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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMonitoring Report - HMP Habitat Managment Plan - 12/31/2005 ♦ MONITORING REPORT Prepared for: Will Bryan NE 1520 Old Belfair Highway Belfair, WA 98528 Parcel No. 12320-12-01110 PREPARED BY: Kirsten C. Workman Mason Conservation District December 2005 Mason Conservation District S.E. 1051 Highway 3 •Suite G •Shelton,WA 98584 Phone: (360)427-9436 • FAX: (360)427-4396 Bryan Monitoring Report December 2005 K. Workman Mason Conservation District Introduction: This report serves as the first annual monitoring report in response to Enforcement Case File Number ENF2004-00494 pertaining to Parcel Number 12320-12-01110 located at 1520 NE Old Belfair Highway in Mason County. The Restoration Plan for this case was submitted in February 2005 on behalf of Mr. Will Bryan. This report should satisfy the requirements of Mason County Code Section `17.01.210 (2) Monitoring' for the first of three years. Condition of Reintroduced Species: Mr. Bryan transplanted the following species per the Restoration Plan during the second week of December 2005: Sitka Willow(Salix sitchensis) Evergreen Huckleberry(Vaccinium ovatum) Western red cedar(Thuja plicata) Salmonberry(Rubus spectabilis) These plants were relocated from the Tahuya area with permission from the property owner. All the transplants seem to be doing very well so far. Mr. Bryan intends on watering the plants through the first two summers to ensure optimal survival rates. The original plan called for 10 Bigleaf Maple(Acer macrophyllum)to be installed. However,the remaining stumps of the maples that were cut down are already sprouting new suckers prolifically. In addition,there are several substantial (18 —24")volunteers present from the existing seed source. Therefore, it is no longer necessary for Mr. Bryan to plant additional Big Leaf Maple as the Restoration Plan had outlined. In addition to the Bigleaf Maples, the following volunteer species were observed on site either growing on Large Woody Debris or in the ground within the restoration area: ato- Salal (Gaultheria shallop) r4- Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) a.- Willow(species unknown at present time) The Restoration Plan also called for the following species, which Mr. Bryan will be purchasing directly from the Mason Conservation District's annual plant sale in January 2006: ito- Oceanspray(Holodiscus discolor) &- Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) These plants will arrive in late February 2006, at which time Mr. Bryan will plant them within the restoration area. Condition of Open Water Areas & Other Water Features: Courtney Creek seems to be functioning as it was before the disturbance occurred. A recently replaced culvert on the upstream side of the property has eliminated previously common flood occurrences,thereby reducing the amount of bank erosion that Mr. Bryan had witnessed prior to the culvert replacement. The site visit related to i CONSERVATION - DEVELOPMENT - SELF-GOVERNMENT this report (12/27/05)was performed during a week very heavy precipitation - the creek was well below bank full (see Attachment A), and no active erosion was observed. Use of Site by Fish & Wildlife: While on site, numerous wildlife were observed in or adjacent to the restoration area. These included Gray Squirrels and a juvenile Bald Eagle. Mr. Bryan also mentioned having observed several mature Bald Eagles in recent weeks. Mr. Bryan also observed an increase in salmonid fish use during the spawning season from previous years. This is most likely due to the culvert replacement. He noted seeing at least three different species of salmon(Chum (Oncorhynchus keta), Coho(Oncorhynchus kisutch), and one unidentified) during the fall (2005) spawning season. Disturbances/Alterations—Affects on Restoration: During initial site visits,the location of the septic system components and drainfield were not identified. I advised Mr. Bryan not to install any plants within in a tree length and a half of these areas. Therefore some of the larger trees noted on the drawing in the Restoration Plan were not installed,per the recommendations. These areas are noted on the As-Built drawing (see Attachment B) Mr. Bryan intends to install a split rail cedar fence along the border of the restoration area to act as a physical barrier to protect the newly planted area. This will not affect the restoration negatively. In fact, it will help protect it from human and animal disturbance. Add itional/Corrective Measures to Ensure Restoration: As is common when soil is disturbed and vegetation is removed, some invasive weeds are starting to appear. Two species identified during site visit(12/27/05) were: Thistle (Cirsium sp.) �- Himilayan Blackberry (or Evergreen Blackberry) (Rubus discolor (laciniatus)) Mr. Bryan will monitor invasive weeds and remove them as needed—concentrating on the areas near and around the newly established plantings. Additional Information: Mr. Bryan has done an exemplary job thus far. His site preparation, thoughtful placement of Large Woody Debris for habitat, resourceful acquisition of transplant stock, and expeditious installation of plant material indicate a strong case for successful restoration. He has done in-depth research on plant species, and his plant installation was impeccable. With this maintained attention to detail, there is no doubt that restoration will be achieved. 