in question runs from west to east along the top section of the property, beginning outside the northern section of the western property line, continuing through the property, and east beyond the northern section of the eastern property line. The drainage lies within a deep ravine with an average bank slope of approximately 45°. The bed of the drainage was cobble bottomed, indicating significant water flow, and largely dry, indicating that water flow to be seasonal (figure 1). The bed of the drainage, along the section within the property in question, averaged 6 feet wide from top of bank to top of bank. The uppermost section of the drainage held standing water, which was reflected by growth of Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale), although the area was deemed negligible by MSA wetland specialists. Outside of this area, vegetation immediately outside of the drainage bed was indicative of drained - soil, generally upland forest types. Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Big Toothed Maple (Acer grandidentum), Oregon Grape (Mahonia spp), Ocean Spray (Flolodiscus discolor), Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), Swamp Currant (Ribes lacustre), Beaked Hazlenut (Corylus cornuta) were all observed, scattered relatively regularly throughout the drainage ravine (figure 2). Outside the bed of the drainage itself and the negligible amount of horsetail at the top of the drainage, there was no vegetation or soil samples to indicate wetland status of the outlying banks. Soils were humic and well drained, vegetation was non -wetland; without an actual land survey, the wetland specialists were unable to comment with certainty, but the steep bank slopes immediately surrounding the sides of the drainage likely contribute to efficient water -removal from the landscape, resulting in very little or no outlying wetland outside the drainage bed. Therefore, MSA wetland specialists identified the drainage within the Jefferson County stream type system. Just downstream and east of the surveyed parcel, the drainage in question joins Eagle Creek, which is rated F (fish bearing) by Jefferson County. The drainage surveyed by MSA specialists is rated N (non -fish bearing) by Jefferson County, and because of its obvious seasonality, MSA specialists believe it to be more specifically rated NS (non -fish bearing, seasonal). In Appendix B to Jefferson County Code 18.22 Critical Areas Ordinance, the buffer specified to protect watersheds designated NS is 75 feet (figure 3). Therefore, MSA wetland specialists recommend a minimum 75 -foot buffer surrounding the stream bed along its entirety as it runs through the parcel in question. Where possible, MSA recommends as much of the surrounding vegetation on the ravine to be left undisturbed; a healthy, mixed lower and upper story of vegetation, such as exists now, is extremely beneficial in keeping unwanted sediment out of Eagle Creek, which is part of the Discovery Bay sub -basin, and provides valuable habitat for Coho Salmon (Onchorhyncus kisutch) and other native fish species. Figure 1. Ci �Cr% 7D NOV 2 7 2017 FERSON COUNTY DCD dPl ; y - %, ' �• '�•' •fir ' � l�^ AR _ .40 .lir. � "�, r��L �� ' .. •�! �� . .. .4 ~ �� %� r ;� ..t `�.lk.� .w• .. i k 4' air .y ��, Y „ ;,�;k� • �� Figure 3. Required Buffer; Appendix B JCC 18.22 CAO Eagle Creek Property I For Bear CAk&� rGcj 45ee <�, t pp �]. r 9 c. NOW 272017 JEFFERSON COUNTY DCD