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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLevel I Wetland Assessment 977700027Level I Wetland Assessment Donald and Jeanie Desnoyer Renier Road Marrowstone Island, WA May 2002 Introduction At the request of Donald Desnoyer, Dixie Llewellin of Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. conducted a Level I assessment on May 20, 2002 of his three lots on Marrowstone Island. The goal of the assessment was to define wetlands and determine any restrictions to furore building projects. : . ~ . j FEB 11 2004 :.., : .. ~ . ·: ._ - ~!;' "~'.2. "',:'- :- ~.. .. . ~ Description of Site · Description: Parcel # 977700087 Lots 6 and 7, and Parcel # 977700027 Lot 8 SEC4, TWN29, RGE 1E, (Map #1). · Location: Marrowstone Island Off east Marrowstone Island Road to Renier Road east. The 12.95 acres is divided in to 3 rectangular parcels. The subject property is bound to the west by an un-named platted road and to the east by a gravel easement that currently provides access to adjacent waterfront lots. The southern boundary is the continuation of Renier Road and falls on private property. The northern boundary is forested. The majority of the property consists of large trees with a dense understory of native shrubs and herbaceous plants. Wetlands were identified on the eastern boundary of the property and water was ponded in three distinct pools adjacent to the access road. For the entire length and along both sides of the road, wetland vegetation was identified; ditches with water connected the separated ponds. This system qualifies as~a sin~e wetland. Although this wetland was not formally classified it qualifies as a Class I wetland according to the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) Wetland Rating System (publication ~g)1-57 October 1991). This rating system assigns a numerical value to any given wetland according to wetland size, quality of surrounding buffers, vegetation diversity, wetland types, and habitat value. Wetlands are rated as entire systems and quite often exceed project boundaries; this wetland extends beyond the three parcels. A wetland with a forested class greater than one acre automatically qualifies as a Class I wetland. A wetland classification and delineation was conducted in 2001 for Ann Klemp, the owner of the neighboring property to the south. This wetland was classified as a forested Class I wetland as well. The wetland was most likely one system prior to the extension of Renier road. Methodology Wetland boundaries are identified according to the methodology outlined in the Washington State Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual (Department of Ecology g96-94). Chapter 173-22 of the Washington Administrative Code requires that all wetlands within the State of Washington be delineated using this manual The methodology outlined in the Washington State Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual requires examination of the three parameters for a positive wetland determination: hydric soils, Level I Assessment Desnoyer Report File Number 2002-8424 Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. 5/02 hydrophytic vegetation, and hydrology. For an area to qualify as a jurisdictional wetland it must have a positive indicator from all three parameters. All wetlands identified using this methodology may be federally regulated, regardless of size. · . Vegetation Wetland plant species nmst constimm greater than 51% of the total vegetation present .to meet the qualification as a site dominated by hydrophydc vegetation Dominance of plant species is determined by calculating aclxml aerial cover within a 30-foot radius for trees, a 10-foot radius for shrubs, and a 6- foot radius for the herbaceous layer at each data point. Commonly occurring plant species have been rated by the United States Fish and W'fldlife Service (USFW) National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: Northwest (Region 9) as to their frequency of occurrence in wetlands and non-wetlands. During the fieldwork, each species was recorded, given a rating based on indicator status and percent Table 1 presents a partial list of vegetation identified on the property Scientific Name Common name Status Trees Abies grandis Grand fir FACU Acer macrophyllum Big-leaf maple FACU &lnus rubra Alder FAC :Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas- fir FACU Thuia plicata Western red cedar FAC Tsuga heteroph¥11a Hemlock FACU- Shrub Gaultheda shallon Salal FACU Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry FAC Salix lucida var. iasiandra Pacific willow FACW Sambucus racemosa Elderberry FACU Spiraea douglasii Hardhack FACW Herbs Athyrum filix-femina Lady fem FAC Carex obnupta Slough sedge OBL Claytonia lanceolata var. lanc Spfingbeauty FAC Oenanthe sarmentosa Water-parsley OBL Polystichum munitum Sword fern FACU Ranunculus repens Creeping buttercup FACW Tellima grandiflora Ffingecup NI Trillium ovatum Trillium FACU ]UPL Upland Species 'FACU Facultative Upland Species/Non wetland FAC Facultative Species FACW Facultative Wetland Species OBL Obligate Wetland Species NI No Indicator Assigned Ail plants have been classified according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. National Ust of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands:1988 National Summary FEB I 1.2004 · .