HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix H - Cumulative Effects DR
I-405, Renton Nickel Improvement Project, I-5 to SR 169
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS
DISCIPLINE REPORT
November 2005
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CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS
DISCIPLINE REPORT
I-405, Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Prepared for
Washington State Department of Transportation
Urban Corridors Office
And
Federal Highway Administration
Prepared by
Michael V. Stimac, HDR
November 30, 2005
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Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report i
T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
Glossary.............................................................................................................................................................................iv
Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Report .......................................................................................................vii
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................1
What is the Renton Nickel Improvement Project? ...........................................................................................................1
What is the No Build Alternative?................................................................................................................................2
What is the Build Alternative?.....................................................................................................................................2
How will stormwater from the project be managed? .................................................................................................12
What environmental and utilities issues influenced the project design and what was done to avoid
and minimize project effects?....................................................................................................................................13
What is planned for wetland and stream mitigation?.....................................................................................................16
What benefits will the project provide?......................................................................................................................17
How will the project incorporate community design preferences?.............................................................................17
How will the project be constructed?.........................................................................................................................18
Why do we consider cumulative effects as we plan for this project?.............................................................................19
What are the key points of this report?..........................................................................................................................20
Background......................................................................................................................................................................22
What guidance is available for conducting a cumulative effects analysis?....................................................................22
CEQ..........................................................................................................................................................................22
FHWA........................................................................................................................................................................23
WSDOT.....................................................................................................................................................................24
What is the relationship of the project to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and other regional actions?.................24
Metropolitan Transportation Plan..............................................................................................................................24
Sound Transit Future Investments............................................................................................................................25
What is the relationship of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project to land use, population growth, and highways in the
region, the I-405 corridor, and the project study area?..................................................................................................25
Regulatory Trends.....................................................................................................................................................25
Historical Land Use Changes and Trends.................................................................................................................27
Land Use Plans and Policies in the Renton Nickel Improvement Project Study Area...............................................27
Cumulative Effects on Critical Resources.....................................................................................................................30
What is the scope of this cumulative effects analysis?..................................................................................................30
What is the relationship between this cumulative effects analysis and that in the I-405 Corridor Program Final EIS?30
Which critical environmental resources are analyzed and why?...............................................................................30
What are the time period and geographic boundaries for this analysis?...................................................................31
Which other projects are included in the cumulative effects analysis for the Renton Nickel Improvement Project and
why?..............................................................................................................................................................................34
Link Light Rail Phase 1 - South 154th Street to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport..............................................35
Link Light Rail Station – Tukwila International Boulevard/Southcenter Boulevard....................................................35
SR 518 Corridor Improvements.................................................................................................................................35
I-5 Pavement Replacement.......................................................................................................................................36
Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Access Improvement: Klickitat Drive/Southcenter Parkway......................................36
Strander Boulevard/SW 27th Street..........................................................................................................................36
Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank.........................................................................................37
SR 167 Corridor Improvements.................................................................................................................................38
Rainier Avenue Improvement Project........................................................................................................................38
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
ii Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
SR 515 Corridor Improvements................................................................................................................................ 39
Benson Road Sidewalk Improvements..................................................................................................................... 39
SR 169 Improvements.............................................................................................................................................. 39
I-405, SR 169 to I-90, Renton to Bellevue Project.................................................................................................... 40
Renton HOV Direct Access....................................................................................................................................... 40
How were the cumulative effects determined?.............................................................................................................. 41
What are the analysis results for air quality?................................................................................................................. 41
What regulations apply to air quality and how do they help limit adverse effects on air quality?.............................. 41
What is the trend in air quality in the Central Puget Sound Region?........................................................................ 43
Will the Build Alternative affect air quality during construction?................................................................................ 43
Will the Build Alternative affect air quality during operation?.................................................................................... 44
Would the No Build Alternative affect air quality?..................................................................................................... 45
What are the analysis results for surface water and water quality?............................................................................... 45
Which watersheds and streams may be affected by the project?............................................................................. 45
Green River............................................................................................................................................................... 47
Gilliam Creek............................................................................................................................................................ 47
Springbrook Creek.................................................................................................................................................... 47
Panther Creek........................................................................................................................................................... 47
Rolling Hills Creek..................................................................................................................................................... 48
Thunder Hills Creek.................................................................................................................................................. 48
Cedar River............................................................................................................................................................... 49
How can development affect surface water?............................................................................................................ 49
What is the quality of surface waterbodies in the study area?.................................................................................. 50
What is the history of stormwater regulations?......................................................................................................... 51
How is stormwater managed in the study area?....................................................................................................... 51
Will the Build Alternative affect surface water and water quality during construction?.............................................. 53
Will the Build Alternative affect surface water and water quality during operation?.................................................. 54
Would the No Build Alternative affect surface water and water quality?................................................................... 55
What are the analysis results for wetlands?.................................................................................................................. 55
What has happened to the wetlands in the study area over time?............................................................................ 55
How are effects on wetlands regulated?................................................................................................................... 56
How many wetlands are in the study area and where are they located?.................................................................. 56
What are the classifications of the wetlands in the study area?................................................................................ 58
What functions and values do wetlands provide?..................................................................................................... 59
Will the Build Alternative affect wetlands during construction?................................................................................. 60
Will the Build Alternative affect wetlands during operation? ..................................................................................... 61
Would the No Build Alternative affect wetlands?...................................................................................................... 62
What are the analysis results for fisheries and aquatic habitat?.................................................................................... 62
What are the characteristics of aquatic habitat in the study area?............................................................................ 62
Which fisheries and aquatic species occur in the study area?.................................................................................. 63
Which federally listed aquatic species or federal aquatic species of concern occur in the study area?.................... 67
Do any state-listed or other state priority aquatic species occur in or around the study area?.................................69
Will the Build Alternative affect fisheries and aquatic habitat during construction?................................................... 69
Will the Build Alternative affect fisheries and aquatic habitat during operation?....................................................... 70
Would the No Build Alternative affect fisheries and aquatic habitat?........................................................................ 71
Measures to Avoid or Minimize Project Effects............................................................................................................ 72
Will the cumulative effects due to construction and operation of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project require
mitigation?..................................................................................................................................................................... 72
Unavoidable Adverse Effects......................................................................................................................................... 73
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report iii
Will there be unavoidable adverse cumulative effects due to construction and operation of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project?....................................................................................................................................................73
References........................................................................................................................................................................74
E XHIBITS
Exhibit 1. Project Vicinity Map.............................................................................................................................................1
Exhibit 2. Project Overview Section 1.................................................................................................................................3
Exhibit 3. Project Overview Section 2.................................................................................................................................4
Exhibit 4. Project Overview Section 3.................................................................................................................................5
Exhibit 5. Project Overview Section 4.................................................................................................................................6
Exhibit 6. Project Overview Section 5.................................................................................................................................7
Exhibit 7. Project Overview Section 6.................................................................................................................................8
Exhibit 8. Project Overview Section 7.................................................................................................................................9
Exhibit 9. Project Overview Section 8...............................................................................................................................10
Exhibit 10. Cumulative Effects Analysis Boundary for Air Quality.....................................................................................32
Exhibit 11. Cumulative Effects Analysis Boundaries for Surface Water, Wetlands, and Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat...33
Exhibit 12. Other Projects Considered in the Cumulative Effects Analysis.......................................................................34
Exhibit 13. Surface Waterbodies in the Study Area..........................................................................................................46
Exhibit 14. Wetlands in the Study Area.............................................................................................................................57
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
iv Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
GLOSSARY
Action Area The area addressed in a biological assessment that includes the immediate footprint
of the project and all areas directly or indirectly affected by a federal action.
Adaptive Management A scientific policy intended to improve management of biological resources –
particularly in areas of scientific uncertainty. Program actions and results are
monitored and evaluated. Program actions are then adjusted, if needed, to achieve
the desired result.
Anadromous Fish A fish species that spends a part of its life cycle in the sea and returns to freshwater
streams to spawn.
Basin The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries, draining water, organic matter
dissolved nutrients, and sediments into an ocean, lake, or stream.
BMPs Best Management Practices – the structural devices, maintenance procedures,
managerial practices, prohibition of practices, and schedules of activities that are used
singly or in combination to prevent or reduce the detrimental impacts of stormwater,
such as pollution of water, degradation of channels, damage to structures, and
flooding.
Categorical Exclusion A category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect
on the environment and for which neither an environmental assessment nor an
environmental impact statement is required under NEPA.
Conservation Defined by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as the use of all methods and
procedures which are necessary to bring any endangered or threatened species to the
point at which the measures provided pursuant to the ESA are no longer necessary.
Council on Environmental Quality The federal agency charged with implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.
Cumulative Effect Effect on the environment which results from the incremental effect of the action when
added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of
what agency or person undertakes such actions. Cumulative effects can result from
individually minor but collectively noticeable actions taking place over a period of time.
Critical Habitat The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a species at the time it is
listed in accordance with the Endangered Species Act, on which are found those
physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species, and which
may require special management considerations or protection; and specific areas
outside the geographic area occupied by a species at the time it is listed, upon a
determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.
Direct Access A ramp or roadway connecting arterial streets directly to HOV lanes, allowing buses,
carpools, and vanpools to get on or off the highway without having to cross several
lanes of traffic.
Direct Effect Effect caused by the proposed action and occurring at the same time and place.
Downstream In the direction of the flow of a stream or river.
Ecology Embankment A stormwater treatment facility constructed in the pervious shoulder area of a highway,
consisting of a vegetation-covered French drain containing filter media.
GLOSSARY
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report v
Effect Includes ecological effects (such as the effects on natural resources and on the
components, structures, and functioning of affected ecosystems), aesthetic, historic,
cultural, economic, social, or health effects, whether direct, indirect, or cumulative.
Effects may include those resulting from actions that may have both beneficial and
detrimental effects, even if on balance the agency believes the effect will be beneficial.
Escapement The number of adult fish that enter a fresh water system to spawn.
Evolutionarily Significant Unit The term used by the National Marine Fisheries Service for a fish species population
protected by a listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Flood Hazard Areas Frequently flooded areas.
Forest Duff Forest litter and other organic debris in various stages of decomposition on top of the
mineral soil; typical of conifer forests in cool climates where the rate of decomposition
is slow and litter accumulation exceeds decay.
Highways of Statewide Significance Highways of statewide significance include, at a minimum, interstate highways and
other principal arterials that are needed to connect major communities in the state.
Impervious Areas Surfaced areas (e.g., roadways, parking lots, and rooftops) where rainfall or runoff
cannot infiltrate into the ground.
Indirect Effect Effect caused by the proposed action that is later in time or farther removed in
distance, but still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect effects may include growth-
inducing effects and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of land
use, population density or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other
natural systems, including ecosystems.
Infiltration The downward movement of water from the surface into the subsoil.
Large Woody Debris Naturally-occurring or artificially-placed coniferous or deciduous logs, limbs, or root
wads, 12 inches or larger in diameter, used as a habitat element in a stream or river.
Macroinvertebrate Small animals (insects, worms, larvae, etc.) without backbones, which are visible with
the naked eye. Waterbodies have communities of aquatic macroinvertebrates. The
species composition, species diversity, and abundance of the macroinvertebrates can
provide valuable information on the relative health and water quality of a waterbody.
Outfall The outlet or mouth of a drain pipe or culvert.
Recharge Area Land area important for retaining rainwater as part of the groundwater hydrology of the
region.
Riffle A riffle is a shallow extending across a stream bed and causing broken water.
Right-of-way Land legally established for public use by pedestrians, vehicles, or utilities.
Riparian Land that occurs along or interacts with flowing water.
Riprap A sustaining wall of stones on a soft bottom.
Runoff Rainwater or snowmelt that directly leaves an area as surface drainage.
Salmonid A fish of the family Salmonidae; for example, salmon, trout, and char.
Stormwater That portion of precipitation that does not naturally percolate into the ground or
evaporate, but flows overland flow into a defined surface waterbody or a constructed
infiltration facility.
Total Suspended Solids Soil particles that are carried in water. High levels of soil particles can make a water
body appear muddy or cloudy and affect fish by clogging gills and reducing their ability
to see and forage for food.
GLOSSARY
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
vi Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
Uplands Any area that does not qualify as a wetland because the associated hydrologic regime
is not sufficiently wet to elicit development of vegetation, soils, and/or hydrologic
characteristics associated with wetlands.
Watershed The region of land that drains into a specific body of water, such as a river, lake, sea,
or ocean. Rain that falls anywhere within a given body of water’s watershed will
eventually drain into that body of water.
Water Resource Inventory Area A Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) may include more than one watershed.
Washington State is divided into 62 WRIAs for water and aquatic resource
management issues. The terms “WRIA” and “watershed” are frequently used
interchangeably.
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
vii Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
ACRONYMS AND
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT
AQMP air quality maintenance plan
BA biological assessment
BAT business access transit
BMP best management practice
BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe
CAA Clean Air Act
CAO critical area ordinance
CAWA Clean Air Washington Act
CE categorical exclusion
CEA cumulative effects analysis
CEQ Council on Environmental Quality
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
cfs cubic feet per second
CO carbon monoxide
CWA Clean Water Act
CWPP County-Wide Planning Policies
DO dissolved oxygen
DOT U.S. Department of Transportation
EA environmental assessment
Ecology Washington State Department of Ecology
EIS environmental impact statement
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ESA Endangered Species Act
ESU evolutionarily significant unit
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
FTA Federal Transit Administration
GMA Growth Management Act
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
viii Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
HCT high-capacity transportation (e.g., light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit)
HOT high-occupancy toll
HOV high-occupancy vehicle
HPA Hydraulic Project Approval
KCDNR King County Department of Natural Resources
LOS level of service
LWD large woody debris
MOA memorandum of agreement
MTP Metropolitan Transportation Plan
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
PCE primary constituent element
PM2.5 particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size
PM10 particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in size
ppm parts per million
PSCAA Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
PSRC Puget Sound Regional Council
RCW Revised Code of Washington
RM river mile
ROW right-of-way
SEPA State Environmental Policy Act
Services National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
SIP State Implementation Plan
SMA Shoreline Management Act
SR state route
TCM transportation control measure
TDA threshold discharge area
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report ix
TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
TIP Transportation Improvement Program
TMDL total maximum daily load
UGA urban growth area
UP Union Pacific
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
VMT vehicle miles traveled
WAC Washington Administrative Code
WRIA water resource inventory area
WDFW Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation
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x Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
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Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 1
INTRODUCTION
What is the Renton Nickel Improvement Project?
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project is a highway expansion project that will
improve mobility and safety through Tukwila and Renton. On I-405, this project
begins just east of the I-5/I-405 interchange in Tukwila and extends north past the
Cedar River to the SR 169 (Maple Valley Highway) interchange. The project will build
an additional lane both northbound and southbound between I-5 and SR 169. On
SR 167, the project will extend the southbound high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane
north to I-405 and add a southbound auxiliary lane from I-405 to the SW 41st Street
off-ramp. These limits comprise the study area for the project.
Prior to planning this specific project, WSDOT created the I-405 Corridor Program.
This program provides a comprehensive strategy to reduce congestion and improve
mobility throughout the I-405 corridor. The corridor begins at the I-5 interchange in
the city of Tukwila and extends northward 30 miles to the I-5 interchange in the city of
Lynnwood. The program’s purpose is to provide an efficient, integrated, and
multimodal system of
transportation solutions.
