Plant, Wildlife and Wetland Assessment

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5 WSU Project Site Plant, Wildlife and Wetland Assessment approximately 38 acres of the site would be in retained natural area, including passive use portions of the park and smaller natural areas in other portions of the site; approximately 21 acres of the site would be landscaped, including sports fields and landscaping associated with all onsite uses; and the remainder of the site would be in buildings, surface parking areas, driveways, stormwater facilities, etc. These assumptions were developed for this analysis; it should be noted that the actual range of uses developed on the site could include any uses permitted or conditionally permitted in the Public Facilities zone. Alternative 3 No Action Alternative 3 assumes continuation of the site in its existing, forested condition, although the current owners (Washington State University and Weyerhaeuser) would sell the site. 2.0 METHODS 2.1 Background Research Prior to conducting on-site field investigations, a number of sources were reviewed to collect information on past and current wetland and habitat conditions on the site. Background information available for the site included the following: National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Map, Sumner Quadrangle (USFWS, 1989), Bonney Lake Comprehensive Plan and Municipal Code (City of Bonney Lake, 2004), Natural Resource Conservation Service, Pierce County Area Soil Survey (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1974), United States Hydric Soils List (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1991), Washington State Hydric Soils List (Iowa State University, 1995), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WFDW) Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) Database, 2005, 2007, and 2009 and Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Natural Heritage Program (NHP) Database, In addition to the background research, field investigations were conducted on January 28, February 1, September 12, 2005, July 5, 2007, and 21 January 2009 by ecologists at Talasaea Consultants including William E. Shiels, Teresa Opolka, Caroline Christy, and Mary Harenda. 2.2 Plant Community Inventory Plant communities were observed during a general site reconnaissance on 28 January 2005 and a detailed plant inventory was conducted on 12 September Plant species were identified according to the taxonomy of Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973). Representative plant communities were recorded and described in both wetlands and uplands on the site. An additional site visit was conducted on 5 July 2007 after trees were removed on some portions of the site to control infestations of laminated root rot. In January 2009, another site visit was conducted to verify that the wetland and habitat conditions at the site had not changed since the investigations 2.3 Wildlife Inventory General wildlife observations were made during a site reconnaissance on 28 January 2005 and a detailed wildlife inventory was conducted on 12 September Birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians that are readily observable (by direct or indirect means) were identified and recorded. Direct observations include actual sightings, while indirect observations include tracks, scat, nests, burrows, feeding signs, or vocalizations. Trees were inspected for nests, 3 August 2009 Copyright 2009 Talasaea Consultants, Inc. 913-Plant-Wildlife-WL Rpt-DEIS Appendix B (3Aug09) Page 2

6 WSU Project Site Plant, Wildlife and Wetland Assessment droppings, and pellets for sign of raptor and owl activity. Wildlife habitats were evaluated based on the plant community types, plant species diversity, and vertical structure. The King County Wildlife Habitat Profile (KCWHP) (1987) was used to determine the quantity of wildlife species that could potentially use the habitat types found on the project site. 2.4 Endangered, Threatened, Sensitive, and Other Priority Species The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Priority Habitat Species (PHS) Maps were received and referenced on 28 January The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Natural Heritage Database information was received and referenced on 14 February On 10 September 2005, the species lists posted on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northwest Regional Office website ( and the USFWS Western Washington Office website ( were reviewed to determine species potentially present on and near the project site. These lists were reviewed again in July 2007 and January Observations for endangered, threatened, sensitive, and priority species were made during site reconnaissance s on 28 January 2005 and 5 July 2007 and in a detailed wildlife and plant inventory prepared on 12 September Wetland Delineation The wetland analysis of the site involved a two-part effort. The first part consisted of a preliminary assessment of the site (and its immediate surroundings) using published information about local environmental conditions. This information included: wetland and soil maps from resource agencies and relevant studies completed or ongoing in the vicinity of the project site. The second part involved a field survey in which direct observations and measurements of soils, hydrology, and vegetation were made to determine whether wetlands were present, the type of wetlands present, and the extent of their boundaries. Once likely or potential wetland areas were located, the routine on-site determination method was used to delineate the wetlands using the procedures outlined in: 1) the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory, 1987) and 2) the Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual (1997). The wetland delineation was conducted on 1 February Plant species were identified according to the taxonomy of Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973), and the wetland status of plant species was assigned according to the list of plant species that occur in wetlands, published by the USFWS Region 9 (Reed 1988, 1993). Wetland classes were determined on the USFWS system of wetland classification (Cowardin, et. al., 1979). Vegetation was considered hydrophytic if greater than 50% of the dominant plant species had a wetland indicator status of facultative or wetter (i.e., facultative, facultative wetland, or obligate wetland). Soil on the site was considered hydric if one or more of the following characteristics was present: organic soils or soils with a histic epipedon (i.e., organic surface layer); matrix chroma just below the A-horizon (or 10 inches, whichever is less) of 1 or less in unmottled soils, or 2 or less if mottles were present; or, gleying immediately below the A-horizon. Indicators of wetland hydrology may include, but are not necessarily limited to: drainage patterns, drift lines, sediment deposition, watermarks, stream gauge data and flood predictions, historic records, visual observation of saturated soils, and visual observation of inundation. 3 August 2009 Copyright 2009 Talasaea Consultants, Inc. 913-Plant-Wildlife-WL Rpt-DEIS Appendix B (3Aug09) Page 3