2 Mason Conservation District S.E. 1051 Highway 3 •Suite G •Shelton,WA 98584 Phone: (360)427-9436 • FAX: (360)427-4396 Kristin French E C c ' V ED Mason County Department of Community Development C Planning MAR 1 r ZQQS PO Box 279 Shelton, WA 98584 rl"'CCD - PLA►VNIN G March 8, 2005 RE: Parcel Number: 12320-12-01110 (Lilibeth Tobin, owner; Will Bryan, resident) Enforcement Case File Number: ENF2004-00494 Dear Ms. French: Enclosed you will find the Restoration Plan I completed on behalf of Will Bryan of 1520 NE Old Belfair Highway, Belfair. This restoration plan is in response to your letter of December 27, 2004 notifying Mr. Bryan that he was in violation of Mason County Resource Ordinance section 17.01.070 by clearing vegetation within a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area associated with Courtney Creek. I have also included an estimate for his Restoration Bond. This should portray an accurate estimate of the costs required to complete the project successfully according to the plan. Mr. Bryan has been very helpful in getting the plan in motion, and has already done some of the site preparation necessary to carry out the restoration required. I have also informed Mr. Bryan that the Conservation District is willing to assist him in implementing the restoration plan and monitoring the results as required by the Mason County Resource Ordinance. If you have any questions regarding the restoration plan and/or the restoration bond estimate,please feel free to contact me at (360)427-9436. Sincerely, Kirsten C. Workman Small Farms Extension Educator Enclosures Cc:Mr. Will Bryan, NE 1520 Old Belfair Highway, Belfair, WA 98528 CONSERVATION - DEVELOPMENT - SELF-GOVERNMENT f Mason Conservation District S.E. 1051 Highway 3 •Suite G •Shelton,WA 98584 � EIVED Phone: (360)427-9436 • FAX: (360)427-4396 RE Mr. Will Bryan 1 F 2005 NE 1520 Old Belfair Highway MCCD - PLANNING Belfair, WA 98528 March 8, 2005 Mr. Bryan I appreciated the opportunity to go out to your property last month. Per your request, I have enclosed a copy of your planting plan. Please take some time to review it. If there are any changes,or if you have questions, please feel free to contact me immediately. If the plan looks sufficient,please let me know and I will forward a copy to Kristin French (Mason County Code Enforcement)to place in your file. To the best of our ability,the Mason Conservation District will assist you in the implementation of your resource management plan. This included purchasing bare root trees at reduced costs, technical assistance on proper planting techniques, and monitoring your completed project. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and develop a plan that will enhance your property and enrich the environment around you. Sincerely, Kirsten C. Workman Small Farms Extension Educator enclosures CONSERVATION - DEVELOPMENT- SELF-GOVERNMENT 7� ECEIV D MAR 1 ?005 MCCD - FIANNING BRYAN RESTORATION PLAN Will Bryan NE 1520 Old Belfair Highway Belfair, WA 98528 Parcel No. 12320-12-01110 PREPARED BY: Kirsten C. Workman Mason Conservation District February 2005 Mason Conservation District S.E. 1051 Highway 3 •Suite G •Shelton,WA 98584 Phone: (360)427-9436 • FAX: (360)427-4396 Bryan Restoration Plan February 2005 K. Workman Mason Conservation District Introduction: This plan describes the actions needed to replace native vegetation that was removed within a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Area(FWHCA)within the 150-foot buffer along Courtney Creek on the property where Will Bryan resides(parcel 12320-12-01110) located at NE 1520 Old Belfair Highway, Mason County, Washington. Mr. Bryan was found in violation of the Mason County Resource Ordinance(17.01.110)on December 27, 2004 (Case ENF2004-00494). This plan is designed to fulfill the"Restoration Plan"required by the Enforcement section of the resource ordinance (17.01.200 section I). Location: The property is comprised of approximately .67 acres in the Belfair area off of Old Belfair Highway, located in Section 17, Township 23 North, Range 1 West of Belfair, Mason County and is owned by Ms. Lilibeth Tobin of Gainesville,Florida. Mr. Will Bryan is the current resident. Courtney Creek flows east through the property. Pre-disturbance Conditions: The site was a functioning riparian buffer dominated by mature Western Red Cedar(Thuja plicata) and native shrubs throughout. The average buffer width was roughly 40 feet for the length of the property. Approximately three years before the disturbance, a large cedar fell on the