Using the I-405 Corridor
Program’s Selected
Alternative as the Master
Plan to improve I-405,
WSDOT developed
relatively low cost,
congestion relief roadway
improvements as an interim
step in achieving the Master
Plan. As part of this effort,
WSDOT began to define
the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project. The
Renton Nickel Improvement
Project was developed as
part of a first step in
providing a focused strategy
to improve I-405 between
I-5 in Tukwila and SR 169 in
Renton and SR 167
southbound from I-405 to
SW 41st Street, see Exhibit
1. This discipline report
analyzes two project
alternatives: the No Build
Alternative and the Build
Alternative.
Exhibit 1. Project Vicinity Map
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Interurban TrailCedar River Interpretive Trail
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Park
SW 41st St
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SW 16th St
Southcenter ParkwayW Valley HwyI
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INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
2 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
What is the No Build Alternative?
The No Build Alternative assumes that only routine
activities such as road maintenance, repair, and safety
improvements would take place over the next 20 years.
This alternative does not include improvements to increase
roadway capacity or reduce congestion. For these
reasons, it does not satisfy the project’s purpose—improve
I-405 between I-5 in Tukwila and SR 169 in Renton and
SR 167 southbound from I-405 to SW 41st Street.
The No Build Alternative has been evaluated in this
discipline report to establish a baseline for comparing
the effects associated with the Build Alternative.
What is the Build Alternative?
The new lanes that will be built under this project are:
An I-405 northbound general-purpose (GP)
lane from I-5 to the SR 167 off-ramp.
An I-405 northbound auxiliary lane from the
SR 167 to I-405 on-ramp to the SR 169 off-ramp.
An I-405 southbound auxiliary lane from the
SR 169 to I-405 on-ramp to the SR 167 off-ramp.
An I-405 southbound GP lane from the SR 167
to I-405 on-ramp to the I-5 off-ramp.
A SR 167 southbound auxiliary lane from I-405 to the
SW 41st Street off-ramp. Also, the existing inside
HOV lane will be extended north to I-405 from its
present starting point in the vicinity of SW 21st Street.
See Exhibits 2 through 9 show the project features. In
addition to adding lanes to I-405 and SR 167, this project
will provide the following improvements.
Improve Interchanges
Minor modifications will be made to the ramps at the
SR 167 interchange:
The one-lane ramp from northbound I-405 to
SR 167 will be widened to a 2-lane off
connection, which provides a dedicated lane to
southbound SR 167 and a dedicated lane to
northbound Rainer Avenue. See Exhibit 5.
Traffic from two consecutive single-lane on-
ramps from southbound I-405 to SR 167 will be
separated by a concrete barrier. This will
provide a smoother transition to the mainline
and reduce congestion on the on-ramps.
What is an auxiliary lane?
An auxiliary lane is a lane added between
interchanges—from one on-ramp to the
next off-ramp. It is dedicated to traffic
entering and leaving the freeway and
provides motorists with more time and
extra room to accelerate or decelerate
and merge when getting on and off the
freeway.
89:P 89:T
Existing On-ramp On-ramp with
proposed auxiliary
lane
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 3
T u k w i l a P a r k w a y
I-405
Southern
Project Limit
at I-5
Gilliam Creek
Cottage Creek
Westfield
Shoppingtown MallSouthcenter ParkwaySouthcenter Blvd 65th Ave STUKWILA
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I-405 Northboundbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at
some locations.
I-405 Southbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at
some locations. M0250500
Feet
I-405 NORTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
I-405 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Renton
Renton
Piped River/Creek Channel
Open River/Creek Channel
Ecology EmbankmentÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ
Retaining Wall
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
New Pavement
Easement Acquisition
Parcel Acquisition
Existing ROW
Areas of Construction
New ROW
Exhibit 2. Project Overview Section 1
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
4 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃInterurban TrailFort
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I-405 Northbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at
some locations.
I-405 Southbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at
some locations. M0250500
Feet
I-405 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Renton
Renton
I-405 NORTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
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Retaining Wall
Piped River/Creek Channel
Open River/Creek Channel
ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
New Pavement
Areas of Construction
Easement Acquisition
Parcel Acquisition
Existing ROW
New ROW
Exhibit 3. Project Overview Section 2
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 5
ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ
SW 16th St
S W G r a d y W a y
SW G ra d y W a y
Oakesdale Ave SWSW 16th St
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I-405 Northbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at
some locations. The existing Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale
Avenue bridges will be replaced and the existing culvert will be
removed.
I-405 Southbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 70 feet to the outside at
some locations. The existing Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale
Avenue bridges will be replaced and the existing culvert will be
removed.M0250500
Feet
I-405 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Renton
Renton
I-405 NORTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Piped River/Creek Channel
Open River/Creek Channel
ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment
Retaining Wall
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
New Pavement
Areas of Construction
Easement Acquisition
Parcel Acquisition
Existing ROW
New ROW
Exhibit 4. Project Overview Section 3
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
6 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
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I-405 Northbound Improvements:
A general-purpose lane will be added up to the SR 167 interchange and an auxiliary lane
will be added from the SR 167 to I-405 on-ramp north. These lanes will be added by
restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at
some locations.
I-405 Southbound Improvements:
An auxiliary lane will be added up to the I-405 to SR 167 on-ramp and a general-purpose
lane will be added south of the interchange. These lanes will be added by restriping the
existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations.
SR 167 Southbound Improvements:
An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping existing pavement and adding up to 19 feet
of pavement at the outside at some locations. The existing HOV lane will be extended
north from SW 21st Street to the interchange with I-405.M0250500
Feet
I-405 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
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Renton
Renton
I-405 NORTHBOUND
Existing
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Proposed Noise Wall
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Retaining Wall
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
New Pavement
Areas of Construction
Easement Acquisition
Parcel Acquisition
Existing ROW
New ROW
Exhibit 5. Project Overview Section 4
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 7 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃPanther
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In addition to extending the HOV lane north from SW 21st
Street, an auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 19 feet to the outside at
some locations.
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Piped River/Creek Channel
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Retaining Wall
Stormwater Flow Control
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New ROW
Exhibit 6. Project Overview Section 5
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
8 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃSW 41st St
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An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 19 feet to the outside at
some locations. The new lane will tie into the existing ramp
connection to SW 41st Street.
M0250500
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SR 167 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Renton
Renton
Piped River/Creek Channel
Open River/Creek Channel
ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment
Retaining Wall
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
New Pavement
Areas of Construction
Easement Acquisition
Parcel Acquisition
Existing ROW
New ROW
Exhibit 7. Project Overview Section 6
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 9 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃS G rady W ayB
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I-405 Northbound Improvements:
An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement
and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations.
I-405 Southbound Improvements:
An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement
and adding pavement up to 24 feet to the outside at some locations.
Benson Rd S Improvements:
The Benson Rd S overpass will be replaced and realigned to the
west of its current location. The new overpass will have 2 lanes with
5-foot bike lanes on both sides and a 6-foot sidewalk on the west
side.M0250500
Feet
I-405 NORTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
I-405 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Renton
Renton
Parcel Acquisition
New ROW
Existing ROW
Easement Acquisition
Areas of Construction
New Pavement
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
Retaining Wall
ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment
Proposed Noise Wall
Piped River/Creek Channel
Open River/Creek Channel
Exhibit 8. Project Overview Section 7
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
10 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
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I-405 Northbound Improvements:
An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside
at some locations.
I-405 Southbound Improvements:
An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing
pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside
at some locations. M0250500
Feet
I-405 NORTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
I-405 SOUTHBOUND
Existing
Proposed
Renton
Renton
Piped River/Creek Channel
Open River/Creek Channel
ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment
Retaining Wall
Stormwater Flow Control
Facility
New Pavement
Areas of Construction
Easement Acquisition
Parcel Acquisition
Existing ROW
New ROW
Exhibit 9. Project Overview Section 8
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 11
Improve Benson Road
The Benson Road overpass will be replaced and
realigned to accommodate the southbound auxiliary
lane on I-405 as well as future improvements to I-405
as shown on Exhibit 8. Improvements on Benson
Road include a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side and
5-foot bike lanes on both sides.
Widen and replace bridges
Several bridges within the study area will be widened
or replaced based on present location, cost, and
existing soil conditions. To construct the new lanes,
the project will:
Widen Talbot Road Bridge on both the
northbound and the southbound sides. See
Exhibit 8.
Replace Springbrook Creek Side Channel
Bridge and Oakesdale Avenue Bridge with new
southbound and northbound structures and
remove the Springbrook Creek box culvert.
See Exhibit 4.
Replace the rail on the I-405 bridges over
SR 181 and the Union Pacific and Burlington
Northern Santa Fe railroads.
The project will not affect the I-405 bridges over the
Green River, Lind Avenue, or the Cedar River. The
project will also not affect the Cedar Avenue or Renton
Avenue overpasses. The roadway will be restriped in
these areas to accommodate the new lanes.
Use retaining walls
Widening I-405 and SR 167 will require retaining walls
to minimize the construction footprint and right-of-way
acquisition. Retaining walls will also help avoid and
minimize effects to wetlands and other sensitive areas.
Improve culverts
WSDOT anticipates that construction will affect some
existing stormwater cross culverts and one stream
culvert. Associated culvert improvements include
extending the existing structures due to widening the
roadway and stabilizing culvert ends with rock or
retaining walls. The I-405 Team will conduct a hydraulic
analysis of the culverts to ensure that the modifications
will have no effect on the base flood elevations. See the
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Discipline Report for
detailed discussion on fish passage.
Why rebuild Benson Road on a new
alignment over I-405?
By building the new overpass to the west
on a new alignment, the new structure
can be constructed while the existing
structure remains open to traffic. Traffic
can then be shifted onto the new
structure, while the old overpass is
demolished.
What does a “rail” replacement involve?
Typically, a bridge rail replacement
project consists of making minor
adjustments to the width of the bridge
deck and replacing the guard rail or
barrier. This type of project does not
include adding new bridge columns or
footings.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
12 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
Build a noise wall
One noise wall will be built on the northbound side of
the freeway as shown on Exhibits 5 and 8. The wall
will begin at the intersection of South 14th Street and
South 15th Street and follow South 14th Street east to
Talbot Road. This wall will be approximately 2,150
feet long and 18 feet tall.
How will stormwater from the project be
managed?
Stormwater from the project will be managed for both
quality and peak flows using currently accepted best
management practices (BMPs). The I-405 Team has
designed the stormwater management facilities to
comply with the following guidelines and procedures:
WSDOT Highway Runoff Manual M 31-16
WSDOT Hydraulics Manual M 23-03
Stormwater treatment facilities
The project will add new impervious surface within the
study area, most of which will be within the Springbrook
Creek basin. This project will treat runoff for an area
equal to 100 percent of these new surfaces.
The project will use BMPs that the HRM lists as
enhanced treatment facilities. The I-405 Team has
proposed that stormwater be treated using a
combination of these facilities. In most of the study
area, ecology embankments will be used to capture
runoff from the edge of the
pavement and provide water
quality treatment. Ecology
embankments also serve to
convey treated runoff to
receiving waters or to flow
control facilities as required.
The project also includes a
combined stormwater quality
wetland and detention facility
that addresses water quality
and flow control in one facility.
Exhibits 2 through 9 show the
location of stormwater facilities
that will be built for this project. Ecology Embankment Cross-Section
What are the guidelines for stormwater
management facilities?
Water quality treatment will be provided
for an area equal to the new impervious
surfaces created on the project.
Impervious surfaces, such as pavement,
are those that do not allow water to
penetrate into the ground. Stormwater
from new impervious surfaces or an equal
area will be controlled in detention
facilities. This process allows water to
be held (detained) and thus released at
rates that are equal to existing
conditions.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 13
Drainage Collection and Conveyance
Some changes to existing drainage will be necessary
to provide flow control and water quality treatment to
address the new impervious area added by the
project. However, existing storm drainage systems
will be kept to the greatest extent possible and existing
flow patterns will be maintained. Where roadway
widening affects drainage ditches that convey water
from adjacent private properties, the project design will
assure that existing conveyance capacities are
maintained.
What environmental and utilities issues
influenced the project design and what
was done to avoid and minimize project
effects?
Throughout the development of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project design, environmental elements
were reviewed and design features were modified to
avoid or minimize negative effects to the environment.
Influence on the project design came from:
Soil Conditions: the soils in the project area are
highly prone to accentuate earthquake
shaking, which influences how bridges can be
widened or replaced.
Noise: highway noise in the project area
already exceeds acceptable levels, which
means that including noise walls as part of the
project had to be considered.
Wetland Locations: many wetlands are located
along the edges of the highway, which
influence whether the widened sections will
use retaining walls or fill slopes.
Historical Sites: some historic sites exist within
the study area, so the project design was
coordinated to avoid these properties.
Because the I-405 Team planned for these
environmental considerations, several design features
have the benefit of avoiding or minimizing potential
effects due to the project. These design features are
described from south to north below.
I-405, I-5 to SR 167
WSDOT will construct a retaining wall from west of the
68th Avenue structure over I-405 at Tukwila Parkway
What are detention facilities?
These facilities control stormwater runoff
so that it can be released at a controlled
rate. Two types are commonly used:
Ponds.
Vaults. Similar to a pond, but with a
hard-sided construction. These
concrete structures function like a
pond but also provide detention
storage.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
14 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
The proposed design modifications allow
the additional lanes to be added over the
Green River by restriping instead of
bridge widening. This avoids effects on
the river, stream habitat, floodplain, and
Interurban Trail.
to the Green River. This wall avoids the need to
construct a fill slope that would extend into Gilliam
Creek. See Exhibit 2.
WSDOT will provide a narrower outside shoulder on
northbound I-405 at the Green River Bridge. The
shoulder will vary from 10 to just over 3 feet at the west
abutment of the existing bridge. Narrowing the
shoulder avoids modifications to the existing bridge. As
a result, the design also avoids effects to the river, the
100-year floodplain, the ordinary high water level, and
adjacent riparian zones.
At the SR 181 interchange, the bridge and ramp will
be restriped to provide the new general-purpose lane
and ramp improvements. This approach minimizes
the need to widen the existing SR 181 Bridge,
reconstruct the SR 181 interchange, or modify the
Southcenter Boulevard crossing of the Green River.
This in turn avoids relocating or diverting the
Interurban Trail, which goes under the bridge. See
Exhibit 3.
Near the Westfield Shoppingtown Mall, a large Seattle
Public Utilities water transmission line parallels I-405.
WSDOT will line this pipe so that is can support the
loads from the new roadway embankment. This
approach allows the line to stay in its present location.
WSDOT will remove the existing I-405 bridges over
the Springbrook Creek side channel and Oakesdale
Avenue and replace them with a single northbound
and a single southbound bridge. This approach will
allow for the removal of the Springbrook Creek box
culvert. Construction of the new bridges will be
phased with the southbound bridge built slightly to the
north of the existing roadway. This phasing minimizes
the need to construct temporary roadway to maintain
traffic operations. WSDOT also evaluated the location
of the new bridge piers and selected locations that will
minimize the effect on the existing stream, stream
buffer, and trail that crosses under the bridge.
WSDOT will construct a narrower exit gore from I-405
to the northbound ramp at the SR 167 interchange as
shown in Exhibit 5. By building a narrower exit gore,
the project can be constructed within the existing right-
of-way. This has the benefit of avoiding right-of-way
acquisition, avoiding effects to the wetland outside the
right-of-way, and avoiding effects to the existing Lind
Avenue Bridge.
