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Home My WebLink About1998.09.00 - Hilltop Tavern Wetland InvestigationENGINEERING LAND SURVEYING WETLAND DELINEATION DEVELOPMENT CONSULTI NG $eptember 1998 WETLAND INVESTIGATION Section 9, Township 30 North, Range 1 West, W.M. Jefferson County, Washington Prepared for: First Western lnvestments Clark Land 0flice PLLC P0. Box 2199 . 935 North Fifth Avenue Sequim, WA 98382 (360) 681-2161 . Fax (360) 683-5310 Toll Free (681-2161 F,* WETLAND INVESTIGATION For FIRST WESTERN INVESTMENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An investigation performed on September 9, 1998 revealed a small wetland on the easterly pioperty boundary of the project site. This wetland has been previously delineated and classified by others and was not subject to this investigation. No other wetlands were noted or observed on the remaining portion of the property. WETLAND INVESTIGATION For FIRST WESTERN INVESTMENTS CONTENTS I. PROJECT OVERVIEW A. SCOPEB. PROJECT DATA.....C. GENEML SITE DESCRIPTION1. Existing Site Conditions2. Vegetation .................... II. WETLANDINVESTIGATION A. METHODOLOGY...1. Review of Existing lnformation .............2. Evaluation of Field ConditionsB. WETLAND INVESTIGATION FINDINGS III. SUMMARY APPENDIX I- SITE LOCATION APPENDIX tt - REFERENCES APPENDIX III - WETLAND DEFINITIONS A. HYDROPHYTICVEGETATIONB. HYDRIC SOILC, HYDROLOGY APPENDIX IV - WETLAND DATA FORMS 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 ii WETLAND INVESTIGATION For FIRST WESTERN INVESTMENTS I. PROJECT OVERVIEW A. SCOPE The scope of this report includes the results of a field investigation to determine the presence of wetlands on the project site within the city limits of Port Townsend. Prior to the September 1998 site visit, a wetland had been previously delineated and classified by others. Review of this wetland waS not within the scope of this rePort. PROJECT DATA ProPertY Owner:George Barber First Western lnvestments 100 Second Avenue South, Suite 250 Post Office Box 1449 Edmonds, WA 98020-1449 (425) 775-6000 Wetland Specialist:Nancy L. McHenry Clark Land Office 935 North Sth Avenue Post Office Box 2199 Sequim, WA 98382 (360) 6;81-2161 (360) 683-5310 (FAX) Location Northeasterly of the intersection of State Route 20 (Sims Road) and Mill Road located in Section 9, Township 30 North, Range 1 West, W.M., CitY of Port Townsend Soil Type (per SCS): Clallam gravelly sandy loam B 1 C. GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION The following conditions represent the surrounding general site conditions as observed by Nancy L. McHenry of Clark Land Office, during a'September 9, 1 998 site investigation. 1. Existing Site Conditions The 13.S-acre property is composed of two parcels (Parcel A and Parcel B) as shown in Appendix l. The property is currently vacant with no physical improvements. Parcel A (2.8 acres) has been graded relatively flat and contains pasture grasses. A small wetland on the easterly property line was observed and has been examined and documented in a ieport prepared previously by others. This area is sketched on the attached site plan (Appendix l). Parcel B (10.7 acres) is currently forested with vegetation typically found in a second growth forest in the Port Townsend area. Discovery Bay Road as shown in Appendix I bisects this parcel. The surrounding property uses are commercial and residential. The property is bounded on the north and west by residential homes, on the south by Sims Way and on the east by Hilltop tavern. 2. Vegetation The majority of the project site contains vegetation typically found in second growth forests. The vegetation includes Western red cedar, Douglas fir, red alder, Pacific madrone, salal, rhododendron, blackberries, and sword fern. II. WETLAND INVESTIGATION A. METHODOLOGY 1. Review of Existing lnformation Prior to the site investigation, existing information was reviewed to obtain background knowledge of the area. Literature reviewed (see Appendix ll) as part of the delineation included: City of Port Townsend Environmentally Sensitive Areas Ordinance, Chapter 19.05, Port Townsend Municipal Code 2 a a a Soil Survey of Jefferson County Area, Washington, Sheet Number 42 (usDA 1e75) National Wetland lnventory Maps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Port Townsend South Quadrangle, July 1987 2. Evaluation of Field Conditions The routine wetland determination method as described in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual, January 1987 (1987 Technical Manual) was utilized in defining the wetland on the project site. According to the Technical Manual and City of Port Townsend Ordinances, three