1055 7th Ave S - Wetland & Stream Determination and Functional AssessmentENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
WETLAND & STREAM DETERMINATION
AND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
1055 77'H A VENUE So UTH
EDMONDS, WA
Wetland Resources, Inc. Project #20060
Prepared B�
Wetland Resources, Inc.
9505 19th Avenue SE, Suite 106
Everett, WA 98208
(425) 337-3174
Prepared For
Select Homes, LLC
Attn: Kayla Nichols
16531 13,h Ave W, #A107
Lynnwood, WA 98037
April 15, 2020
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 1
2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................ 1
3.0 REVIEW OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA................................................................................ 2
4.0 WETLAND AND STREAM DETERMINATION............................................................................ 3
4.1 WETLAND AND STREAM DETERMINATION METHODOLOGY....................................................... 3
4.1.1 Hydrophytic Vegetation Criteria............................................................................................ 3
4.1.2 Soils Criteria........................................................................................................................... 3
4.1.3 Hydrology Criteria................................................................................................................. 4
4.2 WETLAND AND STREAM BOUNDARY DETERMINATION FINDINGS ............................................... 4
4.2.1 Shellabarger Creek................................................................................................................. 4
5.0 WILDLIFE............................................................................................................................. 7
6.0 FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS......................................................................................................... 7
7.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION................................................................................................ 9
8.0 USE OF THIS REPORT........................................................................................................... 9
9.0 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................... 10
LIST OF 'FIGURES
FIGURE 1 -AERIAL VIEW OF SUBJECT PROPERTY (NOT TO SCALE) ................................................ 1
FIGURE 2-SHELLABARGER CREEK AND PIPED STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE VICINITY
OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. P1-P3 INDICATE THE LOCATIONS OF PHOTOS PICTURED IN FIGURE
3. (IMAGE SOURCE: CITY OF EDMONDS GIS INTERACTIVE ONLINE MAP) ..................................... 5
FIGURE 3 -PHOTOGRAPHS OF SHELLABARGER CREEK IN THE VICINITY OF THE SUBJECT SITE.
CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP LEFT, P1-P3 AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 2................................................ 6
FIGURE 4 -SUBJECT SITE NORTHEAST OF THE CORNER OF FIR STREET AND 7TH AVENUE SOUTH
WITH SHELLABARGER CREEK TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION (FACING
SOUTH. (IMAGE SOURCE: GOGGLE MAPS STREET VIEW)............................................................. 8
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Wetland Resources, Inc. (WRY conducted a site investigation on April 1, 2020 to identify and
evaluate jurisdictional wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas on and in the
vicinity of the 0.34-acre parcel located at 1055 71h Avenue South, in Edmonds, Washington,
(parcel #00619400400600). The site is identified as a portion of Section 25, Township 27N,
Range 03E, W.M. and is located within the Puget Sound drainage basin in the Cedar-
Sammamish Watershed, Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 8.
2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
The subject property is located at the northeast corner of Th Avenue South and Fir Street. The
property is developed with a single-family residence and detached garage. The remainder of the
site consists of maintained lawn and landscaping. Topography of the site slopes to the west. Soils
on the site are mapped by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) web soil survey as
Alderwood-Urban land complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes. Surrounding land use consists of single-
family residential use. Shellabarger Creek, a Type F stream, is located to the southwest of the site
and a tributary to Shellabarger Creek (also Type F) is located to the west of the site.
Prior to conducting the site investigation, public resource information was reviewed to gather
background information on the subject property and the surrounding area in regards to
wetlands, streams, and other critical areas. These sources included the following:
Figure 1 -Aerial view of subject property (Not to scale)
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3.0 REVIEW OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA
USDA/NRCS Web Soil Survey
Soils on the site are mapped Alderwood-Urban land complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes. This soil
map unit is described as moderately well drained and contains inclusions of Norma (5 percent),
which is a hydric soil typically found in drainageways.
City of Edmonds GIS Interactive Map
The City of Edmonds GIS interactive online map depicts Shellabarger Creek to the southwest of
the property. The stream is intermittently piped downgradient of the subject site.
