HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Report (057)
Wetlands Delineation and Ranking
Tax 19 located in the SWl/4 ofthe SWl/4 of Section 25 and the SE1/4 of the SEl/4 of
Section 26, Township 29N, Range 2W W.M., Jefferson County, Washington. Assessor's
parcel number 902 253 012 owned by Donald and Marsha Majors.
Produced for:
Mr. Steve Marble
Home Realty
P.O. Box 1708
Sequim, Washington 98382
'.~~~)-- '-,'.;
;JUL. :-
Produced by:
Dr. Kenneth M. Brooks
Aquatic Environmental Sciences
644 Old Eaglemount Road
Port Townsend, WA 98368
16 August, 2002
,..';j-
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Qualifications
3. Property Description
4. In-Office Survey
Soils
National Wetland Inve!1tory Map
5. Field Inspection Notes and Wetland Identification
6. Wetland Classification
7. Buffer requirements
8. Summary
References
~ ~ . ~; U L 2 7
Page
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
7
7
7
8
11
Wetlands Delineation and Ranking
Tax 19 located in the SW1I4 of th~ SW1I4 of Section 25 and the SE1I4 of the SE1I4 of
Section 26, Township 29N, Range 2W W.M., Jefferson County, Washington. Assessor's
parcel number 902 253 012 owned by Donald and Marsha Majors
1. Introduction. On August 10, 2002, Aquatic Environmental Sciences (AES) completed an
examination of property owned by Donald and Marsha Majors at the request of Mr. Steve
Mllrble. The property is located on the northwest side of West Uncas Road in Jefferson County,
Washington (Figure 1). Snow Creek borders the eastern and a portion of the .northern property
boundaries. In addition to this stream, the National Wetland Inventory Map (Figure 2)
describes an emergent, palustrine wetland that is seasonally flooded (PEMC) extending a short
distance into the northwestern comer of this property.
----------r--------------r--------------r
r I I
r I I
I I r
I I j!
I I f
I I' i J.
::; I /'-~J I ,<\ II]
--+--..c.. \ (R f ~~~
I I Ii: I ~~.
I 1 t:l l I ~ "'''<:ru..'VftlIY 4c
I I ,\ / I ~. ....~~~..~.
I \ \9/ ...+- o>t. ~:to.. ~
----------}----:..::;;'..7-~--j-}---~ > ' .
I ~'\ /'1
r.\l~ ([ I
L~1!q i ~
1 ~l I
I . '" I
I ~"r~
I I
I I
1'1
I I
---------~----------- ~~---
r ~ I
t ~ I
r I
I I
Majors Pro~erty-, -r::...
I - "'\I, ....,-
I 'r,1
I \ t.-..,
! :! \"
~t
,
I
I
I
I
I
" I
t>St.D-. I
t.~ I
_________t-____
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
!
!
.
.
l
.
.
AtC<tltlUA ,
\
I
.
.
\
Figure 1. Site map describing the location ofthe Majors' property on West Uncas Road in
Jefferson County, Washington State.
2. Author's Qualifications. Dr. Brooks is the owner of Aquatic Environmental Sciences. He
has a Doctorate in Marine Biology from the University of Washington School of Ocean
Sciences and Fisheries and was Director of the Fisheries Technology Program at Peninsula
College until January 1997. The author is a Qualified Level (I) and Level (II) wetland
consultant in Clallam County and has eleven years experience in delineating, constructing and
managing wetlands in western Washington. Wetland mitigation efforts include several major
projects approved by the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Agency and the
1
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - National Wetland Inventory. Other than Snow
Creek, the only wetland listed in this area is the southernmost extension of a larger PEMC
wetland lying north of this property (see Figure 2). ,
5. Field Inspection Notes. Wetlands were delineated on August 10, 2002 (Figure 3). The
meander channel of Snow Creek is well defined and the upper bank was distinctly identifiable
(Figure 4). In most areas it was three to four feet higher than the bottom of the meander channel
(Figure 5). Seven wire flags (MRSC-l through MRSC-7) were placed along the top of the west
side of Snow Creek's bank. Five additional flags (MRUR-l through MRUR.:6) were placed
along the boundary of the Class ill wetland located in the northwestern comer of the property
(Figure 3). Red surveyor's tape was placed as high in the brush or trees as possible to aid in
locating the wire flags. Wetland rating data forms and the Washington State Wetlands Rating
Field Data form are available on request from AES.
c
(f)
~
o
~
MROR4
902253000,
TAX a."
