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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLog013 . . WILDLIFE REpORT . ._".. ",,".~!3. -'~~"'~""'''''---:''''"'''''''':':G';,'o,<,;"":_~c,,,_,-_ ".~l" ,. . . . Michael Lee Landscape Architect 1904 Third Avenue #415 Seattle, Washington 9810 1 Phone: 206,749.9508 Fax: 206,749,0446 mlla@mindspring,com DISCOVERY BAY GOLF CLUB Supplemental Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat Report for the Planned Rural Residential Development April 2005 INTRODUCTION This is a supplement to the original Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat Report of 1993 for the expansion of the Chevy Chase Golf Course. That expansion was completed in 1997. This current supplement addresses the proposed residential development being proposed. for what is now called the Discovery Bay Golf Club. Since the 1993 report, the golf course has been expanded to an 18 holes facility and some stands of emergent (third or fourth growth) forest adjacent to the golf course have been thinned by logging. The current golf course is located on approximately 120 acres of the 200 plus acre property. Most of the far northeast and western portions of the site are in a relatively undisturbed natural condition as is a fairly large corridor of natural vegetation which extends north south throughout the length of the site and is only partially broken. The proposed residential development would create 48 residential units grouped into four neighborhoods. Three of these neighborhoods would be built into the emergent forests around the golf course. The fourth neighborhood will be built in presently undisturbed forest on the northeast corner ofthe property. Residential roads will be constructed along with the required utility infrastructure installed to each of these neighborhoods. SUMMARY The Discovery Bay PRRD will entail the opening or removal of some existing stands of vegetation, since the individual neighborhoods will be built into already thinned forest, much of the forest canopy has already been opened and a fairly dense shrub layer has emerged in these woodlands. Thus the impacts are more related to the removal of some under story vegetation which provides habitat to certain animal species none of which are rare or endangered in the area. 1 L()G p,~::;;:--~----" (.,."'..,,~ '" """"""" ("",":2.' , ',."f . .. . ~,., ~Ai "rr~, ~""""" . . The list of plants and animals compiled for the original 1993 Chevy Chase wildlife habitat report lists no rare or endangered species but does contain three priority species sighted in the vicinity; bald eagle, great blue heron and wood duck. The site contains a Class I Wetland in the northeast portion which will be protected by a 150 foot buffer of relatively mature vegetation. This wetland complex is connected by a linear tract of forest that runs north south through the site eventually connecting with an intact forested area in the southwest portion of the site all of which are being preserved and restored, Installation of the roads, infrastructure, homes, and other related site improvements would likely disrupt wildlife temporarily in those areas where construction is occurring, Loss of natural vegetation and increased human activity may discourage some species from returning. Several of the objectives of the Discovery Bay PRRD will serve to mitigate the potential negative impacts on wildlife habitat from this development, which are: . Protection of vegetation during construction . Establishment of vegetative buffers around developments and individual properties . Restoring native vegetation to connect wildlife corridors . Landscape plantings entirely of native species . Preservation of natural drainage courses with storm runoff carried above ground where possible and retained onsite . Preservation of wetlands on the northeast and the large forest tract on the southwest and the connecting corridor . Minimal landform alteration preserving site soils, grades and drainage to minimize impacts to vegetation . Design and management principles mandating landscape and maintenance practices that minimize human impact and encourage healthy diversity VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE The lists of plants and animals found or expected on the site are essentially the same as those of the original 1993 report. The major habitat changes since then involve the thinning of the west and north areas immediately adjacent to the golf course. These areas are now vegetated as follows: · Between Fairways #10 and #12 is now a thinned forest of mostly 6-12 in. diameter douglas fir 30-60 ft. tall with a considerable regeneration of Madrona, western red cedar and various understory shrubs. · West of Fairway # 10 is the largest tract of dense, undisturbed forest on the property, still as described in the original report. douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, grand fir and maple 70-100 ft. tall shelter a rich understory of shrubs, ferns and herbaceous plants, This forest stretches from the golf course parking area to the northwest corner of the property, along Cape George Road. Parts of the west edge of . Fairway #10 are rather wet and support patches of Juncus and canary grass. 