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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Report (036)Level I Wetland Assessment Donald and Jeanie Desnoyer Renier Road Marrowstone Island, WA May 2002 :.. : FEB 1I 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 future building projects. Description of Site · Description: Parcel # 977700087 Lots 6 and 7, and Parcel # 977700027 Lot 8 SEC4, TWN29, RGE 1E, (Map #!). · 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 Remer 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 single 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 g91-57 October 1991). This rating system assi~s a numerical value to any given wetland according to wetland size, quality of surrounding buffers, vegetation diversity, wetland types, and habkat 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 Asses~ment De,mover Report File Number 2002-8424 Ob~npic 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 must constitute greater than 51% of the total vegetation present to meet the qualification as a site dominated by hydrophytic vegetation. Dominance of plant species is determined by calculating actual 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 Wildlife Service (US~ 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 cover calculated. 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 Alnus rubra ~,lder FAC Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas- fir FACU Thuja plicata Westem red cedar FAC Tsuga heterophylla Hemlock FACU- Shrub Gaultheda shallon Salal FACU Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry FAC Salix lucida var. lasiandra Pacific willow FACW Sambucus racemosa Elderberry FACU Spiraea douglasii Hardback FACW Herbs Athyrum filix-femina Lady fem FAC Carex obnupta Slough sedge OBL IClaytonia lanceolata var. lanc Spdngbeauty FAC IOenanthe sarmentosa Water-parsley OBL IPolystichum munitum Sword rem FACU IRanunculus repens Creeping buttercup FACW Tellima grandiflora Fdngecup NI Trillium ovatum Tdllium FACU FEB 1 t 2004 UPL Upland Species FACU Facultative Upland Species/Non wetland :AC Facultative Species :ACW Facultative Wetland Species DBL Obligate Wetland Species NI No Indicator Assigned All plants have been classified according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands:1988 National Summary Level I Asses~xnent Demover Report File Number 2002-8424 Ol_wnpic Wetland Resources, Inc. 5/02 Soi/s A hydric soil is a soil that forms under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding lasting long enough during the growing season to result in an anaerobic upper layer. Hydfic soils favor the growth and regeneration ofhydrophyric vegetation. 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 hydfic 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 season". 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 ske. 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 delineation. Projects are exempt fi-om this rule, and can qualify for a waiver if the building envelope is greater 225 feet from the wetland edge. This Class I wetland would ordinarily have a 150- foot buffer, if the wetland were delineated. During 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 II hip chain. 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 call. Sincerely, Dixie Llewellin Principal Biologist, Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. Certified for Wetland Delineation, 1987 Manual. Wetland ]'raining Institute, June 1995. FEB 1 I 2004 Level I Assessment Deamover Report File Number 2002-8424 O13mapic Wetland Resources, Inc. 5/02 '~'~:~ -¢~ Olympic Wetland Resourm, Inc. ~'~. ~¢~i~ 856 5~ Sired "i:::]:~!~~ Pod lo, send, WA 98368 ? 360 385-6432 ., 1it~: Location and Soils Maps Donald and Jeanie Desnoyer Renier Road Marrowstone Island, Nordland WA Donald And Jeanie Desnoyer 23631 99th Pl. W. Edmonds, WA 98020 kaJm May 2002 _ ]$~2002-8424 ~hed #1 TOPO! map printed on 02/01/01 from "Puget, tpo" and "UntJtled,tpg" 122o44'00" W WGSB4 122o40'00" W Z z q. FEB 11 2004 Subject Property Z 122°44'00" W WGSEt4 122°40'00" W 0 1 2 3 4mil~ J,,,I,,, I,,, 1,,, l,,,J,,, 1,,,I, ,,l,,,l, ,,J,,, I,,,I,~,1,,,I,,,I,,,I ..... ~ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 ?lm~ Pzixtted from TOPO! @1999 Wildflower Prodactio~ (vmm~.topo.com) Parcel 977700087 Lot 6 Parcel 977700087 Lot 7 Parcel 977700027 Lot 8 Jefferson CounW Soil Survey page 46 · WhC Whidbey gravelly sandy loam Bk Belfast Silt Loam, Wet Variant (listed as hydric on Jefferson County list 1/91) I-~' -'~q:~? Olympic Wefland Resources, Inc. -~. ~!~,=~i 856 5~h ~ked '~?~¢~ Porf Tomend, WA 98368 '~:~'~' 360 385-6432 1 i i i Level I Assessment Donald and Jeanie Desnoyer Renier Road Marrowstone Island, Nordland WA Clienk Donald and Jeanie Desnoyer 23631 99th Pl. W. Edmonds, WA 98020 Scale: As Indicated May 2002 1o~ ~'2002-8424 Wetland Continues North #2 977700087 Lot 6 977700087 Lot 7 Potenti~ B~i___ 608.83 977700027 Lot 8 Parcel 977700087 Lot 6 Parcel 977700087 Lot 7 Parcel 977700027 Lot 8 This map does not represent a formal delineation; wetland edges are approximate.