HomeMy WebLinkAboutLevel I Wetland Assessment 821063006
Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc.
Dixie Llewellin, Principal Biologist
A Level
Beverly
Areas Map the
Beaver V alley.
The project is to upgrade the existing septic system to service a single family residence. This wetland
assessment is required to determine the distance the proposed septic is from the wetland. Future
goals are to build a single-family residence within the footprint of an existing home.
Description of Site
. Legal Description: Parcel #821 063006 Section 6 Township 28N Range IE
. Location: 3895 Beaver Valley Road (SR 19), Jefferson County
. Soils: Arne Alderwood gravelly loam
. Slopes: 0 to 15% slopes
According to the National Wetland Inventory Maps the wetland has been categorized as PUBHx
(Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom Permanently Flooded excavated). The wetland connects with a
larger wetland system associated with Beaver Valley. These wetlands on the eastern side of
Chimacum Creek consist mostly of agricultural land and do not have high habitat value or wetland
functions due to the lack and structural layers or diversity.
The subject property slopes gently to the west and adjoins farmland that is along Chimacum Creek.
Currently the adjacent parcel is fenced and has grazing sheep. Large piles of debris were present on
site from clearing blackberries and demolishing old buildings. Soils were saturated from the
exceptionally high rainfall that that is occurring this winter. The soils on the subject parcel however,
did not meet the hydric soils criteria.
Levell Assessment Underwood
Report File Number 2007- 0201
1
Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. 01/07
Findings
The subject parcel is outside of the wetland, however the neighboring parcel was fenced so it was not
possible to accurately determine the distance from the wetland edge to the boundary of the subject
parcel.
Using the Department of Ecology (DOE) Wetland Field Data Form this wetland rates as a high-
quality Category II wetland (23 points). All Category II wetlands receive protective buffers of 150
feet if the wetland is not delineated and 100 feet if the wetland is delineated. Enclosed is the Wetland
Rating Form.
The proposed septic site location, as designed by John Scott Fleming Engineering, Inc. is outside all
wetland buffers restrictions. The proposed septic location is not only upslope from the Category II
wetland but over 150 feet from a wetland edge (Table 3-3 Minimum Wetland Buffers Necessary as part
of Qualifying for a Waver from Delineation and Special Report Requirements, Section 3 Wetlands
UDC). Please find the enclosed Level I Assessment Map with field findings. This map does NOT
represent a formal delineation.
During the clearing of the site (mostly invasive Himalayan blackberries and old out buildings) an
unmapped stream was uncovered. The stream had a significant flow of stormwater during this site
visit. Although the stream has not been mapped or classified, it will either be a Type 4 or 5 with
associated buffers of 100 to 50 feet respectively. Ross Goodwin, Department of Natural Resources
(360 732-7175) should be contacted to determine the classification of this stream.
The old homesite is likely within the stream buffer and possibly within the undelineated wetland
buffers. The new single family residence may be grandfathered if it is within the exact footprint of
the existing structure. It should be noted that the wetland below the Underwood parcel was not
ponded as was much of Beaver Valley during these rains.
Land use restrictions may apply to all future building developments associated with this parcel.
Final authority over wetland determinations and associated buffers rests with Jefferson County
Department of Community Development. If this project requires delineation or if you have further
planning needs please don't hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
Dixie Llewellin
Principal Biologist, Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc.
Certified for Wetland Delineation, 1987 Manual
Wetland Training Institute, June 1995
Levell Assessment Underwood
Report File Number 2007- 0201
2
Olympic Wetland Resources, Inc. 01/07
..
I TIde:
OIympi( Wetland Resou<<es, Int
856 50th Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360 385-6432
dixie@yohoo.rom
Level I Wetland Assessment
3895 Beaver Valley Road
Port Ludlow, WA 98368
Oient: Chris and Beverly Underwood
161 Ann Kivley Dr.
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Parcel #821 063 006
205'
Ii N '" Il. lllllillif; II: II..". III JI
Wetland as Mapped
By Jefferson County
(Not Confirmed
or Delineated)
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Base Map By John Flemming
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Wetland Rating Field Data Form
Background Information:
Name of Rater: Dixie L1ewellin Affiliation: OlvmDic Wetland Resources. Inc.