E.OF CRK:)
2.82 0.'
:.
26
35 36
Figure 3. Preliminary site map describing the approximate location of flags delineating
the bank of the meander channel of Snow Creek (MRSC - ) and a imger of a larger
wetland that enters the Majors' property from the north (MROR -). The actual bank lies
10 feet west of MRSC 2 and 20 feet west of MRSC 7. The bank was inaccessible at these
points because of dense blackberries (Rubus discolor).
3
Figure 4. Snow Creek meander channel adjacent to the Major's property on West Uncas
Road. The stream bank confining the channel is well dermed.
Figure 5. The bank containing Snow Creek's meander channel adjacent to the Major's
property is well defmed and generally covered with non-native blackberries (Rubus
discolor).
4
As seen in the National Wetlands Inventory Map (Figure 2), there is a large seasonally
wetted emergent palustrine wetland (pEMe) located north of this property. This wetland was
ditched at some point in the past (Figure 6). As seen in Figuree (7), outside the ditch, the plant
community is dominated by horsetails (Equisetum arvense) with a sparse understory of creeping
buttercup (Ranunculus repens), clumps of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea = F ACW),
other grasses, and several clumps of soft rush (Juncus effusus). The larger wetland lying to the
north is strongly dominated by soft rush (Juncus effusus). The entire wetland appears to have
historically been used for agricultural purposes and those uses continue. The wetland scored on
six (6) points in the Washington" State Wetland Rating system and is Category Ill. .". "
Figure 6. Ditch which effectively drains the Category m wetland lying along West Uneas
Road in the northwest corner of the Ma'ors' ro e in Jefferson County Washington.
Figure 7. Category ill wetland lying along West Uneas Road in the northwest corner of
the Majors' property in Jefferson County Washington.
5
Soils. Eight soil cores were examined. Soils to a depth of at least 18" were light sandy
loam characteristic of the Belfast series and no inclusions were observed. Figure (8) describes a
typical core from the upland areas where the matrix color (7.5 YR 6/4) extended to a depth of at
least 14 inches. Surficial soils in the wetland had relatively high chroma (75YR 4/3 to 7.5YR
3/3) and were lightly mottled (5YR 4/6 to 10.0YR 6/4) at depths of 6 to 8 inches. The evidence
of hydric soils was equivocal outside the area of the ditch, which appears to have effectively
drained this area.
Figure 8. Upland soil core taken from the Majors' property located northwest of West
Uncas Road in Jefferson County during a wetland delineation on August 10, 2002.
Hydrology. Saturated soils were not observed at any depth outside Snow Creek's
meander channel on August 10, 2002. However, a wet area was observed in the PEMC wetland
located north of the Major's property alongside West Uncas Road.
Vegetation. Wetland vegetation was dominated by field horsetail (Equisetum arvense =
F AC) with a sparse understory of creeping buttercup ( Ranunculus repens = F ACW), reed
canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea = F ACW), and other unidentified grasses. Several clumps
of soft rush (Juncus effusus = F ACW+) were present in the ditch but absent elsewhere on the
Majors' property. However, this species strongly dominates the larger contiguous wetland to
the northwest.
The pasture was dominated by orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata = F ACU), red and
white clover (Trifolium pratense and repens = F ACU and F ACU+), and cat's ear (Hypochaeris
radicata = UPL).
Snow Creek. This is a healthy Type 1 stream (personal communication from Jeff
Davis, WDFW). The stream flows through a well-defmed meander channel with an excellent
riffle - pool morphology created primarily by large organic debris. There is reasonable tree
cover shading the stream - but this could be improved - particularly on the west bank, where
the vegetation was dominated by Himalayan blackberries (Rubus discolor). The top of the bank
was marked using wire flags - the buffer was not marked as this would require mowing
transects through the very dense blackberry thickets growing on the bank.
