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Home My WebLink AboutStream Buffers and Restoration Plan - PLN General - 5/6/1999 A PPL,wD E NVIRONWNTAL S JERVICES9 INC. Tuesday, May 4, 1999 Mason County RECEIVED Department of Community Development 411 N. 5th St. MAY 0 6 1999 P. O. Box 578 Shelton, WA 98584 MASON CO.PLA"NG DEPT Attention: Pam Bennett-Cummings Subject: Canal Heights Drive - Stream Restoration Dear Ms. Bennett-Cummings: This letter has been prepared to explain the proposed stream buffers and restoration plan. Mason County has requested a justification for the proposed strioam buffer reduction below the 25 foot standard requirement. To begin, we wish to recount the background conditions of this site prior to the relocation of the stream. Water flowed from the ravine near the upstream boundary of the relocation and flowed in an unconfined manner across the site slopes into the roadside ditch of SR 3. The site lacked any significant vegetation and had been impacted for a long period of time prior to construction of Canal Heights Drive. Stream buffers are an important component of the overall stream habitat. These areas typically encompass the riparian habitat used by terrestrial animals and this area also provides support functions to the stream environment. Shade from trees along streams promote temperature regulation. Insects living on or in streamside vegetation falls into the stream and become food sources for instream dwelling animals. Streamside vegetation also stabilizes stream banks from erosion and add a filter strip to trap sediments and other pollutants. We acknowledge the importance of these functions and recognize that maintenance of these functions is vital to stream preservation. At the subject property, the stream buffer vegetation was non-existent before construction and stream relocation. Even if the 25 foot standard buffer was kept intact, it would not have provided any appreciable function due to lack of vegetation. In addition, the "stream" itself was undefined in the relocation area prior to construction of Canal Heights Drive. Sediment erosion and other problems were evident on the site and would have continued even if the stream relocation had not occurred. The proposed stream restoration involves two basic components. First is the reconstruction of the streambed. The stream position will be shifted to the south, away from the new Canal Heights Drive roadbed to provide for some vegetation along the stream. The rip rap substrate that lies in the stream today will be removed and replaced with washed gravel. Stream slope will be restored to a condition closer to what we expect were native, undisturbed, conditions. Stream banks will be sloped to reduce erosion and scour. Instream structures will be installed to facilitate stream stability and promote pool and riffle habitats. The second primary component to this proposal involves establishing a vegetated buffer that will promote a better condition for the stream and overall riparian habitat. Due to the proximity of the stream to Canal Heights Drive and SR 3, it is proposed that a minimum 10 foot vegetated stream buffer be established on the 'north side - along Canal Heights Drive. A minimum 25 foot buffer would be set on the south side of the stream which would be facing any future commercial development on the page 1 1550 Woodridge Dr.SE Port Orchard,WA 98366 (360)769-8400 fax(360) 769-8700 adjacent lot. Native plant species will be placed in this buffer as illustrated on the attached planting plan. This planting plan will provide a significant increase in vegetated area on the site and will increase the buffer conditions surrounding the stream. In conjunction with the stream reconstruction plan also illustrated on the attached sketches, this proposal will result in a stable stream system on the site and will promote wildlife use and water quality maintenance beyond that which was present before