The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1997-07-00 Priority Habitat Species Report!'r 3 KuNz BroloctcAl GonrsuLTtNG 780 Arcadia west ' Port Townsend, wA 9896g . (360) g8s-6300 J St^'"'l- 3 :] FOWLER PARK ApptTlON PRIORITY HABITAT AND SPECIES REPORT A wildlife and critical habitat survey was conducted at the request of the landormer, Arthur l(arno, for the proposed Fo,vler Park Addition. ffre purpose ofthis survey is to assess the vicinity for criticalwildlife habitat and to deiermine ifpriority species are present. Priority species and critical habitat are established by the washington Department of Fish and wildlife (wDFw). Managementguidelines are addressed in the 1991 "Management Recommendationsfor Washington's Priority Habitats and Species". Priority habitat is defined by the WDFW as a habitat type with unique or significant value to many species. An area classified and mapped as.priorityhabitaf must meet criteria as de{ined in the wDFw lggl mairigemeniguidelines. Priority species are defined as wildlife species requiring protec{ive measures for their perpetuation due to their population status, their-s'ensitivity tohabitat alteration and/or their recreational importance. A priority habitat mafcontain priority andl or non-priority species. The project proparty is located in Port Tornsend within the Fowler park Addition :] ) -*\ near Cook Avenue in Township 31N, create I building sites from 10 lots in Rangel W, Section 33. The proposal is to Block 26. Site surveys were conducted 17 April through 26 April 1997, which consisted ofvisual inspections throughqut the interior of the property and much of the adjacent property. The vegetation characterisfiics of the area and signs ofwildlife u/ere noted throughout the survey. The WDFWrvas contact6d and adata search was requested for sensitive or priority wildlife and/or habitat withinthe project vicinity. Additionally, the Jefferson Land Trust was contacted fordocumented species observations within the Winona Weflands a-djacent to theproposed property. EXHIBIT tt si t ] :) I 3 ii- -\,;r: i.F The habitat of the projeci area @nsists predominanily of Douglas firinterspersed with dead trees from the_encroaching wiilanO on-tne southem andwestem portions of the projecl area. some cedar, red alder, wirrow, anomadrona are presenton the property. The understory consists of red arrrant,fsms, selal, red elderberry, and salmonberry. The trles bcated throughout theadjacent Winona urstland are predorninantly red alder and willorr. Numeroussnags are found throughout the Wnona ureiland The wildlife and wildlife sign observed during the site surveywere Douglassquirrel, Columbian black-tailed deer, pileated woodpect<er, winter rmen, robin,varied thrush, red-winged blacJ<bird and mallard. Th'e composite species listobtained from the Jefferson Land Trust w.or6 compiled rom surr# d,or"r"oby Audubuon Society volunteers. The priority spicies observed within thewinona wefland vicinity by these vorunteery-1pi", er""t brue heron, wood duck,pileated woodpecker, and bald eagle. The WDFW lata search did not indicateany documented p.riority species. However, the sor.rtfi*estem portion of theproperty may require plotective measurgs lge !q lr" proximity to Jxistingwetlands sfiid1 is a wDFW documented critical habiiat.:) J The follorving priority species and critical habitats have been observed within theprojecn area- HablFlPquirements and management re@mmendations for eac6species, per the WDFW guidelines, are proviJed as tney pertain tolnis proiecfarea. Great blue heron (Ardea herodias): Great blue herons occur near all types of frestr and saltrrmter rrelandsincluding seashores, rivers,.$r€mps, marshes, and ditcfie" idi;ie-coroniarbreeders, generally nesting in tall ("50,) deciduous or coniferous trees n€arwetlands- The limiiing factor for heron usage is availability of suitaUfe naOitat\i'hich provides adequate nest sites and feeding areas tociteo in tne ri"inity ofbreeding colonies. . M-enaoenent R.ecomnendations - Wildlife surveys conducted in theproject araa did reveal great blue heron usag€. No neiting cotonies r"r"observed and none are documented with the wDFw withii me pioj-ect area.Protection of the weUand wiil provide feeding habitat ror tfris Jpe[i;t.-' t,n 3 3 3 Cavity nesting birds (Banou/s goldeneye, common goldeneye, bufflehead, wood duck, hooded merganser): Cavity nesting birds nest primarily in late forest successional stages adjacent to low gradient rivers, sloughs, lakes and beaver ponds. Limiting fac'tors for cavity nesting bird usage are the lack of suitable cavities nsar water, as well as lack of adequate brood escape cover and foraging areas Management Recommendations - Maintain and create snags near suitable wetlands and maintain mast producing trees and shrubs. Avoid logging flood€d timber and leave woody vegetation along the shores of nesting and brood areas. Nesting wood ducks have been documented within the Wnona wetland vicinity. Plleated woodpecker ( Dryocoous pileatus): Pileated vrcodpeckers inhabit mature and old grorth forests and second grortth forests with significant numbers of large snags and fallen trees. Piteateds forage on large snags (>20" dbh), logs (>7'dbh), and stumps. They feed rnainly on carpenter ants, beetle laryae, and other insects. Manaoemen! Recommendations - Several pileateds \irere observed within the projec{ area and the adjacent wetlands. For pileated foraging habitat, large snags and logs should rsmain, where pos.sible, in various stages of decay. To provide for future foraging habitat, all deformed or dying trees and green replaoement trees of sufiicient size should remain to replace existing snags when they fall. Gdurililan Hack-tailed deer (Odoqileus hemionus): The Columbian black-tailed deer occur in all forested habitats west of the Cascade Crest. A system of a small patch of block clearcuts is important to provide forage and cover in close proximity. The availability of adequate browse is the most crucialfactor in deer survival and successful reproduc{ion. tvlanaoernent Recommendatigns - Colurnbian black-tailed deer are classified by the WDFW as a recreationally important species $'hich are defined as species with high recreational importanoe or high public prolile and that arE vulnerable to habitat loss or degradation. Wildlife under lhis classification are game species which are hunted, or othenrise harvested, by the public and are subjec{ to hunting and fishing regulations. The proposed proiect will continue to provide valuable habitat to this species. Bald eagle (l€liaeetus leucoceohalus): The WDFW data search did not reveal any bald eagld nests within the vicinity of the proiect area. The wetland area would be a likely feding area for the bald eagle but the habitat within the projed area would be unsuitable for nesting eagles. Manaoement Regommendations - Protective measures due to the close proximity to the wetland will provide feeding habitat for this species. Frechwater wetlands: r t l I r3 The freshwater weflands designated by the WDFW are only thoseidentified by the National wetlands lnventory"no som" "r*pti#iqualitvwetlands. Freshwater wetlands are important witofire breeding n"oit"i-"nosupport a comparatively high wirdrife d6nsity and species aivJsi'["-'3 ,t 3 t ln summary, in order to provide habitat for the above priority species, andother wildlife, the follqring management re@mmendations jt" pr6uii"o. n1trees shoutd be teft-standing that are greaterthan re;oun, "i6id",'neosssary to clear br road construction and housing tocations. ?il - encroaching wetland within the project area will be irotec{ed by an adequatebuffer to provide habitat for eacir oi me above mentioneo "pecier. aooigona,y,these wetland br.rffers will provide protec{ion to tne ftLsnwaier ro1""A wfricfi isa priority habilat' Habitat conidors should ue consioered wtren clearing forroads and housing locations, in order to provide optiral cover and browsE. ,"ru"..Pr"se contact me if you need additionat crarification regarding these Sincerely, /;/ Cindi Kunz Wilctlife biotog Q-V-<oist )