6
6. Wetland Classification. The wetland located in the northwest corner of this property was
classified in accordance with the Washington State Department of Ecology Wetlands Rating
System - Western Washington (2nd edition, Publication #93-74). The area covered by the
wetland was estimated at> 10 acres using NWI maps. Continuing agricultural practices, the
lack of moisture during summer months, ditching, the presence of West Uncas Road and
isolation of the wetland from significant wildlife corridors or other aquatic resources resulted in
a score of o~y 6 p<?ints and a Category III designation in the rating system.
7. Buffer requirements. Table 3-2 in Jefferson Counties Unified Development Code
specifies a 150 foot buffer for Types 1 and 2 streams. No riparian wetlands were identified
outside Snow Creek's meander channel on this property. A 50' buffer will be required along
the boundary of the Class III Wetland located in the northwest corner of the property.
8. Summary. Snow Creek flows in a well-defined meander channel through this property. No
riparian wetlands were observed outside Snow Creek's meander channel through the Major's
property. In addition, there is a Class III PEMC wetland extending from the north into the
Majors' property along West Uncas Road. Excepting this wetland and Snow Creek's meander
channel, the entire property is fenced, gated and planted to orchard grass and clover pasture that
continues to be used for agricultural purposes. These continuing agricultural activities are
allowed under section 3.6.4.f.(I) ii of Jefferson Counties UDC.
Sincerely,
~.. r//. ~
4~~-
r. Kenneth M. Brooks
Aquatic Environmental Sciences
\.
7
....
0
0 ~dVi~~>'S
gAl>n(/)AI;:;j
onl"1
. , o~nAlAln"
?~ ~l"100a;o:t!
, ;;;; i::(/)~AI
... -"'tI"'tI 0-
(J) Zc:-~ (/)
() ~~.~ ~~~
0 Z~OOl~~~
- ;:j ZJ"V~AlO
(I) :!JOO"'tl ;ii~
~"''''c)AI-<(/).
l'Tl' (/) .
-l. ?Z -r----.. ~~~0l2~z
:: 0) / (/)'1 0
, ~2918:i!-I
0 Zc)CDc:l"1~
II o C:z "'tI..
~-I~"'tIAI
~>AI !Ol"1
-l. o:g~on~
- l"1l"1Z
0 l\) ~l'Tll"1'-I
AlO
0 0
0
VI
o
o
Ul
(.II
to.)
Ol
.380':1:
Ul to.)
Cl (.II
~~~~ m
s;:!O>Z ",
;:;j~;:;j2Z
o>.~~ 0
o~~~:I:
Z(;)~O !:
~;!;l"1~>
!a.~~~ :0
>~~Vi"
f;i-< ..,
~g~~ Z
. Z 0
~18~ ~
OO(/)
_AI:!:
(/);;!z ..
;:je>
Sl~
c....-l
1":'1)>
'"rJX
'"rJ
rrt-o
:::0)>
V):::o
0(')
Zrrt
~ r
~ (')
~ 0
c
":I:j.. .
a=:oz
l>>,;-l
"1 -<
(j
1-"
~
t::l
o
~
~
to-'
~
~
t'=j
q:)~
~~
;:; ~ t::l
oZ
Z t::l . t"'"4
'"'dO
~('i
0>
~j
jooooojO
E;jz
~
a=:
~
'--0.
o
"1
00
:E=:/:I:::
)>(0
(J)O
:eN
-N
Zc.n
c;)
-l VI.
00
Z-"'
N
~
[ f ~
...
~Vi~~jZI~
l"1n.z>\<"'tI
..,c:e>-ICSAl
5?ill"1"'t1~~
Ol'Tl>'~~'
OZ (/);:j.... ,
'"j?~o~~
-<--<,zAI-I
. n-< ,
>o~~z
(/)'T1~"'tIl'Tl
~ ~ l"1't ~
8Vi5o'"
-C-I' l"1
Zz r
l"1 >
> >. >. e>
AI "'tI "'tI AI
l"1 "'tI "'tI 0
> AI AI c:
~ ~ ~ e
:!: "'tI l"1 ~
iT1 AI ~. l"1
~ S6 ~'<~
-< l"1 Z ::l
CD ~ e> ~
AI -< ..,
. c: l"1
(/) C Z
:!: ~ ~
"'tI
5
-I
I;j
~
Z
C
o >.
l"1 "'tI
Z "'tI
;:j ~
~ ?<
o n
~ ~
? ~
>.
Z 5
o n
>.
;:j
o
Z