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Home My WebLink AboutClark Wetland Delineation - PLN General - 4/30/2008 THE WETLAND CORPS ��If Wetland Delineation - Habitat Management Plans • Riparian Restoration • Mitigation • Biological Evaluation CLARK WETLAND DELINEATION Parcel 321362200010 Shelton,Washington Mason County TO BE KEPT IN T H E PARCEL FILE Prepared for: Terry Clark 5815 East State Route 3 Shelton,WA 98584 Prepared by: Lee Boad and Heather Lane April,2008 TfH WETLAND CORPS 41r7f- Wetland Delineation • Habitat Management Plans - Riparian Restoration - Mitigation • Biological Evaluation April, 2008 Project#TWC08W329 Page 1 of 8 CLARK WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT 630 E Nason Road Shelton,Washington INTRODUCTION The Wetland Corps has been authorized by Terry Clark to perform a wetland delineation at the parcel located off of Nason Road in Shelton, Mason County, Washington, (Tax Identification Number 321362200010). A wetland determination report was prepared by TWC in October 2007, and concluded that no areas within the property met criteria for wetland due primarily to lack of positive hydrology indicators and, in most places, lack of hydrophytic vegetation. These findings were determined late in the growing season and used vegetation present at the time as representative of the entire vegetative community. A field review by Rick Mraz of Washington State Department of Ecology in February, 2008, determined the site currently meets criteria for an atypical situation due to the recent activity throughout the suspected wetland. It was determined that the area be reevaluated as a disturbed area at a time when hydrological indicators would most likely be present. The Wetland Corps revisited the site on April IIth, 2008 and confirmed the presence of wetlands and have identified buffers that would be applicable to future use of the site. The subject property is located in the NW '/, of Section 36, Township 21 North, Range 03 West WM (Figure 1 Vicinity Map). The entire parcel is approximately 10 acres in size and is rectangular in shape, oriented east to west. This review focused on the southerly portion of proposed lots 1 and 2 as shown on the site plan in figure 2. For the purposes of federal, Washington State, and Mason County jurisdictional oversight, methodology used for the wetland delineation is consistent with the wetland definition provided in paragraph 25a of the Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual (Washington State Department of Ecology, 1997). The sections below provide: (1) an introduction to the site; (2) a description of methods used in the field delineation; and, (3) technical results. GENERAL SITE CONDITIONS The property contains a single-family residence and outbuildings. Vegetation within the parcel is comprised of a diverse forested community of Douglas fir, western red cedar and red alder, with a cluster of Oregon Ash within the southwest portion of the property. The understory generally consists of areas occupied by salal, sword fern, Oregon grape, and other communities comprised of snowberry, swordfern, and vine maple. PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528-Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421•boad40@peoplepc.com Clark Wetland Delineation TWC No.08W38 April, 2008 Page No.2 Two wetland areas are located within the southwestern and central portions of the parcel, and are each characterized by an overstory of Oregon ash, quaking aspen and red alder with understory vegetation consisting of snowberry, nootka rose and creeping buttercup . Much of the wetland areas have been recently graded and understory vegetation has been removed, therefore this site meets criteria for an atypical situation due to the alteration of the vegetation parameter. Topography within the parcel is relatively flat. The northeastern portion of the parcel slopes down toward Cranberry Creek, located north and east of the property. Development surrounding the subject property is comprised of low density single-family land use. METHODOLOGY Review of Existing Information Consistent with procedures detailed in the Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual (Washington State Department of Ecology, 1997) (1997 Manual), preliminary information was gathered on the project site prior to the field review and delineation. General information sources included: United States Geological Service (USGS) topographic maps, 1974 United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps, the Soil Survey of Mason County Area, Washington (USDA, 1951), and Mason County's critical areas regulations. Field Delineation Methodology used for wetland delineation was consistent with the technical approaches articulated in the 1997 Manual. This document is the wetland delineation manual