-.. f-. . "-c r. ~"-.--",k..~:':-'- ~ :, .-= - :..' t' .,..- :, ~... .. -.. . .. .... .. ..... ~.~ Level I Assessment Desnoyer Report File Number 2002-8424 Olympic Wetland Reso~, Inc. 5/02 Soils A hydric soil is a soil that forms under conditions of saturation, flooding, or p°nding lasting long enough during the growing season to result in an anaerobic upper layer. Hy .dr_ic soils favor the growth and regeneration ofhydrophyfic vegetafio~ The indicators for this type of soil include low chroma, mottles, gleying~ and high organic content within the upper 32 inches of the soil profile. Holes were dug on the site and soil colors indicated hydric conditions with very dark brown to black coloration. Orange mottling was also seen in many locations. Soil colors were analyzed using the Munsell Color Charts (1992). The Jefferson County Soil Survey map, indicating soils found on subject property, is included at the end of this report (Map # 1). Hydrology Wetland hydrology is defined in the Washington State Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual as "areas that are periodically inundated or have soils saturated to the surface at some time during the growing mn". Water only needs to be present 20 days of the growing season for an area to qualify as a wetland. The growing season is defined by the Jefferson County soil survey as March 12 to November 25. Hydrology must be present for 12.5% (20 days) of these 258 days. The growing season is defined by soil temperature at 19.7 inches below the soil surface to be higher than biological 0 (5° C, or 40° F). Ponding and saturated soils were common in the eastern portion of the site. Determining Wetland Edges and Buffers Wetland edges are determined by establishing two data points: one within the wetland which contained positive indicators of all three of the wetland requirements: soils, hydrology, and vegetation, and another data point outside the wetland, where one or all of the requirements were not present. Hydric soils, wetland vegetation, and hydrology were observed along the western boundary. As required by Jefferson County Unified Building Code (January 2001) all building projects near a wetland require a wetland delineatio~ Projects are exempt t~om this role, and can qualify for a waiver if the building envelope is greater 225 feet bom the wetland edge. This Class I wetland would ordinarily have a 150- foot bufferCifthe wetland were delineated. EkMng this site visit the wetland edge closest to the proposed building envelope was identified. It was defined by soil color and vegetation changes. The distance between this edge and the proposed building envelope was measured using a Chainman Il hip chair~ The distance to the site was greater than 225 feet and is well outside the buffer area. Findings are indicated on the enclosed map (Map #2). If there are further questions or planning requirements for this project please do not hesitate to Sincerely, Dixie Llewellin Principal Biologist, Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. Certified for Wetland Delineation, 1987 Manual. Wetland Training Institute, June 1995. : ~ -i :- '-.: FIB 11 2004 '~ - ~'_, .! .:- - ,' .... Level I Assessment Desnoyer Report File Number 2002-8424 Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. 5/02 ~-' lilt~ Location and Soils Maps ~,k ~ - x~ ,~ 0~m~c W,}]0~ Rt~0urrt~, I~. Donald and leanie Desnoyer [ Renier Road 8~ 50~ ~ee[ Marrowstone Island, Nordland WA .May 2002 . #1 ~'~r ~0a 10~,~, ~ ~898 ~. r>o~a ~,nd Jeanie Z)esnoyer ~' ]60 385~432 23631 99th Pl. W. ~ ~'2002-8424 . I¥ oa s, TOPO! map printed on 02/01/01 from "Puget, tpo" and "UnUUed,tpg" 122044'00'' W WGS04 122°40'00'' W Z Z 122°44'00" W WGS84 122040'00" W 0 1 2 3 4~ I. ',,~,,,L !,,.I,.,' :,,,I.,.:,..i,.,' ~,,,:,,,',,I,,,~ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 ?km Pzi~ed from TOPOI ~1999 Wgdflower Pa:dactim~ (vrww. topo.com) Subject Property Parcel 977700087 Lot 6 Parcel 977700087 Lot 7 Parcel 977700027 Lot 8 _~ Jefferson County Soil Survey page 46 · Bk Belfast Silt Loam, Wet Variant 0isted as hydri¢ e~ Sefferson County list 1/91) '~ lit~ Level I Assessmem kaita ~h~ 'N~. '~ 0~m~c ~,nd Re,0orc~, Inc. DonMd ~d Je~e Desnoyer As Mdicated ~}~ Re~er Road 8~ 5~ ~e~ Ma~owstone Isled, Nordl~d WA May 2002 ~2 ?~ ~0d 10mind, ~l ~8168 fli~ DonMd ~d Je~e Desnoyer ~' g0 ~85.64~2 23631 9~ Pl. W. l~ ~2002-8424 if onds, WA 977700087 Lot 6 977700087 ~ .m ~ Lot 7 ~-- ~ 9777~027 Potenfi~ Buli m ~8.83 ~ -- Vetland Continues North Parcel 977700087 Lot 6 Parcel 977700087 Lot 7 Parcel 977700027 Lot 8 This map does not represent a formal delineation; wetland edges are approximate.