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Home My WebLink About2003.05.13 - Kah Tai Alliance Letter to Larry Crockett,/ 5'^^*JVyB'rrAs Rosemary Sikes 1709 Gise Street,Port Townsend, WA 98368 Kah Tai Alliance and Boardmember of AdmiraltyAudubon 360-385-0307 rosemarysikes@hotmail.com Larry Crockett, Executive Director P.O. Box 1180 Port Townsend, WA 98368 RECEIVIS lt{AY I I 2003 cln' 0i: Fitill 1 iv/l.t',] ijriLt .-'J.,.'lji ..1 May 15,2003 Dear Mr. Crockett, Thank you for explainipg the Port Comprehensive Scheme process and sharing the draft information available thus far. I am writing this letter as amember of the Kah Tai Alliance which is composed of representatives from the Admiralty Audubon Society, Jefferson Lan{Trusl People for a l-ivable Community, the Native Plant Society, and other interested citizens. Please include this letter as part of the public comment for the Port of Port Townsend Comprehensive Scherne Update. After reading the Comp,rehensive Scheme Update Existing Conditions - Other Facilities in relatim to the Port property south of the Kah Tai Lagoon I believe there me some corrections necessary before the plan becomes final. They are as follows: Page IV - 6 "The Port ownership includes approximately 2l acres of undeveloped land located between SR 20lSims Way and the southem edge of the lagoon behveen Kearney and Landes Street.'t Port Townsend was platted in the 1800's. The Port owns lots and blocks excluding crty riglrt of ways. Between the Port property are seven tmdeveloped city streets with 60 foot right ofways and two undeveloped streets (Sau Juan Avenue and Franklin Steet) with 85 foot riglrt of ways. Also seven alleys divide the property. So in reality a significant part of the "Port ovrnership" described above is owned by the City of Port Townsend. Page fV - 6 "The only facility on the site is a resfroom." The Port property south of the Kah Tai Lagoon also has a picnic shelter and benches. The picnic shelter is shown, although not labelle4 on Figrne 11 and 12 Kah Tai Lagoon alternatives I md,2. Page IV -6 "There is no local access to the water, designated trail to or around the lake, and there isno developed parking area for visitors to the pmk area." There are trails to the Kah Tai Lagoon and the pond south of the lagoon. Trails on Port property include:I The maintrail connects 146 Steet to Clay Sheet following the southern shore of the lagoon between tandes street and Keamey Street. o A secondary trail runs between tlaines Place and 12ft Street to the main tail on the south side of the logoon dlong the western border of the mowed play field.r A tuil circles the pond (connected to, and south of the lagoon)t A secondary trail runs northeast between Haines Place and 12ft Sneet to themain tail connecting approximately two thirds the distance from Landes Street to Keamey Street.t A secondary hail runs southeast from the previous trail to Sims Way and Benedict Steeta A loop tall nrns ftom the previous trail, curves through the eastern uplands, and connects to the main trail near Kearney Street. All the trails described are easily seen in aerial photographs except the last one, which was made in 2001. Existing Facilities andUse should include: The main easVwest trail that follows the shoreline has become a major non-motorized corridor linking opposite sides of towns and nearby commercial districts. Other trails explore the uplands, pond and connect the main easVwest trail to the parking lot. The parking lot is located next to the bathrooms in the southwest corn€r of the Port properly. The parking lot is also easily visible by aerial photographs. Besides walking and bike riding other uses include school field trips, feeding the ducks, piuricking, and contemplating nature. See Peninsula Daily News Sunday, March 9,2003 for an article on Gary Perless, a Port Townsend Hig[ Sohool tacher, using Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park y_qgkly field.triqg_p part of his science class. Page IV - 7 "If the Lagoon receives tidal waters on a regulm basis, the designation of this wetland would changefrom lacustrine and palustine to an estuarine system." Jhere-is-p lf inp,h_ nine that connects the Kah Tai Lagoon to Port Townsend Bay. I do not know how much exchange there is betweeil the twq however it certainly would be worth exploring. Page IV - 8 'tlo vegetitiori was observed growing in the shallow waters of the