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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanting and Mitigation Plan 821351007H VILR' m is Wetland Resources Y I� , Inc. Dixie Llewellin, Principal Biologist JEFFERSON COUNTY DC 3 856 50th Street Port Townsend, WA 98358 cf 360 385-6432 rY dixie0cablespeed.corn _ - = September 10. 2019 =--. 7.4 Stephen Elliott 440 Seven Sisters Roar! Port Ludlow, WA 98365 Planting and Mitigation Plan 440 Seven Sisters Road Port Ludlow Parcel 821351007 September 2019 Introduction and Project Proposal Olympic Wetland Resources, LLC has been authorized by Stephen Elliott to prepare a Planting and Mitigation Plan for the proposed shoreline development at 440 Seven Sisters Road, Port Ludlow WA. The site of the proposed 232 sqft addition is currently cleared of vegetation, behind the house, and landward of Bywater Bay. The site was assessed on September 5, 2019 to examine existing shoreline vegetation, assess potential impacts to the shoreline of Bywater Bay, and to determine mitigation sites. Shoreline Management Act and Jefferson County Codes The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) provides a policy framework for protecting shoreline functions and the ecology of all shoreline environments. The Jefferson County Department of Community Development (DCD.) is currently regulating shorelines according to the Unified Development Code (UDC) and the current Shorelines Master Program (SMP 18.25). The SMP uses guidelines outlined in the SMA to establish the standard of No Net Loss of shoreline functions from new developments. The new development falls within the jurisdiction of the 150 foot marine buffers. This Planting Plan and Mitigation Plan follows protocol standards for the protection of critical areas along the shoreline. There will be a No Net Loss of ecological functions (SMP 18.25.270) after the Planting Plan is completed. Documents consulted for this report include the Jefferson County Code, Critical Areas (18.22, 18.22.250, Table 18.22.270). All waterfront projects are also within the jurisdiction and designated buffer requirements of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWCHAs). This 150' buffer extends landward and is measured perpendicular from the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) (Jefferson County Code, Critical Areas, FWHC, Table 18.22.270, Buffers for Other FWHCA, Locally Important Habitat Areas). Local Priority Habitat Species (PHS) will be addressed in this report. Stephen Elliott Planting and Mitigation Plan Report File #2019-00905 1 September 2019 Site Description • Legal Description: Parcel 821351007 • Section 35 Township 28N Range IE, WRIA 17 Squamish Harbor, RR -5 • Location: 440 Seven Sisters Road, Port Ludlow Washington, Jefferson County Existing Conditions This waterfront parcel is —112 feet wide and —346 feet long. The existing home is accessed by a driveway off Seven Sisters Road near a public parking lot. The existing home is 27 feet is back from the from the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) of Bywater Bay. The OHWM is clearly defined by anchored logs and vegetation change. Vegetation Identified on Site The long rectangular parcel has a variety of structural layers which include mature red cedars, redwoods (planted), and Douglas fir. There is a dense understory of salal, salmonberry, thimbleberry, Nootka rose, oceanspray, evergreen huckleberry, and sword ferns. Along the shoreline Dune ryegrass, Lynby's sedge and common rush were identified. FEMA and Watershed and Hydrologic Assessment Based on the Jefferson Critical Areas mapping (internet) the parcel is outside FEMA floodplains. There will be no modification to the floodplain or shoreline since all construction will be at least 60 feet landward from the OHWM and behind an existing structure. There will be no placement of fill on or near the shoreline. This parcel is mapped within the Squamish Harbor (WRIA 17). Surface stormwater drains directly towards Bywater Bay and then to Hood Canal in the same manner as the neighboring parcels Potential Impacts of Proposed Development • Permanent development impacts 232 sqft (building footprint); • Temporary impacts around addition during construction —200 sqft (calculated at 5 feet around building. All impacts are within the 150' shoreline buffer and behind the existing home. Since all construction is behind the house there will be no structural or visual impacts to the shoreline from this addition. No trees will be removed since the site is cleared of vegetation. There will be no long term effects or cumulative impacts from this development. Mitigation Plan Mitigation requirements have been prepared to meet the standards described in the Department of Ecology, Guidance on Wetland Mitigation in the State of Washington (2004 with updates). Replacement ratios vary according to intensity of impact and functions of buffers in landscape. All impacts will be temporary and confined to driveways and access area when possible This replacement will be greater than the 1:1 ratio, for the 232 sqft of impacts, over 300 sqft will be revegetated with native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species. The temporary impacts from construction will be reseeded with native grasses and covered with straw to prevent any sedimentation. This area of enhancement will exceed all functions and values of the existing Stephen Elliott Planting and Mitigation Plan Report File #2019-00905 2 September 2019 shoreline. Mitigation and native plants will be installed along the waterfront and within areas currently without trees or shrubs. Goals and Objectives • To build an addition in the least environmentally damaging location relative to the shoreline; • To diversify the site by planting native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species; • To mitigate the building footprint (232 sqft) with a greater than a 1:1 ratio; • To mitigate temporary construction impacts around the addition once the project is complete with native grasses; • To guarantee the success of the project through the voluntary maintenance and irrigation of planted species for at least 5 years until established; • To document compliance with the Mitigation Plan after construction and plantings are complete through, annual monitoring by client for 5 years; • To submit an "as built" report to Jefferson County DCD for the final building inspection. This report will confirm the implementation of this planting plan. Landscape Specifications Shoreline and Shoreline Access Scientific Name Common Name Size Spacing Location Quantity SgFt Holodiscus discolor Ocean -spray 2 al 5' shore 2 50 Mahonia a uifolium Shiny Oregon grape 1 gal 4' shore 4 64 Vaccinium ovatum Evergreen hucklebe 2 gal 4' shore 4 64 Ribes san uineum Red currant 1 al 5' shore 2 50 Pinus contorta Shore pine 1 gal 10' shore 1 100 13 plants 328 sqft Vegetation planting density is calculated at 20 to 25 sqft per shrub and 100 sqft for trees. Over 300 sqft will be revegetated with trees and shrubs that are listed for site restoration and coastal erosion control by the Department of Ecology. Over time, planted species will function as additional structural and habitat layers for wildlife. The site has healthy stands of native dune grass Leymus mollis that will quickly regenerate along the coastal mitigated areas. Around the final building footprint, it is recommended to spread a fast growing seed mixture that could include Red fescue Festuca rubra and Tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa. Other appropriate species include sword fern Polystichum munitum, and Coastal strawberry, Frageria chiloensis. Straw should be distributed on all bare soils until plants are established. Installation and Maintenance All plant material should come from healthy plants grown in containers. It is desirable to obtain plants that are adapted to this region and propagated in local nurseries. The use of appropriate native species ensures that ongoing maintenance is minimized once the plants are established. All new plantings must become established to successfully out -compete aggressive non-native species. It is recommended to install new plants in the fall so roots can become established during the winter. If planted in the summer they will require additional irrigation. Stephen Elliott Planting and Mitigation Plan Report File #2019-00905 3 September 2019 Nursery specimens should be planted in dense groupings. In general, shrubs should be planted 3' to 5' apart and herbaceous species 2 feet apart. Native plant design encourages grouping of species in clusters to mimic the natural surroundings, rather than in rows or grids. Installing mulch circles (bark, wood chips, compost) to 3" deep and a minimum of 3' in diameter around each shrub is recommended. Mulch circles help woody specimens become established by preserving moisture and reducing competition for nutrients from grasses. Success rates of a restoration project are greatly improved when commercial tree protectors are installed. Irrigation may be required for the success of planted species through the dry summer months. If the planted species appear to be stressed in the summer months, they must be irrigated. Shrubs may require a minimum of 1 inch of water per week or 2 inches every two weeks from July thorough September. Hand watering would be appropriate for this project. No Net Loss This project will have No Net Loss of shoreline ecological functions or processes once the Mitigation Plan has been implemented. Overall conditions will be improved over time and will focus on species diversity, shoreline stabilization, and increased habitat value. There will be no marine shoreline impacts during construction. There will be equal or greater protection of the FWHCAs after this Planting and Mitigation Plan are complete. Practices That Contribute to No Net Loss ■ Revegetating over 300 sqft of shoreline buffer with trees, shrubs, and ground cover (ocean spray, Oregon grape, shore pine, red current, and evergreen huckleberry); • Retaining original site contours; • Removing invasive species which include Himalayan blackberry as identified during the September site visit. ■ Minimizing impacts to shorelines and buffers as outlined in 18.22.630 Residential Best Management Practices (BMP); Monitoring Voluntary monitoring will determine whether the performance standards identified in this Planting and Mitigation Plan are met. The proposed length of time for mitigation compliance is 5 years. This time period will allow for the planted and volunteer native species to become established. Enhancement will be considered successful if the shoreline buffer plantings meet the following criteria: • Survivorship of installed shrub species is expected to be 100% after the first growing season. All plants that do not survive the first year should be replanted. • Survivorship of installed tree and shrub species is expected to be 80% from year 2 through year 3. Species will be replanted until the monitoring period is complete. • This Mitigation Plan is considered successful if 80% or greater of desirable cover is achieved and the plants are healthy and vigorous during the third year of monitoring. Desirable species also include volunteer native trees and shrubs. • No more than 10% invasive species should be present at any time during the monitoring process. Non -desirable species include Scot's broom, English ivy, and Himalayan blackberry. Stephen Elliott Planting and Mitigation Plan Report File #2019-00905 4 September 2019 Summary Construction for the 232 sqft addition within the 150' shoreline buffer will be mitigated by planting over 300 sqft of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous species. Invasive species on the site will be removed and controlled. Planting will be along the shoreline where there is minimal vegetation, along the access path, and around the final footprint of the addition. This Planting and Mitigation Plan lists species that will adapt to shoreline condition; substitutions from the plant list can be made if they are native species and not cultivars. Stephen Elliott will submit all mitigation areas and planting plan locations. There will be a No Net Loss of ecological functions or adverse effects to shoreline processes due to this construction when the project and mitigation are complete. To guarantee completion of the revegetation project an "as built report" will be submitted to Jefferson County DCD. Voluntary annual monitoring and maintenance for five years is recommended to guarantee the long-term success of this mitigation project. Limitations The final authority over approval of this No Net Loss and Mitigation Plan will be Jefferson County Department of Community Development. Jurisdictional authority over shorelines rests with the local, state and federal agencies. If there are further questions or planning requirements for this project, please do not hesitate to call. Respectfully submitted, Dixie Llewellin Principal Biologist, Olympic Wetland Resources, LLC. Certified for Wetland Delineation, WTI, 1995 Certified for Wetland Rating and Soil Analysis DOE, 2007, 2010, 2014 JEFFERSON COUNTY DCD Stephen Elliott Planting and Mitigation Plan Report File #2019-00905 5 September 2019