HomeMy WebLinkAboutLevel I Wetland Assessment 901263017 lymplc Wetland Resources
~ C~ ~ Sept02-00229, center RoM p~cel ~ 901263017
Level I Wetland As~sment
A Levd I wetl~d assessment w~ conduced by Di~e Llewe~n of Ol~pic Wetl~d Resources, ~c.
on November 6, 2002 on the subject parcd we~ of Center V~ey Road. ~e gofl of the ~sessment
w~ to cl~s~ wetlands ~d dele ~sociated buffers. The buffers dete~e re~fi~ions to ~mre
budding projects. Work w~ conduced m accord~ce with Section 3 of the Jefferson Count' U~ed
Development Code (L~C Janua~ 2001 ).
Jefferson Coun~ Critical ,&e~ maps. indicate subst~tial wetl~ds cove~g the p~cel. Findings
indicate the majofi~ of the site co~ists of rolling ~Hs vegetated by upl~d pasture ~ses (Daco'lis
glomerata. Lohum perenne, C?pe~s squ~ou~s) with he~thy Dou~' ~s near the north ~d east
pe~eters. Dou~as? fir is unable to ~thstand saturated condition, and confi~s long-te~ d~' soils.
Severfl patches of wetlands with positive ~dicators ofwetl~d so~s ~d vegetation were ident~ed in
the low-lying ~eas. These ~eas appe~ to be co~ned to ~ inte~nent dr~e ~fle de~ed by
topo~aphy ~d distinct plant co--umw changes..Hydrolo~ was not present in the test pits. It is
~ical for wetl~d test pits to be d~ at the end of d~ su~er. The water eventually accumulates in a
larger wetland system ne~ Center Valley Road, w~ch supports wetland s~bs and tr~s_
~e small wetl~d near the proposed build~g site con, ins a monodic stand of co~on rash
(duncus e~sus). T~s wetland patch queries as a Class III wetland (5 points, Rating Fo~
A~ached); it is small in s~e, has o~y emergent vegetatiom ~d is not ~ in habitat v~ue. T~s
would be a Class IV wetl~d if it did not appe~ to be hydrolo~c~y co~ected to do--slope
wetl~ds. Cl~s III wetl~ds have 50-foot buffers if the wetland is dd~eated. To qu~ for a waiver
from a de~eation a bu~ding project must have a buffer 75-f~t or ~eater me~ured pe~endicular to
the wetl~d edge (Tables 3-3 ~d 34 LgC). The proposed bu~d~ site is upslope ~d me~ures over
90-f~t hom a distract wetland edge. ~s project is outside any buffer restfi~ions.
~there are ~nher question don't hesitate to call.
Sincerely.
Dixie Llewellin
Certified for Wetland Delineation_ 1987 Manual V~q~I? June 1995
Wetlands Rating Field Data Form ~~'"~:i:~:'-:.~:''''~ .....-....
DEPT OF CO ' huu~
Background Information: ~ · MMUNI~ DEvELOPMENT
~ Affiliation: OL~fll~ Date:
Nme
of
~ter:
Nme of wetl~d (if~om):
Gove~entJms~ctionofwetl~d: ~~ ~ ~oO~.~. ~~~W
L~ation: I/4 Section:~ of 1/4 S: Section: Tomhp:~ ~ge:.~
Sources of Info~a~on: (Check all sources that apply)
Site visit: ~ USGS To~ Map: ~ ~I ~p: ~ Aeh~ Photo:~ Soils s~ey:
~en The Field Da~ fo~ is complete enter ~tego~ here: ~ ~
O.~. High OualJ~ Natural Wetland Circle Answers
~wer ~s question if you ~ve ad~uate ~omtion or ex~fience to do so. If
not ~d someone Mth ~e e~aise to ~swer the questions. The~ if ~e ~wer
to quesfiom la, lb ~d lc ~e ~1 NO, con~t the Nail Heritage proem of
D~
la. Human caused distu~ances.
Is ~ere si~fic~t ehdence ofh~~ed c~ges to topo~phy or
hy~olo~ of ~e wetl~d ~ m~mted by ~y of the follow~g con~tio~?
Comider o~y ch~ges ~at may have ~en place ~ the l~t 5 d~ades. The
i~ac~ of c~ges done e~lier have probably been s~bilized ~d ~e wetl~d
ecosystem MIl be close to reach~g some new equilibfim ~at my represent a
~ qmlity wetl~d.