Snohomish County PDS Map Portal
PDS Map Portal depicts Shellabarger Creek as a Non -Fish Habitat Seasonal Stream to the
southwest of the property. Approximately 0.4 miles downstream of the site it is shown as a Fish
Habitat stream. Two Snohomish County inventoried wetlands are shown in the vicinity of the
site. One is located approximately 365 feet south to the south, and the other is approximately
235 feet to the west. Both of these wetlands are associated with Shellabarger Creek.
USFWS National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
NWI depicts a Riverine, Intermittent, Streambed, Seasonally Flooded feature southwest of the
subject site.
DNR Wetlands of High Conservation Value Interactive Map
This resource does not depict any features on or near the subject property.
DNR Forest Practices Application Mapping Tool (FPAM7)
This resource depicts a stream to the southwest of the subject site. The stream is shown as a Type
N stream south of Fir Street, with a stream type break just south of Fir Street. From that location
it is shown as a Type F stream to the north.
WDFW SalmonScape Interactive Mapping System
SalmonScape shows Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) presence in Shellabarger Creek, based on
lack of gradient barriers.
StreamNet Mapper
The StreamNet Mapper interactive online mapping tool depicts migration of Coastal cutthroat
trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii ssp. clarkii) in Shellabarger Creek approximately 0.4 miles downstream of
the subject site.
WDFW Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) Interactive Map
PHS does not depict any features on or in the vicinity of the site. Occurrence/migration of Coho
and Resident coastal cutthroat is depicted in Shellabarger Creek approximately 0.4 miles
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downstream of the subject site.
4.0 WETLAND AND STREAM DETERMINATION
4.1 WETLAND AND STREAM DETERMINATION METHODOLOGY
Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) boundaries of lakes, streams, and marine waters are
determined through use of methodology presented in The Washington State Department of
Ecology document Determining the Ordinary High Water Mark for Shoreline Management Act Compliance in
Washington State (Anderson et al 2016). Designation of streams and lakes is consistent with the
water typing system established in the Washington Administrative Code MAC) 222-16-030.
Wetland boundaries were determined using the routine approach described in the Corps of
Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Regional
Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains,
Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2.0) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2010). Under the
routine methodology, the process for making a wetland determination is based on three steps:
1.) Examination of the site for hydrophytic vegetation (species present and percent cover);
2.) Examination of the site for hydric soils;
3.) Determining the presence of wetland hydrology
4.1.1 Hydrophytic Vegetation Criteria
The Corps Manual and 2010 Regional Supplement define hydrophytic vegetation as "the
assemblage of macrophytes that occurs in areas where inundation or soil saturation is either
permanent or of sufficient frequency and duration to influence plant occurrence." Field
indicators are used to determine whether the hydrophytic vegetation criteria have been
met. Examples of these indicators include, but are not limited to, the rapid test for hydrophytic
vegetation, a dominance test result of greater than 50%, and/or a prevalence index score less
than or equal to 3.0.
4.1.2 Soils Criteria
The 2010 Regional Supplement (per the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils) defines
hydric soils as soils "that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long
enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part." Field
indicators are used to determine whether a given soil meets the definition for hydric
soils. Indicators are numerous and include, but are not limited to, presence of a histosol or histic
epipedon, a sandy gleyed matrix, depleted matrix, and redoximorphic depressions.
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4.1.3 Hydrology Criteria
Wetland hydrology encompasses all hydrologic characteristics of areas that are periodically
inundated or have soils saturated to the surface for a sufficient duration during the growing
season. Areas with evident characteristics of wetland hydrology are those where the presence of
water has an overriding influence on the characteristics of vegetation and soils due to anaerobic
and chemically reducing conditions, respectively. The strongest indicators include the presence
of surface water, a high water table, and/or soil saturation within at least 12 inches of the soil
surface.
4.2 WETLAND AND STREAM BOUNDARY DETERMINATION FINDINGS
No wetlands or streams were identified on the subject property. Shellabarger Creek is located
approximately 60 feet southwest of the property. Shellabarger Creek flows from the south, on the
south side of Fir Street, enters the piped stormwater drainage system where it is directed to the
west paralleling Fir Street for approximately 177 feet, and then to the north under Fir Street,
emerging into an open channel and continuing to the north. Approximately 48 feet west of the
property there is also a small tributary to Shellabarger Creek that emerges from the piped
stormwater system at the northwest corner of Fir Street and 7th Avenue South and flows west in
an open channel for approximately 108 feet before entering another stormwater pipe. It emerges
again approximately 98 feet to the west and merges with Shellabarger Creek. Downstream,
Shellabarger Creek continues to be intermittently piped.