What is an exit gore?
An exit gore is a roadway feature that
separates an exiting lane from the main
lanes. An exit gore can be defined either
by paint stripes, raised buttons, physical
barriers, or a combination of these.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 15
Retaining walls will help to avoid and
minimize effects on the Panther Creek
wetlands along SR 167
SR 167, southbound from I-405 to SW 41st Street
WSDOT will build a retaining wall along a large portion
of the west edge of SR 167 southbound instead of an
earth fill slope. See Exhibits 6 and 7. The retaining
wall minimizes effects on three wetlands. The
retaining wall has the added benefit of minimizing
right-of-way needs and reduces the effect on existing
utility crossings, in particular, the City of Seattle’s 60-
inch water line and Olympic Petroleum’s two high
pressure pipelines, which all cross under SR 167.
I-405, SR 167 to SR 169
WSDOT will add a lane by restriping I-405 northbound
next to the Talbot Hill retaining wall immediately east
of the SR 167 interchange. Restriping instead of
widening avoids the need to reconstruct the existing
Talbot Hill retaining wall and avoids effects on
properties south of I-405 in this area. Between Talbot
Road and the “S-Curves”, northbound I-405 will be
widened to achieve standard lane and shoulder
widths. Most of this length will be supported by
retaining walls to minimize effects to Thunder Hills
Creek, adjacent properties, and the existing cut slope
south of I-405.
To support the fill required to widen the roadway on
the north side of I-405 next to the outfall for the
original Rolling Hills Creek culvert, the design uses a
retaining wall. By using the retaining wall, the project
improvements at this location can be constructed
without affecting the existing culvert.
WSDOT will use a non-standard design for the I-405
to SR 167 exit ramp. The changes from the design
standards include not providing a recovery lane,
narrowing the distance between the through lane and
ramp, and providing narrower shoulders. While these
changes deviate from WSDOT design standards they
are an improvement over existing conditions. These
features will avoid effects to the existing Rolling Hills
Creek/Thunder Hills Creek channel located between
I-405 and the Renton Cinema complex as shown in
Exhibit 5. Using retaining walls along the west side of
Benson Road avoids effects to Rolling Hills Creek and
the wetlands east of Talbot Road.
WSDOT will use retaining walls to support widening
southbound I-405 south of the Cedar Avenue
overpass. Using retaining walls versus a fill slope,
avoids encroaching on Cedar Avenue and Main
Avenue in Renton.
What is a recovery lane?
A recovery lane is a paved area adjacent
to an off-ramp. This area gives drivers,
who find themselves exiting the freeway
unintentionally, room to maneuver back
onto the freeway.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
16 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
WSDOT also plans to replace the existing Benson
Road overpass on a new alignment. The new bridge
will be located slightly to the west of the existing
bridge. This will allow traffic to continue to use the
existing overpass until the new one is completed. This
will minimize disruption for local traffic and to
emergency response vehicles.
Where northbound and southbound I-405 passes
under the Renton Avenue and Cedar Avenue
overpasses, WSDOT will add lanes by restriping. This
design avoids replacing the two overpasses; however,
the available area does not allow the standard
shoulder and lane widths.
WSDOT shifted a proposed stormwater facility to
avoid effects to the existing Renton Coal Mine Hoist
Foundation site south of Benson Road. This site is on
the Washington Historic Register.
What is planned for wetland and stream mitigation?
WSDOT will compensate for unavoidable effects to
wetlands with credits from the Springbrook Creek
Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank. Mitigation is
needed for 1.66 acres of wetlands.
The Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation
Bank is being developed as a joint effort between
WSDOT and the City of Renton. This ‘bank’ will
construct a new high quality wetland complex that will
serve to replace other wetlands that are filled in by
projects such as the Renton Nickel Improvement
Project. The location of the bank is shown to the left.
In addition to wetland mitigation, the site will also
provide flood storage mitigation. The Springbrook
Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank will be one
of the first urban mitigation banks to be certified in
Washington.
To mitigate project effects on streams, WSDOT will
remove the existing Springbrook Creek box culvert.
With the new I-405 southbound and northbound
bridges that will span both Springbrook Creek and
Oakesdale Avenue, the box culvert is no longer
needed. After the new bridges are in place, the box
culvert will be removed and the streambed in that area
will be restored. This will improve fish habitat within
Springbrook Creek. Any additional stream mitigation
required to offset project effects will be accommodated
within the project vicinity.
Renton Coal Mine Hoist Foundation site
looking west
r
Interurban TrailPanther
Creek
Wetlands
Green River TrailFort
Dent
Park
SW 41st St
S W 3 4 t h S t
S W 2 7 t h S t
SW 16th St
W Valley HwyS W 7 t h S t
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500 Year Floodplain
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Wetlands
Local Road
Legend
Trail
Arterial Road
Freeway
River/Creek Channel
Study Area Limits
Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat
Mitigation Bank
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 17
What benefits will the project provide?
The Build Alternative will benefit the area by reducing
congestion at chokepoints, reducing the duration of
congestion during peak commuter travel hours, and
improving freight movement.
This section of I-405, from the I-5 interchange to
SR 169, is congested due to large traffic volumes and
merging and diverging traffic. The new lanes will help
relieve congestion by adding roadway capacity. This
in turn will improve safety by providing drivers with
more time and extra room to accelerate or decelerate
and move into and out of the stream of traffic when
getting on and off the freeway. This provides a
smoother transition for motorists as they get on and off
I-405 in Tukwila and Renton and helps decrease rear-
end and sideswipe collisions.
The project reduces congestion approaching the
SR 167 interchange, and it complements the
completed southbound I-405 to southbound SR 167
flyover ramp.
This project will construct one noise wall along
northbound I-405 from the intersection of South 14th
Street and South 15th Street east to Talbot Road. This
wall will benefit residents in that area by lowering the
overall noise levels.
Another benefit of this project is that it continues the
application of the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)
design choices made by the communities within the
I-405 corridor. The Benson Road realignment will
reflect the most comprehensive application of these
design choices as explained further in the next section.
How will the project incorporate
community design preferences?
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project is being
planned, developed, and designed according to CSS
guidelines. These guidelines establish the community
design preferences used to design the project
features. Working within the framework for the overall
I-405 corridor, the Urban Design Guidelines will be
adapted to incorporate the communities’ design
preferences. These preferences will be included in
the contract documents prepared for the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project. The selected I-405
theme of “Culture, Nature, and Progress,” with nature
This rendering shows the new Benson
Road overpass with the CSS Guidelines
applied
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
18 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
being the dominant theme, will be carried into corridor-
wide and local I-405 designs.
The new Benson Road overpass is the main project
feature that will receive CSS treatment. The new
southbound and northbound bridges over Springbrook
Creek and Oakesdale Avenue will also receive CSS
treatments. The rest of the project elements will be
designed to match in color and vegetation type only, as
many of these elements will be affected by construction
of future Master Plan projects. During future Master
Plan phases for the overall I-405 corridor, the approved
CSS guidelines will be applied throughout.
How will the project be constructed?
Construction of the entire Renton Nickel Improvement
Project is expected to take two years, beginning in
early 2008 and being completed in late 2010.
However, construction activity will not be constant for
the entire study area throughout this time, and in some
locations, the work will take substantially less time
than two years. Construction will pose some minor
inconveniences because of localized travel delays due
to temporary lane closures and narrowed lanes and
shoulders.
At-grade construction
At-grade construction, which occurs on the same
elevation as the existing lanes, will be staged to
minimize traffic delays and detours. Typically, lanes
are shifted toward the median. WSDOT then places a
concrete barrier to close off the shoulder. Staging
allows construction to occur safely without closing
lanes for the duration of construction. Access to
construction areas will occur from the roadway side to
minimize property effects.
Bridge construction
Construction of the I-405 bridges will occur in multiple
stages to minimize traffic delays and detours. The
following describes typical staging for bridge
construction. As the first stage, traffic is shifted toward
the I-405 median and the existing lanes and shoulders
are narrowed slightly to allow widening of the existing
structure or construction of the new bridge depending
on the design. In the next stage, traffic is shifted onto
the new bridge area. If the bridge is being replaced
rather than simply widened, the old structure is
demolished after traffic is shifted to the new bridge.
At-grade construction for this project will
likely be staged similar what is shown
above. Here, the southbound lanes of I-5
were shifted toward the median and a
concrete barrier closed off the shoulder to
provide crews a safe work area.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 19
The new Benson Road overpass will also be staged.
The new structure will be built to the west, while the
existing overpass remains in service. After traffic has
been shifted onto the new overpass, the existing
structure will be demolished.
Staging areas
Construction staging areas along I-405 and SR 167
will be within the WSDOT right-of-way. Potential
staging areas have been identified as shown on
Exhibits 2 through 9.
Traffic control
Detour agreements with the local agencies will be
obtained after WSDOT awards the contract. A traffic
control plan will be approved by WSDOT prior to
starting construction. The plan’s primary objectives
will be to provide a safe facility, to streamline the
construction schedule, and to minimize reductions to
existing traffic capacity. To lessen effects on traffic,
the duration of activities will be minimized and
reductions in capacity will be limited and will be
targeted to a period when they will have the least
effect.
Why do we consider cumulative effects as we plan for this
project?
It is important to consider cumulative effects during
construction and operation of a project. While
cumulative effects may be minor when viewed as
individual direct and indirect effects, they can add to
the effects of other actions and eventually lead to
environmental change.
As defined by the Council on Environmental Quality’s
(CEQ) regulations implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), cumulative effects are:
“…the impact on the environment which results
from the incremental impact of the action when
added to other past, present, and reasonably
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
20 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
foreseeable future actions regardless of what
agency or person undertakes such other actions”1.
It can be difficult to measure and assess cumulative
effects because they can be separated from a
proposed project in time and location.
Cumulative effects can be positive or negative
depending on which environmental resource is being
considered. The same project can negatively affect
some resources while positively affecting others.
What are the key points of this report?
This discipline report estimates the cumulative effects
on air quality, surface water, wetlands, and fisheries
and aquatic habitat resulting from construction and
operation of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project in
combination with other planned, approved, and
funded, foreseeable projects within one mile of, or
nearby, the Renton Nickel Improvement Project.
The time period for the cumulative effects analysis
(CEA) is 1960 to 2030.
Based on our analysis, we concluded the following
about the Renton Nickel Improvement Project’s
contribution to cumulative effects:
Construction
Air Quality will experience localized, temporary,
minor effects.
Surface Water will experience localized,
temporary effects of low magnitude.
Wetlands will be positively affected as more and
higher quality wetland area will be created or
enhanced than filled/permanently affected.
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat will experience
some losses or degradation of aquatic habitat and
temporary, short-term decreases in water quality.
Operation
Air Quality will not experience any violation of
air quality standards. Carbon monoxide (CO)
1 40 CFR 1508.7 Protection of Environment, Council on Environmental Quality, Cumulative Impact.
What is the Code of Federal
Regulations?
The general and permanent rules
published by the Executive
departments and agencies of the
federal government.
INTRODUCTION
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 21
levels will be maintained or will decrease from
existing levels.
Surface Water will not experience a decrease
in existing water quality.
Wetlands will likely be positively affected
because of improved water quality in
discharges to wetlands in some areas. Also,
compensatory mitigation actions taken at the
Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat
Mitigation Bank will provide safe, high-quality
wildlife habitats away from roadside dangers.
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat will possibly
experience a positive effect from improved
water quality and compensatory measures at
the Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat
Mitigation Bank.
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
22 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
BACKGROUND
What guidance is available for conducting a cumulative
effects analysis?
We followed guidance from the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ), Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), and the Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for analyzing
and assessing cumulative effects of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project. Brief discussions of CEQ,
FHWA, and WSDOT guidance follow.
CEQ
The CEQ guidance indicates that cumulative effects
should be evaluated along with the direct and indirect
effects of each alternative. The alternatives considered
should include the No Build Alternative, and the No Build
Alternative should serve as the baseline for measuring
cumulative effects. The actions to be considered include
the proposed project and all connected and similar
actions that could contribute to cumulative effects.
Related actions should be addressed in the same
analysis. The CEQ recommends that an agency’s
analysis accomplish the following:
Focus on the effects and resources of the
proposed action.
Present a concise list of issues that relate to
the anticipated effects of the proposed action
or eventual decision.
Reach conclusions based on the best available
data at the time of the analysis.
Rely on information from other agencies and
organizations about foreseeable projects or
activities that are beyond the scope of the
analyzing agency.
Relate to the geographic scope of the
proposed project.
Relate to the time period of the proposed project.
A CEA involves assumptions and uncertainties.
Monitoring programs and/or research can be identified
to improve both the available information and future
analyses. Having an ideal database is not necessary
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 23
to complete a CEA. Where uncertainties exist,
adaptive management can be incorporated into the
selected alternative.
Most CEAs identify levels of effects, both beneficial
and adverse. Because of the mixture of effects, it is
sometimes difficult to determine which alternative is
best. The CEQ’s handbook2 regarding cumulative
effects is a good reference tool.
FHWA
The FHWA implements the NEPA and the CEQ
guidelines through its environmental regulations.3 The
FHWA regulations do not address cumulative effects
except in the definition for categorical exclusion (CE)
actions. FHWA also describes its policy in a
memorandum and associated position paper4 dated
August 20, 1992, and a memorandum5 dated January
31, 2003. The January 31, 2003 memorandum states:
“An appropriately thorough review of the probable
direct and indirect impacts of FHWA actions and
documentation of other cumulative effects on
specific resources is essential to a reasoned and
informed project decision and will assist in attaining
FHWA’s environmental streamlining and
stewardship goals.”
Per the FHWA, the potential relationship between a
transportation proposal and indirect effects must be
established on a case-by-case basis early in the
NEPA project development process. A CEA is
resource-specific and is generally performed for the
environmental resources directly affected by the action
(such as a transportation project). However, not all
the environmental resources directly affected by a
project will require a CEA. The environmental
resources subject to a CEA should be determined on
a case-by-case basis early in the NEPA process,
generally as part of early coordination or scoping.
2 Considering Cumulative Effects under the National Environmental Policy Act.
3 23 CFR 771 FHWA, Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Impact and Related Procedures.
4 Position Paper on Secondary and Cumulative Impact Assessment in the Highway Development Process.
5 Interim Guidance: Questions and Answers Regarding Indirect and Cumulative Impact Considerations in the NEPA
Process.
What are Categorical Exclusions (CE)?
A category of actions which do not
individually or cumulatively have a
significant effect on the environment
and for which neither an environmental
assessment nor an environmental
impact statement is required under
NEPA.
What is Adaptive Management?
A scientific policy intended to improve
management of biological resources –
particularly in areas of scientific
uncertainty. Program actions and
results are monitored and evaluated.
Program actions are then adjusted, if
needed, to achieve the desired results.
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
24 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
WSDOT
Although the WSDOT does not currently provide
specific guidance for CEAs, the WSDOT
Environmental Procedures Manual refers to the CEQ
and FHWA materials. Further, the Washington State
Environmental Policy Act Rules6 require cumulative
effects to be analyzed.
What is the relationship of the project to the Metropolitan
Transportation Plan and other regional actions?
The following subsections briefly describe greater
Seattle area transportation planning documents and
projects that have a bearing on the I-405 Corridor
Program. Transportation investments identified in
these plans are discussed here because they are
reasonably foreseeable and they relate to the CEA
time period and geographic boundaries for the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project.
