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VPM-Meadowview.pdfDavid M. Reich, Consulting Arborist 13 March 2015 Amendment to Vegetation Management Plan (VPM) reportR 2 5 2415 ENGINEERING DIVISI( To: City of Edmonds land -use authorities From: DMR Ike: VPM/report 12105114 submitted on behalf of bent Halvorson, owner Meadowview Estates 15620 72nd Ave. West 98020; City of Edmonds fele#e pin20130048; slope_ Aand not within NVRA Please refer to the full site plan by LDC Surveyors and Engineers, TR -01, page 11 of 1.1 plotted 11125114; and consult with LCD or the owner to properly comprehend the location of the subject area. West and slightly southwest of the west side of the existing house at the referenced address, a section of sloped land indicated by the diagonal lines inside the hashed lines (both drawn by DMR over LDC's plan) does not lie within the Native Vegetation Retention Area. That NVRA lies to the north of the subject area. Since the subject area does not occupy any of the designated NVRA as shown on the LCD plan, the owner has no obligation to perform restoration work in that area. According to the geotechnical engineer of record that part of the slope shows no sign of disturbance or potential disturbance. Therefore the owner does not wish to disturb the slope surface at this time by digging and planting numerous native trees and shrubs. The owner does not wish at this tirne to execute or plan to execute hillside vegetation removal and replacement on the subject slope section as indicated. At a later date, the owner or a new owner may elect to clean off the non-native vegetation (n-nv) and plant new native stock after completing erosion prevention measures. Alternatively, any future plan might include only clearing away enough selected existing n-nv to make room for new native trees and shrubs. Or, a new plan aright call for hydro -seed application on a cleared slope followed by woody plants. No matter what strategy, methods and techniques the owner employs, he will follow procedures outlined in the 12/05/14 DMR VPM (revised 03112115) demanded by the City of Edmonds. Please refer back to that document. David NIcKim Reith, CAnxeLltlny ArhnHst - 622 2419h Avtnue Easi Seat'tie, WA RD 11Z . 2Ud.S87_U4a • dyvid teicil[3ycHyforu�l�[s_cuLrt FStiGr Nonhwei t Clapta MISA asai <w r_ wAMV9IG.1ti VOGlrTy-f LIFETIME MEMBER LIFETIME MEMBER CHARTER MEMBER CEPTIrIEB TREE RISK ASSrESOR # 231 �' David M. Reich, Consulting Arborist 5 December 2014 Vegetation Management Plan (VPM) appended to subdivision application, file# pin 20130048, City of Edmonds For'. Meadowview Estates 15620 72nd Avenue West Edmonds, WA 98020 As required by City of Edmonds Planning per ECDC 23.90,040,0 and the specific requests by Mernan Lien, senior planner City of Edmonds, in his review notes of October, page four (4) of a city Planning memo from Jeanie McConnell: VPM on western slope (`slope') and western 25' buffer -zone (`buffer') top of slope native vegetation retention area (NVRA), east edge, items a -e as follows. Please see DMR drawings for tree pruning and refer to LDC's existing tree plan sheet 11, TR -01. Suin1Tlaiy The referenced property and its NVRA does not require any extensive vegetation restoration. It exists in the same state as it has existed for decades. It requires minimal work, if any, to eliminate and control non-native, invasive vegetation depending entirely on the owner's prerogative; if the owner chooses to plant new native stock, then he would clear non-native vegetation enough to accommodate. The slope does not require new trees or shrubs. Some maple trees on the slope that grow densely clustered on much older, decaying maple stumps require regular thinning of vertical sterns and crown reduction for long-term copse management and preservation of long established westward view. The area directly downhill from the original house, currently dominated by Himalayan blackberry and English ivy is not in the NVRA and requires no work, and the owner does not wish to disturb the soil surface. a. vegetation description: NAT'I'VE A mix of Pacific Northwest trees, shrubs and herbaceous groundeover plants consisting of: Trees --Rigleaf maple (BLM; Acer rrracrophyllrtrn; deciduous): about a dozen roughly same age clumps (multi -stem) originating from original stumps cut repeatedly. Current iteration (or generation) of shoots rise vertically about 20'- 65' above grade; their individual dbh ranges from Y-9". Clumps number 12-24 shoots each. Some sterns are diseased or dead, most are alive and healthy. Their original stumps have decayed to varying degrees. The existing new stems (shoots) have developed strong adventitious roots independent of the old stumps Davld MrXiiu Reich, CangunIng trlaurh9t - 622 706 Avelwe East Seairle, VJA Bil17Z • 296_387.C243 . datFii lelcli zliyfures[ets_cases i9L' U N01`115VOt Ch,11[111 r ' WISAr 1rr,rn.IrRs!-�n:n.it,mk�u„m - AMERICAN socluTY,.f 4.70245IJ LT: FL: AFill 0 R 15 T.1 LIFETIME MEMBER LIFETIME MEMBER CHARTER MEMBER CERTIFIED TREE JVSK ASSESSOR lit 237 i iblea d.uo yyiew vmp Fdrnond9 20130040 11/26/14 nA b. needed and elective work descr'spti_on: The subject NVRA slope and buffer have remained in the same general condition for decades: a 60-40 unix of native --non-native vegetation; repeatedly cut ("coppiced") Bigleaf maples; maples and alders standing with original trunks and canopies; large, often taller conifers over -shading both some understory and some deciduous over -story. With few exceptions existing non-native ("invasive") vegetation has not gained any significant advantage over any native trees or understory. There are some open areas on the slope without any tree - shade where ivy and blackberry prevail. The area directly below the original house is not in the NVRA. The owner may or may not conduct any restoration work within it. If the owner commences restoration, he will follow procedures and methods outlined in this report and plan as follows. The only needed work consists of cutting all ivy and black berry in those open areas, where no other vegetation grows, down to dirt surface soil—in warm, dry spring weather. Instal] silt -fence along the lower