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Home My WebLink About921042016 5-Year Monitoring Plan Mitigation Planting Plan Kevin Weed 1560 East Marrowstone Road Nordland WA Admiralty LandCare Richard R Hefley – Consulting Arborist – ISA#PN-0784A TRAQ Qualified Assessor PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road Nordland WA Page 2 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Arboricultural Assessment Client: Kevin Weed 1560 E. Marrowstone Road Nordland WA Author: Richard R Hefley Consulting Arborist Site Visit Date : 09/20/2021 Report Date : 09/27/2021 Page 3 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com SUMMARY: This Mitigation Planting Plan (MPP) calls for the replacement of five mature native conifers with a replanting of five nursery-grown native conifers at a 1:1 ratio in addition to an evergreen groundcover over a 1000 square foot area to replace the canopy coverage area lost, a critical component of achieving “no net loss of ecological function.” The MPP on page 5 shows the locations for the five conifers as well as the area to be covered in native evergreen groundcover. It also shows the locations of the removed conifers and the retained conifers. The selected trees should be at least 3’ in height and planted and maintained using current best management practices and ANSI A300 Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Management Standard Practices copyright 2012. I recommend the native conifers chosen be Tsuga mertensiana, Mountain Hemlock. I recommend this species because of the low light conditions on the south side of the mitigation area, the lack of space between the residence and the property line on the northern side, and their resistance to high winds. These trees are to be planted in these narrow east-west corridors to help mitigate stormwater flow towards the bluff. As they mature their root systems will help stabilize the area behind the crest of the current bluff. Another suitable native option would be a pendulous Alaskan Cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ or similar cultivar. This would satisfy the light and space restrictions for this area. The native groundcover planting is to be placed between the existing native ground covering along the crest of the bluff and the residence (see photos of area in Appendices). This area should cover approximately 1000 square feet and extend from the south to the northern property boundary. The purpose of this is to mitigate storm and groundwater from flowing over the bluff. The thousand square foot area was calculated using old aerial photos of the removed conifer canopy spread (1200 square feet), less 200 square feet to account for Salal which is currently extending naturally into the lawn area from the existing plants. These newly emerging plants are to be retained during the replanting process. The number of plants selected depends on the size of the available nursery containers. I recommend 4” containers be chosen, though these can be difficult to find in the Autumn season. If not available, 1 gallon pots will suffice. The number of 4” pots to cover 1000 square to an average density is to space them on 18” centers which will require 444. The number of 1 gallon pots spaced on a 36” center for average density is 111. The best native evergreen groundcovers are Gaultheria shallon (Salal), Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern) and Mahonia repens (Low Oregon Grape). Any species or combination of species is suitable. Monitoring and Performance Standard: Plants will be monitored for a five year period. They will be monitored twice yearly. Mulch must be maintained to the dripline of the new trees and throughout the planting bed. Watering should be performed as required (especially important from 06/15 – 09/15). Because this area is on a bluff, I recommend watering be done by hand. Excessive water on bluff crests can be detrimental to soil stability. All plants that do not survive the entirety of the first year following planting must be replaced. Page 4 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com For the four following years a survival rate of 90% of the newly installed plants is expected. If more than 10% fail, those numbers will be replaced until the 90% survival threshold is reached. Monitoring will consist of a plant inventory and photographic record of the site conditions. If problems are observed they will be communicated to those responsible for the maintenance of the mitigation planting. Site Preparation: To minimize soil disturbance near the bluff, I recommend sheet mulching be used to prepare the planting area. Sheet mulching consists of first setting a quickly biodegradable material such as cardboard over the area to be planted. This will cover the unwanted vegetation, in this case lawn grass, and lead to the death and decomposition of the unwanted material without having to cut into the soil to a depth of 6” to remove plants and roots. The decomposing grass shoots and roots will become a food source and additional 6” of planting bed depth in one year’s time. The biodegradable layer should then be covered with 4” of a sand/compost material topped with 2” of a bark/wood-chip mulch. Native plants should then be placed in this planting bed and thoroughly watered in. The biodegradable layer must not be cut; all new plant root systems should be on or above this layer, not cut through it. Care must be taken to not cover newly emerging Salal seedlings with the cardboard and compost. Bring the cardboard up to the stem edge of the plant and cover with wood chips for water retention purposes. Do not cover the seedling with compost. All planting should be done in accordance with ANSI A300 Tree, Shrub, and Other Wood Plant Management Standard Practices (Planting and Transplanting), copyright 2012. Page 5 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Removed Tree Mountain Hemlock/Alaskan Cedar Area to be mitigated with cover. Retained Tree New native vegetation bed. In 4” containers requires – 444 plants. In 1 gallon requires 111 plants. Page 6 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com WAIVER OF LIABILITY: The property owner is responsible for scheduling future examinations and/or recommended maintenance. The property owner is responsible for obtaining required permits from all concerned governing bodies from federal to state, county, city, and home owner associations. The property owner is responsible for obtaining and providing all applicable codes, covenants and restrictions (CC&Rs) that apply. The client shall hold the evaluator harmless for injuries or damages incurred if recommendations are not heeded or for acts of nature beyond reasonable expectations such as severe winds, excessive rain, heavy snow loads, ice, earthquakes etc. This report and all attachments, enclosures and references are confidential and intended for the use of the client referenced above. They may not be reproduced, used in any way or disseminated in any form without the consent of the client and Richard Hefley – Consulting Arborist. Richard R. Hefley Consulting Arborist 360-385-2921 rkhefley@olypen.com PO Box 177 101 Reinier Road Nordland WA 98358 Page 7 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com APPENDICES Photo #01 Looking south from north border of property. Rope and green flags denote the extent of the proposed new plantings. The landscape bed in this section (blue line) is three feet deep. Page 8 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Photo #02 Looking north from south border of property. New plantings to be placed within the roped and green flagged area. The blue line is at the edge of the existing dripline, approximately six feet from the established vegetation. Some of the established vegetation in this area is invasive English Ivy (Hedera helix) which should be mitigated by pulling wherever possible. Page 9 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Photo #03 New Salal are emerging from the rhizomes of the established native area. These plants have a much higher likelihood of survival than new seedlings and, where possible, be retained in lieu of. Page 10 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Photo #04 The mid-point of the planting. The line of plantings should roughly correspond to the existing line of established native vegetation, though extended out from 3’ to 15’ from the established plants (eliminate the grassy “bays” cut into the established vegetation). Blue line is approx. 15’ Page 11 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Photo #05 The smallest distance from the established vegetation should be at least three feet (note white rope as the ‘new’ line of planting). This is at the northern end of the property. Page 12 of 12 Admiralty LandCare -Richard R. Hefley, Consulting Arborist – ISA #PN-0784A – TRAQ Qualified Assessor - 360-385-2921 – PO Box 177, 101 Reinier Road - Nordland WA. 98358 - rkhefley@olypen.com Photo #06 Note the new salal plants emerging in the grassy area. These plants should be retained within the new plantings. As such, areas that possess new Salal at the time of the mitigation planting should NOT be covered with sheet mulching, though bark will be helpful provided it does not cover the emerging plants.