parameters must be examined for wetland determination: vegetation, soils, and hydrology. For an area to be classified as a wetland, the area must exhibit hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology. Please refer to Appendix lll for definitions of these parameters. The entire projecf site was walked to evaluate areas for further investigation. A wetland that had been previously delineated and classified was observed along the easterly property line. a) Hydrophytic Vegetation The property was visually observed for the dominant plant species. With the exception of the one identified wetland area, the dominant plant species would be considered not hydrophytic and are further noted in Appendix lV. b) Hydric Soil The soil mapped in the Jefferson County Area Soil Survey is listed as Clallam gravelly sandy loam. This soil type was confirmed on the property. This soil is not listed on the register for hydric soils and does not meet the criteria of hydric soils. c) Hydrology The hydrology for the majority of the project site comes from precipitation. Due to the nature of the underlying soils, this water infiltrates into the soil, No indicators were present verifying the wetland hydrology criteria, therefore the hydrology criteria is not satisfied. 3 B. WETLAND INVESTIGATION FINDINGS After reviewing all data relevant to make a wetland determination, with the exception of the previously identified wetland, it was determined that the project site would be considered non-wetland. III. SUMMARY An investigation performed on September 9, 1998 revealed a small wetland on the easterly pioperty boundary of the project site. This wetland has been previously delineated and ilassified by others and was not subject to this investigation. No other wetlands were noted or observed on the remaining portion of the property. 4 APPENDIX I - SITE LOCATION 2t99 L-.'*\\lrlrl|!lb-: : l e$ N irh A!,. Anfl€ERNC \' ./{li'iiii{. I s.quh, w^ e6rs2 L 's $ri\lfYllc \: .# **\ry r,::::'rr: :l ($o) o6'-zrnr rlFlrAb oasfAllo.l r{ FAx 6al-5]to WFTLAND INVESTIGANON FOR [r] R S'1, [/V f:,'^9] 7'[': R I{ 1/V V P: :g'[A'[ F,'l/7'S IN SECNON g, TOWNSHIP JO NORTH, RANGE I WEST, W.M JEFTERSON COI,JNTY, WASHINGTON I SWAN$ xS\$q 6 UoLA hr{kuiAui ='hHa S"5F? FRod t6os -5 L /'g sol __t L_ Z0 500 SCALE IN F€ET a a r00 LOA|tON OF PRNIOUSLY DELINEATED WEIUND ,tk a -v-r' Bs pouf--'s- 4{L- SI7'tr: P[.AN -/z -- {ill n VICINITY T|AP 9(50N- 1 W) 4 t 6.75' \rjo PARCEL AN6 2.8 ACRES 1b I 3.22' N6 PARCEI. B IO.7 ACRES 265.52' rswAuLr/HuroF/@ I 698 APPENDIX tI - REFERENCES Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y-87-1, U.S. Army Engineer Watenrvays Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MississiPPi. City of Port Townsend Environmentally Sensitive Areas Ordinance, Chapter 19.05, Port Townsend Municipal Code. Kollmorgen Corporation. 1994. Munsell Soil Color Charts. Macbeth Division of Kollmorgen Corporation. Baltimore, Maryland. Olympic Wetland Rescources, lnc., May 1997. Hilltop Wetland. Wetland Delineation Report. Pojar, Jim and A. MacKihnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Redmond, Washington. Reed, P.8., Jr. 1988. National List of Plant Species that occur in Wetlands: Northwest (Region 9). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 88(26.9). Reed, P.B., Jr. 1993. 1993 Supplement to List of Plant Species that occur in Wetlands: Northwest (Region 9). Supplement to Biological Report 88(26.9). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Northwest. September, 1984. Wetland Plants of the Pacific U.S. Department of Agriculture. August 1975. Soil Survey of Jefferson County Area, Washington. Soil Conservation Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service. 1991. Hydric Soils of the State of Washington U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. 1980. National Wetlands lnventory. Port Townsend South Quadrangle. Washington State Department of Ecology. 1993. Washington State Wetland Rating System for Westernr Washington. Olympia, Washington. APPENDIX III - WETLAND DEFINITIONS HYDROPHYTIC VEGETATION Hydrophytic vegetation is defined in the City of Port Townsend Environmentally Sensitive Areas Ordinances as: Macrophytic plant life (i.e., plant life large enough to be perceived or examined without instrumentation) growing in water or on a substrate (i.e., a layer of earth beneath the soil surface) that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive water content. For each area observed, the dominant plant species was noted. The 1987 Technical Manual states that hydrophytic vegetation criterion is met when more than 50% of the dominant species is hydrophytic. To determine