construction of Canal Heights Drive. To further promote stream enhancement and long term stability, the stream buffer will be widened upstream of the restoration zone in the stream corridor as shown on the attached drawings. AES has discussed this proposal with the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Chris Byrnes. He has reviewed the proposed reconstruction and planting plan and finds it reasonable and effective in achieving a net benefit to the natural resources on the site. Once we receive word from Mason county that this plan is accepted, we will proceed with preparing a Hydraulic Project Approval Application with the WDFW. Please call if there are any questions. Sincerely, AP P IRONMENTA RVICES, INC. i e S. Wright r nvironmental S ' tist, PWS ice President attachments cc: Rick Krueger w/Attachments page 2 A Pp�,D E N WRONMENTAL S ERVICES INC. Friday, June 11, 1999 Mason County Department of Community Development 411 N. 5th St. P. O. Box 1850 Shelton, WA 98584 Attention: Gary J.Yando Subject: Canal Heights Drive-Stream Restoration Dear Gary: This letter has been prepared as a supplement to the May 4, 199 correspondence submitted to you about this project. One item that was not fully described was the overall schedule for the project. After discussing this with Mr. Rick Krueger, we propose the following construction schedule. Stream Channel grading and reshaping - August/September 1999 Site stabilization and tree planting -October 1999 Shrub and herbaceous planting - February 2000 The schedule is based upon timing the construction with summer low flows in the stream. It is expected that the stream channel would be dry in mid to late August and continue to be so until October. This will avoid the need to dewater the stream and any work within a wet stream channel. Erosion and construction duration will be minimized. Trees can be installed in the Fall as seasonal rainfall increases and promotes root establishment. Shrub and low growing plants should be installed in early spring to promote strong growth and better establishment. Planting before this time would add risk of survival due to Fall planting followed by winter dormancy. Site stabilization over the winter is recommended and we suggest use of a biodegradable coconut fiber matting along the stream banks. This material will decompose fully in a few years and plants can be installed directly through the fiber. Direct seeding and hydroseeding also succeeds on the fiber mat. Sincerely, EN NMENTA VICES, Imo ne . righ r. v' onmental Scientis , P Vic resident cc: Rick Krueger page 1 1550 Woodridge Dr.SE g i Port Orchard,WA 98366 (360) 769-8400 fax(360) 769-8700 �DI�O S(DC I Fo03$��oU� L I M 1 TS (SEE SHE T 2OF =� Lam." AD 46D C OSSINC 3,�Vi(1 W1 C(ALvcAT (SEE SIAEET OF SCAUE: 5 3o ' SiREAr4 C%AtA EL ll( � I � li / I c) AAII ET POOL (see- SHEET yoFl)) 1 oF6 93o Z \. Mirk 9` / 11/V � 1 r s"it P.z ')o , 9 Gad nNld�3ock �7 TV a , �\i ♦ V ,e C� •3. 1 y ' M)M, oA D ExtSTiNC-7 'DiTeN 10/ /D �Jf'=C��7/�TEI� StREAv�n �OAOSII�E ROPE B FFEfL &A FFE(L SI�OULpE(L i (VARIES) I "VRo90 SE o STRCAm '?\CC,o/,)S"rRUCTiof3 — 't LPt)T INC, SEc,i I one "A ' SC l� E M►RTI G Scp�r 3 a� �f S� �UL Cv � 1 c9 Ana (0, F�B . WKS 4067 wEr(Z 7 , AS Nffbeb 4 �0 , Sc E )GTAIL-AHCCT All n , Llt Eb OAT LET 900L ro LOG STEP STRUCTURE (NO SCALE) COBBLE (4"-8")/GRAVEL (1/4"-2") BED r------� ' .� (V DEEP BEHIND LOG SILL) .. !-o J. NOTCH : I j ..... i� PLUNGE POOL L----`�� REBAR. PINS STREAM. '.STREAM.- BANK. BANK '.,: LOG STEP STRUCTURE—PLAN VIEW ' CROSS WESTERN RED CEDAR OR BRACE RIP RAP DOUGLAS FIR LOG GRAVEL (NO SMALLER T1W! 1B• d.b.h.) GEOTEXTILE FILTER FABRIC J `r� s=stir,_ _ciLr=��rTz NOTCH . �_ REBAR '•:..�T -,-� :' , STREAMBED.• ' :-----i -------- --- ------ ------------------------_---1------I LOG STEP STRUCTURE—SECTION VIEW•'....' . •• _ . APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. PROJECT DRAWN BY- CHECKED BY: DATE) ATO wsw S o F (p