lagoon." The site visit by Reid Middleton was conducted July 8, 2002. Summer is the drieit time of year in port Townse,nd. Most of the year the hmd-stem bulrush, which is referred to in the same pmagraph, is in the water. Page IV - 8 uThe Kah Tai Lagoon was determined to be a Category III wetland, hased on its lack of habitat features, low wetland class interspersion, degraded buffens, and lack of surface water connec{ion to steams. The port Townsend Mrmicipal Code (PTT{C) calls for a 50-foot buffer for Category III wetlands (PTMC 19.05.110 2E3)' According to John C Heal of Bionomics, Inc. the Kah Tai Lagoon is a Category II wetland. His report dates February 12,l'997 and is available from the City of Port Tov*n-send Plarming Departnnent. "On Fehruary t,!997,the site was evaluated with respect to wetlands resources by John Heal of Bionomici. Mr. Heal has a Master'sDegree in Envirmmental Studies from the Evergreen State Collegq 9 years experience assessing wetland$, and.is a member of the Washington Native Plant Society and the Society of Wetland Scientists. . . The Kai Tai lagoon wetland is an extensive lacushine open water/mergent wetland that is hydrologically isolated...The wildlife-habitat and native vegetation value of the wetlandratehigh for severalreasons. The size ofthe wetland, many vegetation layers, species diversity, variety of wetland class (lacusfrine emergen! lacusffine open water), and proximity toiesidential and recreational areEls are important considerations. Extensive use of the mea by waterfowl and smail mammals makes this a valuable wetland in the middle of a city,..This is a Category II wetland under tho state wetland rating systern." The PTMC calls for a 100-foot buffer for a Category II wetland. IV - 8 'Most of the plant species observed in the upland are associated with disturbed environments. New plantings of native shrub and tree species iocated between the wetland and the walking pafir were noted during the site visi*' I am including a pftint list gathered by Dixie Llewellin, a wetland biologist, in Februmy of 2003. FrJm this lisf it is evident that there is a wide variety ofnative species growing on the Port property in Kah Tai Lagoon Nature park. Plantings were dqre by volunteers, birds, and dre wind since the fill was deposited n lg14. Page IV - I'Wildlife Characteristics" I am enclosing a more complefe list of bird species recorded for the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Parlc Most of the sighjings were made from the south side of the lagoon. The bird list was compiled by members of the Admiralty Audubon Society. Page fV - 11 'utilities: The City of Port Tovmsend Provides sewer service to the site. There are no other utility services to the site, although the following utilities are available in the vicinity of the site include; ri,ater servicg qlovided by the City of Port Townsend; and elechicat service provided by Puge,t Sound Energy.n The above sentenc€ is very confusing. Water, sewer, and power me-all found in the bathroomilocated at the southwest corner ofthe Port property. If you have any questions about my comments feel fiee to contact me at 385 0307 on rosgmarysikes@.hotmail.com. I believe communication between the public and public age,ncies such as the Port of Port f;;r"""d t ty ii"p"tt "t Sincerely Rosemary Sikes Kah TaiAlliance Board member of Admiralty Audubon Frank D'Amorg Port of Port Tovrnsend Advisory Board David Timmonq City lManager Park and Recreation Advisory Board M Cc / Scientific Name Trees Shrub Herbs Kah Tai Lagoon Partial Plant List Common name Strtus Almts crispa ssa. sinuat a Sitka alder NI ArbuUs meraiesii Madrona NI Pinus contorta Shore pine FAC- Populus balsamifera Bliack cotonwood FAC Prumts emsrFinsta var mollis Bitter cherrv FACU Pseudotsuga menziesii Douelas- fir FACU Salix scouleriana Scouler willow FAC Thuia plicota Westemred cedar FAC Amelanchier alnifolia Sendce-berrv FACU Ar a ost aplwlos columbi ana BristlV manzsnita NI Berberb aquifolium Shinv oreson sraDe NI Cornus sericb.a Red osier doswood FACW Crataetus dousliosii Douglas' hawthorn FAC crataegusmonogyna Endishhawthorn NI Cvtisw scoparius Scot's broom NI Hedera helix Iw NI Holodiscas discolor Ocean-spray NI IJex sp.Holly NI Mwica californicq Califomia wax-myrtle FACW Ribes sanquineum Red currant IIPL Rosa nutkana Nootka rose FAC Rubus discolor Himalavan blackberrv FACU Rubus oorviflorus Thinbleberrv NI