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Home My WebLink About821151014 Eagle Mgmt Plan FAX NO. :21216 842-2199 Feb. 1217 2008 1219:34AM P3 DRAFT - -(,::ember 23.2007 ,,\i":::Erin Lundgren JeffersonCounty Board of Equalization 7. 820 Jefferson St I'(t~end, WA 98368 SUBJECT: Request to remove parc:eI tag related to bald eagle maaagement on paIUl #811151014 1:'ab1$hores Drive- Port Ludlow). Property owned by Doug TouniIIe widlin the doaunmted ShOl'eS Bald Eagle Territory. The partel may he de'ftloptd with a single-family residenee but Eagle Maagemeat PIan js nq1lb'ed. I:>ear E~ - '7/';;$, c('::Jtacted by a few months ago by Mr. Doug Tourville, who has owned a parcel of ::'c)?crtyat990 Tala Shores Drive in Port Ludlow (parcel # 821151014) for many years. His property is located within the documented Tala Shores Bald Eagle Territory. The Washington D-epartmmt ofFish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been monitoring this territory since 1983. The Shores eagle pair has been highly successful at producing eaglets within the territory. Mr. ---: o;17ville's property is located very near the tree that contained the original Nest #1. In the past. -NT)fW" staff was concerned about the possible disturbance associated with construction of a --:;-.id'f:'!i,":~ ..00 the western. portion of the Tourville property. Apparently> a binding advanced c:I,etennination was conducted on the property by Jefferson County Department of Community Development staff in November of 1994. A parcel tag was implemented for the parcel that 3'Z;:x tbattbe "building site above cannot be used due to eagle's nest". There have been c:l,mging circumstances in the past 13 years and the WDFW fully supports that this parcel tag be n~moved from the Jefferson County parcel-tagging database. We base this recommendation on the following: 1) The nest tree that contained Tala Shores Nest # 1 is no longer a viable nest tree. Tb-,~ nestvvas destroyed in 1991. The tree has since died and bas broken off This ttee is no " x;gercapable of supporting a bald eagle nest 2). The WDFW must allow 4'reasonable use" of 9foperty'. We have no authority to tell a landowner that they cannot develop their property. :Jt~.~ totbe presence of a steel' high bank slope and wetland area on the eastern portion of the ---::;;;pe:tt)',the only suitable building area is on the previously cleared level portions of the ;;n:::>j::ertywest of the top of the bank. ' ~;JJ':.\(I DFVl conducted a site visit to the Tourville property on 11/9/07. An adult bald eagle was .' J'CFle;5' pe!chedon a grand fir tree located within the wetland on the Tourville property. It. is cssentialtoprotect this known perch tree and other significant,trees on the property that provide bald eaglebabitat.. It is important to note that although the tree that had contained Nest #1 is no FAX NO. :206 842-2199 Feb. 07 2008 09:35AM P4 i ! i i I 'conger aple, to Support a nest, there are two alternate bald eagle nest trees that are located near the -::-ourvilleproperty_ Both of these nests were observed during the site visit conducted on 111.9/07. Xeighbors have reported to WDFW that the Tala Shores bald eagle pair have been seen in ! territorial disputes with a pair of osprey that have also attempted to nest within the tenitory.j However" the eagle pair has continuedto actively be present within the territory_ 'Since ~ are presently two bald eagle nest trees within 800 feet of the Tourville property~ a Bald Eagle ! Y\l':;'];.}gement Plan, is still required for the Tourville property. This plan is required prior to ~y tre:;;cutting, clearing. or further development of the property. It is essential to minimize treb ::;movaI.atJd disturbance to nesting eagles on the parcel. Mr. Tourville and his real estate a8ent, ;~nadvised to notity any potential buyers of the property tbata management plan wiJI be n;X}';.1Jred.' The landowner bas expressed his full cooperation with addressing the need to d~lop q, P1an and, protect the Tala Shore eagle pair. 'The Jefferson CoWlty Department ofCommWiity LlevelOPm.eItt GIS map layer does contain the location of these documented bald eagle nest b-ees. I The bal4 eagle is still listed as a threatened species in Washington. The prot.ectionof nestiJ,g, roostin& and .fomging habitats is critical. in order to remove the bald eagle from threatened i S1:3.tusin the state. The primary threats tQ bald eagles in Washington today are habittt >j)'.i3.t~0:i1 and human disturbance due to a rapidly expanding human population in the , ! j\;c.ItGwest. The Bald Eagle Protection Rules (WAC 232-12-292) and the enabling legislati~ C?.CW 77.12.655) were enacted in 1986 to provide some means of protection for important~d ;;':i;frj,ehabltat in nesting territories as well as significant roosting and foraging areas. ,These tules ::3.rwt myagency to develop site-specific management plans to protect imponant eagle habi~ c)mponettts that may be impacted by land use changes. I I i I Imrie ellc~osed copies of the Bald Eagle Protection Rule~ Bald Eagle Management i P,_ecomIIlefulatio~ and other general information onbaId eagle management. I also inc1uc1ed a map showing the location of the Tala Point/Tala Shores bald eagle nest trees. I bope that yqu ::r::6 the information helpful and will share this information with the Board. i . I I TheWDFW appreciates having the opportunity to provide you with more recent infonnatioh that ?'emy prove useful in the appeal hearing for the Tourville property. We thank you for your ! ..... :_<..." - - - - - . - - - - - - - -. I ;'C;S),Si;mce ,in the protection of our national bird, a symbol of freedom and the beauty of om' ! . ..... - - .' _.' - -'. I J.7y~rne wildlife legacy. Please contlct me at (360) 681-4276 or P.O. Box 1933. Sequim. WiA if you have any questions about this letter or if! may be of further assistance. ! I I I i I I I I I I :~:rr:ce:e1y~ ::'~ ,:,:1 v~'''';~e..'t. -;,~6F\VWildtneBiologist Enclosm'e (>;;; Doug Tourville