Name of Wetland (if known):Beaver Valley Wetland
Government Jurisdiction of Wetland:
Location: Section: Township: Range:
Sources of Information: (Check all sources that apply)
Site Visit: X USGS Topo Map: X NWI Map: X Aerial Photo: X Soil Survey: X
Other: X Descrlbe;Jefferson County Wetland Maps
When the Field Data Form is Com lete Enter Cate 0 Here:
Q1. High Quality Natural Wetland
la. Human caused disturbances
Is there significant evidence of human-caused changes to topography or hydrology
or the wetland as indicated by any of the following conditions?
Consider only changes that may changes that may have taken place in the last 5
decades. The impacts of changes done earlier have probably been stabilized and the
wetland ecosystems will be close to reaching some new equilibrium that may represent
a high quality wetland.
18.1 Upland watershed> 12% impervious
18.2 Wetland Is ditched and water fiow is not obstructed
18.3 Wetland has been graded, filled, logged
la.4 Water in wetland is controlled by dikes, weirs, etc.
18.5 Wetland Is grazed
la.6 Other indicators of disturbance (listed below)
Date;January 02, 2007
23
Circle Answers
Yes: go to Q.2
Yes: go to Q.2
Yes: go to Q.2
Yes: go to Q.2
Yes: 0 to Q.2
Yes: 0 to Q.2
No: go to 1 b.
lb. Are there populations of non-native plants which are currently present, cover
more than 10% of the wetland, and appear to be Invading native populations?
Briefly describe any non-native populations and information source(s):
le. is there evidence of human-caused disturbances which have visibly degraded
water quality. Evidence of the degradation of water quality include: direct (untreated)
runoff from roads or parking lots; presence, or historic evidence, of waste dumps;
oil sheens; the smell of or anic chemicals; or livestock use. Briefi Describe:
Q.2. Irreplaceable ECOlogical Functions:
Does the wetland
have at least 1/4 acre of organic soils deeper than 16 inches and the wetland
is relatively undisturbed;
OR
have a forested class greater that 1 acre;
OR
have characteristics of an estuarine system;
OR
have eel rass fioatln or non-fioatin kel beds?
2a. Bogs and Fens
Are any of the three following conditions met for the area of organic soil?
28.1 Are Sphagnum mosses a common ground cover (> 30%) and the cover of
of invasive species (Table 3) less than 10%?
Is the area of sphagnum mosses and deep organic soils> 1/2 acre?
Is the area of sphagnum mosses and deep organic soils 1/4 to 1/2 acre?
Yes: go to Q.2
Yes: go to Q.2
No: Possible Cat. I
(No to all: 0 to Q3)
Yes go to 2a.
Yes: Go to 2b.
Yes: Go to 2c.
Yes: Go to 2d.
Yes: Category I
Yes: Category II
No: Go to 2a.3
28.2 Is there an area of organic soil which has an emergent class with at least one
species from Table 2, and cover of invasive species is < 1 0% (see Table 3)?
Is the area of herbaceous plant and deep organic soils > 1/2 acre?
Is the area of herbaceous plant and deep organic soils 1/4 to> 1/2 acre?
28.3 Is the vegetation a mixture of only herbaceous plant and sphagnum mosses
with no scrub/shrub or forest classes?
is the area of herbaceous plants, sphagnum, and deep organic soils> 1/2 acre?
is the area of herbaceous lants, s ha num, and dee or anlc soils 1/4 to 1/2 acre?
Yes: Category I
Yes: Category II
No: Go to 2a.3
Yes: Category I
Yes: Cate 0 II
Q.2b Mature Forested Wetlands
2b.l Does 50%0f the cover of upper forest canopy consist of evergreen trees older than
80 years or deciduous trees older than 50 years?
Note: The size of trees Is often not a measure. of age, and size cannot be used as a
surrogate for age.
2b.2 Does 50% of the cover of forest canopy consist of evergreen trees older than
50 years, AND is the structural diversity of the forest high as characterized by an
additional layer of trees 20'-49' tall, shrubs 6'-20' tall and a herbaceous groundcover?
2b.3 Does <25% of the areal cover in the herbaceous/ groundcover layer
or the shrub la er consist of exotic s ecies?