2 ~'''''' --J? f""4"~',"~"i'::,' S~", C\;;;:;,',"_ of ~ - --------. -9 . . . · Northeast of Fairway #12 is a thinned forest primarily of western red cedar with some Douglas fir, a few to heights of 50-80 ft. but most much smaller. In the considerable open spaces is a fairly thick shrub layer of willows, flowering currant, salal, Oregon grape, sword fern, buffaloberry, rhododendron, snowberry, evergreen honeysuckle, oceanspray, Rubus spp. and young madronas. · Separating # 12 and # 13 and continuing along the left side of 14 is the intact forest corridor which traverses the length of the site and which will remain undeveloped with the exception to the trail which is aligned over a former logging access road. · West of Fairway #11 is a thinned forest of young Douglas fir and western redcedar with understory of oceanspray, salal, willow, cherry, bracken and grasses. The southwest portion of this is denser and also supports madrona and rhododendron, with openings dominated by herbaceous species and snowberry. · East of Fairway #18 is a thin forest and brush community. Parts are rather wet, dominated by redcedar, alder, salmonberry and spiraea. This community grades into a drier zone of young Douglas fir, grand fir, hemlock and willow with thickets of oceanspray, currant, Rubus spp., red elderberry, snowberry and sword fern. · Between Fairways #14 and #17 is a rather wet zone dominated by alder, redcedar and grand fir with considerable redtwig dogwood, Piper willow, Juncus, salmonberry, horsetail and a few cattails. There was no standing or flowing water there at the time of our November visit. · Between Fairways #15 and #16 is a moist forest of small hemlock, redcedar. salmonberry, willow and alder. There are open areas filled with herbaceous species. · North of Fairway #16 is a moist forest of small redcedar, alder, willow, salmonberry, blackcap, osoberry and nettle. This connects to the moist woodland and wetlands to the north and east, which are still undisturbed. · West of Fairway #15 is a thin forest of maple, alder, redcedar and grand fir with understory of Oregon grape, salal, oceanspray, osoberry, snowberry, thimbleberry, red elder, sword fern, Scouler willow and nettle. Here and in similar places on the property, manzanita, not seen in 1993, has appeared in the now-sunny understory. · Southwest of Fairway #15 is a very open community of young Dougas fir, redcedar and madrona with rhododendron, salal, red huckleberry, blackcap, Oregon grape, oceanspray and alder. Western hemlock is regenerating heavily in the understory. · West of Fairway #14, the vegetation is mostly cleared. It is surrounded by areas of brushy growth and there is considerable regeneration of alder, madrona, willow and redcedar. · The northeast comer of the property, site of the proposed 16-unit neighborhood, is a dense forest of Douglas fir with alder, Scouler willow, Nootka rose, snowberry, rhododendron and salal. This well-drained site grades into wetland on the west and south where there is a stream with ponds and associated wetland vegetation. PRIORITY SPECIES The following animal species are listed by Jefferson County as likely to use the Discovery Bay site based on regional sittings and the presence of available habitat. They are: 3 LOG #:..... I~ P:::'!g(~)~Of - ~ _ ~9 . . . Van Dyke salamander Dunn's salamander Vaux's swift bufflehead snow goose northern goshawk bandtailed pigeon pileated woodpecker purple martin western gray squirrel The Washington Department ofFish and Wildlife also continues to list the following as Priority Species: great blue heron wood duck bald eagle IMPACTS ANALYSIS The residential developments proposed for the Discovery Bay Golf Club property cause the removal or alteration of some plant communities along with increased human activity in areas where little human activity occurred, Please refer to Table 1 which quantifies the existing condition of the site as well as the changed condition. The amount of habitat depletion during construction has more of an impact on wildlife than post construction when animal species now using the site will likely use it less or not at all during this phase of the project. After all construction is complete and landscape plantings have grown in, some populations may reestablish and could even increase. The changes expected from the proposed developments and their likely impacts on wildlife are: . Interruption of wildlife corridors. Development may break up the vegetation fabric and discourage the movement of animals on their accustomed routes. This may affect mainly the larger mammals. Some, such as bears, may be discouraged from using the site at all. Others, such as deer, coyote and racoons, might adapt and possibly increase their populations after the new neighborhoods are built and inhabited. . Removal of foraging areas for species prefering a mixed shrub/ tree vegetation. The current state of most of the land slated for development is a mix of scattered tall trees and a rich shrubby understory. This diversity of plant types and forms is attractive to a wide variety of animals for foraging. Some ofthose that have moved into these altered woodlandsmay find their habitat broken up and diminished by development and may largely or competely leave the site. . Soil compaction during construction, Construction activity, especially during the rainy season, might alter soil texture and may injure roots of surrounding vegetation by mechanical injury and suffocation. . Reduction in size of vegetation tracts. Breakup of the vegetation cover by construction might make the built areas less suitable to many animals. Most species have minimum space requirements for foraging and nesting. . Disruption to wildlife by human activity, The noise, odors and movement of 4 ---_.