the wetland plant indicator status, the National List of Plant Species that occur in Wetlands: Northwest (Reqion 9), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1988 and the 1993 Supplement was utilized. The wetland plant rating lists plants in different categories by their wetland indicator status. The indicator status is summarized in Table 1. Table 1. Wetland Plant lndicator Status A. lndicator Status Definition Obligate Wetland Plants (OBL)Plants that occur almost always (estimated probability >99%) under natural conditions. Facultative Wetland Plants (FACW) Usually occur in wetlands (estimated probabi I ity 67 o/o-99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands. Facultative Plants (FAC)Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands (estimated probability 340/o-660/o). Facultative Upland Plants (FACU) Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probabil ity 67 o/o-99o/o), but occasionallv found in wetlands. Upland Plants (UPL)Occur in wetlands in another region, but occur almost always (estimated probability >99%) under natural conditions in non-wetlands. B. HYDRIC SOIL City of Port Townsend defines hydric soil as: Soil that is saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. The presence of hydric soil shall be determined following the methods described in the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y-87-1. Utilizing the Technical Manual, soil samples from each plot are obtained using a soil sampler. The samples are observed for hydric indicators within the first 18 inches of the soil horizon. Hydric indicators include soil mottling and/or gleyed soils. Mottles are spots of discoloration in the soil caused by oxidized iron in the soil. Gleyed soils are predominately gray in color. Soil chroma, or color, was determined using Munsell Soil Color thgrts, 1994. Other hydric soil indicators can include the depth of an organic layer, sulfuric odors, soil concretions, and listed as hydric soils on the local or national Hydric Soils List. The soils observed in the field were compared to the Soil Survev for Jefferson Countv Area to confirm the soil type mapped. HYDROLOGY Wetland hydrology is defined in the Technical Manual as " ... areas that are periodically inundated or have soils saturated to the surface at some time during the growing season." lndicators of hydrology can be present at any time of the year. These indicators can include observing saturated soils, water marks, drift lines, sediment deposits, water-stained leaves, and oxidized root channels in the upper 12 inches of the soil. c APPENDIX IV - WETLAND DATA FORMS DATA FORM ROUTTNE WETI-AND DETERMINATION (19S7 COE Wettands Delineation Manual) ProjecUSite:(.'v ApplicanUOwnen lnvestigator: Date: County: State: Do Normal Gircunstances Exist on the Yes Yes Yes No No Nols the site significantly disturbed (Atypical Situation)? ls the area a potential Problem Area? needed on reverse. Community lD Transect lD: Plot lD: VEGETATION HYDROLOGY Stratum lndicatorDominant Plant SPecies 11 12. ,t5 il L.( fl f r 7 20 j:.( t")J tr, ,^ Percent of Dominant Species that are OBL, FACW or FAC (exduding FAC). lndicator -,Fac-NT* A- kf;(e'r 6t*Remarks: * UbU - Recorded Data (Describe in Remarks): - Stream, Lake, or Tide Gauge 6 - Aerial PhotograPhs -OtherRecorded Data Available Wetland hydrology lndicators: Primary lndicators: t/r _ lnundated_ Saturated in Upper 12 lnches _Water Marks_ Drift Lines _ Sediment Deposits_ Drainage Patterns in Wetlands Secondary lndicators (2 or more required) Vo - Oxidized Root Channels in Upper 1? _ Water-Stalned Leaves_ Local Soil Survey Data_ FAC-NeutralTest_ Olher (Explain in Remarks) Field Observations: Depth of Surface Water: Depth to Free Water in Pit: Depth to Saturated Soil: f cr,", -(in.) (ih.) Remarks . solLs WETIAND DETERMINATION Map Unit Name (Series and Phase): (,'rIi.ut (o{i;,##-r'"", Taxonomy (SubgrouP):C, Field Observations Confirm MpOped TVRe? Yes No Profile Description: Matrix Color Mottle Colors Mottle Texture, Concretions,ryffiDepth findtes) D-12 /LLb* Horizon (Munsell Moist)(Munsell Moist)re N/* A loYte.ol st3 lcY,z.s/u (.( Hydric Soil lndicators: _ Hlstosol_ Histic Eplpedon_ Sulfidic Odor -Aquic Moisture Regime _ Reducing Conditions -Gleyed or Low-Chroma Colors _ Concretions - High Organlc Content in Surfa ce Layer Sandy Soils - Organlc Streaking in Sandy Soils - Listed on Local Hydric Soils List - Listed on National Hydric Soils List _Other (Explain in Remarks) Remarks: l.l Of -(- HydrophyticVegetation Present? Yes Wetland Hydrology Presenf? Yes Hydric Soils Present? Yes (Circle)(Circle) ls this Sampling Point \Mthin a Wetland? Remarks: M Apptov€d by I-IQUSACE $f2