end of the cutting/clearing area. Place sheets of cardboard along the uphill side of the silt -fence and rake cut debris down onto it. Keep all cuttings on the cardboard to prevent re -rooting in soil. Within two weeks of initial cutting, in div weather orale, treat o�?lv tender new black berry or ivy growth with a strong broadleaf stump and weed killer— CrossbowT" or fu[I-strength hound-upTm. Do not indiscriminately spray herbicides. Such carelessness may lead to collateral damage to sections of native growth adjacent to the invasive targets. Following that treatment, hydro -seed the cleaned area with a WAD©T Northwest unix of grasses and wild -flowers. Follow up the grass coverage with three visits to cut any emerging ivy or black berry. After the third maintenance visit, perform maintenance annually (or more often if needed). Irrigate the new grass by hand-held hose or by irrigation sprinklers turned on and off inanually, with city approval_ Do not use automatic, timarl or photocell irrigation systems on the slope. Irrigation necessary for first summer only. The debris piles and the cardboard will rot and disintegrate; along with the silt- fence they will prevent any contamination of soil below it. In NVRA sections covered together by native and non-native underbrush species, tangled and competing for space, cut back the non-native species as low and as thoroughly as possible and keep collateral damage to native understory plants to a minimum. Do not dig out undesirable plants. Diligent and repeated cutting of ivy and black berry will allow desirable shade -tolerant natives to grow in and overwhelm the invasive plants—especially in areas shaded by trees. After the first summer of maintenance (watering and weed control) across all parts of the NVRA, annual maintenance should not require more than seasonal visits; annual visits should suffice. Keep in mind that up to this point without any maintenance, the trees and natives have done quite well; the non -natives, with some exceptions, have not gained total dominance over the ground. Meadmvviewv vram Edmonds 20133004B11/26/14 p.5 c. describe work to establish... See "b." The areas cleared of ivy and black berry are the only places that require new vegetation, As explained in previous section, hydro -seeded grasses will provide that cover. Volunteer maple and alder will be protected and encouraged as well in those areas. No new vegetation is needed outside the NVRA. d. maintenance provisions... see "b." Planned maintenance first summer: --hand watering as needed to establish new grasses and wildflowers. --manual cutting of ivy and black berry during four visits first summer. --annual cutting of non -natives to ensure native dominance thereafter as needed. e. implementation... see "b." Start NVRA work (b. -d.) spring. 2015, probably first available extended warm and dry spell mid-May to early June. Continue perennial weed annihilation and irrigation for hydro -seed grass through the summer of 2015. Implementation of the NVRAiVMP has no connection to scheduled construction. It will start in the summer. Management of neve, recent growth on old Bigleaf maple trees as pari of'V`MP Approximately 9-12 clumps (multi -stem) of BLM stand on the VPA slope. Stems number from roughly six or seven to 14 per stump. The clumps or clusters of maple stems—about 1.5"-6" dbh—grow from much older, original BLM stumps_ As long as some part of the stumps' root -systems live, the stumps will continue to grow new shoots (epiconnic shoots). Those shoots will grow rapidly -4'-12' in height and '/z"-1" of new wood (stern diameter) each growing season. The stumps proliferate vigorously with new shoot growth even while they continue to decay. Eventually the new shoots grow adventitious roots straight down through the old decayed stump wood or down alongside the stump. As those new roots and stems grow and increase in size, they (particularly the roots) contribute, by the cohesive strength of their new roots, added, critical, stability to the slope's topsoil (overburden). As the site photos show, and as a quick visit to the site's NVRA will also reveal, different iterations (ages, generations) of stems crowd each stump. The most efficient way to maintain their growth at an acceptable height requires selectively removing (pruning) the oldest, thickest, tallest stems (in this case the 6" diameter growth) and pruning down ("heading" or "drop -crotch" pruning) any vertical growth that still obscures the long established view to Puget Sound. Smaller steins require no pruning until possibly the next year, probably not for two -three years. Each larger diameter stem (4"-6" d.) when cut, will also sprout new shoots an its remaining stump. By pruning out (removal) the tallest growth, pruning clown (height reduction) intermediate growth and protecting the smallest growth until it has grown too large to keep, the property owner can maintain the maple clumps. in a cyclical manner in perpetuity. Every pruning will stimulate adventitious buds that will appear either shortly after the cutting if executed early in the growing season or the following spring if pruning large stems occurs late in the prior summer or autumn. The slope will always benefit from the foliage umbrellas provided by the maples' canopy (foliage) growth during the foliage season; the slope's overburden will benefit from cohesive strength of the maples' roots year -round - 61 mend view vmn Edmunds 201.30048 11/26/14 n-6 Cut After crown reduction there is no need to haul out brush. Leave all cut material on the slope diced or cut in short lengths (maximum length of 2) and scattered thinly across the hill. That procedure will maximize ground contact with the cuttings ---especially the larger wood—and accelerate decay. Don't leave debris in piles; concentrated brush and small log piles will impede footing, create obstacles to controlling invasive species, endanger workers, possibly cause soil disturbance and mudslide, and provide a source of fuel in the event of a brush fire during the summer—unlikely in the Puget Sound basin but not unheard of. Please see drawings that illustrate the pruning procedures described. n