that is used in determining wetland areas when applying state and local government regulations under the Shoreline Management Act and the Growth Management Act in Washington State. The extent and location of project site wetlands were determined during field work performed on April 11`h, 2008. Field work was conducted under rainy skies with an ambient temperature ranging between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The time of year and recent precipitation history were considered in assessing the type and extent of wetlands presumed to exist on site. Specific field methodology used in determining the extent and location of wetland areas include: ■ As part of the initial project site reconnaissance, the site was walked to determine the general extent and location of potential wetland areas; ■ Wetland and upland sample plots were established in the identified wetland areas and in the adjacent upland area; and ■ Wetland boundaries were delineated with flagging by noting localized topography and vegetation patterns and comparing parameters of hydrology, soil, and vegetation with data collected at the wetland and upland sample plots. PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528-Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421•boad40@peoplepc.com Clark Wetland Delineation TWC No.08W38 April, 2008 Page No.3 The project area was investigated and data was collected at three sample plot locations. Data collected at each sample plot were entered onto a Routine Wetland Determination Data Form (Washington State Department of Ecology 1997). Copies of data forms for each sample plot are provided in Appendix A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Mason County Soil Survey The soil survey of Mason County indicates three onsite soil types(USDA, 1951): Everett gravelly sandy loam, S to 15 percent slopes (Eh) The Everett series consists of somewhat excessively drained, pale-brown gravelly soils. They occur as inextensive gravel ridges on the glacial moraines or, more commonly, as fairly continuous outwash channels between ridges of Alderwood soils. They have developed upon assorted glacial till and outwash material. The rainfall is 45 to 60 inches a year. The vegetation is mainly drought-resistant madrone, manzanita, and kinnikinnick. Everett soils are droughty because the loose gravel and sandy subsoil and substratum offer little resistance to downward movement of water. The capacity of the surface soil to hold available moisture is low. Everett soils are in the eastern half of the county, in association with the Alderwood soils. They also occur in intricate patterns with the Kitsap and Indianola soils. Compared to the Grove soils, the Everett soils have a paler surface soil and subsoil and, in development, were dominated more by acid igneous parent rock. Everett gravelly sandy loam, 5 to 15 percent slopes(Eh) is the most extensive Everett soil. Everett gravelly sandy loa m, 15 to 30 percent slopes (Ek).-This soil is on the steeper slopes of glacial moraines, sides of gullies, and terrace fronts. It is closely associated with other Everett soils and the Alderwood gravelly sandy loams. Cloquallum silt loam, S to 15 percent slopes (Cc). The Cloquallum series consists of moderately well drained, brown upland soils. They occupy gently undulating to rolling areas where surface drainage is fairly well established. They have developed from silty sediments that washed from the southwestern terminal moraine and were deposited in glacial lakes formed when the Vashon glacier retreated. The glacial sediment contained considerable amounts of local basic material that gave the soil a reddish cast. Rainfall ranges from 50 to 70 inches a year. The native vegetation is a luxuriant forest consisting mainly of Douglas-fir., though there are smaller areas of maple and alder. The understory is mainly salal. Internal drainage is retarded by firm or slightly compact, slightly stratified silt and clay in the lower subsoil and substratum. The soils are medium acid. The Cloquallum soils are in the central and southcentral parts of the county, particularly oil the sides of valleys originating in the Black Hills. Fairly broad areas extend out on the glacial plain. The Cloquallum soils are associated mainly with the Shelton and the Grove soils, but to a small extent they occur with the Alderwood and the Everett soils. A more detailed soil description can be found in Appendix B Mason Soil Survey Text. The Mason Soil Survey map is shown in Figure 3. PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528-Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421-boad40@peoplepc.com Clark Wetland Delineation TWC No.08W38 April, 2008 Page No.4 National Wetlands Inventory The USFWS NWI map (online wetlands mapper) shows no identified wetland areas in the project