Metropolitan Transportation Plan
The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) was first
adopted in 1995 and includes specific provisions that
relate to the I-405 corridor. The Puget Sound
Regional Council (PSRC) developed Destination
2030, a 2001 update of the 1995 MTP that
emphasizes an integrated multi-modal transportation
system, describes the major regional components of
the system, and acknowledges that capacity
enhancements are needed to improve mobility on
regional roadways. Destination 2030 also identifies,
analyzes, and develops solutions to regional
transportation problems. According to Destination
2030, in 2030, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) will have
increased by 45 percent and the population by 50
percent. To address these increases, the MTP calls
for aggressive transportation investments and
indicates that, with those investments, effects on
system performance should be relatively minor.
Destination 2030 takes into account different growth
patterns in the region and calls for focused growth in
6 WAC 197-11-792 Washington State Environmental Policy Act Rules, Scope.
What is the Washington Administrative
Code (WAC)?
Regulations of the Executive branch
agencies of the State of Washington.
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 25
urban centers. In 2002, the PSRC revised Destination
2030 to incorporate the transportation improvements
proposed in the I-405 Corridor Program selected
alternative.
Sound Transit Future Investments
Since 1996, Sound Transit has implemented Sound
Move, the first phase of a 10-year regional transit
long-range vision. Sound Move includes regional bus
service, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) access
improvements, park-and-ride lots, and commuter rail
and light rail. All Sound Move commitments are
included in Destination 2030 and the I-405 Corridor
Program. A variety of these regional high-capacity
transportation (HCT) investments are being
implemented along the I-405 corridor, except for
commuter and light rail facilities.
Most of the Sound Move commitments programmed
for the I-405 corridor should be completed by 2006.
Sound Transit began Phase II planning in mid-2001
and expects technical work to continue over several
years to enable a Phase II public vote. A Phase II
public vote is necessary to build a new set of
proposed regional HCT improvements beyond 2006.
Two planned projects near the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project are the Renton HOV
Access/North 8th (NEPA environmental assessment
to be completed in Spring 2006) in north Renton and
the Link Light Rail Station (opening in 2009) in Tukwila
at the intersection of Tukwila International Boulevard
and Southcenter Boulevard.
What is the relationship of the Renton Nickel Improvement
Project to land use, population growth, and highways in the
region, the I-405 corridor, and the project study area?
The following subsections provide a brief discussion of
land use and population growth-oriented policies,
documents, and trends that apply to the region, the
I-405 corridor, and the study area.
Regulatory Trends
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, policies,
statutes, and regulations enacted at the state,
regional, and local levels defined growth boundaries
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
26 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
and population density for local jurisdictions over a
20-year period. Central to these efforts was
Washington State’s Growth Management Act7 (GMA).
This and other policies are discussed below.
Growth Management Act
The GMA, a state law passed by the Legislature in
1990 and amended in 1991, addressed the negative
consequences of unprecedented population growth
and suburban sprawl. The law directed all the state’s
cities and counties to plan for growth, with more
extensive requirements imposed on those cities and
counties experiencing the largest amount of growth.
The GMA defined urban growth areas (UGAs),
designated urban centers, established density targets
in those urban centers, and identified minimum levels
of services for statewide infrastructure. The GMA
requirements also guaranteed consistency among
transportation, capital facilities, and land use plans.
VISION 2020
VISION 2020 describes regional land use patterns
consistent with GMA policies. Comprehensive plans
for cities in the study area were developed within the
framework of VISION 2020. Destination 2030
describes the regional transportation system to
support planned growth. The I-405 Corridor Program
action alternatives are consistent with the GMA in that
they support implementing the envisioned regional
land use patterns. VISION 2020 focuses growth into
the UGAs defined by each county, establishes a multi-
center approach to development that promotes a
jobs/housing balance, and plans for needed
transportation improvements. It specifies that
improvements should occur at the same time as
employment growth to implement the infrastructure
concurrency requirements of the GMA.
County-Wide Planning Policies
King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties worked with
local cities and took the lead in developing and adopting
County-Wide Planning Policies (CWPP). The CWPP
integrate land use planning with transportation planning
7 RCW 36.70A Growth Management – Planning by Selected Counties and Cities.
What is the Revised Code of
Washington (RCW)?
A compilation of all permanent laws
currently in force in the State of
Washington.
What is VISION 2020?
A plan produced by the PSRC that
includes long-range policies and
strategies for land use, economic
prosperity, transportation, and the
environment.
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 27
policies. Cities, including the Eastside cities (cities east
of Lake Washington) within the study area, adopted the
CWPP to help implement the GMA and VISION 2020.
The CWPP support the urban center concept. Some
urban centers are within the I-405 project corridor. All
the local jurisdictions in the study area adopted
comprehensive plans in accordance with the
requirements of the GMA, CWPP, and PSRC multi-
county planning policies. The comprehensive plans
include transportation elements that are certified by
PSRC to conform to the transportation planning
elements of the GMA, VISION 2020, and the MTP. The
concurrency requirements of the transportation
elements require key infrastructure be built or planned
for within 6 years of any proposed development. The
I-405 Corridor Program alternatives generally support
the applicable local transportation plans.
Historical Land Use Changes and Trends
The Puget Sound region has experienced substantial
population growth since 1960. The 2000 population of
more than 3 million is expected to increase to nearly
5 million by 2030. Eastside communities that were largely
rural in nature in the mid-1900s were gradually transformed
to rural/suburban and then to suburban/urban. This land
use change was made easier by major transportation
improvements such as the first Lake Washington floating
bridge (now I-90) connecting Seattle to the Eastside via
Mercer Island, the second Lake Washington floating bridge
(now SR 520), and I-405 construction. Establishing
Microsoft and other “high-tech”-oriented businesses in the
mid-1980s and 1990s along the I-405 corridor also played
a key role in land use change. Identifiable urban centers
(for example, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond) emerged,
increasing pressure to improve movement of goods and
people along the I-405 corridor.
Land Use Plans and Policies in the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project Study Area
The State of Washington Local Project Review Act8
and associated state-implementing rules9 provide
8 RCW 36.70B Local Project Review.
What is the urban center concept?
The concept of concentrating growth
and the development of needed
services and infrastructure in a
designated geographic area.
What are concurrency requirements?
The requirements to simultaneously
complete infrastructure improvements
to support the growth and/or
development that is/will be occurring
as the result of a proposed project.
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
28 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
ways for local governments to determine whether
projects are consistent with the GMA-required
comprehensive plans. The GMA contains a goal for
each of the following topics:
Urban Growth
Transportation
Economic Development
Permits
Open Space and Recreation
Citizen Participation and Coordination
Historic Preservation
Reduction of Sprawl
Housing Property Rights
Natural Resource Industries
Environment
Public Facilities and Services
The transportation-related goal is to “…encourage
efficient multi-modal transportation systems that are
based on regional priorities and coordinated with
county and city comprehensive plans.”
In addition, the GMA identifies several planning
requirements that apply to roads and highways:
Adoption of concurrency regulations, ensuring
that transportation strategies or improvements
are in place at the time of development or
within 6 years to meet local level of service
(LOS) requirements. Local LOS requirements
do not apply to “highways of statewide
significance”, such as I-405 and SR 167. For
highways of statewide significance, local
jurisdictions are to evaluate the effects of land
use on the state facility and the differences
between local standards and the state LOS
standard for urban facilities.
Highways of statewide significance are
considered to be one type of “essential public
9 WAC 365-197 Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development – Project
Consistency.
BACKGROUND
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 29
facility”. Essential public facilities are typically
difficult to site. Local comprehensive plans are
required to address such facilities and may not
prohibit their siting.
Local governments are encouraged to
coordinate or consolidate their processes for
reviewing permitting and environmental planning
requirements for major transportation projects.
An additional primary consideration is consistency with
local zoning and shoreline master programs.
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project is located
within the jurisdictions of the Cities of Tukwila and
Renton. Local policies address cooperation among
jurisdictions, transit and multimodal systems,
compatibility and policies that influence design, and
essential public facilities. According to the
conclusions presented in the Land Use Plans and
Policies Discipline Report, the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project is generally consistent with local
jurisdictions’ plans and policies, and the local
jurisdictions’ plans and policies are generally
supportive of the project improvements.
There are two inconsistencies between local plans
and the Renton Nickel Improvement Project, neither of
which is caused by the project: 1) future levels of
service at certain local intersections in Tukwila and
Renton and 2) Renton includes capital improvements
after 2022 that are beyond the scope of the I-405
Corridor Program.
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
30 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
This chapter discusses the methodology, history,
existing conditions, and the results of the cumulative
effects analyses for the critical resources of air quality,
surface water, wetlands, and fisheries and aquatic
habitat.
What is the scope of this cumulative effects analysis?
The scope of the CEA for the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project is defined by the answers to the
following questions:
What is the relationship between this
cumulative effects analysis and that in the
I-405 Corridor Program Final EIS?
The CEA included in the I-405 Corridor Program Final
EIS served as a starting point for the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project CEA. The PSRC reviewed the
environmental effects of the I-405 Corridor Program
improvements and all other proposed transportation
investments in the region as described in the Final EIS
for Destination 2030, The Metropolitan Transportation
Plan for the Central Puget Sound Region.10 The
potential cumulative effects of those improvements
were re-evaluated as expressed in the I-405 Corridor
Program Final EIS in slightly different combinations
and together with other transportation improvements,
in addition to those presented in Destination 2030.
Which critical environmental resources
are analyzed and why?
The I-405 Corridor Program CEA focused on air
quality, energy, farmlands, fisheries and aquatic
habitat, surface water, and wetlands. We did not
10 PSRC 2001.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 31
include either energy or farmlands in the CEA for the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project. We determined
that farmlands will not be affected by the project. We
did not analyze energy because the difference in
energy consumption at the project level, with or
without the project, was predicted to be
inconsequential. We conducted the project-level
analysis based on the results of scoping, agency
consultations, and the anticipated direct and indirect
effects on air quality, surface water, wetlands, and
fisheries and aquatic habitat due to the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project.
What are the time period and geographic
boundaries for this analysis?
When evaluating cumulative effects, the analyst must
consider expanding the geographic study area beyond
that of the proposed project, and must expand the
time limits to consider past, present, and future actions
that may affect environmental resources.
The geographic scope of analysis is defined by the
physical limits or boundaries of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project’s effect on an environmental
resource, as well as the boundaries of other activities
that may affect that environmental resource. The time
period is determined by identifying time limits that are
both relevant to the project and reasonable. The time
period and geographic boundaries can be different for
each environmental resource evaluated.
We based the time period and geographic boundaries
for the Renton Nickel Improvement Project on those
used in the I-405 Corridor Program Final EIS, scoping,
agency consultations, and the area directly affected by
the project.
Time Period
We set the analysis time period as 1960 through 2030
for air quality, surface water, wetlands, and fisheries
and aquatic habitat. Using 1960 as the starting point
for analysis allowed us to assess the changes that
have occurred since WSDOT constructed I-405 in the
early 1960s. The year 2030 is the “future year” used
in regional transportation planning documents.
Geographic Boundaries
We set the geographic boundary for the project-level
air quality analysis at 0.50 mile from the centerline of
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
32 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
the project right-of-way as shown in Exhibit 10. Using
this boundary allowed us to consider the effects of
other nearby projects on air quality. Effects on air
quality for the overall Central Puget Sound Region
were addressed in the I-405 Corridor Program Final
EIS.
G r e e n R
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v
e
r
C
e
d
a
r
R
iv
e
r
Interurban TrailCedar River Interpretive Trail
Panther
Creek
Wetlands
Green River TrailBlack River
Riparian Forest
Fort
Dent
Park
Cedar
River
Park
Liberty
Park
SW 41st St
S W 3 4 t h S t
S W 2 7 t h S t
SW 16th St
Southcenter ParkwayW Valley HwyI
n
t
e
r
u
r
ban Ave SMa
pl
e
V
alle
y H
w
yRainier Ave SS
W
Suns e t B lvdS W 7 t h S t
S W G r a d y W a y
Lind Ave SWTUKWILA
RENTON
I-405
Northern
Project Limit
at SR 169
I-405
Southern
Project Limit
at I-5
SR 167
Southern
Project Limit
at SW 41st St Benson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr
SAæ
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Legend
Open River/Creek Channel
Piped River/Creek Channel
Trail
Local Road
Arterial Road
Freeway
Lake
Park
Renton
Tukwila
CEA Boundary
M0 0.25 0.5
Miles
Exhibit 10. Cumulative Effects Analysis Boundary for Air Quality
The geographic boundaries for the surface water,
wetlands, and fisheries and aquatic habitat analyses
include portions of the Cedar River and Green River
watersheds within 1 mile of the project centerline as
shown in Exhibit 11. Expanding the geographic study
area beyond the project’s direct impact area allowed a
more comprehensive analysis of the cumulative
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 33
effects on environmental resources. This geographic
area included the area (within 0.50 mile of the
centerline of the project) that was evaluated for the
Biological Assessment prepared for the project under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
G re en Ri
v
e
r
C
e
d
ar R
iver
Interurban TrailCedar River Interpretive Trail
Panther
Creek
Wetlands
Green River TrailBlack River
Riparian Forest
Fort
Dent
Park
Cedar
River
Park
Liberty
Park
SW 41st St
S W 3 4 th S t
S W 2 7 th S t
SW 16th St
Southcenter ParkwayW Valley HwyIn
t
e
r
u
r
ban Ave SMa
p
le
V
alley H
w
yRainier Ave SS
W
Sun s e t B lvdS W 7 th S t
S W G r a d y W a y
Lind Ave SWTUKWILA
RENTON
I-405
Northern
Project Limit
at SR 169
I-405
Southern
Project Limit
at I-5
SR 167
Southern
Project Limit
at SW 41st St Benson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr SAæ
Aç
!"`$
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%&e(Springbr ook Creek Trail
AÇ
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Legend
Open River/Creek Channel
Piped River/Creek Channel
Trail
Local Road
Arterial Road
Freeway
Lake
Park
Renton
Tukwila
CEA Boundary
M0 0.25 0.5
Miles
Exhibit 11. Cumulative Effects Analysis Boundaries for Surface Water, Wetlands, and
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
34 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
Which other projects are included in the cumulative
effects analysis for the Renton Nickel Improvement
Project and why?
We included other future nearby projects in the CEA if:
(a) they were planned, approved, and funded or likely
to receive funding in a relatively short period of time;
(b) all or a portion of the projects will be located within
or close to the CEA study boundaries; and (c) the
projects will be initiated before 2030. We evaluated
effects from these projects because the projects could
result in cumulative effects on the critical resources.
Exhibit 12 shows where these other projects occur.
