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Home My WebLink AboutLog201 e e Page 1 of 2 David W. Johnson From: Paul Anderson [panderson@parametrix.com] Sent: Friday, April 07,200612:42 PM To: David W. Johnson Cc: jparker@ jeffpud.org Subject: RE: Marrowstone, pdf w/250 buffer David: I am back in the office and should have the draft of the impact assessment report to you by close of business today. The area at Reef Road was delineated as OHWM, not wetland. This is the same rationale and methodology that we used at the causeway. The OHWM was flagged based on the presence of salt tolerant vegetation. Wetland data points (soils, vegetation, hydrology) were not established at Reef Road. Much of this wetland was inundated at the time of our site visit and the dominant species was pickleweed. As an estuarine wetland, it would be a Category I wetland with a iSO-foot buffer. I'm not c1eart if the HPA is required for the Shorline permit. For the current project, which does not include the causeway, an HPA will be needed for crossing the small Type 5 stream at Mystery Bay State Park. Obtaining an HPA for the stream crossing should be straightforward, particularly since the stream goes dry in the summer. An HPA will also be needed for crossing the causeway, when that phase of the project is permitted. Paul Paul S. Anderson Wildlife Biologist Parametrix, Inc. Email: panderson@parametrix.com Phone: (425) 458-6279 Fax: (425) 458-6363 >>> "David W. Johnson" <dwjohnson@co.jefferson.wa.us> 04/058:53 AM >>> I would like to have that assessment by Friday so I can work on the case this weekend. I'm assuming the assessment covers the wetland area at Reef Road? Since that's the only identified wetland within shoreline I need that information to finish the staff report. No staff report - no hearing. Please let me know if this is the case so I can reference that in my report. Also, I don't believe an HPA is necessary for the Shoreline permit- just the Conditonal Use - is that your understanding? From: Paul Anderson [mailto:panderson@parametrix.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 2:44 PM To: jparker@jeffpud.org Cc: David W. Johnson Subject: RE: Marrowstone, pdf w/250 buffer LOG ITEM #1-01 Page--L-ot 4- 4/8/2006 e e Parametrix ENGINEERING. PLANNING. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 411108th AVENUE NE, SUITE 1800 BELLEVUE, WA 98004-5571 T. 425 . 458 . 6200 F. 425 . 458 . 6363 ~""..paramctrix.COn1 February 1,2006 PMX No. 553-1820-010 02/01 David Johnson Jefferson County Department of Community Development 621 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, Washington 98368 Re: Delineation of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM), Marrowstone Island Water System (MLA 05-00276) Dear Mr. Johnson: I am writing to clarify the methodology used by Parametrix to delineate the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) during the 2005 wetland delineations for the proposed Phase 1 Marrowstone Island Water System. Parametrix biologists have attended OHWM determination training provided by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Coastal Training Program Washington 2004) and routinely apply this methodology in the field during wetland and OHWM delineations. Parametrix has been retained by Jefferson County Public Utility District Number 1 (PUD No.1) to identify wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas on or near the alignment of the proposed Marrowstone Island Water System. As you are aware, the water system will be constructed in phases and Phase 1 includes the installation of an 8-inch-diameter water main over the length of the island. South of Fort Flagler State Park, the main will be installed either along State Route (SR) 116 (in the bottom of the roadside ditch) or along county roads (in the road shoulder). The National Wetlands Inventory has mapped estuarine wetlands along much of the Marrrowstone Island shoreline (FWS 1987). In August 2005, Parametrix delineated four wetlands within the Phase 1 project area and also delineated the OHWM of marine waters along the southeastern shoreline of Mystery Bay and the SR 116 causeway joining Marrowstone and Indian Islands. Results of the delineations are described in the Phase 1 Wetland Delineation Report (Parametrix 2005), a copy of which has been provided to you. The OHWM determination methodology is based on guidance proscribed in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) ~172-22-030 (l1)(a)(ii), which defines the OHWM for low energy marine environments as the landward limit of salt tolerant vegetation. All of the delineated OHWM in the Phase 1 project area is found along low energy marine environments. Along the SR 116 causeway, the marine shorelines are well vegetated with salt tolerant species including Puget Sound gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia), fleshy jaumea (Jaumea camosa), and pickleweed (Salicomia virginica). Puget Sound gumweed is the dominant species along the SR 116 causeway and its landward limit was used to delineate the OHWM for Scow and Oak Bays. # Page, LOG 'TEfvl '1-0 ( 2- ot..:f.