Q.2c Estuarine Wetlands
2e.lls the wetland listed as National Wildlife Refuge, National Park, National Estuary
Reserve, Natural Area Preserve, State Park, of Educational, or Scientific Reserves
Designated under WAC 332-30-1517
2e.2 Is the wetland > 5 acres
Note: If an area contains patches of salt tolerant vegetation that are
1 )Iess than 600 feet apart and that are separated by mudfiats that go dry on a
Mean Low Tide, or
2) separated by tidal channels that are less than 100 feet wide; all the vegetated areas
are to be considered together in calculation the wetland area
OR is the wetland 1-5 acres;
OR is the wetland < 1 acre
2e.3 Does the wetland meet at least 3 of the following 4 criteria:
- Minimum existing evidence of human related disturbance such as diking, ditching,
filling, cultivation, grazing or the presence of non-native plant speCies;
-Surface water connection with tidal saltwater of tidal freshwater;
-At least 75% of the wetland has a 100' buffer of ungrazed pasture, open water, shrub,
or forest;
-Has at least 3 of the following features: low marsh; high marsh; tidal channels;
lagoon(s); woody debris; or contiguous freshwater wetland
2e.4 Does the wetland meet all of the four criteria under 2c.3? (above)?
Yes: Category I
No: Go to 2b.2
Yes: Go to 2b.3
No: Go to Q.3
Yes: Category I
No: Go to .3
Yes: Category I
No: GO to 2c.2
Yes: Category I
Yes: Go to 2c.3
Yes: Go to 2c.4
Yes: Category I
No: Category II
Yes: Category II
No: Cate 0 III
II
~:~~ EIVED
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1
H~t"SU q:mlNWIlCO
Q2.d Eelgrass and Kelp Beds
2d.l Are eelgrass beds present'
Yes: Category I
No: GO to 2d.2
Yes: Category I
Yes: Cate 0 II
1iE[VED
2d.2 Are their floating or non-floating kelp beds present with greater than 50% macro-
al al cover in the month of Au ust of 5e tember?
Q.3 Category IV Wetlands
3a. Is the wetland :Iess than 1 acre AND hydrologically isolated, AND comprised of one
vegetated class that is dominated (> 80% areal cover) by one species from Table 3 or 4
Yes: Category IV
No: go to 3b.
3b. Is the wetland: less than 2 acres AND hydrologically isolated, with one vegetated class,
and >9O%of areal cover In any combination of species from Tale 3.
Yes: Category IV
No: go to 3c.
;'f
,
3c. Is the wetland excavated from upland AND a pond smaller than 1 acre without a
surface water connection to streams, lakes, rivers or other wetland, and has
<0.1 acre of v etatlon
Yes: Cate 0 IV
No: 0 to Q.4
Q4. Significant Habitat Value Acres Points
Answer all questions and enter data requested >200 6
4a. Total Wetland Area 40-200 I 5 5
Estimate area, select from choices in the near-right column and score in the far column: 10-40 4
5-10 3
Enter acreage of wetland here: > 40 acres acres, and source:Wetland maps 1-5 2
Beaver Valley Wetland are all connected. Wetlands on the east side of the Creek have less value since they are 0.1-1 1
In oasture. <0.1 0
4b. Wetland Cla_: CirCle toe wetland classes below that quality:
Open Water: If the areas of open water is > 1 /4 acre # of classes Points
Aquatic BeClS: II the area of aquatic beds Is > 1 /4 acre 1 0
Emergent: if the area of emergent class Is > 1 /4 acre 2 I 3 3
SCrub-Shrub: I the area of scrub-shrub class is > 1 /4 acre 3 6
Forested: if the area of forested class Is > 1/4 acre 4 8
Add the number of wetland classes, above, that qualify, and then score according to 5 10
the columns at riaht. e.a. 4 classes + 8 points.
4C. Plant SpecIes Diversity
For each wetland class (below) that qualifies In 4b. count the number of different plant species you can find
that cover more than 5" of the around. You do not have to name them.