~ S r.,t *1 __ \..i; I --'-'-.c -------. - 9 2005 . . . people, their vehicles, machinery and pets may disturb some animals enough to cause them to leave the site. Others may have lower rates of reproduction, Pets may prey on wild animals. . Greater disease and mortality among native plants due to human disturbance, drainage changes, irrigation, runoff, etc. Human activities after construction may adversely affect vegetation by over watering, soil compaction or disruption of water tables and groundwater flow. Introduced nursery stock may bring in diseases and pests. . Pollution and sedimentation of streams, ponds and groundwater. Runoff from construction and contamination from vehicles and turf maintenance may cause water quality problems that would have adverse effects on plants and animals. . Loss of nesting trees. Some of the trees in the areas slated for development will likely be removed. These are actual or potential nesting places for various birds. The open nature of these forests, with widely scattered individuals, makes them more vulnerable to blowdown. MITIGA nON MEASURES The plans for the Discovery Bay Golf Club call for measures and standards that will offset or eliminate some ofthe potential negative effects of the project on the plant and animal life there. . Protection of Wetlands. Wetlands in the northeast comer will be protected by buffers from adjacent development, as required by the Jefferson County Critical Areas Ordinance. The stream has been classed as a Type 4 and the northernmost pond is Type 3 water. Buffers there will be at least 150 ft. deep. Since the wetland is the primary habitat on the site likely to attract the three priority species here- bald eagle, wood duck and great blue heron- these buffers will satisfy the requirement to keep disturbance away from such habitats. . Preservation of Large Vegetation Tracts. Remaining undisturbed forest vegetation, primarily in the northwest and northeast portion sand central portions of the site will be left intact. These are large blocks of forest that will afford the best sites for nesting and foraging. . Wildlife Corridors. Vegetation will be left in reasonably generous corridors, allowing animals to move through the site and use its various habitats. A major corridor will proceed through the center of the site connecting the wetlands north of the site with the forested lands bordering Cape George Road. . Preservation of Drainage Patterns, Plans for the development generally seem strongly guided by the need to work with the slopes, soils and drainage patterns that already exist on the site. This should reduce impacts caused by changes in drainage, especially harm to plant life caused by changes in water table and seasonal soil moisture levels. . Quality of Site Runoff. Neighboring shoreline habitats and marine species will be protected by the fact that all storm water will be collected onsite. Sanitary sewers will be internal as well, with drainfields constructed on the golf course and, in the 5 J _._,-".=~ -~_~=-""-''T^' -~--.,.<!"""".."''''- . . . residential neighborhoods, individually for each unit. . Minimizing of Grading. The developments are being designed to be compatable with the topography and vegetation of each site so that a minimum of cut and fill will be required and a maximum of vegetation preserved, Roadways will be relatively narrow . Use of Native Plants. Plans for the development call for an entirely native plant pallete. As most studies show that animals prefer the plants native to their region for feeding and nesting, this should be beneficial to retaining wildlife on the site. It will also minimize the introduction of weed species lower the level of maintenance.. . Stormwater Detention. Plans to carry storm water in swales rather than pipes as much as possible will likely create habitats for some birds, amphibians and the insects on which they feed. The quality of these habitats will depend on maintenance to keep out invasive non-native plants and on keeping site runoff reasonably free of pollutants from cars, turf maintenance and other sources. . Vegetation Buffer Requirements. Each residential lot will have a designated buffer of varying widths established on the basis of the different lot areas and configurations. In few instances will the buffer be less than 25 feet nor more than 50 feet. The purpose of this buffer is to maintain more natural habitat and to reduce maintenance requirements. Future Owners of these lots or homes will be required to maintain these buffers in their native condition and they will be protected through covenants in the landscape section of the CC&R's. With these strips side by side, these buffers will create fairly extensive plant communities where tree canopies will connect and the shrub/ forb layers will be continuous, a major encouragement for wildlife. It will be important to create reasonably broad, ample and continuous vegetation preserves in order to minimize blowdown and other weather damage to remaining plants. . Protection of Vegetation from Construction Imapcts. Vegetation will be protected during construction from compaction and mechanical damage. All chemical and or toxic materials of any kind shall be properly stored or disposed of as regulated. . Road and Fairway Edge Plantings. Plantings of shrubs and forbs along the fairways and roads will enrich the vegetation edges and create or maintain good quality habitat. . Cumulative Effect of Forest Buffers. Most of the building parcels will adjoin larger areas of preserved vegetation. This will increase the value of the vegetation buffers maintained by property owners, It will also increase the effective size of the large preserves, allowing for their use by a larger population of wildlife and possibly greater diversity in species. . Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance. Design and management guidelines for the project will call for protection of natural vegetation, environmentally-conscious turf management programs and the use of recognized guidelines for keeping the site as compatible as possible for wildlife. Refer to the Integrated Pest Management IPM program for turf management should minimize chemical runoff from the site and pollution of site wetlands. End of Supplemental Vegetation and Wildlife Report \ 6 # r ---"--_oc."L3-. -2 -"-'-'" :f"-i\'t;' ~""''' '-. '~,. \'; ',-!L_".