!(
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!(
G r e en R
i
v
e
r
C
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ar
R
iv
er
Interurban TrailCedar River Interpretive Trail
Panther
Creek
Wetlands
Green River TrailBlack River
Riparian Forest
Fort
Dent
Park
Cedar
River
Park
Liberty
Park
SW 41st St
S W 3 4 t h S t
S W 2 7 t h S t
SW 16th St
Southcenter ParkwayW Valley HwyI
n
t
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r
u
r
ban Ave SMa
p
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V
alley H
wyRainier Ave SS
W
Sun se t B lvdS W 7 t h S t
S W G r a d y W a y
Lind Ave SWTUKWILA
RENTON
I-405
Northern
Project Limit
at SR 169
I-405
Southern
Project Limit
at I-5
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Southern
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at SW 41st St Benson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr SAæ
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6
1
2 3
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8
7
9
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11
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13
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5 Legend
!(Project Locations
Open River/Creek Channel
Piped River/Creek Channel
Trail
Local Road
Arterial Road
Freeway
Lake
Park
Renton
Tukwila
M0 0.25 0.5
Miles
1 - Link Light Rail Phase 1
2 - Link Light Rail Station
3 - SR 518 Corridor Improvements
4 - I-5 Pavement Replacement
5 - Westfield Mall Access Improvement
6 - Strander Boulevard/SW 27th Street
7 - Springbrook Creek Mitigation Bank
8 - SR 167 Corridor Improvements
9 - Rainier Avenue Improvements
10 - SR 515 Corridor Improvements
11 - Benson Road Sidewalks
12 - SR 169 Improvements
13 - Renton to Bellevue Project
14 - Renton HOV Direct Access
Exhibit 12. Other Projects Considered in the Cumulative Effects Analysis
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 35
These sections describe the other projects
considered.
Link Light Rail Phase 1 - South 154th
Street to Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport
Sound Transit plans to extend the Central Light Link
rail line approximately 1.7 miles from South 154th
Street to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Construction is slated from 2007 to 2009.11
Link Light Rail Station – Tukwila
International Boulevard/Southcenter
Boulevard
Sound Transit plans to construct an elevated station at
the intersection of Tukwila International Boulevard and
Southcenter Boulevard/South 154th Street. The
station will connect passengers to downtown Seattle
and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This station
is slated to begin operating in 2009.12
SR 518 Corridor Improvements
WSDOT plans to add one eastbound lane to SR 518
between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the
I-5/I-405 interchange and improve the SR 509/SR 518
interchange. Construction of the SR 509/SR 518
interchange improvements is slated to begin in early
2008 with completion in late 2009. The SR 518
improvements are scheduled to begin construction in
late 2006 and will be completed in mid to late 2008.
The environmental analyses are currently in progress
for this project.13
11 http://www.soundtransit.org/projects/svc/link/south/default.asp.
12 http://www.soundtransit.org/projects/svc/link/tukwila/s154thst.asp.
13 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr518.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
36 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
I-5 Pavement Replacement
WSDOT plans to remove and replace concrete on
14 miles of I-5 extending from Tukwila to Northgate.
The overall project will be constructed as a series of
smaller projects through this 14-mile section.
Construction is scheduled to start in 2009 with
completion of the first projects in 2013.14
Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Access
Improvement: Klickitat
Drive/Southcenter Parkway
The City of Tukwila plans to improve Southcenter
Parkway/Klickitat Drive to reduce traffic congestion
next to Westfield Shoppingtown Mall. The proposed
improvements include widening Southcenter Parkway
at Klickitat Drive, a grade separation of Southcenter
Parkway southbound via an underpass and bridge
structure, utility adjustments, and constructing
detention and stormwater structures. The project is
expected to include some vegetation removal,
excavation, and fill of soils; construction of a retaining
wall; and restriping of traffic lanes.
The project area includes paved road surfaces, retail
parking areas, associated landscaped areas, and
maintained road right-of-way. It is also likely that
upgrading the Southcenter Parkway and Klickitat Drive
intersection will improve traffic flow. A shorter wait at
the intersection will decrease vehicle emissions in the
project area and may improve air quality.
Construction will begin in 2008 and will be completed
in 2009.
Strander Boulevard/SW 27th Street
The City of Renton, in partnership with the City of
Tukwila, is in the process of evaluating potential
transportation improvements to upgrade and link the
existing Strander Boulevard and SW 27th Street
corridors. The primary goal of this project is to
improve east-west mobility across the Green River
14 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/rehab.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 37
Valley. As a means of achieving this goal, general
purpose, heavy vehicle/truck traffic, railroad, and HOV
improvements will be considered for implementation
along three sections of the Strander Boulevard/SW
27th Street corridor.
Section 1 will extend Strander Boulevard to the east
of West Valley Highway (SR 181) to connect between
West Valley Highway and Oakesdale Avenue SW.
This section will include grade separated crossings of
the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe
railroads. Completion of this section will involve
construction of a new public roadway across the
existing Boeing Longacres Office Park site, and will
provide accesses to the Boeing Longacres Office
Park site and the proposed Sound Transit Sounder
Station and Park-and-Ride site.
Section 2 will provide general-purpose vehicle, HOV,
and/or truck traffic improvements on SW 27th Street
between Oakesdale Avenue SW and East Valley
Road. The existing roadway may also be widened in
this section.
Section 3 will provide a direct access between SW
27th Street and SR 167 for general-purpose vehicle,
HOV, and/or truck traffic to and from SW 27th
Street.15
Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat
Mitigation Bank
As part of the I-405 Corridor Program, WSDOT and
the City of Renton plan to establish a mitigation bank
that enhances, rehabilitates, and re-establishes
wetlands and wetland buffers. The mitigation bank
site is approximately 130 acres of existing wetlands
and uplands in the southwest portion of the City of
Renton. Springbrook Creek parallels much of the site.
This mitigation project is currently in the planning and
preliminary design phases with construction scheduled
to begin in 2007.
15 http://www.ci.renton.wa.us/.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
38 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
SR 167 Corridor Improvements
WSDOT, King and Pierce Counties, and cities along
SR 167 are in the process of identifying projects to
help reduce congestion and improve safety on SR 167
from I-405 in Renton to SR 161 in Puyallup.
WSDOT is planning to convert the HOV lane(s) to
High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane(s) on SR 167. The
HOT lane(s) on SR 167 will start at I-405 in Renton
and extend to 15th Avenue NW (southbound
lane)/15th Avenue SW (northbound lane) in Auburn.
WSDOT plans to implement this project in 2007 to
2008.16
WSDOT is also planning to construct a carpool lane on
northbound SR 167 from 15th Street SW to 15th Street
NW in Auburn. WSDOT will add and upgrade ramp
meters and bypass lanes for carpools, vanpools, and
buses to northbound and southbound on-ramps
between Auburn and Renton at six interchanges (15th
Street NW, South 277th Street, Willis Street (SR 516),
84th South/North Central Avenue, South 212th Street,
and South 180th Street/ SW 43rd Street).
Construction is scheduled to being in early 2006 and
be completed in 2007.17
Rainier Avenue Improvement Project
The City of Renton plans to improve Rainier Avenue
South and Hardie Avenue SW from the northern city
limits to the I-405/SR 167 interchange near SW 34th
Street. The City is currently undertaking a corridor-
wide study to identify ways to improve Rainier Avenue
South. First phase improvements will include
upgrading sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and
existing transit support facilities; adding Business
Access Transit (BAT) lanes; and replacing the Hardie
Avenue SW railroad bridge.18
16 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/HOV/sr167hotlanes/default.htm.
17 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOV15thSW_15thNW/.
18 http://www.ci.renton.wa.us/.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 39
SR 515 Corridor Improvements
The WSDOT will construct improvements to the
SR 515 corridor through several projects. The first
project will include paving roadway and restoring
safety features in the Renton vicinity from SE 192nd
Street to Benson Road (108th Avenue SE).
The second project includes upgrades to access
management along SR 515 from SE 182nd Street to
SE 176th Street. A raised traffic island will be installed
to replace the existing two-way left-turn lane and a
left-turn pocket will be built at the entrance to the Fred
Meyer parking lot. The project also includes building
U-turn pockets at SE 180th Street and SE 176th
Street and widening SR 515 to accommodate the U-
turns. The existing traffic signals will be relocated and
signal timing will be adjusted to allow a phase for the
U-turn movement.
Both projects are scheduled to begin construction in
early 2008.
A third project consists of constructing a new half-
diamond interchange to I-405 at SR 515 (Talbot Road)
to reduce congestion and improve efficiency of the
I-405/SR 167 Interchange. The half-diamond
interchange will consist of adding a new on-ramp from
SR 515 to northbound I-405 and adding a new off-
ramp from southbound I-405 to SR 515.
Benson Road Sidewalk Improvements
The City of Renton is improving the network of
sidewalks through its Citywide Walkway Program.
The Benson Road Sidewalk Project involves
constructing a new sidewalk on Benson Road South
extending from City Hall to South 26th Street. The
project will complete the sidewalk system on Benson
Road South between Nelson Middle School and
downtown Renton.19
SR 169 Improvements
Phase 1 of this City of Renton project will close the
existing entrance into Cedar River Park, provide a new
19 http://www.ci.renton.wa.us/pw/transpor/walkway/walkway.htm.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
40 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
signalized intersection 900 feet further east along
SR 169, and construct a new access road to serve
both the Park property and Stoneway property to the
east.
Phase 2 will widen and improve SR 169 from I-405 to
approximately 2000 feet east. Phase 2 includes an
additional eastbound auxiliary lane for traffic coming
off the northbound I-405 off-ramp to merge into
eastbound SR 169, widens westbound SR 169 to
include a right turn lane onto northbound I-405, and
installs a transit queue bypass lane. Construction also
includes sidewalks, a landscape island, new lighting,
signing, signals, drainage facilities, retaining wall,
channelization, and a portion of the new parking lot for
the Cedar River Park.
I-405, SR 169 to I-90, Renton to Bellevue
Project
This WSDOT project extends approximately 8 miles
from SR 169 to the northern ramps of the I-90
interchange. The principal features include the
following: (a) two new general-purpose lanes on I-405
in each direction from SR 169 through the I-90
interchange; (b) realignment of I-405 to bring it up to
current freeway standards where feasible;
(c) construction of a new in-line transit station in the
vicinity of 112th Avenue SE; (d) construction of an
HOV direct access ramp at North 8th Street in
coordination with Sound Transit; (e) reconstruction,
realignment, and reconfiguration of eight interchanges
(SR 169, North 3rd Street, Park Avenue, NE 30th
Street, NE 44th Street, 112th Avenue SE, Coal Creek
Parkway, and I-90); (f) changes to local roadways
related to interchange improvements and I-405
widening; and (g) stormwater management to provide
water quality treatment and discharge. Construction
will likely occur in phases to avoid full road closures.
Construction is currently not scheduled.
Renton HOV Direct Access
Sound Transit, in cooperation with WSDOT, King
County, and the City of Renton, plans to provide HOV
direct access to/from North 8th Street at I-405 and a
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 41
“T” interchange to the center lanes of North 8th Street
in Renton. This project is currently in the planning
phase and will be designed and constructed as part of
the Renton-to-Bellevue Project.20
How were the cumulative effects determined?
First, WSDOT identified the direct effects on the
critical resources (air, surface water, wetlands, and
fisheries and aquatic habitat) caused by the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project. We then estimated the
indirect effects resulting from the direct effects on the
critical resources. We gathered similar information, to
the extent it was available, for each of the other
projects listed above. Finally, we re-examined the
direct and indirect effects to estimate the contribution
to cumulative effects on each critical environmental
resource resulting from the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project alone as well as when combined
with the other projects included in this CEA.
What are the analysis results for air quality?
What regulations apply to air quality and
how do they help limit adverse effects on
air quality?
Air quality in the study area is regulated by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington
State Department of Ecology (Ecology), and the Puget
Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA). Under the Clean
Air Act (CAA), the EPA has established the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which
specify maximum concentrations for carbon monoxide
(CO), particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in
size (PM2.5), ozone, sulfur dioxide, lead, and nitrogen
dioxide.
Transportation conformity ensures that transportation
activities (for example, plans, programs, and projects)
are reviewed and evaluated for their impacts on air
quality prior to funding or approval. Such plans,
programs, and projects may not cause or contribute to
20 http://www.soufndtransit.org/projects/co/east/st-express/rentonhov.asp.
What is transportation conformity?
A determination that a transportation
activity will not cause or contribute to
new air quality violations, worsen
existing violations, or interfere with
the timely attainment of air quality
standards or the required interim
emissions reductions toward
attainment.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
42 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or
interfere with the timely attainment of air quality
standards or the required interim emissions reductions
toward attainment.21
Transportation plans must provide for the timely
implementation of Transportation Control Measures
(TCMs) from an applicable maintenance plan. TCMs
are projects, programs, and actions that will help
reduce or eliminate the severity or number of NAAQS
violations and that will help attain and maintain
NAAQS standards. TCMs can be strategies to
increase the efficiency of existing transportation
facilities, reduce travel demand, or lower the amount
of emissions in vehicles, leading to measurable
vehicle emissions reductions.22
A State Implementation Plan (SIP) is required under
the CAA and provides a blueprint of how maintenance
and non-attainment areas will meet NAAQS. Positive
findings of conformity are required under the CAA, the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-
21), and the Clean Air Washington Act (CAWA), and
will allow the Central Puget Sound Region to proceed
with implementation of transportation projects in a
timely manner.23
The I-405 project corridor lies within ozone and CO
maintenance areas. Air quality emissions in the Puget
Sound region are currently managed under the
provisions of Air Quality Maintenance Plans (AQMP)
for ozone and CO. The current plans were developed
by PSCAA and Ecology and were approved by the
EPA in 1996. Any regionally significant transportation
project in the Puget Sound air quality maintenance
areas must conform to the AQMPs. As noted
previously, conformity is demonstrated by showing
that the project will not cause or contribute to any new
violation of any NAAQS, not increase the frequency or
severity of any existing violation of any NAAQS, or not
delay timely attainment of the NAAQS.24
21 PSRC 2004.
22 PSRC 2004.
23 PSRC 2004.
24 WSDOT 2005b.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 43
What is the trend in air quality in the
Central Puget Sound Region?
Air quality in the Central Puget Sound Region has
varied since 1960. In 1978, air quality had degraded
to the point that the Central Puget Sound Region was
classified by the EPA as a “non-attainment area” for
CO and ozone. The degradation was largely a result
of the rise in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) associated
with increasing population and urbanization.
Air quality improved over the next two decades due to
technological improvements in emissions control
equipment and more stringent regulations. This
improvement enabled the EPA to redesignate the
region as a “maintenance area” for CO and ozone in
1996. As described in the I-405 Corridor Program
Final EIS, during that same two-decade period,
freeway lane miles increased by approximately 50
percent, while the regionwide VMT grew by
approximately 200 percent.
Because travel demand has exceeded the capacity of
the roadway and transit network, congestion continues
to worsen on all highways, including I-405.
Transportation improvements such as the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project will help decrease
congestion and emissions.
While motor vehicle emissions are expected to decline
in the future due to new regulations and technologies,
growth in VMT will eventually result in an overall
increase in emissions.25
Will the Build Alternative affect air
quality during construction?
Direct effects
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project is expected to
produce temporary effects on air quality that are
characteristic of the construction of large roadway
projects. These effects could include: (a) increases in
particulate emissions depending on the level and type
of activity, soil characteristics, weather, and equipment
employed; (b) CO and oxides of nitrogen in the
25 PSRC 2004.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
44 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
exhaust of construction equipment powered by
gasoline and diesel engines; (c) increases in the levels
of CO and oxides of nitrogen emitted from vehicles
that are delayed while transiting through the work
areas; (d) fugitive dust; and (e) odors associated with
the use of asphalt.
Indirect effects
No detectable indirect effects associated with air
quality changes are anticipated due to construction of
the Renton Nickel Improvement Project.
Cumulative effects
Construction-related cumulative effects on air quality
due to the Renton Nickel Improvement Project and the
other projects included in this CEA, should be
localized, temporary, and of low magnitude with
mitigation measures in place. This is due to the
distance between the projects and their respective
schedules, duration, characteristics, and size.