Yes: go to Q.2
la. 1 Ups~em watershed > 12% ~pe~ious. Yes: go to Q.2
la2. Wetl~d is ~tched ~d water flow is not obstructed. Yes: go to Q.2
la3. Wetl~d h~ been ~aded, filled, logged. Yes: go to Q.2
la4. Water ~ wetl~d is controlled by ~kes, weks, etc. Yes: go to Q.2
1M. Wetl~d is ~ed. ~s: go to Q.2
la6. Other ~cators of ~s~b~ce (list below) ~ go to lb.
25
lb Are there populations of non-native plants which are currently present, cover YES: go to Q.2
more than 10% of the wetland, and appear to be invading native populations? (~ go to lc.
Briefly describe any~-nlltive N~ populations and
-Information source(sl~ -
lc. Is there evidence of human-caused disturbances which have visibly
degraded water quality. Evidence of the degradation of water quality include:
direct (untreated) nmoff from roads or parking Iots; presence, or historic ~: go to Q.2
evidence, of waste dumps; oily sheens; the smell of organic chemicals; or -~ .CI?. O~ Possible Cat. I
livestock use. Briefly describe: 'lL*~tact DNR
0.2. Irreplaceable Ecological Functions:
Does the wetland: ~ ali: go to Q.3)
have at least 1/4 acre of organic soils deeper than 16 inches YES go to 2a
and the wetland is relatively undisturbed; OR
Jif the answer is NO because the wetland is disturbed briefly
describe:
Indicators of disturbance may include:
- Wetland has been graded, filled, logged;
- Organic soils on the surface are dried-out for more than half
of the year;
- Wetland receives direct stormwater runoff from urban or
agricultural areas.];
OR
have a forested class greater than 1 acre; YES: Go to 2b
OR
have characteristics of an estuarine system; Yes: Go to 2c
OR
have eel grass floating or non-floating kelp beds? Yes: Go to 2d
2a. Bogs and Fens
Are any of the three following conditions met for the area of organic soil?
2a. i. Are Sphagnum. mosses a common ground cover (>30%) and the cover of
~nvasive species (see Table 3) is less than 10%?
Is the area of sphagnum mosses and deep organic soils > 1/2 acre? YES: Category I
Is the area of sphagnum mosses and deep organic soils ¼-1/2 acre? YES: Category II
NO: Go to 2a.3
2a.2. Is there an area of organic soil which has an emergent class with at least
one species from Table 2, and cover of invasive species is < 10% (see Table 3)?
Is the area of herbaceous plants and deep organic soils > 1/2 acre? YES: Category I
Is the area of herbaceous plants and deep organic soils 1/4-1/2acre? YES: Category II
NO: Go to 2a.3
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
.2a.3. Is the vegetation a mixture of only herbaceous plants and Sphagnum
mosses with no scrub/shrub or forested classes?
Is the area of herbaceous plants, Sphagnmn, and deep orgamc
soils > 1/2 acre? YES: Category I
Is the area of herbaceous plants, Sphagnum, and deep organic
soils ¼-1/2 acre? YES: Category II
NO: Go to Q.3.
Q.2b. Mature forested wetland.
2b.1. Does 50% of the cover of upper forest canopy consist of evergreen YES: Category I
trees older than 80 years or deciduous trees older than 50 years? NO: Go to 2b.2
Note: The size of trees is often not a measure of age, and size cannot
be used as a surrogate for age (see guidance).
2b.2. Does 50% of the cover of forest canopy consist of evergreen trees older YES: Go to 2b.3
than 50 years, AND is the structural diversity of the forest high as NO: Go to Q.3
characterized by an additional layer of trees 20'-49' tall, shrubs 6'- 20',
tall, and a herbaceous groundcover?
2b.3. Does < 25% of the areal cover in the herbaceous/groundcover or YES: Category I
the shrub layer consist ofinv'asive/exotic plant species from the list on p. 197 NO: Go to Q.3
Q.2c. Estuarine wetlands.