Rubus ursinus Trailins blackberry FACU Sal* hookeriana flookerwi]low FACW- Salb lucida var. lasiandra Pacific willow FACW+ Sheperdia candensk Soapberrv NI Svmphoricarpos albus Snowber:ry FACU Achillea millefolium Yarrow NI Anaohalis marpmitacea Pearly everlasting NI Arunan. di oictts v or. actminatus Goatsbeard NI Circium (nvettse Cennda thistle FACU+ Cirsium vul4are Bull thistle NI Conium maculatum Poison he,mlock FACW- Cytisus scoparius Scot's broom NI Dsuclts carota Oueen-anns lace NI Ep il o b iu m ansus t ifo lium Fireweed NI Epilobium sp.Willowhert NI Galium sp.Bedstraw NI Gr indeli a int er srifoli q Gumweed FACW Hwochaeris radicata Hairy cat's-ear NI Lamium purpureum Pwple dead-nettle NI Lupinus orboreus vqr. arboreus Tree Lupine NI Plantaso lanceolata Fnglish plantain FAC P olygonum s achaliners e Gantknotweed FACU Olympic Wetland Resources, lnc.Page 1 2t15tO3 ansertna silverweed OBL dock FACW canadensis NI Taru.acum officinale FACU Tellima grandiflora NI Trifolium sp.lclovo NI Typha lffiolia lCanait OBL Vicia sp.lVetch NI lGh Tai Lagoon Partial Plant List Grasseso Rushes and Horsetails and Fems AJ.so observed: Daphne- rugosa rose- pampas grass- phyrocanthus. several planted species of willow. and poplar reeg Agrostis capillaris (A-tenuis )Colonial bentsrass FAC Dact-vlis glomerata Orchard-grass FACU Elwus mollis Dune wildrye NI Elytrigia repens vqr repens Quackgass FACU Festuca arundinacea Tall fescue FAC- Holczs lanstus Velve4rass FAC Juncus acaminafus Tapertip rush OBL Jungas eflusus Softnrsh FACW Sctrpus acutus Hardstem bulrush OBL Sctrpus maritimus Seacoast bulrush OBL qt'vense horsetail FAC tail OBL Pteridium aqulinum fern FACU Facultative Upland Species/ Non wetland addition of + or - fi:rther defines the plant Facultative Species Facultative Waland Species Species have been classifieci to the Fish md Wildlife Service. Obligate Wetland Species No Indicator Assigned OLympic Wetland Resources, lnc.Page2 2t15tO3 BIRD LIST FOR KAH TAI IAGOON NATURE PARK Port Towneend, Washlngton Occutrrnce Key: ay r allyear or every season sP o sfing only s* srmmeronly w= winteronly f = fall only m:r migranl only un E unoo'mmon, soffF species not seen every year eared orebe un American coot av chestnut-backed chickadee ev oied billed orebe av short-billed dowitcher m common bushtit av double-creEted cormorant av lons-billed dowitcher m red-breasted nuthatch ev trumpeterswan un spofted sandpioer m Bewick'wren av \merican bittem un oectoral sandoiber un lono.billed marsh wren av oreen heron un eagt sandpioer m American robin av great blue heron av westem sandnioer m varied thrush un oreat eoret un red-necked nhalarope un Swainson thrush un Canada soose av killdeer ay rubvcrowned kinolet ty mallard duck av common snipe av golden-crowned kins let W pintailduck w olaucous-winoed oull ey cedar waxwino s sadwallduck av lonaparte's gull e.f European starling ay American widEeon f,w Caspian tem g warbling vireo so. s European widseon un greateryellow legs f.w orange-crowned warbler sp. s northem shoveler av leeser yellow leos m yellow warbler $ blue-wlnsed teal m rock dove av common vellowthroat m sreen-winaed teal av sreat homed owl un yellow-rumped warbler av cinamon teal un short eared owl un Wilson's warbhr sD.8 no-necked duck f.w bam owl av westem meadowlark u lessergcaup ltv common nioht hawk s red-winsed bhcktird ev greater scauo w black swift s brown.headed cowbird s common goldeneye w rufous humminobird so.8 westem tanaoer sD.s bufflehead duck ut belted kinofisher av black-headed srosbeak 8 hooded meroenser AY downv woodpecker av house finch av ruddy duck av northem flicker ev oine siskin w turkey vulture un olive-sided flycatcher s Arnerican $oldfinch st'.9 )oopefs hawk av bam swallow $o. s red-crossbill un sharp-shinned hawk av cliff swallow s spotted towhee av northem hanier un violetqreen swallow ED. 8 savannah $panow sp.8.l red-tailed hawk av tree swallow s dark+ved iunco av k phase red-tailed hawk un rough-winqed swallow s white-crowned spanow av bald easle av purple martin s oolden-crowned sparow lfl oSbrev un 8V Lincoln spenow l,u pereorine falcon un common raven w fox spanow w merlin falcon un common crovy av $ong sDanow av )allfomia Quail un black-capped chickadee ay house soanow av Viroinia rail ev reviced $,18{3 : ;iri;,:";.{.i ^lii:i1,.,}I.l.,iu; it{":rilj::.;$h..,1 lf*-^l: ir.n;.i :'ili:.::? 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