Will the Build Alternative affect air
quality during operation?
Direct effects
No detectable localized change in air quality is likely
between the Build Alternative and the No Build
Alternative26 because the project will not increase
traffic volumes or change the configuration at any
intersection.
Indirect effects
No detectable indirect effects associated with air
quality are anticipated due to operation of the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project. It is unlikely that
localized changes in air quality will be detectable.
Cumulative effects
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project will add
capacity to I-405 and, as a result, decrease
congestion and improve traffic flow. The project will
26 WSDOT 2005b.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 45
not cause or contribute to violation of CO standards.
The other HOV and transit projects included in the
CEA may also help reduce automobile use, improve
the transportation system’s efficiency, and decrease
existing CO levels in parts of the study area. The
operational phase of the I-5 Pavement Replacement,
Link Light Rail Station – Tukwila International
Boulevard/Southcenter Boulevard, Benson Road
Sidewalk Improvements, and the Springbrook Creek
Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank Projects will not
affect air quality.
Would the No Build Alternative affect air
quality?
Improvements and enhancements associated with the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project would not occur.
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project would not
produce any construction-related effects on air quality.
The No Build Alternative would not provide any relief
to traffic congestion in the Renton Nickel Improvement
Project study area and, as a result, may cause an
increased rate of air quality degradation in the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project study area.
Assuming the other projects considered in this CEA
are constructed and placed in operation, the
cumulative effects on air quality due to those projects
would be as noted under the construction and
operation cumulative effects discussions above.
What are the analysis results for surface water and water
quality?
Which watersheds and streams may be
affected by the project?
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project passes
through the portion of the Green River watershed
(WRIA 8) that includes tributaries of Gilliam Creek,
Springbrook Creek, Panther Creek, Rolling Hills
Creek, and Thunder Hills Creek. Exhibit 13 shows
where these waterbodies occur within the study area.
The northern end of the study area also passes
through a portion of the Cedar River watershed
(WRIA 9).
What is a watershed?
A watershed is the region of land that
drains into a specific waterbody, such
as a river, lake, sea, or ocean.
What is a Water Resource Inventory
Area (WRIA)?
A WRIA may include more than one
watershed. Washington State is
divided into 62 WRIAs for water and
aquatic resource management issues.
The terms "WRIA" and "watershed" are
frequently used interchangeably.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
46 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
Black River
Riparian Forest
Fort
Dent
Park
Cedar
River
Park
Liberty
Park
SW 41st St
S W 3 4 t h S t
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SW 16th St
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Sun s e t B lvdS W 7 t h S t
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RENTON
I-405
Northern
Project Limit
at SR 169
I-405
Southern
Project Limit
at I-5
SR 167
Southern
Project Limit
at SW 41st St Benson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr SAæ
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Unnamed Tributary to
Rollings Hills Creek
Rolling Hills Creek
Panther
Creek
Gilliam Creek
Mill Creek
Green
River
Springbrook
Creek
Cedar
River
Panther
Creek
Wetlands
Thunder
Hills Creek
Cottage
Creek
Unnamed Tributary
to Gilliam Creek
AÇ
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M0 0.25 0.5
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Legend
Open River/Creek Channel
Piped River/Creek Channel
Arterial Road
Freeway
Park
Renton
Tukwila
Lake
Local Road
Exhibit 13. Surface Waterbodies in the Study Area
The Green River begins in the Cascade Mountains
about 30 miles northeast of Mount Rainier and flows
over 93 miles to Puget Sound at Elliott Bay in Seattle.
Historically, the White, Green, and Cedar (via the
Black) Rivers flowed into the Duwamish River,
draining more than 1,600 square miles. Because the
White River was diverted in 1911 and the Cedar River
in 1916, the Green/Duwamish drainage area has been
reduced to 556 square miles.27
27 Kerwin 2001.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 47
Green River
The Green River watershed covers approximately
492 square miles. The river has an average flow of
1,696 cubic feet per second (cfs) based on flow
records over the past 67 years, as measured near
Auburn.
The Green River Valley is the historic floodplain of the
Green River. The valley is relatively flat, and has
become highly urbanized with commercial and
industrial development. Residential areas have been
developed on the hills east of I-405 and SR 167.
A pond (Nelson Side Channel) is located just east of
the river and south of I-405. This is a remnant section
of the Green River channel, realigned to cross the
highway at a right angle to allow construction of a
shorter, less expensive bridge at this location.
Gilliam Creek
Gilliam Creek flows along the south side of I-405 to
the Green River in a series of open channels and
large culverts. Several unnamed tributaries flow into
Gilliam Creek, as well as a tributary called Cottage
Creek. Gilliam Creek enters the Green River via a
108-inch-diameter flap gate. The flap gate prevents
high flows in the Green River from entering the creek.
Springbrook Creek
Springbrook Creek, which crosses I-405, is the main
tributary to the Green River in the study area. A side
channel west of the creek parallels the main channel
and during high flow events also allows flow under
I-405. The Black River Pump Station was built at the
mouth of Springbrook Creek approximately 1 mile
north of I-405. Flows from Springbrook Creek into the
Green River are controlled by the pump station. The
pump station has a fish ladder. Some fish are able to
use this ladder to reach the Springbrook Creek
system. Panther Creek, Rolling Hills Creek, and
Thunder Hills Creek are all tributaries to Springbrook
Creek.
Panther Creek
Panther Creek originates on hills east of SR 167. On
the east side of SR 167, the creek flows through the
large Panther Creek wetland complex which extends
Springbrook Creek near I-405
This flap gate prevents high flows in the
Green River from back flowing up Gilliam
Creek
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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48 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
from near SW 41st Street to the I-405/SR 167
interchange. At SR 167, Panther Creek splits into two
forks (west and east forks).
The west fork of Panther Creek flows underneath
SR 167, into a channel flowing northerly on the west
side of SR 167. It then turns westerly between two
businesses, ultimately flowing into a city stormwater
system under East Valley Road to where it eventually
outlets to Springbrook Creek. The west fork of
Panther Creek crosses SR 167 via two culverts, one
accommodating the main flow of the channel and the
other acting as an overflow during higher flows. Both
of these culverts are upstream fish passage barriers.
The east fork of Panther Creek flows northerly along
the east side of SR 167 through the Panther Creek
Wetlands. Approximately one mile from where
Panther Creek divides into the two forks, the east fork
enters a fish ladder that directs flow under SR 167.
Flow from the east fork daylights between SR 167 and
East Valley Road for approximately 100 feet, flows
under East Valley Road, and outlets into a large
wetland complex. The east fork of Panther Creek
maintains a distinct channel through the wetland
complex and ultimately outlets to Springbrook Creek.
Rolling Hills Creek
Rolling Hills Creek originates on the hills above Talbot
Road on the south side of I-405. At South 15th Street,
the creek flows from its natural ravine into a piped
system that crosses I-405 at the Talbot Road
overpass. From here, flows move west through a
series of pipes into an open channel. From this point,
the creek flows through another series of culverts to
the I-405/SR 167 interchange, and then into the north
end of the Panther Creek wetlands. Rolling Hills
Creek flows south along SR 167 and crosses the
highway in a box culvert. From here, the creek is
piped south on the East Valley Road and then west
along SW 19th Street to Springbrook Creek.
Thunder Hills Creek
Thunder Hills Creek also originates on the hills above
I-405 just north of Rolling Hills Creek. It crosses I-405
in a 48-inch-diameter pipe. Here, it joins flow from a
historic coal mine. Drainage from these two culverts
enters a concrete flume, which flows southwest to
Rolling Hills/Thunder Hills Creeks and
overflow culvert (on left) at the
SR 167/I-405 interchange
Thunder Hills Creek and coal mine
drainage in concrete flume above
confluence with Rolling Hills Creek
Map of Panther Creek
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 49
Talbot Road. From here, the flows are piped and join
Rolling Hills Creek.
Cedar River
The Cedar River crosses I-405 at the north end of the
project. The flows from the Cedar River drain its 166-
square-mile watershed and provide half of the total
flow into Lake Washington.28
How can development affect surface
water?
When natural landscapes are developed, the natural
drainage processes are radically altered. In a natural
forested landscape, vegetation, forest duff, and the
upper soil layers capture rain and slowly release the
rainwater to groundwater, or release it as stream base
flow. When impervious surfaces such as roofs,
driveways, sidewalks, and streets replace the soils
and vegetation, much less water soaks into the
ground, decreasing groundwater recharge and stream
base flows. Also, the increased impervious surface
generates more stormwater, which runs off much
more quickly and results in more erosion,
sedimentation, and flooding.
Stormwater runoff in urban areas also carries more
pollutants, including: sediment from erosion; oil and
grease from roads and parking lots; metals from tires,
brakes, and roofs; and pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizers from lawns and landscaping. Some of these
pollutants dissolve in stormwater, but most become
attached to small particles and thereby increase the
cloudiness (turbidity) of the water.
Vehicle traffic generates several types of pollutants.
These include metals such as copper, zinc, and
cadmium; oil and grease; turbidity from wearing tires
and brakes; and dirt that is washed off vehicles.
All of these changes decrease the habitat value of
streams due to the hydrologic effects and the reduced
water quality. Nutrients in surface water, such as
those from fertilizers, can lower the amount of
28 WSDOT 2005c.
What is forest duff?
Forest duff is composed of forest litter
and other organic debris in various
stages of decomposition on top of the
mineral soil. It is typical of conifer
forests in cool climates where the rate
of decomposition is slow and litter
accumulation exceeds the rate of
decay.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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50 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
dissolved oxygen (DO) available to aquatic life.
Turbidity can harm fisheries and aquatic insects.
Removing the particles that cause turbidity is the
primary strategy of many stormwater treatment
systems.29
What is the quality of surface waterbodies
in the study area?
According to Ecology, water quality standards are not
met for three of the waterbodies within the study area.
Ecology lists the Green River as not meeting water
quality standards for chromium, mercury, fecal
coliform bacteria, and temperature. Springbrook
Creek does not comply with standards for cadmium,
chromium, DO, and fecal coliform bacteria. The
Cedar River is listed for fecal coliform bacteria and
temperature.
In 1982, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit was issued to move the
outfall of the Renton Wastewater Treatment Plant from
the Green River to Puget Sound. This project was
completed in early 1987. Prior to the project, the
treatment plant was a major source of pollution in the
Green River, causing increased temperature, low DO,
and ammonia toxicity. In 1992, the EPA approved a
total maximum daily load (TMDL) issued by Ecology.
The TMDL set the allowable discharge of ammonia-N
at zero pounds per day.
No other TMDLs have been developed for the
waterbodies in the study area.
King County is currently conducting the Green-
Duwamish Watershed Water Quality Assessment.
This study has as its goal developing tools to analyze
current and future water quality issues, to assist with
salmon recovery planning, to guide stormwater
management decisions, and to provide guidance for
Ecology’s TMDL program.30
29 WSDOT 2005c.
30 WSDOT 2005c.
What is NPDES?
The National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit
program was established under Section
402 of the CWA, which prohibits the
unauthorized discharge of pollutants from
a point source (pipe, ditch, well, etc.) to
U.S. waters, including municipal,
commercial, and industrial wastewater
discharges and discharges from large
animal feeding operations. Permittees
must verify compliance with permit
requirements by monitoring their effluent,
maintaining records, and filing periodic
reports.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 51
What is the history of stormwater
regulations?
By the 1970s, local municipalities recognized that
stormwater management was needed for new
developments. Local municipalities established
stormwater utilities and implemented best
management practices (BMPs) for controlling
stormwater runoff. The Puget Sound Action Team
published the Puget Sound Water Quality
Management Plan in the late 1980s. In the early
1990s, King County issued the Surface Water Design
Manual, WSDOT issued the Highway Runoff Manual,
and Ecology issued the Stormwater Management
Manual for the Puget Sound Basin. Stormwater
detention and water quality treatment became
mandatory for all projects within areas draining to
Puget Sound. Statutes (for example, the Clean Water
Act (CWA), GMA, and the Shoreline Management Act
(SMA)) and their associated regulations provided
additional guidance. Stormwater management
requirements continue to evolve and are becoming
more stringent. Project design standards require 123
percent of new impervious surfaces to be treated and
the two-year through 50-year storm events to be
detained.
How is stormwater managed in the study
area?
Stormwater along the project corridor is currently
managed and treated using a variety of facilities.
These facilities include stormwater ponds, biofiltration
swales, ecology embankments, filter strips, and
constructed wetlands. Portions of the highway drain
without detention or water quality treatment. Some of
the systems have been in place for a long time and
may not function as originally intended.
Stormwater ponds
Stormwater ponds can be designed to detain and slow
down the release of stormwater to the drainage
system, reducing flooding and erosion. They can also
be designed to improve water quality prior to
discharge. Detention facilities can be designed to
provide water quality treatment by incorporating a
permanent wetpond.
Stormwater ponds are located in the I-405/I-5
interchange and the SR 167/I-405 interchange. Small Stormwater pond near the I-405/SR 167
interchange
What are the 2-year through 50-year
storm events?
Storms that have an occurrence
frequency of between 2 and 50 years.
Stormwater design protocols for
detention ponds require matching the
project’s flow and duration
characteristics to a selected
predevelopment condition. For this
project, conditions with the
improvements in place will be
equivalent to one-half of the flow of the
existing 2-year through 50-year storm
events.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
52 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
ponds are also located the west side of SR 167 near
SW 23rd Street and south of SW 41st Street.
Concrete-lined ponds at the northern end of the
project serve as spill containment ponds in case
hazardous materials are spilled on I-405 and washed
into the storm drainage system. They help protect the
City of Renton drinking water aquifer and wells in that
area.
Biofiltration swales
Biofiltration swales consist of broad, shallow grassy
channels. The vegetation and soil matrix filters
pollutants from stormwater runoff, providing water
quality treatment. Several biofiltration swales are
located along I-405. The loop ramps with SR 167 on
the north side of I-405 also have biofiltration swales.
Ecology embankments
Ecology embankments treat stormwater by filtering it
through media to underdrains. These embankments
are typically constructed on the slope next to a
roadway. Both the east and west sides of SR 167
have ecology embankments.
Filter strips
Filter strips are grassy slopes that provide filtration to
diffuse stormwater running off highway shoulders.
Several grassy slopes act as filter strips along I-405
between I-5 and SR 167.
Constructed wetlands
Constructed wetlands provide filtration and enhance
the removal of total suspended solids and associated
pollutants. A wetland on the south side of I-405 may
have been constructed to provide water quality
treatment for Gilliam Creek.31
Flood control
The project is located in the Green River and Cedar
River floodplains. As development has occurred over
the years in the Green River Valley, many efforts have
31 WSDOT 2005c.
A biofiltration swale filters stormwater
runoff from the highway prior to
discharge into the drainage system
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 53
been made to control flooding. Those efforts have
included constructing levees along the Green River.
Springbrook Creek drains into the Green River
through the Black River Pump Station located north of
the project. Procedures for operating the pump station
were developed through interlocal agreements and
watershed planning programs. As flows in the Green
River rise, the river’s ability to receive additional
inflows is decreased. Pumping rates begin to be
reduced when the flow in the river reaches 9,500 cubic
feet per second (cfs). The pumps may be turned off if
the flow in the Green River exceeds 12,000 cfs.
Floodplains are regulated federally and locally.32
Will the Build Alternative affect surface
water and water quality during
construction?