vicinity(Figure 2. National Wetland Inventory Map). Department of Natural Resources Water Resource The Department of Natural Resources Water Resource Map shows one identified stream within the approximate parcel location. The stream is identified as Cranberry Creek and is classified as a type "S" stream(Figure 4. DNR Stream Map). WETLAND DELINEATION RESULTS Two areas that have been recently graded and herbaceous vegetation partially removed, were evaluated for indicators of hydric soil, wetland hydrology, and hydrophytic vegetation. The wetland areas are located in the southwestern portion of the ownership. These wetland areas meet criteria for an atypical situation due to the recent alteration of the vegetation parameter. Portions of the shrub and herbaceous community have been grubbed and cleared, therefore adjacent vegetation, in addition to vegetation that is beginning to voluntarily recruit the disturbed areas, were used to characterize the original vegetation. Upland areas did not appear to be disturbed. The wetlands are identified in this report as Wetland A and Wetland B. Wetland A occupies an area of approximately two acres, and Wetland B is located approximately 90 feet northeast of Wetland A and occupies approximately 3,000 square feet in size (See Figure 2. Site Map for approximate locations of wetlands and associated buffers). PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528-Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421-boad40@peoplepc.com Clark Wetland Delineation TWC No.08W38 April, 2008 Page No.5 s � �. a V t• �y ! ,IFS 1 �.t. .t S o 2, 1 J 5C - ?+ '� c{ il F ,ems _ +►�9a,. 's 4 t !F! } 1 X, Ke t�:;�".• �� ti-+#+2°"�;^� '`C � n.M�ram<z � ,i, r��ho", -ter- 't: +t" 4- T ��'•� — ��a.,'. :. ... .',day� ..'s � ;`�f�. •#� let Photo 1. Portion of Wetland A. Vegetation Wetland A is dominated by an overstory community of Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia, FACW), red alder(Alnus rubra, FAC), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides, FAC+). The understory community was identified using the remaining shrub vegetation throughout saturated soils, in addition to recently recruiting herbaceous vegetation within the grubbed soil. The existing native understory vegetation is dominated by snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus, FACU), cascara (Rhamnus pushiana, FAC-), swordfern (Polystichum munitum, FACU), vine maple (Ater circinatum, FAC-), Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis, FACU), himilayan blackberry (Rubus discolor, FACU) and nootka rose (Rosa nutkana, FAC), piggy back plant (Tolmiea menziesii, FAC), and creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens, FACW). Herbaceous vegetation beginning to grow within the recently grubbed soil consists of wild lily-of-the-valley (Mainanthemum dilatatum, FAC), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens, FACW), water parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa, OBL) and piggyback plant(Tolmiea menziesii, FAC). Wetland B contains a similar overstory community of Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia, FACW), red alder (Alnus rubra, FAC) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides, FAC+). Wetland B contains little understory vegetation due to the grubbing and vegetation removal. Remaining and recruit vegetation consists of nootka rose (Rosa nutkana, FAC), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus, FACU), wild lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum dilatatum, FAC), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens, FACW)and piggyback plant(Tolmiea menziiesii, FAC). PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528•Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421-boad40@peoplepc.com Clark Wetland Delineation TWC No.08W38 April, 2008 Page No.6 The upland vegetation in areas adjacent to the speculated wetland area includes an overstory of Western red cedar (Thuja plicata, FAC), red alder (Alnus rubra, FAC), and big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum, FACU), the understory consists of sword fern (Polystichum munitum, FACU), himalayan blackberry(Rubus discolor, FACU), Oregon grape(Berberis nervosa, UPL), Japanese knotweed (Polygonium cuspidatum, NI), and a herbaceous layer of creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens, FACW) and piggy back plant (Tolmiea menziesii, FAC) subsisting throughout upland areas. Soils All three suspect wetland test pits revealed a two-layer soil profile containing an upper layer six to ten inches deep of silty clay loam with matrix chroma 10YR 2/1. The lower layer contained a grayish brown (10YR 5/2 and 2.5YR 5/2) clay loam and silty clay loam with iron and/or magnesium concretions of varying size to eighteen inches deep. Wetland test pits indicate wetland