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Jurich Wetland Investigation Letter 07-10-2009.pdfwwwhortcrowser. com HARTCROWSER July 10, 2009 Mr. Tom Jurich 20018 Maplewood Drive Edmonds, WA 98020 Re: Wetland Investigation at 20010 Maplewood Drive Edmonds, Washington 12 709-01 Dear Tom: We conducted a reconnaissance -level wetland investigation on June 30, 2009 for your residential project located at 20010 Maplewood Drive in Edmonds, Washington. This letter is a summary of our findings. We include photographs of current site conditions for reference. NO WETLANDS OBSERVED Based on conditions during our site visit, we did not observe any areas that had positive indicators of all three required wetland characteristics. We delineate wetland boundaries based on our standard methodology, professional judgment and existing site conditions during field analysis, including information provided by the client. Methods We delineate wetland boundaries using the Routine Determinations method described by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) in the Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual (Ecology 1997) in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation manual (1987) and regional supplement (2008), to comply with local, state, and federal regulations. Positive wetland indicators must be present with few exceptions for the following three parameters for an area to be identified as a jurisdictional wetland: (1) hydrophytic vegetation, (2) hydric soil, and (3) wetland hydrology. We use standard methods to determine whether the criteria are met for each of the parameters. 120 Third Avenue South, Suite 110 Edmonds, Washington 98020-8411 Fax 425.778.9417 Tel 425.775.4682 Tom Jurich 12709-01 July 10, 2009 Page 2 We walked the study area and visually inspected the vegetation and topography to determine if further investigations were warranted. We examined the soil to a depth of 12 to 16 inches, in areas that were either topographic low points and/or contained vegetation that may have been indicative of wetland conditions. Site Conditions The study area is located along the western property boundary within a former drainage swale. Stormwater from City of Edmonds (City) roadways and an adjacent development was previously routed to this swale until recently when the City corrected the drainage problems. The project applicant recently submitted a development application to the City. The City conducted a site visit and indicated that further investigation of an area containing creeping buttercup would be required. The subject property currently contains one residence, landscaping and lawn. The site gently slopes to the west. No surface water was observed on June 30, 2009. Additionally, no saturated soil conditions or shallow groundwater were observed in our soil investigations indicating that wetland hydrology does not exist on site. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Survey of Snohomish County, Washington (Debose et al. 1983) maps one soil type within the study area: Alderwood-Urban land complex (2 to 8 percent slopes). We generally identified soils that consisted of sand, loam and gravel that were light to medium brown (7.5YR and 10YR 3/2) in color with no mottles observed within the upper 12 inches of soil. A few fine mottles (less than 3 percent) were observed at approximately 14 inches below the ground surface. Our test pits revealed borderline hydric soils within the study area. Vegetation within the study area consisted of native and invasive plant species. The northern portion of the study area is dominated by a shrub plant community consisting of Japanese knotweed (Poiygonum cuspidatum, NI), English laurel (Prunus iaurocerasu5, NIL), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus, FACU), Evergreen blackberry (Rubus /acinatus, FACU+), English holly (iiexaquifoiium, NL), big -leaf maple (Acermacrophy//um, FACU) saplings, and a small (less than 25 square feet) patch of creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens, FACW). The southern portion of the study area consists of similar species and salmonberry (Rubus spectabiiis, FAC+) among a small patch of English laurel and English ivy (Hedera he/ix, NL). Within the central portion of the study area we observed one individual lady fern (Athyrium Alix-femina, FAC) and one sword fern (Po/ystichum munitum, FACU). Tom Jurich 12709-01 July 10, 2009 Page 3 We did not observe a dominance (greater than 50 percent) of wetland (hydrophytic) vegetation, nor did we observe the hydrology necessary for wetland status within the study area. We observed borderline hydric soil conditions. Based on our reconnaissance -level evaluation, we did not observe the three wetland parameters required for wetland status. The swale located within the study area conveyed water north toward adjacent residential development. However, it does not appear that a sufficient quantity of water and duration of