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Home My WebLink AboutHMP and Floodzone Assessment - PLN General - 3/15/2019 ftSOIVe Environmental Project No.19-155 & Geotechnical.Inc Meussner Property Habitat Management Plan March 15,2019 Mr.Rod Meussner RECEI V 7005 218`h Avenue NE �® Redmond,Washington 98053 MAR 2 RR** o Reference: Habitat Management Plan and Floodzone Habitat As&"Vrt 8532 Washington State Highway 106 Alder Street Union,Washington Dear Mr.Meussner: The object of this report is to provide a discussion of Habitat Assessment for the portions of the subject bank on the above-named property wherein stairway construction will be undertaken. Our Geological Reconnaissance Report for the site was provided on January 3, 2019. Per standard assessment, information and recommendations are provided below. Project Area Description The subject site is located at 8532 E. State Route 106,Union,Mason County, Washington. The latitude is approximately 47 degrees, 20 minutes, 57.9 seconds north, and -123 degrees, 02 minutes, 20.0 seconds west. The site is surrounded by rural residential properties to the west, east and south,with Hood Canal to the north. The property owner's single family residence is located on the southern portion of the subject property. State Highway 106 is directly adjacent, and to the south of, the proposed construction site. Project Area Habitat Description The lower portion of the subject site is listed as being in a FEMA AE Flood Zone, with a Base Flood Elevation listed by FEMA as 12 feet above mean sea level. It is noted that many/most shoreline properties in the Puget Sound region are listed on FEMA flood maps as AE,X,or VE. The subject slope crest consists primarily of gravel, rock and some grass vegetation. The ordinary high water mark is clearly defined along the beach at the subject site, and is easily defined as where the line of vegetation meets the sandy,gravelly shoreline. The occurrences of Protected Species and Critical Habitats in the vicinity of the subject site are provided in the table below: ftSOlVe Environmental Project No. 19-155 & Geotechnical,Inc Meussner Property Habitat Management Plan TABLE 1:PROTECTED SPECIES&CRITICAL HABITATS:VICINITY OF THE SUBJECT SITE Common Name Scientific Name ESA Status Jurisdiction Critical Habitat Present? Puget Sound Evolutionary Oncorhynchus Significant Unit tshawytshca Threatened NMFS Yes (ESU)Chinook Salmon Puget Sound Distinct Population O.mykiss Threatened NMFS None Segment(DPS) Steelhead Coastal-Puget Salvelinus Sound DPS confluentus Threatened USFWS Yes Bull Trout Hood Canal Oncorhynchus Summer-run Keta Threatened NMFS Yes Chum Salmon The occurrence of Protected Species and Critical Habitats in the vicinity of the subject site were provided in the following references: • http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/gis_maps/maps/salmon-steelhead/critical- habitat/chin/chinook_pug.pdf • http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/gis_maps/maps/salmon-steelhead/critical- habitat/steelhead/steelhead_ps.pdf • http://www.fws.gov/wafwo/pdf/WaBTfCH2O1010_33x44.pdf • http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/gis-maps/maps/salmon-steelhead/critical- habitat/chum/chum hcs.pdf Project Description The project includes a stairway from the top of the bank to the toe of the bank, approximately 4 feet wide and 22 ft.in length. The lowest posts will be landward of the ordinary high water mark. The posts will be hand dug and set to a depth of up to 3 feet below the existing ground surface. Construction access is to be completed from the yard above the crest of slope. All construction work will be by hand with hand tools with no heavy equipment,landward of Hood Canal. Impact Assessment Direct Effects Assessment: No significant soil disturbance will occur as a result of the proposed project, as all work will be done by hand/hand tools. Best Management Practices (BMP's) will be implemented throughout construction. This could possibly include: vegetation retention, stabilized construction entrance, and, as needed,jute mating, coconut fiber rolls, or filter fabric fencing. Construction activities will not cause an increase in turbidity of water in the vicinity of the project. Vegetation removal will be minimal and limited to shrub trimming and as needed at hand-dug support post hole locations. Noise from construction will be from hand tools, and will be well below any disturbance threshold, with no effects. All work will occur landward of the ordinary high water mark. , ReSOIVe Environmental Project No.19-155 & Geotechnical,Inc Meussner Property Habitat Management Plan Indirect Effects Assessment: Only minor impervious surfaces will be added to the site as part of the proposed project. No significant native or riparian vegetation disturbances are likely to occur. No known changes to any fish or wildlife habitats or routines will ensue as a result of the stairway construction. The project will benefit riparian vegetation by adding native plants as noted in planting plan, and non-native plant species will be controlled or removed around the plantings. The stairway will be elevated above the face of the slope to allow vegetation to continue to grow beneath. Cumulative Effects Assessment: There will be no effects on listed species habitats during or after construction, and therefore no cumulative effects are anticipated. Effects Determination Summary It is our opinion that there will be No Effects(NE)on the environment or listed species habitats as a result of stairway construction. The following items are noted: o The posts holes will be hand-dug,and best management practices will be employed throughout the construction; o The stairway will have no impacts on the geo-hydrologic processes occurring along the shoreline(i.e.littoral drift,erosion,accretion,etc.); o The stairway will not reduce flood storage capacity of the site; o No significant native or riparian vegetation disturbances are likely to occur; o No known changes to any fish or wildlife habitats or routines will ensue as a result of the stairway construction;and, o The stairway is not considered likely to affect slope stability. Riparian Vegetation Planting Plan During installation of the stairway,landward of the ordinary high water mark,only minimal trimming of a small amount of grass vegetation will be undertaken as the site consists mainly of gravel and rock. This trimming will be in the area of the proposed posts at the top of the slope. There are four post areas, at approximately 2 square feet each,totaling approximately 8 square feet of area that will be trimmed. The project will have no effect to local habitat. Additionally, in order to increase riparian vegetation of native plant species and enhance habitat value, the property owner will plant eight (8) plants of native species, including 8 Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), and/or Nootka Rose (Rosa Nutkana). These are each 1 gallon in size, to be placed on the lower portion of the slope near the project. Any existing, invasive, non-native plants will be controlled or removed around the plantings. This total 120 foot coverage of native planted species will enhance the local habitat. Following are details of the proposed planting: Native Plantings Sizing Min. Spacing #of Plants S .ft. Coverage Snowberry p (Symphoricarpos albus)or 1 gallon 5 feet 8 plants 120 Nootka Rose (Rosa Nutkana) The table above describes a total 8 plants, with an approximated 120 square foot coverage. Other, similar, equivalent native plant species can be substituted or recommended by a landscaper. Plants will be installed in late fall or early spring and mulch added around plants. The property owner will maintain plants for 5 years to ensure their survival. W?SOIVe Environmental Project No.19-155 & Geotechnical,Inc Meussner Property Habitat Management Plan If there are any questions or comments regarding this revision to our addendum, please contact us at(360) 865-1843. Sincerely, Resolve Environmental &Geotechnical,Inc. r. W n Ronald P.Nance,P.G. Project Geologist WA License No. 2533