- e e David Johnson February 1,2006 Page 2 The OHWM of low energy marine environments and the landward edge (boundary) of estuarine wetlands are coincident as both are determined by the presence of hydrophytic vegetation that is salt tolerant. Estuarine wetlands extend waterward of the OHWM and may be regulated as wetlands as well as being within shoreline jurisdiction, but following the Ecology methodology, are typically regulated as part of the waterbody. If the waterbody is a designated water of the state (i.e. shoreline of the state, lakes greater than 20 acres in area, and streams with mean annual flow greater than 20 cubic feet per second) it would be subject to the provisions of the shoreline management program. The Jefferson County Shoreline Management Master Program (SMMP) applies to shorelands (all lands within 200 feet of the OHWM on waters of the state) and designates all marine waters of the county as shorelines of state-wide significance. Shorelands within the Phase 1 project vicinity are found along the eastern shore of Kilisut Harbor, southeastern shore of Mystery Bay, eastern shore of Scow Bay, and northern shore of Oak Bay (Parametrix 2005). W AC ~ 172-22-055 states that where wetland designations mapped under WAC ~ 172-22-060 conflict with the OHWM criteria, the criteria shall take precedence (conditions on the ground shall prevail). Estuarine wetlands greater than 5 acres in extent are classified as Category 1 wetlands in the Jefferson County Unified Development Code ([UDC] ~3.6.9; Ecology 1993), which require a ISO-foot buffer as specified in UDC Table 3-4 (UDC 3.6.9). In addition to being regulated as Category 1 wetlands, the estuarine wetlands along the Marrowstone Island shoreline would also be regulated under the SMMP, and the waters of Oak and Scow Bays are classified by Jefferson County as Type 1 Waters that are regulated as Fish and Wildlife Habitat Areas (FWHAs) (UDC 3.6.8a.(3)). The standard buffer for Type 1 streams (Waters) in Jefferson County is 150 feet (UDC Table 3.2). The installation of the Phase 1 water main will occur within the maintained road right-of-way (ROW) of SR 116 and county roads. When utilities are constructed within FWHAs, the UDC (~3.6.8e.(3)i.) recommends placement that follows existing or permitted roads. Along the SR 116 causeway, the Phase 1 water main will be installed by horizontal directional drilling (HDD). With HDD, the utility line is placed several feet under the sensitive feature by boring (drilling) beneath the feature, which minimizes the risk of disturbing the ground surface within the sensitive area, thereby reducing or avoiding the increased turbidity, soil disturbance, and vegetation clearing associated with open-trenching. HDD is the preferred construction method for utility installation in wetlands, streams, and waterbodies and normally, utility installation via boring requires no work within the OHWM (Cameron et al. 2002; Hair et al. 2002; Heffron 2004; Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2005). Installation of the Marrowstone Island Water System will not require the clearing of additional vegetation outside of the maintained ROW along SR 116 or county roads. The existing ROW on these roads is routinely and regularly maintained through mowing, vegetation removal, grading, and ditch excavation. These ongoing maintenance activities, and the proximity of the roadway, limit the habitat value of the maintained ROW for wildlife. Installation of the Marrowstone Island Water System will not appreciably alter the vegetation, and associated buffer functions, within the ROWand will have no effect on the ongoing maintenance of the ROW for road maintenance. If you have any questions, or require any further information, please contact me. Paul S. Anderson Wetlands Biologist/Project Manager Parametrix (425) 458-6279 LOG ITE"'. # ~L-, Page_ 3 of If e e David Johnson February 1, 2006 Page 3 References: Coastal Training Program Washington. 2004. How to determine the ordinary high water mark, course manual. Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mount Vernon, Washington. Ecology (Washington State Department of Ecology). 1993. Washington State wetlands rating system, western Washington. Second Edition. Publication Number 93-74. Olympia, Washington. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2005. Ontario Operational Statement Habitat Management Program: High- pressure directional drilling. Available online at the Municipal Engineers Association website: http://www.municipalengineers.on.calnewsinfo/db2file.asp?fileid=11944. Accessed October 14, 2005. FWS (US. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1987. National wetland inventory. Nordland, Washington quadrangle. Portland, Oregon. Hair, J., D. Cameron, C. Tammi, E. Steel, J. Schmidt and J. Evans. 2002. A comparative assessment of horizontal directional drilling and traditional construction techniques for wetland and riparian area crossings in natural gas pipeline rights-of-way. In: J.W. Goodrich-Mahoney, D.F. Mutrie, c.A. Guild (eds.). Environmental concerns in rights-of-way management: Seventh international symposium. Elsevier Science Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Heffron, M. 2004. Challenges associated with horizontal directional drilling and piping installation under a major highway for the remediation of a petroleum plume. Tetra Tech FW, Inc., Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Available online at: http://www.ttecLcom/Heffron2004.pdf. Accessed October 14,2005. Parametrix. 2005. Final Marrowstone Island Water System-Phase 1 Wetland Delineation Report. Prepared by Parametrix, Bellevue, Washington. November 2005. " LOG ITEM #- 20-1 Page .-!:LotEf