Class ISaecles Points Class #Species Points
Aauatlc Bed I 0 Scrub -Shrub 1 0
2 1 2 1
3 2 3-4 2
>3 3 >4 3
Emeraent 1 0 Forested 4 0
2-3 I 2 1
4-5 2 3-4 2
>5 3 >4 3 2 2
4d. Structural Diversity
If the wetland has a forested class, add 1 point if each of the following classes is present
within the forested class and is laraer than 1/4 acre:
Trees> SO'tall Yes 1
Trees 20' to 49' Yes 1
Shrubs Yes 1
Herbaceous ground cover Yes I 1 1
Also add one point if there is any "open water" or "aquatic bed" class immediately
next to the forested area (Le.. There is no scrub/shrub or emeraent vt!Qetation between them) Yes 1
4e. Interspersion Between Wetland Cla_ High 5
Moderate 3
Low I
None 0
4f. Habitat Features
Answer question below and apply score to the right:
Is there evidence that the open or standing water was caused by beavers' Yes 2
Is a heron rookery located within 300? Yes 1
Are raptor nests located within 300' Yes 1
Are there at least 3 standing dead trees (snags) per acre greater than 10" at (DBH)? Yes I
Are there at least 3 downed logs per acre with a diameter >6" for at least 10' in length? Yes I 0
Are there areas within the wetland that are ponded for at least 4 months out of the year,
and the wetland has not auallfied as havina an oaen water class in Question 4b.? Yes 2
4g. Connection to Streams (Score one answer only)
4g.1 Does the wetland provide habitat for fish at any time of the year AND does it have a
perennial surface water connection to a fish bearing stream? Yes 6 6
4g.2 Does the wetland prOVide fish habitat seasonally AND does it have a seasonal
surface water connection to a fish bearing stream? Yes 4
4g.3 Does the wetland function to export organic maller through a surface water
connection at all times of the year to a perennial stream? Yes 4
4g.4 Does the wetland function to export organic matter through a surface water
connection to a stream on a seasonal basis? Yes 2
4h.Buffers
Score the existing buffer on a scale of 1 - 5 based on the following descriptions.
If the conditions of the buffers do not exactly match the description, score either a point
higher or lower depending on whether the buffers are less or more degraded.
Forest, scrub, native grassland or open water buffers are present for more than 1 00'
around 95% of the circumference
Forest, scrub, native grasslands or open water buffers wider than 100' for more than 1/2
of the wetland circumference, or a forest, scrub grassland, or open water buffer for
more than 50' around 95% of the circumference
Forest, scrub, native grassland or open water buffers wider than 100' for more than 1/4
of the wetland circumference, or a forest, scrub, native grassland, or open water buffers
wider than 50' for more than 1/2 of the wetland circumference
No roads, buildings or paved areas within 100' of the wetland for more than 95% of the
wetland circumference
No roads, buildings or paved areas within 25" of the wetland for more than 95% of the
circumference, or no roads buildings or paved areas within 50' of the wetland for
more than 1/2 of the wetland circumference
Paved areas, industrial areas or residential construction (with less than 50' between houses)
are less than 25 feet from the wetland for more than 95% of the circumference
of the wetland
Score 5
Score I 3 3
Score 2
Score 2
Score 1
Score 0
YES= 5
4;. Connection to other habitat areas:
Select the description which best matches the site being evaluated.
Is the wetland connected to, or part of, a riparian corridor at least 100' wide connecting two or more wetland; or, is there an upland
connection present> 1 00' wide with good forest or shrub cover (> 2 5% cover) connecting it with a Significant Habitat Area? YES- 3
Is the wetland connected to any other Habitat Area with eight 1.) a forested/shrub corridor< 100' wide, or 2.) a corridor that is > 100' wide
but has a low vegetative cover less that 6' In height? YES= 3
Is the wetland connected to, or part of, a riparian corridor between 50-100' wide with a scrub/shrub or forest cover connected to other wetland YES= 1
Is the wetland connected to any other Habit Area with narrow corridor (< I 00') of low vegetation (<6' in height)?
Is the wetland and its buffer (if the buffer is less that 50' wide) completely isolated by development (urban, residential with a density greater YES=O
that 2/ acre, or industrial)?
3
23
Total Score Q.4 4a. Through 4h.
Is the total greater than or equal to 22 points?
IYes= Category II
No= Category III
IR ECEIVEl)
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