2c.1. Is the wetland listed as National Wildhfe Refuge, National Park, YES: Category I
National Estuary Reserve, Natural Area Preserve, State Park, or NO: Go to 2c.2
Educational, Environmental or Scientific Reserves designated under
WAC 332-30-1517
2c.2. Is the wetland > 5 acres; ......................................................... YES: Category I
Note: If an area contains patches of salt tolerant vegetation that are
1) less .than 600 feet apart and that are separated by mudflats that go
dry on a Mean Low Tide, or
2) separated by tidal channels that are tess than 100 feet wide;
all the vegetated areas are to be considered together in calculating the
wetland area.
or is the wetland 1-5 acres; ......................................................... YES: Go to 2c.3
or is the wetland < 1 acre? .......................................................... YES: Go to 2c.4
OEPI. OF COMMUNi~' OEVELOPMENT
.20.3. Does the wetland meet at least 3 of the following 4 criteria: ....... YES: Category I
NO Category II
- minimmn existing evidence of human related disturbance such as
diking, ditching, filling, cultivation, grazing or the presence of non-
native plant species (see guidance for definition);
- surface water connection with tidal saltwater or tidal freshwater;
- at least 75% of the wetland has a I00 buffer ofungrazed pasture,
open water, shrub or forest;
- has at least 3 of the following features: Iow marsh; high marsh; tidal
channels; lagoon(s);woody debris; or contiguous freshwater wetland.
2c.4. Does the wetland meet all of the four criteria under 203? (above)? YES: Category II
NO: Category 1II
Q.2d. Eel Grass and Kelp Beds.
2d. 1. Are eelgrass beds present? .................................................. YES: Category I
NO: go to 2d.2
2d.2. Are their floating or non-floating kelp bed(s) present with greater than YES: Category I
50% macro algal cover in the month'ofAugust or September? ......... : ..... NO: Category II
Q.3. Category IV wetlands.
3a. Is the wetland: less than 1 acre and,
hydrologically isolated and, I ~ - -~:-
comprised of one vegetated class that is ~(~mmated (> 80% areal cover) .' _~..~.~.9q"Cmegory IV
by one species from Table 3 (page 19) or Table 4 (page 20) ' _~.~o to 3b
3b. Is the wetland: less than two acres
and, hydrologically isolated,
with one vegetated class, and > 90% of areal cover in any combination of Y~: Category IV
species from Table 3 (page 19) ~_.OjJgo to 3c
3c. Is the wetland excavated from upland and a pond smaller than 1 acre 1~: Category IV
without a surface water connection to streams, lakes, rivers, or other (No/go to Q.4
wetland, and has < O. 1 acre of vegetation.
28
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
.Q.4. Significant habitat value.
Answer alt questions and enter data requested. Circle scores that qualify
4a. Total wetland area
Estimate area, select from choices in the near-right column, and score in the acres, points
far column: >200 6
40-200 5
Enter acreage of wetland herei¢ [ acres, and source: (O(_~Ot '~- 1040 4
5-103
1-5 2
0.1~1
<0.10
4b. Wetland classes: Circle the wetland classes below that qualify:
Open Water: if the area of open water is > 1/4 acre
Aquatic Beds: if the area of aquatic beds > 1/4 acre,
( '~mergent.'~ the area of emergent class is > 1/4 acre, #of classes Points
1 ............ 0
Scrub-Shrub: if the area of scrub-shrub class is > 1/4 acre, 2 ............ 3
3 ............ 6
Forested: if area of forested class is > 1/4 acre, 4 ............ 8
5 ............ 10
· Add the number of wetland classes, above, that qualify, and then
Score according to the columns at right.
e.g. If there are 4 classes (aquatic beds, open water, emergent &
Scrub-shrub), you would circle 8 points in the far right colunm.
4c. Plant species diversity.
For each wetland class (at right) that qualifies in class # species in class Points
4b above, count the number of different plant species Aquatic 1 0
you can find that cover more than 5% of the ground. 2 1
You do not have to name them. 3 2
>3 3
Score in column at far right:
e.g. Ifa wetland has an aquatic bed class with 3 species, an ,~mergent ) I
0
emergent class with 4 species and a scrub-shrub ~ (~ 1
class with 2 species you would circle 2, 2, and 1 in the 4-5 2
far colmnn. >5 3
Note: Any plant species with a cover of> 5%
qualifies for points within a class, even those Scrub-Scrub 1 0
that are not of that class. 2 1
3-4 2
>4 3
Forested 1 0
2 1
34 2
DEC -4 a)O
DEPT. OF cOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT j 29
Ad. Structural diversity.