residence. Mr. Bryan noticed a second cedar that looked as though it might also fall on the house. This precipitated the October 2004 clearing, described below. Based on conversations with Mr.Bryan, observations of existing vegetation on site and in the undisturbed area across the creek, and aerial photos the riparian buffer was dominated by Western Red Cedar(Thuja plicata) between 2 and 4 feet in diameter. There were also some smaller Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum). The understory was fairly open, with some native shrubs throughout. Some of these may have been Evergreen Huckleberry(Vaccinium ovatum), Oceanspray(Holodiscus discolor), and Mock Orange(Philadelphus lewisii). There is some remaining vegetation along the immediate bank of Courtney Creek that consists of Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), Sitka Willow (Salix sitchensis), and Salmonberry(Rubus spectabilis). There was no groundcover vegetation to speak of. Extent of Disturbance: The resident, Will Bryan,removed all vegetation along the north side of Courtney Creek in October 2004. Based on the number of stumps remaining, approximately 12 to 15 mature Western Red Cedars (Thuja plicata) were cut down—along with all shrub material. There were some Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) and Salmonberry(Rubus spectabilis) left along the banks immediately along the water line as were all the stumps from the cedars. There were some Sitka Willow (Salix sitchensis) also observed on site. The clearing was done in order to protect Mr. Bryan's home from more trees falling on the structure. All trees were within a tree-length of the home, however, they i CONSERVATION - DEVELOPMENT - SELF-GOVERNMENT were also located within the Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area (17.01.110). The area disturbed is approximately 175 feet long by an average of 40 feet wide. (See attached pictures and drawing.) Soils: Soils help determine the types of plants, drainage of the property, and other important characteristics related to the landscape. The Bryan/Tobin property is mapped as: Belfast sandy loam (Ba) 0 to 3 percent slopes These soils are usually fine-grained or organic. They store sufficient water to extend plant growth through most of the summer drought period. Soils located on benches and slopes will dry out sooner and have a somewhat shorter growing season. These soils have a seasonal high water table during the winter months which may be minimized by drainage. Juno loamy sand(Jc) 0 to 3 percent slopes These soils are typically fine-grained or organic. They store sufficient water to extend plant growth through most of the summer drought period. These soils usually have a seasonal high water table during winter months which can range from above the soils surface to 2 meet deep. Planting Plan: Prior to planting, Mr. Bryan will need to clear some of the downed limbs and wood debris in order to provide adequate space to plant new seedlings. However if some of the larger logs are left, this will not inhibit the success of the planting project and will actually provide some habitat if he chooses to leave them. All stumps should be left in place in order to reduce soil erosion potential into adjacent Courtney Creek. No invasive weeds were observed while on site. Therefore,weed removal or control is not necessary at this time. Due to the size and nature of the area to be restored, soils,the existing vegetation observed on site, the evidence of type of vegetation removed, and the proximity of the site to a fish-bearing stream: the following is recommended: A row of Salmonberry(Rubus spectabilis) and Sitka Willow (salix sitchensis) cuttings should be placed adjacent to the creek's bank. After that, a mixture of the trees listed below should be planted on 10 foot centers, followed by a mixture of shrubs(also listed below)planted on 3 to 5 foot centers (see attached drawing). Common Name Scientific Name Stock a Comments Salmonberry Rubus s ectabilis Bareroot 12 3 — 5' centers Sitka Willow Salix sitchensis 36"cutting 30 Plant in cl s of 21 am ,y�' Western red cedar~ Thu a Licata Bareroot 12 10' centers Bi leaf Maple Acer macro h Ilum Bareroot 10 10' centers Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum Bareroot or plugs 21 3 —5' centers Oceans ray Holodiscus discolor Bareroot 25 3 —5' centers Mock Orange Philadel hus lewisii Bareroot 21 3 —5' centers 2 Planting Instructions: - When planting trees and shrubs, you should always dig the hole twice as wide 7- and just as deep as the root wad (Fig. 1). This is true for both bare rootstock and container stock. Planting bare rootstock will facilitate digging smaller holes. However, you will also need to make sure and not "j-root"the plants. That is, let the roots clump together and all go to one side creating a"j". Backfill the holes and make sure all the roots are covered with soil and there are no large rocks or big air pockets in the hole that would enable roots to dry out. Be sure and plant