7 WSU Project Site Plant, Wildlife and Wetland Assessment An evaluation of the vegetation, soils, and hydrology was made at various locations along the interface of wetland and upland. Wetland boundary points were then determined from this information and marked with flagging and surveyed. Appendix A contains data forms prepared by Talasaea Consultants, Inc. for representative locations in both the upland and wetland. These data forms document the vegetation, soils, and hydrology information that aided in the wetland boundary determination. 2.6 Wetland Functional Value Assessment Wetlands and their associated buffers may provide many valuable ecological and social functions, including: water quality functions, hydrologic functions, and habitat functions. The functions and values of the wetland were analyzed utilizing the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington (DOE, 2004), which was also utilized to determine the rating of the wetland. The functions assessed evaluate both the potential and the actual opportunity for the particular function. For example, a wetland may have the potential for supporting wildlife habitat if it has diverse vegetation structure; however, if the wetland is isolated and not connected to any corridors (e.g., surrounded by development), it will have a significantly decreased opportunity to perform that function. 3.0 RESULTS OF BACKGROUND RESEARCH National Wetland Inventory Map The National Wetland Inventory (NWI) map, developed by the USFWS, identifies one wetland on the property in the northwestern portion of the site (Figure 5). This wetland is identified as a palustrine, scrub-shrub, seasonally-flooded wetland. The location of this wetland generally corresponds to the location of the delineated wetland on the property. City of Bonney Lake Wetland Inventory Map The City of Bonney Lake Comprehensive Plan contains a Wetlands map that identifies three probable wetland areas on the property (Figure 6). One of these areas coincides with the wetland mapped on the NWI map in the northwestern corner of the property. The other two probable wetland areas are located in the northeastern corner of the property and the southcentral portion of the property. The Comprehensive Plan clearly states that the City s wetland map is a not a definitive wetland determination. The sources from which the mapping was compiled include aerial photography and soil maps. For these reasons, field verification is necessary to determine the presence or absence of wetlands. During our on-site evaluation of the property, it was determined that the area in the northwestern portion of the site identified on both the NWI map and the City s map satisfied the three required criteria of a regulated wetland, and that the two probable wetland areas identified in the Comprehensive Plan in the northeastern and south-central portions of the property did not meet the criteria of regulated wetlands (see further discussion under Section below). Natural Resources Conservation Service The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has mapped the majority of the property as Everett gravelly sandy loam, 6-15% slopes (Figure 7). In addition, Alderwood gravelly sandy loam, 6-15% slopes is mapped in the eastern portion of the site and Indianola loamy sand, 6-15% slopes is mapped in the southwestern corner of the property. These soils are not listed as hydric on either the State or County lists, although they may have hydric soil inclusions. Alderwood soils are listed as moderately well drained, and Everett and Indianola soils are listed 3 August 2009 Copyright 2009 Talasaea Consultants, Inc. 913-Plant-Wildlife-WL Rpt-DEIS Appendix B (3Aug09) Page 4

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