HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006.09.13 - Letter to DSD Director RE Eddy Street Wetland242 Cedarview Drive
Port Townsend, WA 98368
September 13,2006
Leonard Yarberry
Development Services Director
250 Madison St., Suite 3
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Re.: Eddy Street Wetland
Dear Mr. YarberrS',
This letter is to address impacts to the quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) grove located
in the wetland near the corner of Howard and 20th street in Port Townsend. Apparently
the entire wetland (3834 square feet based on the Wiltermood Associates delineation in
July, 2006) would be impacted by the roads, utilities and other features of the proposed
Goughnour and Garrison development.
I urge that an alternative plan be developed that will avoid impacting the aspen grove and
the wetland where it occurs. It seems to me like this would be the approach most
consistent with Port Townsend's critical areas policy which is to avoid adverse impacts
if at ali possible.
The occurrence of quaking aspen is unusual and rare in all of western Washington
including the northern Olympic Peninsula. In conducting botanical inventory work across
all of western Washington I have found that quaking aspen only rarely and sporadically.
The classic book, Northwest Trees by Stephen Arno and Ramon Hammerly states in
reference to quaking aspen, "....its affinity for the interior boreal forests is evidenced by
its scarcity west of the Cascades....". There is just one remaining natural stand of quaking
aspen in the entire metropolitan area of Seattle.
In the past three years I have been inventorying the plants in public natural areas (state,
county and city parks and preserves) in and near the Quimper Peninsula. Quaking aspen
was not found in any of the natural areas of our local parks (Fort Worden, Old Fort
Townsend, Anderson Lake, Fort Flagler, Gibbs Lake). In talking with the naturalists and
botanists of the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, I believe they would
agree that aspen gfoves are afare plant community on the Olympic Peninsula.
The aspen grove at 20rt'street is particularly important because the trees are mature,
several exceeding 12 inches in diameter. A mature grove such as this takes many decades
to develop and would require most of a human lifetime to replace. Also, the aspens are
just one feature of the wetland at the site. Avoidance of impacts to the wetland would be
consistent with the policies and authorities of the city of Port Townsend and seemingly
consistent with the critical area protection solutions the city has utilized in the past.
Thank you very much for considering these comments. I would most appreciate it if you
would let me know by email (firyeinmann@cablespeed.com), telephone (379-0986) or by
mail at the above address the decision you make regarding the impacts of development on
the aspen grove at 20th st.
Sincerely,
Fred Weinmann, Ph.D.
Professional Wetland Scientist