4.2.1 Shellabarger Creek
Cowardin Classificiation: Riverine, Upper Perennial, Unconsolidated Bottom, Mud
City of Edmonds Classification: Type F
City of Edmonds Buffer: 100
Shellabarger Creek and its tributary are approximately 4 to 6 feet in width in the vicinity of the
subject site. These channels have a mud substrate and a gradient of approximately 5 percent.
Some publicly available resources depict the stream as seasonally flowing. At the time of the April
1, 2020 site investigation, the stream was flowing. Per Edmonds Community Development Code
(ECDC) 23.90.010(A)(1), Shellabarger Creek is identified as an anadromous fish -bearing (Type F)
stream in the City of Edmonds. Pursuant to ECDC 23.90.040(D)(1), Type F anadromous fish -
bearing streams adjacent to reaches with anadromous fish access receive 100-foot standard
protective buffers.
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Figure 2-Shellabarger Creek and piped stormwater drainage system in the vicinity
of the subject property. PI-P3 indicate the locations of photos pictured in Figure 3.
(Image source: City of Edmonds GIS interactive online map)
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Figure 3 -Photographs of Shellabarger Creek in the vicinity of the subject site. Clockwise from
the top left, P1-P3 as shown in Figure 2.
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5.0 WILDLIFE
The subject property is developed with a single-family residence, detached garage, and
maintained lawn and landscaping. The site provides minimal habitat for wildlife.
Mammalian species expected to occur on or near the site include gray squirrel (Sciurus spp.) and
raccoon (Procyon lotor).
Given the habitat available, it is expected that the following avian species may use the area:
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Song Sparrow
(Melospiza melodia), Black -capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla), and Dark -eyed Junco (junco
hyemalis).
Publicly available online resources depict Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Resident coastal
cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii ssp. clarkii) in Shellabarger Creek approximately 0.4 miles
downstream of the subject site with no gradient barriers to preclude fish from reaching the
portion of the stream in the vicinity of the site. As the stream is intermittently piped downstream
of the site, it is unknown whether anadromous fish can access the stream channels in the vicinity
of the subject property.
6.0 FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS
The standard prescribed 100-foot protective buffers of Shellabarger Creek and its tributary to the
southwest and west of the subject site would extend onto the southwestern corner of the property.
However, the on -site portion of the buffer is physically and functionally isolated from the stream
channels by existing paved roads (Fir Street and 71h Avenue South). The basis of this assessment
comes from review and analysis of Best Available Science on the topic of buffer functions.
Chapter 5 of the Washington State Department of Ecology guidance document entitled
"Freshwater Wetlands in Washington State Volume 1: A Synthesis of the Science" provides a comprehensive
analysis of buffer functions. The following, taken directly from the aforementioned document, is
a list of the functions provided by buffers: 1.) removing sediment; 2.) removing excess nutrients;
3.) removing toxics; 4.) influencing microclimate, 5.) maintaining adjacent habitat; 6.) screening
adjacent disturbances; and 7.) maintaining habitat connectivity.
Functions numbered 1-3 relate to water quality improvement. Stormwater from the subject
property flows into the piped stormwater drainage system via catch basins located at the
northeast corner of Fir Street and 7th Avenue South (See Figure 2). No surface water from the
site flows directly into the stream channels. Therefore, the water quality improvement function
provided by the on -site portion of the prescribed buffer is physically interrupted from the open
stream channels.
Function 4 relates to the influence of the buffer on microclimate. The presence of Fir Street and
71h Avenue South interrupts the microclimate created by vegetation adjacent to the streams,
disconnecting it from the microclimate occurring on the subject site. Therefore, the on -site
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portion of the prescribed buffer does not influence the microclimate of Shellabarger Creek and
its tributary.
Functions numbered 5-7 relate to wildlife habitat. Buffer isolation created by the roads eliminates
connectivity of the subject property to the streams for all but avian species. Due to the
disconnection, the on -site portion of the prescribed buffer does not provide a significant influence
on wildlife habitat functions of the streams.