Direct effects
Effects on surface waters during construction of the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project could include
increased runoff volumes and peak flows. However,
the Build Alternative will be constructed in accordance
with federal and state technical guidance, permit
conditions, and WSDOT project specifications that will
require the use of BMPs to control the rate of runoff
and, where practical, retain runoff on the site. These
effects will be localized, temporary, and of low
magnitude should they occur.
Indirect effects
Increased runoff and peak flows during construction
could adversely affect water quality by increasing the
total suspended solids (TSS) in the receiving waters.
The decreased water quality could negatively affect
fish and organisms living in the waters. The effects
will be localized, temporary, and of low magnitude
should they occur.
Cumulative effects
WSDOT will implement BMPs to minimize the Renton
Nickel Improvement Project’s contribution to the
32 WSDOT 2005d.
What are Total Suspended Solids
(TSS)?
TSS are soil particles that are carried
in water. High levels of soil particles
can make a waterbody appear muddy
or cloudy and affect fish by clogging
their gills and reducing their ability to
see and forage for food.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
54 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
cumulative effects on surface waters, and will comply
with all regulatory requirements and permit conditions
(for example, the NPDES Construction Stormwater
Permit conditions). We assume that similar mitigation
measures will be followed for the other projects
considered in this CEA. As a result, construction-
related cumulative effects on surface waters should be
temporary and of low magnitude.
Will the Build Alternative affect surface
water and water quality during
operation?
Direct effects
The project will add approximately 15 acres of new
impervious highway surface. WSDOT will treat
highway runoff by applying quality and flow control
BMPs in accordance with the WSDOT Highway
Runoff Manual so that stormwater discharges from the
highway will meet the water quality and peak
discharge criteria required by state and local
authorities.33
Indirect effects
It is likely that indirect effects brought about by
changes in surface flows and water quality will be
difficult to measure. Groundwater hydrology could be
altered due to the increased impervious surface area.
However, the small increase in impervious surfaces
will not substantially affect the total amount of
recharge to the shallow aquifers in the vicinity of the
project because the majority of recharge to these
aquifers is from up-gradient drainage areas. Thus, no
effects are anticipated to the City of Renton’s wells in
the Cedar Valley Aquifer.34
Cumulative effects
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project will not
contribute to cumulative effects on surface waters
during operation. The Renton to Bellevue Project will
contribute to improved water quality as a result of
33 WSDOT 2005c.
34 WSDOT 2005g.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 55
retrofitting 162 acres of existing impervious surface
area with new water quality treatment facilities. The
Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Access Project will result
in a slight increase (less than 1 percent) in annual
pollutant loadings to Gilliam Creek and the Green
River. The other projects included in this CEA will, at
a minimum, be required to comply with surface water
management requirements. This should prevent or
minimize negative cumulative effects to surface
waters. To the extent those projects also provide
enhanced and/or retrofitted treatment, improvements
to surface water quality should result.
Would the No Build Alternative affect
surface water and water quality?
The Renton Nickel Improvement Project would not
produce any construction-related effects on surface
water and water quality under the No Build Alternative.
Currently, some surface waters in the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project area receive untreated runoff
from stormwater facilities that do not meet current
treatment levels. To the degree that those surface
waters are adversely affected by the existing water
quality, those effects would likely continue.
Improvements and enhancements associated with the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project would not occur.
Assuming the other projects considered in this CEA
are constructed and placed in operation, the
cumulative effects on surface waters due to those
projects would be as noted under the construction and
operation cumulative effects discussions above.
What are the analysis results for wetlands?
What has happened to the wetlands in the
study area over time?
Wetland resources in the watersheds have declined
over time because of the construction of homes, retail
centers, and industrial facilities and the loss of natural
landscapes associated with population increases.
While environmental awareness has increased
through the passage of legislation, the number, size,
and function of wetlands have declined. However, the
rate of decline has decreased and that trend is likely to
continue. The goal of No Net Loss (at least as many
acres of wetlands created as lost/filled) and improved
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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56 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
avoidance, mitigation, and compensation measures
are helping to restore wetland areas. Advanced
scientific studies, refined regulatory requirements and
programs, and use of adaptive management
procedures will further enhance the restoration trend.
How are effects on wetlands regulated?
Numerous federal, state, and local laws, regulations,
ordinances, and orders now govern activities in or
near wetlands. That was not the case in 1960.
NEPA’s passage in 1969 required agencies to
evaluate the effects of their projects on the
environment, including wetlands. Federal Executive
Order 11990, issued in 1978, required all federal
agencies to provide for wetland protection in their
policies. The U.S. Department of Transportation
complies35 with that mandate during the planning,
construction, and operational phases of transportation
facilities and projects. Additionally, legislation at the
state level, such as the State Environmental Policy Act
(SEPA) and the GMA, as well as county and
municipality ordinances, now regulate wetlands. The
local ordinances governing wetlands and other
sensitive/critical areas continue to evolve. The
required mitigation and compensatory measures have
become more stringent.
How many wetlands are in the study area
and where are they located?
The I-405 Team delineated 29 wetlands totaling
approximately 19.4 acres within the study area as
shown in Exhibit 14. The Green River watershed
contained wetlands totaling 4.0 acres in the study
area. The Springbrook Creek subwatershed
contained the remaining 15.4 acres of wetlands.
Green River watershed
Wetlands in the study area within the Green River
watershed receive water from Gilliam Creek, surface
water drainage, and groundwater. The majority of
wetlands are roadside ditches dominated by
35 DOT Order 5660.1A.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 57
bentgrass, common cattail, and soft rush. These
wetlands receive road runoff and typically discharge to
a catch basin or culvert. Two of the 14 wetlands are
associated with Gilliam Creek itself.
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Wetland #0.15R
Wetland #0.6L
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Wetland #25.7L
Wetland #0.92R
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Wetland #2.2R
Wetland #2.23L
Wetland #25.9L
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Wetland #0.1R
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Exhibit 14. Wetlands in the Study Area
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
58 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
Springbrook Creek subwatershed
The Springbrook Creek subwatershed covers
approximately two-thirds of the study area and
contains 15 wetlands. These wetlands receive water
from the creek and its tributaries, surface water, and a
high groundwater table.
Five of the wetlands are located in the cloverleaf
interchange of I-405 and SR 167 and convey
stormwater runoff. They are palustrine emergent
wetlands dominated by reed canarygrass, soft rush,
and bentgrass. Two wetlands are scrub-shrub
wetlands associated directly with Springbrook Creek
as it flows northward under I-405 near Oakesdale
Avenue SW. These disturbed wetlands are dominated
by willow and have a concrete bulkhead as their
eastern boundary. The majority of the SR 167 portion
in the study area contains wetlands on both sides that
are associated with Panther Creek, another tributary
to Springbrook Creek.
At the eastern end of the study area, two tributaries to
Springbrook Creek, Thunder Hills Creek, and Rolling
Hills Creek, enter the study area and bring flow to
several roadside ditches and topographical
depressions.36
What are the classifications of the
wetlands in the study area?
The I-405 Team used Ecology’s rating system to
classify 15 of the 29 total wetlands that occur in the
study area as Category IV (lowest-value class of
wetlands), 13 as Category III, and 1 as Category II.
No Category I wetlands occur within the study area.
The cities of Tukwila and Renton have their own
sensitive areas ordinances that include wetland
classification systems. According to the Tukwila
Environmentally Sensitive Areas code, 7 of 14
wetlands located in the Tukwila portion of the study
area are Type 3 or are not regulated by the city. The
remaining three wetlands are Type 2 because they are
connected to a watercourse that contains salmonids.
36 WSDOT 2005e.
How are the Ecology wetland
categories set up?
Ecology bases its categories on
function as follows:
I – Provide a high level of functions
and values.
II – Provide habitat for sensitive or
important plant and wildlife
species and a high level of
functions.
III – Provide a moderate level of
functions and values.
IV – Provide low level of functions
and values, have been heavily
disturbed, and typically consist of
non-native invasive plant species.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 59
Of the 15 wetlands located in the Renton portion of the
study area, 10 are Category 3 according to the Renton
Environmental Regulations. These wetlands have
undergone human-related hydrologic alterations such
as ditching or channelization. Only one wetland,
Panther Creek wetland, is considered Category 1.37
All others are exempt from regulation by the city
because of their small size.
What functions and values do wetlands
provide?
The I-405 Team evaluated study area wetlands for
functions and values using the WSDOT Wetland
Functions Characterization Tool for Linear Projects.
Larger wetlands in the study area are typically located
in flat, low-lying areas. Smaller wetlands are most
often located in small, closed topographic
depressions, or are hydrologically connected to
hillside seeps or roadside drainage ditches. Because
of their size and topography, larger wetlands within the
study area are more likely to provide a higher number
and higher value of beneficial functions than smaller
wetlands.
The entire study area is located within the UGA, with
most of the study area comprised of existing road
rights-of-way. All the wetlands within the study area
have been disturbed to some extent by development,
including construction of I-405 and development in the
surrounding area. This has affected the wetlands’
ability to provide beneficial functions. The I-405 Team
found that more than one-half of the wetlands have
the potential to provide valuable stormwater
management functions, including flood flow alteration,
sediment removal, nutrient and toxicant removal, and
erosion control.
Approximately one-third of the total number of
wetlands is likely to provide value related to general
habitat, habitat for amphibians, wetland-associated
mammals and/or wetland-associated birds, or native
plant richness. Six of the wetlands are likely to
provide general value as fish habitat. One wetland is
37 WSDOT 2005e.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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60 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
likely to provide uniqueness and heritage value, and
one wetland is likely to provide native plant richness.38
Will the Build Alternative affect wetlands
during construction?
Direct effects
Construction will require work in and next to wetlands
and wetland buffers. Of the 29 wetlands identified
within the project study area, portions of 11, totaling
1.66 acres, will be permanently filled. Additionally,
approximately 0.64 acres of wetlands and wetland
buffers will be temporarily disturbed, resulting in a
short-term reduction or loss of wetland functions. In
those cases, WSDOT will restore the wetlands and
wetland buffers after construction is complete.
Restoration will include replanting with appropriate
vegetation. A project-specific restoration plan will
guide those activities.
Indirect effects
Although 1.66 acres of wetlands will be permanently
filled as a result of construction, no detectable indirect
effects are anticipated due to loss of the 1.66 acres.
This is primarily due to the small size of the filled area
and the fact that of the 11 wetlands affected, 5 are
Category III (1.48 acres), and 6 are Category IV (0.18
acres) and habitat functions and values are limited.
Cumulative effects
Based on the mitigation that will occur to compensate
for the loss of 1.66 acres, a positive contribution to
cumulative effects to wetlands may be realized as a
result of the construction of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project. More and higher quality
wetland areas will be created and enhanced than will
be filled. WSDOT plans to compensate for affected
wetlands at the nearby Springbrook Creek Wetland
and Habitat Mitigation Bank. The bank will provide
safe high-quality wildlife habitats away from the
dangers of a roadside location.
38 WSDOT 2005e.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 61
Wetlands will also be affected by the Renton to
Bellevue, SR 167 Corridor Improvements, and SR 518
Corridor Improvement Projects. These projects will
also create or enhance more acres of wetlands than
are filled or permanently impacted. They may also
utilize mitigation credits associated with the
Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation
Bank.
The Strander Boulevard/SW 27th Street Project and
the Link Light Rail Station in Tukwila have the
potential to affect wetlands depending on their exact
locations and design details.
No wetlands were identified in the Westfield
Shoppingtown Mall Access Improvement project area.
No wetlands will be filled by the project.
Will the Build Alternative affect wetlands
during operation?
Direct effects
Some wetlands that exist within the right-of-way are
currently affected by vegetation and stormwater
conveyance system maintenance activities. It is likely
that wetland areas remaining within the right-of-way
after construction of the project will continue to be
affected by such maintenance activities. Stormwater
management measures provided by the project will
prevent any negative water quality-related effects on
wetlands within the right-of-way or those receiving
stormwater discharges from the new impervious
surfaces.
Indirect effects
No measurable indirect effects are anticipated due to
operation of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project.
Cumulative effects
The Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat
Mitigation Bank will provide safe, high-quality wildlife
habitats away from roadside dangers. Other projects
considered in the CEA that mitigate appropriately
could also positively affect wetlands.
Operation of the Renton to Bellevue Project may result
in a positive cumulative effect to wetlands receiving
runoff as a result of the project retrofitting water quality
treatment for 162 acres of impervious surface, as well
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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62 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
as enhanced treatment of discharges from the new
impervious surfaces.
Would the No Build Alternative affect
wetlands?
No construction would occur for the No Build
Alternative; therefore, no wetlands or their buffers
would be affected by the Renton Nickel Improvement
Project. Some wetlands in the project study area
currently receive untreated runoff from stormwater
facilities that do not meet current treatment levels. If
those wetlands are adversely affected by the existing
water quality, those effects would likely continue.
Similarly, wetlands that occur within the I-405 right-of-
way would likely continue to be affected by stormwater
system maintenance activities and mowing.
Improvements and enhancements associated with the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project would not occur.
Assuming the other projects considered in this CEA
are constructed and placed in operation, the
cumulative effects on wetlands due to those projects
would be as noted under the construction and
operation cumulative effects discussions above.
What are the analysis results for fisheries and aquatic
habitat?
What are the characteristics of aquatic
habitat in the study area?
Over time, the rivers and streams in the study area
have been highly altered from their natural states to
accommodate residential, commercial, and industrial
land uses. This alteration has included bank
hardening, such as installing riprap and placing
streams in concrete channels; reducing or removing
streamside vegetation; straightening stream channels;
and removing in-stream habitat. These alterations
have resulted in loss of the historic floodplains
associated with most of the waterbodies. Substantial
changes have also occurred in the vegetation
surrounding the waterbodies; what was once
predominantly mature native vegetation has been
replaced by a mix of immature native vegetation and
non-native invasive plant species.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 63
The Lower Green River subwatershed has
dramatically changed over the last 130 years, but still
performs a vital role for the salmon in the watershed.
The Lower Green River is a vital migration corridor for
fish moving between the Middle Green and the
Duwamish estuary. It also provides limited rearing
habitat for fish produced upstream.39
The Renton Reach of the Cedar River is entirely
artificial. It is completely constrained between levees
and revetments, and was regularly dredged to prevent
flooding (from its completion in 1912 until the mid-
1970s). Portions of this reach were again dredged in
1999 for the first time since the mid-1970s. This reach
is essentially one long riffle with little habitat
complexity. It is affected by urban and industrial uses
along the river that contribute to local water quality
problems and eliminate the potential for connection
with a natural floodplain. These uses also prevent
stream-side corridors from becoming established,
which can provide large woody debris (LWD) in the
channel. Much of the river's sediment is deposited in
this reach.40
Which fisheries and aquatic species occur
in the study area?
Many fish and other aquatic species inhabit the rivers,
streams, and wetlands in the study area. Fish species
found in the area include both anadromous and
resident salmonids and a variety of other resident fish.
Other aquatic species found in the area include
macroinvertebrates, lampreys, crayfish, amphibians,
and freshwater mussels and clams.
Anadromous salmonids found in the study area
include chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho
(O. kisutch), chum (O. keta), pink (O. gorbuscha),
sockeye (O. nerka), steelhead trout (O. mykiss) and
searun cutthroat (O. clarki clarki). In addition, bull
trout (Salvelinus confluentus), Dolly Varden
(Salvelinus malma), and resident cutthroat trout (O.
clarki) are known to use the waterbodies in the study
area. Anadromous salmonid species primarily use the
39 KCDNR 2004.
40 Kerwin and Nelson 2000.
What is a salmonid?