hydric soils by the presence of low chroma (=1) soils, iron and magnesium concretions, and low chroma=2 soils with mottles. Recent use of heavy equipment throughout the wetlands have effected the upper 3 to 5 inches of the soil, but do not appear to have an effect on the entire soil profile or hydric soil determination. Upland test pits exhibited a two-layer profile with an upper layer containing very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silty loam six to eight inches deep. The lower layer also contains silt loam with matrix chroma 1OYR 3/6 to eighteen inches deep. No hydric soil indicators were present in upland test pits. Hydrology On the day of the field visit, hydrology was indicated within sample plots in Wetland A by inundation up to 4 inches in some areas, free water in the test pit/soil saturation to the surface during the growing season. Hydrology was indicated within Wetland B by inundation up to 3 inches, free water in the test pit/soil saturation during the growing season. The use of heavy equipment throughout the wetland has increased surface inundation/ponding by creating depresions, However, soil saturation and free water in the test pits during the growing season are sufficient to support wetland hydrology indicators. Upland test pits showed no indicators of wetland hydrology. WETLAND EVALUATION Wetland A meets criteria for a Depressional wetland based on functions per Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington (Hruby 2004) for the purposes of rating. Based on functional attributes associated with the wetland including habitat, water quality, and hydrology functions, it has been rated as a Category II wetland, scoring 52 points on the state rating form. The score for water quality functions in this wetland is 28, hydrological functions scored 8, and the score for habitat functions is 16. According to Table 17.01.070 E of the Mason County Resource Ordinance, the base buffer width for Category II Wetlands scoring less than 20 points in habitat function and between 20 and 28 points in Water Quality,within parcels intended for Moderate Impact Land Use require a base buffer width of 90 feet with an additional 15-foot building setback. Moderate Impact Land Use is described in Table 17.07.070 B of the Mason PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528-Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421•boad40@peoplepc.com f Clark Wetland Delineation TWC No.08W38 April, 2008 Page No.7 County Resource Ordinance as single-family residential lots or residential subdivisions with 1 unit/acre or less. Wetland B meets criteria for a Depressional wetland based on functions per Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington (Hruby 2004) for the purposes of rating. Based on functional attributes associated with the wetland including habitat, water quality, and hydrology functions, it has been rated as a Category III wetland, scoring 39 points on the state rating form. The score for water quality functions in this wetland is 20, hydrological functions scored 5, and the score for habitat functions is 14. According to Table 17.01.070 D of the Mason County Resource Ordinance, the base buffer width for Category III Wetlands scoring less than 20 points in habitat function, within parcels intended for Moderate Impact Land Use require a base buffer width of 60 feet with an additional 15-foot building setback. Moderate Impact Land Use is described in Table 17.07.070 B of the Mason County Resource Ordinance as single- family residential lots or residential subdivisions with 1 unit/acre or less. SUMMARY This wetland report documents the presence of two wetlands meeting criteria for a Category II Wetland (Wetland A) and a Category III Wetland (Wetland B) within the subject property. Wetland A requires a 90-foot buffer and Wetland B requires a 60-foot buffer with an additional 15-foot building setback. Thank you for choosing the Wetland Corps as your environmental consultant. If you have any questions, feel free to call. Respectfully submitted, The Wetland Corps Heather fane Staff Wetland Specialist f f� Lee Boad Senior Ecologist PO Box 2854 Belfair,Washington 98528-Cell Phone 360-620-0618.Office Phone 360-372-2421-boad40@peoplepc.com I co _ �w � DESCRIBED /N AF NO. 328546 c5 `TNAN I N 88 2228" E 1316.10 7 80.62 ;n 144.9 � � 681.54 \ CENTERLINE EXISTINCs 12 GRAYEL RD. HOUSE ■ ■ OF (( I : OLD � ' BARN 2.74 AC ® �� _ 220 AC 20' EASEMENT FOR /NaRESS, I < I EGRESS AND UTILITIES W/.USIVE ��_ I GG—— — EMER5ENC r APPARATUS ED / e M TURN-AROUND SEE DETAIL WELL HOUSE W/ WOOD STORAGE 'D IN w \ o o r:. / 1 oy r !) / 10-02 AC I cl N ! TO BE KEPT IN THE ' .� UIETLAND „s.. PARCEL CEL FILE CUETL,AND. ,4" �� 25 fy s `� rZ50� 25' 1/E6sETATIYE r2.s0 r2.50 STORIIWATER WEER T1'P. 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