trees straight and not leaning one way or the other. Figure 1 Once they are planted, mulch each plant and water immediately,being sure to soak the entire root zone(Fig. 2). When planting trees, plant at 10 foot spacing. When planting shrubs, plant at 3 to 5 foot spacing, depending on the desired density when full grown. If you are trying to form a hedge, you can plant shrubs even closer together. If you are trying to plant trees and shrubs in the same area, plant the trees at the 10 foot spacing and interplant between them with shrubs at the 3 to 5 foot spacing. Follow with groundcovers the subsequent planting season—as most understory species will require more shade than first year seedlings can provide. Figure 2 Schedule Planting should take place during plant dormancy—generally between February and April. It is advisable to plant the trees and shrubs first, and then follow with the groundcovers the following year. The initial planting should commence in winter of 2005,with subsequent plantings being installed the following year in winter of 2006. Maintenance: Once planted,plants should be watered at least through the first two summers to ensure maximum survival. After the first two years, plants that did not survive can be replaced with new plants. Monitoring According to Mason County Code Section 17.01.200 12, Mr. Bryan must monitor the project for three years after it is completed. As mentioned in the planting plan section, monitoring should happen annually and according to Section 17.01.20012 should include i) condition of newly introduced plants; ii) condition of open water areas or other water features; iii)use of the site by fish and wildlife; iv)disturbances or alterations and their affects on the restoration(i.e. introduction of exotic or noxious species); and v) any corrective measures necessary to ensure the success of the restoration(i.e. replacing plants that do not survive). This information will be provided to the Director of the Mason County Department of Community Development on an annual basis. 3 Comments: Bareroot stock(plants not in containers and have no soil around the roots) are recommended as they are typically less expensive and easier to plant. Plants that are one to two years old will transplant well. When planting bareroot trees, be sure not to let the roots dry out during planting. Usually keeping the roots in a bucket covered with either soil or water will work well. Plant only when plants are dormant and the soil will remain moist (i.e. February through April). The planting of additional native species that are not listed is completely appropriate. The plants listed were chosen for their ability to stabilize banks, conserve water, and their benefit to fish and wildlife. In addition, if other species (i.e. sword fern, etc.) are desired for aesthetics (in addition to those planted per this plan), this plan supports the supplementation of those plants as well - with the exclusion of those plants listed on the Washington State Noxious Weed List (enclosed) or those that are considered invasive. Mason Conservation District can offer technical assistance in obtaining plants, proper planting methods, maintenance, and monitoring if you so wish. 4 a �Y 4 r t -� an-d . •� '�:.'�"u �.; S:4 u�.a v:v� �n� � ��� xb. f { z. • .-sir+` r �gy 3 f b { 4 �Tlr+ r C•' \� _K I 1 • r_ .. .!ire` � ,,���`C •��iN NEON ■■■1l"v' ■� Ma► _ ►OEM M11415, Inow WWI MEMO ■■■■m1 its �r`�" OR 6� ■ M■MM■E■MM ■MEN■EM A No ■MMM ME■■ MOM■■rOER w ICI �m ■ r l ! 1 MMEMEM�0 ■■Ou _ �'W`�i _ M ■■■MOM■ ■ N■M■IMIML _ MINK a No M, ION 0 IN Ff woom-9 ■ ■■NN MEN ONN►G'.'WE IEDTI 1�t�►M MICRO ■ME■M■■ NON t ■r� ■� _ ■ ■■� ■ ■ ■■■■■■ ■■ ■ NMI --� ■ ►-■N ■NNONE ON MME■I r i..y►lt��:� NIB MN■IN ■N EON■ ON ■■■■i■■m�uJ ■l 1I illl N\■!■ ■MOM■MN■N ■■EN■ItOl Arinti'/ M.,1111, �■\MIN � LCMuf ■ INN ■ awalgivaill■i IsR,I,T,EM rm,,l m M 0 N z 9 91 .R IN 3 1 MM '�_ l■ N1mil5AlI :rdIL1'12n'A, X%P:IRI N.N■It11 Ida A NM M •i►EMIR� ►' 9FMVl,PR1�►11i1i [�C Lit '- �I Erb ■ RESTORATION BOND ESTIMATE Mr. Will Bryan NE 1520 Old Belfair Hwy Belfair, WA 98528 Prepared for: Kristin French Mason County Community Development Date: March 7, 2005 Item „ < Unit" Cost/unit Ouarti Total Cast Trees and Shrubs ea. $ 1.00 131 $131.00 Labor(planting) hr. $12.50 33 $412.50 Labor (removing downed limbs, etc.) hr. $12.50 4 $50.00 `,- "' . ..',` 'C'S`�. -. ter? ,' x TOTAL .. <., ."' . :3 2 These estimates are based on plant prices from the Washington Association of Conservation Districts' Plant Material Center, WA state unskilled labor rates,and equipment rental rates from the Lew Rents 2005 Price List. 10/17/2006 16:20 FAX 360 427 7798 MASON CO PERMIT CTR 11001 * TX REPORT TRANSMISSION OK TX/RX NO 1399 CONNECTION TEL CONNECTION ID ST. TIME 10/17 16:09 USAGE T 11'21 PGS. SENT 18 RESULT OK Attachment A: Pictures of Bryan Restoration Site—post initial plant installation (12/27/05) £ i � ..! _ ,.. =�Y�:� '��� 4 +� ice`''' �._ _ Aaa�• _y¢> j. _ray _.�,.. s, - �`(', � `��l ice+• AI�j {' C. � a la t ' ~• ti e '