Pursuant to ECDC 23.40.220, adjacent areas that are physically separated from a stream or
wetland due to existing, legally established structures or paved areas may be exempt from the
prescribed buffer widths when it is demonstrated that the interrupted buffer area is functionally
isolated. Because there is no biological habitat connection nor a surface water connection
between the stream features and the subject property as discussed above, WRI has determined
that the on -site portion of the stream buffer is physically and functionally isolated from the
stream channels. The functional buffer adjacent to the stream channels terminates at the edge of
the pavement of Fir Street and 7th Avenue South and does not extend onto the subject property.
Figure 4 shows the location of the stream channels relative to the subject property, physically
separated by Fir Street and 71h Avenue South.
Figure 4 -Subject site northcast of the corner of Fir Street and Th Avenue South with
Shellabarger Creek to the west and southwest of the intersection (facing south). (Image source:
Google Maps street view).
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7.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Shellabarger Creek and a tributary are located to the southwest and west of the subject property.
They are Type F streams and receive standard 100-foot protective buffers. The functional buffers
on these streams is interrupted by Fir Street and 7th Avenue South and therefore does not extend
onto the subject property. No other wetlands or streams occur in the vicinity of the subject
property. Therefore, no stream or buffer impacts will result from the proposed project.
S.O USE OF THIS REPORT
This Wetland and Stream Determination and Functional Assessment Report is supplied to Select
Homes, Inc. as a means of evaluating the off -site wetland and associated buffer as required by the
City of Edmonds during the permitting process. This report is based largely on readily
observable conditions and, to a lesser extent, on readily ascertainable conditions. No attempt has
been made to determine hidden or concealed conditions.
The laws applicable to environmentally critical areas are subject to varying interpretations and
may be changed at any time by the courts or legislative bodies. This report is intended to
provide information deemed relevant in the applicant's attempt to comply with the laws now in
effect.
The work for this report has conformed to the standard of care employed by wetland ecologists.
No other representation or warranty is made concerning the work or this report, and any implied
representation or warranty is disclaimed.
Wetland Resources, Inc.
Joie Goodman
Associate Ecologist
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9.0 REFERENCES
Anderson, P.S., Meyer, S., Olson, P., and E. Stockdale. 2016. Determining the Ordinary High Water
Mark for Shoreline Management Act Compliance in Washington State. Washington State
Department of Ecology. Publication # 16-06-029.
Cowardin, et al., 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. U.S.
Department of the Interior. FWS/OBS-79/31. December 1979.
Edmonds, City of. 2020a. Edmonds Community Development Code, Title 23 Natural
Resources. Ordinance 4175, passed February 25, 2020.
Edmonds, City of. 2020b. City of Edmonds GIS Webmap.
http://www.edmondswa.gov/gls-text.html.
Lichvar, R.W., D.L. Banks, W.N. Kirchner, and N.0 Melvin. 2016. Western Mountains, Valleys,
and Coast 2016Regional Wetland Plant List. Phytoneuron 2016-30: 1-17.
Munsell Color. 2012. Munsell Soil Color Book. Munsell Color, Grand Rapids, MI.
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission PSMC). 2020. StreamNet Mapper.
http://www.streamnet.org/data/interactive-maps-and-gis-data/.
Sheldon, D., T. Hruby, P. Johnson, K. Harper, A. McMillan, T. Granger, S. Stanley, and E.
Stockdale. March 2005. Wetlands in Washington State - Volume 1: A Synthesis of the Science.
Washington State Department of Ecology. Publication #05-06-006. Olympia, WA.
Snohomish County. 2020. PDS Map Portal online interactive mapping tool.
https://snohorm*shcountywa.gov/3752/PDS-Map-Portal
US Army Corps of Engineers. 2010. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation
Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2. 0). Vicksburg, MS
US Department of Agriculture -Natural Resources Conservation Service. Web Soil Survey.
http://websollsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm.
US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2020. National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Online Mapper.
http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2020a. Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) Interactive
Map. http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/phsontheweb/.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2020b. SalmonScape Online Mapping Application.
http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/salmonscape/map.html.
1055 71h Avenue South 10 Wetland & Stream Determination and
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Washington Department of Natural Resources. 2020a. Forest Practices Application Mapping Tool
(FPAM7). https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protectiongis/fpamt/index.html#.
Washington Department of Natural Resources. 2020b. WA Wetlands of High Conservation Value
online mapping tool. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/NHPwetlandviewer.
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