A fish of the family Salmonidae; for
example, salmon, trout, and char.
What are macroinvertebrates?
Small animals (insects, worms, larvae,
etc.) without backbones that are
visible with the naked eye.
Waterbodies have communities of
aquatic macroinvertebrates. The
species composition, species diversity,
and abundance of the
macroinvertebrates can provide
valuable information on the relative
health and water quality of a
waterbody.
What is an anadromous fish?
A fish species that spends a part of its
life cycle in the sea and returns to
freshwater streams to spawn.
What is a riffle?
A riffle is a shallow extending across
a stream bed and causing broken
water.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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64 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
rivers and streams in the study area for upstream and
downstream migration and rearing. The study area
also contains limited spawning habitat for chinook,
coho, pink, sockeye, chum, and steelhead. Resident
cutthroat trout use the study area for all life stages.
Other fish species likely to be found in the study area
include three-spine stickleback (Gasterosteus
aculeatus), longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae),
speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus), longfin smelt
(Spirinchus thaleichthys), prickly sculpin (Cottus
asper), riffle sculpin (Cottus gulosus), reticulate
sculpin (Cottus perplexus), shorthead sculpin (Cottus
confuses), torrent sculpin (Cottus rhotheus),
largescale sucker (Catostomus macrocheilus),
peamouth chub (Mylocheilus caurinus), and redside
shiner (Richardsonius balteatus).
Other native species found in the study area include
Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentate); river lamprey
(Lampetra ayresi); Western brook lamprey (Lampetra
richardsoni); several species of crayfish, frogs, and
salamanders; and freshwater clams and mussels.41
Lower Green River
The Lower Green River is used by salmon species for
upstream and downstream migration and rearing.
Chinook, coho, pink, sockeye, and chum salmon and
steelhead trout are known to spawn in this reach of
the Green River, though spawning habitat is limited.42
Pacific and river lamprey are also present in the Green
River, but little information is available on their status.
Resident fish species expected to occur in this reach
of the Green River include cutthroat trout, Western
brook lamprey, and sculpin. Resident fish species that
may occur in the Green River, based on their
geographic distribution and habitat requirements,
include speckled dace, largescale sucker, and three-
spine stickleback.43
41 WSDOT 2005f.
42 Kerwin 2001.
43 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 65
Gilliam Creek
Anadromous fish species reported to occur in lower
Gilliam Creek include chinook and coho salmon and
sea-run cutthroat trout. Other anadromous species
that may occur in lower Gilliam Creek include Pacific
and river lamprey.
Resident fish species expected to occur in Gilliam
Creek include cutthroat trout, Western brook lamprey,
and sculpin. Resident fish species that may occur in
Gilliam Creek, based on their geographic distribution
and habitat requirements, include longnose dace,
speckled dace, largescale sucker, and three-spine
stickleback.44
Springbrook Creek
Springbrook Creek is used by coho and chinook
salmon, cutthroat trout, and steelhead trout for
spawning and rearing.45
Additional resident fish species expected to occur in
Springbrook Creek include Western brook lamprey
and sculpin. Resident fish species that may occur in
Springbrook Creek, based on their geographic
distribution and habitat requirements, include speckled
dace, largescale sucker, and three-spine
stickleback.46
Panther Creek
Because of its association with Springbrook Creek,
Panther Creek is expected to be used as rearing
habitat by coho and chinook salmon, cutthroat trout,
and steelhead trout. There is little salmonid spawning
habitat in Panther Creek throughout most of the study
area. Resident fish species expected to occur in
Panther Creek include cutthroat trout, Western brook
lamprey, and sculpin. Resident fish species that may
occur in Panther Creek, based on their geographic
distribution and habitat requirements, include
44 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
45 Kerwin 2001.
46 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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66 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
longnose dace, speckled dace, largescale sucker, and
three-spine stickleback.47
Rolling Hills Creek
No anadromous fish species are reported to occur in
Rolling Hills Creek or its unnamed tributary due to
downstream fish passage barriers. However, it is
likely that Rolling Hills Creek historically supported
populations of coho salmon and steelhead.
Resident fish species likely to occur in the reaches of
Rolling Hills Creek and its unnamed tributary within
the study area include sculpin and three-spine
stickleback.
Resident fish species likely to occur in the upper
reaches of Rolling Hills Creek or its unnamed tributary
include cutthroat trout, sculpin, and three-spine
stickleback.48
Thunder Hills Creek
No anadromous fish species are reported to occur in
Thunder Hills Creek due to downstream fish passage
barriers. However, it is likely that Thunder Hills Creek
historically supported populations of coho salmon and
steelhead.
It is unlikely that fish occupy the lower reach of
Thunder Hills Creek due to habitat and water quality
considerations caused by Renton coal mine
discharges. However, there could be use by species
more tolerant of such conditions, such as three-spine
sticklebacks. Resident fish species likely to occur in
the upper reaches of Thunder Hills Creek include
cutthroat trout, sculpin, and three-spine stickleback.49
Cedar River
Anadromous fish use in the Renton Reach of the
Cedar River includes spawning, upstream and
downstream migration, and some limited rearing by
sockeye, chinook, and coho salmon and steelhead.
The Cedar River also has known uses by bull
47 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
48 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
49 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 67
trout/Dolly Varden, which likely use the Renton Reach
for upstream and downstream migration.
Resident fish species expected to occur in this reach
of the Cedar River include cutthroat trout, Western
brook lamprey, and sculpin. Resident fish species that
may occur in the Cedar River, based on their
geographic distribution and habitat requirements,
include speckled dace, largescale sucker, long fin
smelt, and three-spine stickleback.50
Which federally listed aquatic species or
federal aquatic species of concern occur in
the study area?
The rivers and several of the streams in the study area
contain various life stages of chinook salmon and bull
trout, both of which are currently listed as threatened
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In addition,
coho salmon, a species of concern, are also found in
the streams and rivers in the study area.
Waterbodies in the study area known to be used by
chinook salmon include the Green River, Springbrook
Creek, and the Cedar River, though it is likely that
some smaller waterbodies in the study area also
support certain chinook life stages. Chinook use the
study area primarily for upstream and downstream
migration and rearing. However, there is also some
limited spawning habitat. The chinook found in these
waterbodies are a part of the Puget Sound
evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) of chinook salmon,
listed as threatened under the ESA.51
On December 14, 2004, the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) published proposed rules for
designating critical habitat for 13 ESUs of Pacific
salmon and steelhead in Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho. This designation includes the Puget Sound
ESU of chinook salmon. Critical habitat is designated
for areas containing the physical and biological habitat
features, or primary constituent elements (PCEs),
essential for conservation of the species or which
require special management considerations. PCEs
50 Wydoski and Whitney 1979.
51 NMFS 1998, 1999.
What is an evolutionarily significant
unit (ESU)?
The term used by National Marine
Fisheries Service for a fish species
population protected by a listing under
the ESA.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON CRITICAL RESOURCES
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68 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
include sites that are essential to supporting one or
more life stages of the ESU and which contain
physical or biological features essential to the
conservation of the ESU. Chinook salmon critical
habitat within the study area includes the Green River,
Springbrook Creek, and the Cedar River.
Historically, bull trout were reported to use the
Duwamish River and Lower Green River in “vast”
numbers.52 However, bull trout are infrequently
observed in this system today.53
On June 25, 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) published proposed rules for designating
critical habitat for the Coastal-Puget Sound population
of bull trout. For an area to be included as critical
habitat, it must provide one or more of the following
functions for bull trout: spawning, rearing, foraging, or
over-wintering habitat to support essential existing bull
trout local populations; movement corridors necessary
for maintaining essential migratory life history forms;
or suitable habitat that is considered essential for
recovering existing local populations that have
declined or that need to be re-established to achieve
recovery.
Waterbodies that are bull trout critical habitat within
the study area include the Green River and the Cedar
River.
Coho salmon (species of concern) in several life
stages are found throughout the study area. Coho
use the study area primarily for upstream and
downstream migration and rearing. However, there is
also some limited spawning habitat. Coho salmon
typically spend one year in freshwater habitat before
migrating to sea. It is likely that the wetlands located
in the study area that have direct connections to
flowing waterbodies and off-channel areas are used
by coho for rearing.
52 Suckley and Cooper 1860.
53 USFWS 2004.
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 69
Do any state-listed or other state priority
aquatic species occur in or around the
study area?
Priority fisheries and aquatic species include all state
endangered, threatened, sensitive, or candidate
species, and species of recreational, commercial, or
tribal importance that are considered vulnerable. All
fish species with state candidate status that occur in
the study area also hold a federal designation and
have been discussed. No other state sensitive,
threatened, or endangered fish species occur within
the study area. Other fish species designated as
Priority Species54 that may occur within the study area
include chum and sockeye salmon, steelhead trout,
and coastal cutthroat trout.
Will the Build Alternative affect fisheries
and aquatic habitat during construction?
Direct effects
Some aquatic habitats will experience temporary
direct effects and others permanent direct effects as a
result of project construction. There will be some loss
of stream habitat in some streams. Some streams will
also experience minor flow changes. Because most of
the existing stream-side vegetation is moderately to
severely degraded, effects on the vegetation are not
expected to be substantial/severe.
The specific project elements that will affect fisheries
and aquatic habitat are:
Construction of new northbound and
southbound bridges over Springbrook Creek
and its side channel and the removal of the
Springbrook box culvert.
Encroaching into Panther Creek on the west
side of SR 167.
Encroaching into the stream-side buffers of
Gilliam Creek, an unnamed tributary to Gilliam
Creek, Cottage Creek, Springbrook Creek,
Rolling Hills Creek, an unnamed tributary to
54 WDFW 2004.
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70 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
Rolling Hills Creek, Thunder Hills Creek,
Panther Creek, and a wetland on the west side
of SR 167 that is associated with Panther
Creek.55
Indirect effects
Detectable indirect effects from construction, resulting
from direct effects on fish and changes to aquatic
habitat, are not anticipated. This is primarily due to
the degraded condition of the existing environment.
Cumulative effects
Some losses and degradation of aquatic habitat and
temporary short-term decreases in water quality will
occur due to construction of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project and the lane additions portion of
the SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project. The
Renton to Bellevue Project will similarly directly affect
fisheries and aquatic habitat and may also involve in-
water work for bridging across May Creek and Coal
Creek. These construction effects (for example, loss
of stream-side vegetation, increased sedimentation,
changes in the stream flows, and stream course
modifications) will be minimized through the use of
BMPs, compliance with permit conditions and in-water
work windows set by the fish and wildlife agencies,
and by including avoidance measures in the project
design. Construction of the other projects considered
in this CEA is not expected to affect fisheries and
aquatic habitat with the exception of the Springbrook
Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank. However,
the final details of its design are not yet established.
Will the Build Alternative affect fisheries
and aquatic habitat during operation?
Direct effects
Proper maintenance and operation of the project’s
water treatment facilities will help prevent a decline in
water quality and its potential negative effect on fish
and the aquatic habitat.
55 WSDOT 2005f.
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Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 71
Indirect effects
Improved general ecosystem health is a potential
indirect effect associated with the direct effects on
fisheries and aquatic habitat resulting from operation
of the project. This change would be the result of
maintained or enhanced water quality and improved
stream-side vegetation. This indirect effect, however,
may not be measurable.
Cumulative effects
Proper maintenance and continued operation of the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project’s water treatment
facilities and culverts, when combined with those
associated with the Renton to Bellevue, SR 167
Improvements, Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Access,
and SR 518 Corridor Improvement Projects, should
result in a positive cumulative effect on fisheries and
aquatic habitat. Additionally, proper maintenance of
the improvements provided by the Springbrook Creek
Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank will maintain their
positive cumulative effects on fish and aquatic habitat
as well.
Would the No Build Alternative affect
fisheries and aquatic habitat?
For the No Build Alternative, no construction would
occur and, thus, no fish or aquatic habitat would be
affected by construction activities associated with the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project. At the present
time, some surface waters in the project study area
receive untreated runoff from stormwater facilities that
do not meet current treatment levels. To the degree
that those surface waters are adversely affected by
the existing water quality, those effects would likely
continue and could translate to negative effects on
fisheries and aquatic habitat.
Improvements and enhancements associated with the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project would not occur.
Assuming the other projects considered in this CEA
are constructed and placed in operation, the
cumulative effects on fisheries and aquatic habitat due
to those projects would be as noted under the
construction and operation cumulative effects
discussions above.
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
72 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
MEASURES TO AVOID OR
MINIMIZE PROJECT EFFECTS
Will the cumulative effects due to construction and
operation of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project
require mitigation?
No measures, beyond those incorporated in the
project design and listed in the air quality, surface
water, wetlands, and fisheries and aquatic resources
discipline reports, will be necessary.
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 73
UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS
Will there be unavoidable adverse cumulative effects due
to construction and operation of the Renton Nickel
Improvement Project?
No unavoidable adverse cumulative effects are
anticipated due to construction and operation of the
Renton Nickel Improvement Project.
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
74 Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report
REFERENCES
Council on Environmental Quality.
1997 Considering Cumulative Effects Under the National Environmental Act.
Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President,
Washington, D.C. January.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe.
1979 Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States.
Publ. # FWS/OBS-79/31. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Kerwin, J.
2001 Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Limiting Factors Report for the Cedar –
Sammamish Basin (Water Resource Inventory Area 8). Washington
Conservation Commission. Olympia, WA.
Kerwin, John and Nelson, Tom S. (Eds.).
2000 Habitat Limiting Factors and Reconnaissance Assessment Report,
Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watersheds (WRIA 9 and
Vashon Island). Washington Conservation Commission and the King
County Department of Natural Resources. December 2000.
King County Department of Natural Resources (KCDNR).
Lower Green River Subwatershed Green/Duwamish and Central Puget
Sound Watershed. [Online] Available
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/Wrias/9/LowerGreen.htm, December 22, 2004.
PSRC (Puget Sound Regional Council).
2004 Air Quality Conformity Analysis, 2004 Destination 2030 Progress Report.
March 11, 2004.
2001 Destination 2030, The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the Central
Puget Sound Region, Final EIS. May 2001.
Suckley, G., and J. G. Cooper.
1860 The natural history of the Washington and Oregon territory. Bailliere
Brothers, New York. 399 pp.
USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
2004 Draft Recovery Plan for the Coastal-Puget Sound Distinct Population
Section of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Volume I (of II): Puget
Sound Management Unit. Portland, Oregon. 389 + xvii pp.
WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife).
Priority Species List: Vertebrates. [Online] Available
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hab/phsvert.htm, 2004.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
2005a I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Land Use Plans and Policies Discipline Report.
2005.
REFERENCES
Renton Nickel Improvement Project
Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report 75
2005b I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Air Quality Discipline Report. 2005.
2005c I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Surface Water and Water Quality Discipline Report.
2005.
2005d I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Floodplains Discipline Report. 2005.
2005e I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Wetland Discipline Report. 2005.
2005f I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Discipline Report.
2005.
2005g I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Renton Nickel
Improvement Project, Soils, Geology, and Groundwater Discipline Report.
2005.
2002 I-405 Congestion Relief and Bus Rapid Transit Projects, Final
Environmental Impact Statement. June 2002.
Wydoski, R.S. and R.R. Whitney.
1979 Inland fishes of Washington. Univ. of Wash. Press, Seattle, WA.