If the wetland has a forested class, add 1 point if each of the following
Classes ~s present within the forested class and is larger than 1/4 acre:
-trees > 50' tall ............................ YES - 1
-trees 20'- 49' tall ........................ YES - 1
-shrubs ....................................... YES- 1
-herbaceous ground cover ................ YES - 1
Also add 1 point if there is any "open water" or "aquatic bed" class
Immediately next to the forested area (i.e. there is no scrub/shrub or
emergent vegetation between them). YES - 1
4e. Decide fi:om the diagrams below whether interspersion between High - 5
wetland classes is high, moderate, low or none? If you think the Moderate - 3
amount of interspersion falls in between the diagrams score accordingly Low- 1
(i.e. a moderately high amount of interspersion would score a 4, ( ~
while a moderately low amount would score a 2)
moderate, moderate high
4f Habitat features.
Answer questions below, circle features that apply, and score to right:
Is there evidence that the open or standing water was caused by beavers YES = 2
Is a heron rookery located within 300'? YES = 1
Are raptor nest/s located within 300? YES = 1
Are there at least 3 standing dead trees (snags) per acre greater than
10" in diameter at "breast. height" (DBH)? YES = 1
Are there at least 3 downed logs per acre with a diameter
> 6" for at least 10' in length? YES = 1
Are there areas (vegetated or unvegetated) within the wetland that are
ponded for at least 4 months out of the year, and the wetland has not
qualified as having an open water class in Question 4b. ? YES = 2
DEC - 4 3302
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
.4g. Connection to streams. (Score one answer only.)
4g.1. Does the wetland provide habitat for fish at any time of the year AND YES = 6
does it have a perennial surface water connection to a fish-bearing stream.
4g.2 Does the wetland provide fish habitat seasonally AND does it have YES = 4
a seasonal surface water connection to a fish-bearing stream.
4g.3 Does the wetland function to export organic matter through a surface YES = 4
water connection at all times of the year to a perennial stream.
4g.4 Does the wetland function to export organic matter through a surface YES = 2
water connection to a stream on a seasonal basis?
4h. Buffers.
Score the existing buffers on a scale of 1-5 based on the following four descriptions.
If the condition of the buffers do not exactly match the description, score either a
point higher or lower depending on whether the buffers are less or more degraded.
Forest, scrub, native grassland or open water buffers are present for
more than 100'around 95% of the circumference. Score = 5
Forest, scrub, native grassland, or open water buffers wider than 100'
for more than 1/2 of the wetland circumference, or a forest, scrub,
grasslands, or open water buffers for more than 50' around 95 % of the
circumference. Score = 3
Forest, scrub, native grassland, or open water buffers wider than 100'
for more than 1/4 of the wetland circumference, or a forest, scrub, native
grassland, or open water buffers wider than 50' for more than 1/2 of the
wetland circumference. Score = 2
No roads, buildings or paved areas within 100' of the wetland for more than
95% of the wetland circumference. /Score = 2 ~
No roads, buildings or paved areas within 25' of the wetland for more
than 95% of the circumference, or
No roads buildings or paved areas within 50' of the wetland for more than
1/2 of the wetland circumference. Score = 1
Paved areas, industrial areas or residential consa-uction (with less than 50'
between houses) are less than 25 feet fxom the wetland for more than 95 %
of the circumference of the wetland. Score = 0
jD~-EH;SON
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
31
.4i. Connection to other habitat areas:
Sel~t the description, which best matches the site being evaluated.
-Is the wetland connected to, or part of, a riparian corridor at least 100' wide
connecting two or more wetlands; or, is there an upland connection present >100'
wide with good forest or shrub cover (>25% cover) connecting it with a
Significant Habitat Area? YES = 5
-Is the wetland connected to any other Habitat Area with either I) a forested/shrub
corridor < 100' wide, or 2) a corridor that is > 100' wide, but has a low vegetative
cover less than 6 feet in height? Yes = 3
-Is the wetland connected to, or a part of, a riparian corridor between 50 - 100' wide
with scrub/shrub or forest cover connection to other wetlands? Yes = 3
- Is the wetland connected to any other Habitat Area with narrow corridor (<100')
of low vegetation (< 6' in height)? ( ~
- Is the wetland and its buffer (if the buffer is less than 50' wide) completely isolated
by development (urban, residential with a density greater than 2/acre, or industrial)? Yes = 0
Now add the scores circled (for O.$a - O.Si above) to get a total. ~
Is the Total greater than or equal to 22 points? ; YES = Category II
NO = Category IH
32
.DEPT. OF COMMUNITY OEVELOPN~EN__T ~