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Home My WebLink About70- Appellant Ex 9 Diane Brewster CV Diane has over 30-years’ experience providing consulting services for wetlands and riparian ecosystems, environmental documentation, and permitting assistance to a broad cross-section of clients in the Puget Sound Area. She started her own business, Touchstone EcoServices in 2006. Diane has provided expert testimony regarding wetland issues in King and Snohomish Counties and demonstrated expertise in wetland delineation and functional performance assessment, development and implementation of cost-effective wetland and riparian mitigation plans, wetland monitoring, and agency negotiation. Her skill has been gained through roles as project manager or lead biologist where wetlands are present in support of road, residential, commercial, and industrial developments; park improvements, and wetland mitigation banking projects. Her clients include government agencies, utilities, airports, educational institutions, commercial firms, developers, and non-profit groups in 10 counties throughout Washington. Beginning in 2004, she has worked on a long-term Woodland Detention System project at Green River College to assess natural habitats, design mitigation plans for impacts associated with a 3-part berm/weir system along wetland and stream habitat, assist with permitting, and long-term monitoring to assess wetland hydroperiods, native plant mitigation success, surrounding forest health, water quality, and downstream erosion. Technical Expertise: Wetland, stream, and riparian reconnaissance and delineation Wetland functional performance assessment 3rd-party review of wetlands for local jurisdictions Critical area reports Mitigation design (creation, restoration, enhancement) and monitoring plans for wetlands and riparian areas Mitigation installation oversight, annual monitoring and reporting Environmental Documentation including Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA), State Environmental Protect Act (SEPA) checklist and EIS, and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) environmental assessment checklist. Permitting assistance with local critical area regulations, state administrative rules, and the federal Clean Water Act Section 404 Native habitat restoration and exotic/invasive species control Employment History: Senior Wetland Ecologist/Owner, Touchstone EcoServices 2006 - present Senior Wetland Ecologist, Landau Associates, Inc. 2002-2006 Senior Wetland Ecologist, Cooke Scientific Services 1998-2002 Wetland Ecologist, Pentec Environmental 1994-1995 Wetland Ecologist, Sheldon and Associates, Inc. 1991 Wetland Ecologist, David Evans and Associates, Inc. 1989-1990 Wetland Ecologist, Shapiro and Associates, Inc. 1987-1989 Wetland Ecologist, Pierce County Planning and Development 1987 Wetland Ecologist, Thurston Regional Planning Council 1986-1987 Select Project Experience: Villages MPD Plat Appeal, Black Diamond, WA, 2019. Worked with Save Black Diamond and its appeal of Phase 2A of the development. Reviewed project reports for wetland delineation, wetland mitigation plans, and stormwater plan. Provided expert testimony regarding lack of adequate wetland hydrology studies to ensure maintenance of current wetland hydroperiods following diversion of stormwater into a detention basin and releasing only flood waters to the wetlands. Testimony resulted in the requirement for additional hydrology monitoring, amending detained water releases to wetland, and providing additional calculations to show wetlands will continue to provide all water quality, flood attenuation, and habitat functions. Paine Field Wetland ERR Appeal, Snohomish County, WA. 2016. Worked with the Sno-King Watershed Council in its appeal of the Wetland ERR project that would have converted a high value wetland into a detention pond in violation of County Codes. Diane verified previous wetland delineation, conducted wetland ratings, and identified Diane Brewster 7424 S 129th St. Seattle, WA 98178 Cell Phone: (206) 251-9536 Office Phone: (425) 226-6429 Email: touchstoneeco@gmail.com Professional Wetland Biologist Exhibit 70 Page 0886 Exhibit 70 immediate- and long-term impacts to wetlands due to both the use of wetland for detention and an unpermitted 6-acre parking lot adjacent to the site. Prepared report on incorrect wetland rating, loss of wetland habitat due to inadequate mitigation plan, and potential for downstream flooding of homes. Used Ecology’s Wetland Debit/Credit Methodology to show the proposed mitigation would not replace lost functions and values. This, along with identification of stormwater issues by others, resulted in the airport withdrawing its SEPA determination and a citizen Clean Water Act lawsuit $160,000 settlement against the County. Green River College Woodland Stormwater Detention, Auburn, Washington. 2005 to present. Lead biologist for stormwater design that uses existing wetlands to detain stormwater and improve water quality while also retaining native vegetation and alleviating degradation of a creek. Project goals were to create a series of detention ponds within a forested wetland/upland complex to gain stormwater storage credits for future improvements on campus. Provided guidance regarding state, federal, and local critical areas permitting issues, conducted initial site meetings with state and federal agencies to confirm the woodland concept was environmentally sound and a viable stormwater solution. Delineated wetlands in and adjacent to project area, provided guidance regarding state-required limits on changes to wetland hydroperiods per Washington State Department of Ecology’s 2005 Stormwater Manual. Worked closely with project team and college staff during project planning to address hydrologic constraints for changes to wetland flood depth, duration, and frequency. Wrote the Wetland Delineation Report, Wetland Impact Analysis and Proposed Mitigation Report, Wetland Monitoring Plan, and Significant Tree Monitoring Plan; and assisted with JARPA preparation. Permits and authorizations were obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the City of Auburn, and the Muckleshoot Tribe. Supervised installation of berms, weirs, and wetland vegetation mitigation planting. Co-wrote technical guidance for long-term annual field monitoring of wetland mitigation vegetation and hydroperiods, significant tree health, water quality, downstream erosion, and berm/weir stability. Currently providing technical guidance for annual monitoring and reporting carried out by the college, and providing contingency plans to meet all performance standards. Third Party Review of Sound Transit’s Sensitive Area Study and Mitigation Plan, Tukwila, WA. 2004. Reviewed the Tukwila Freeway Route (TFR) Light Link Rail Sensitive Areas Study for Wetlands and Streams at the request of the City of Tukwila. Reviewed 17 wetlands and four streams areas within and adjacent to the proposed TFR alignment; reviewed proposed project impacts to wetlands, streams, and their buffers; and the proposed conceptual mitigation plans. Evaluation was based on information gathered during site visits and review of agency regulations including the city, Department of Ecology, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the King County Shoreline Management Plan. Provided comments and recommendations regarding the city’s sensitive areas and shoreline overlays, and the adequacy of the mitigation plan in meeting state and federal permitting requirements. Identified information gaps, and provided technical comments and specific recommendations to the city including details to avoid dewatering wetlands, indirect long-term impacts, and cumulative loss of functional performance. As a result, Sound Transit chose a new mitigation site that provided more beneficial improvements within the watershed for wetland functions including water quality improvement, flood storage, organic export, and wildlife habitat; and for stream bank stabilization functions. Third Party Review of Wetland-Related Reports for the Talus Development; Issaquah, WA. 2000. Managed and conducted third-party wetland verification of development submittals for this 150-acre urban village. Reviewed numerous mitigation designs associated with road alignments, recreational trail system, and residential development that affected wetlands, streams, and steep slopes. Reviewed a stormwater filtration system that utilized an existing wetland as receiving waters for cleaned stormwater runoff. Work was accomplished through meetings with City planners, the developer, project engineers and biologists; and by providing technical assistance at the City’s Stream and Wetland Review Board. Third-party review provided the City with information and recommendations that allowed the development to proceed and remain in compliance with critical areas regulations. Education:  Bachelor of Science, Environmental Studies, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA 1987 Professional Affiliations:  Certified Wetland Delineator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Member: Society of Wetland Scientists, Pacific Northwest Chapter  Member: Society for Ecological Restoration, Northwest Chapter  Member: Association of State Wetland Managers Exhibit 70 Page 0887