inundation or saturation occurred to develop wetland soils. The City provides an exemption for wetland areas that meet the following conditions: 1) are under 500 square feet in size, 2) provide low -quality Category 3 or 4 wetland, 3) do not provide significant habitat value, and 4) a wetland would maintain equivalent or greater habitat functions over existing site conditions if filled (Edmonds Municipal Code (EMC) 23.50.040(I)). Although the study area does not meet the criteria for wetland status, it would meet the above requirements for exemption given the area in question is approximately 25 square feet in size, is low quality habitat that does not provide significant habitat value, and the loss of the area would not reduce habitat functions in the area. LIMITATIONS Work for this project was performed, and this letter report prepared, in accordance with generally accepted professional practices for the nature and conditions of the work completed in the same or similar localities, at the time the work was performed. It is intended for the exclusive use of Tom Jurich for specific application to the referenced property. This report is not meant to represent a legal opinion. No other warranty, express or implied, is made. Subsurface conditions interpreted from observations of soil materials and seepage encountered in our explorations and/or investigations, in conjunction with soil properties inferred from field tests, formed the basis for developing our recommendations in this report. The nature and extent of conditions between the explorations and/or investigations may change over time and may not become evident until site work begins. If significant variations then appear evident, we should be consulted to re-evaluate the conclusions and recommendations in this report. It should be noted that fluctuations in the level of the groundwater may occur and are dependent on variations in rainfall, temperature, and other climatic factors. Tom Jurich July 10, 2009 12 709-01 Page 4 If you have any questions, please contact Celina Abercrombie at (425) 329-1173. We thank you for this opportunity to provide our wetland consulting services. Sincerely, HART CROWSER, INC. CELINA ABER R MBIE Wetland Biologist celina.abercrombie@pentecenv.com Attachments: Photographs REFERENCES WAYNE C. ADAMS, PE, PENG, EG Principal - Regional Manager wca@hartcrowser.com Cooke, Sarah S. ed., 1997. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northern Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington. Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe, 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. Office of Biological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-79/31, Washington, D.C. Debose, A. and M.W. Klungland, 1983. Soil Survey of Snohomish County Area, Washington. U.S. Department of Agriculture; Soil Conservation Service. July 1983. Ecology (Washington State Department of Ecology), 1997. Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual. Ecology, Publication No. 96-94, Olympia, Washington. Edmonds Municipal Code (EMC). Chapter 23.40 - Environmentally Critical Areas General Provisions. 2004. Hruby, T., 2004. Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington - Revised. Washington State Department of Ecology Publication #04-06-025. Tom Jurich 12709-01 July 10, 2009 Page 5 Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A., 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing, Redmond, Washington. Reed, P.B., Jr., 1988. National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: Northwest (Region 9). US Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 88(26.9), Washington, D.C. Reed, P.B. et al., 1993. Supplement to List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands; Northwest (Region 9). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Inland Freshwater Ecology Section, Supplement to Biological Report 88 (26.9), St. Petersburg, Florida. Soil Conservation Service (SCS), 1990. Washington Hydric Soil List. U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2008. Interim Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region, ed. J.S. Wakeley, R.W. Lichvar, and C.V. Noble. ERDC/EL TR-08-13. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1994. Washington Regional Guidance on the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual. Public Notice dated May 23, 1994. District Regulatory Branch, Seattle, Washington. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual. Technical report Y-87-1, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia. W:CLIENTS.WP00709\001Wetland Investigation Letter07-10-2009.doc Hart Crowser 12709-01 Photograph 1 — The study area contains blackberry, knotweed, English laurel, and a small patch of creeping buttercup (view looking southwest). Photograph 2 — A small patch of creeping buttercup is present in the existing swale. The area does not meet the criteria for a wetland (view looking north).