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Home My WebLink AboutAppendix X - Upland Veg & Wildlife DR I-405, Renton Nickel Improvement Project, I-5 to SR 169 UPLAND VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE DISCIPLINE REPORT October 2005 %&e( !"b$ AÉ !"`$ !"`$ Aæ %&e( Bothell Kirkland Bellevue Renton AÊ AÐ Aí Aô AÌ Aí Aç AÅ Lake Washington Arterial Road Freeway Municipality Lake Park M0 2 Miles I-405 Project Area Renton Nickel Improvement Project UPLAND VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE DISCIPLINE REPORT I-405, Renton Nickel Improvement Project Prepared for Washington State Department of Transportation Urban Corridors Office And Federal Highway Administration Prepared by Brad Thiele and Alex White, DMJM Harris October 17, 2005 Title VI WSDOT ensures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the provision of benefits and services resulting from its federally assisted programs and activities. For questions regarding WSDOT's Title VI Program, you may contact the Department's Title VI Coordinator at 360. 705.7098. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information If you would like copies of this document in an alternate format—large print, Braille, cassette tape, or on computer disk, please call 360.705.7097. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service, or Tele-Braille at 7-1-1, Voice 1.800.833.6384, and ask to be connected to 360.705.7097. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report i T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Glossary .............................................................................................................................................iii Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Report ......................................................................................v 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 upland vegetation and wildlife as we plan for this project?...........................................................19 What are the key points of this report?..........................................................................................................................20 Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................21 How was information on wildlife and vegetation collected?...........................................................................................21 What are the landscape cover types and wildlife habitat characteristics of the study area?..........................................21 Do any federally protected species or critical habitat occur in the study area? .............................................................25 Do any state-listed or other state priority species or monitor species occur in the study area?.....................................26 Do WDFW, DNR or other priority wildlife habitats occur in the study area?..................................................................27 Potential Effects ..................................................................................................................................28 What methods were used to evaluate the project’s potential effects on wildlife and vegetation?..................................28 Will project construction temporarily affect habitat and associated wildlife species?.....................................................29 Clearing and removing habitat ..........................................................................................................29 Noise and associated construction activity ...........................................................................................30 Water quality ................................................................................................................................30 Will the project temporarily affect listed species, species of concern, and priority species?..........................................30 Federal species .............................................................................................................................30 State species ................................................................................................................................31 Will the project permanently affect habitat and associated wildlife species?.................................................................31 Habitat loss ..................................................................................................................................31 Noise ..........................................................................................................................................32 Water quality ................................................................................................................................32 Will the project permanently affect listed species, species of concern, or priority species?..........................................32 Federal species .............................................................................................................................32 State species ................................................................................................................................33 Does the project have indirect effects?..........................................................................................................................33 Measures to Avoid or Minimize Project Effects ........................................................................................34 What has been done to avoid or minimize negative effects to wildlife and wildlife habitat?...........................................34 How will the project compensate for unavoidable negative effects on wildlife or wildlife habitat? .................................34 References .........................................................................................................................................35 Appendix A – Agency Correspondence TABLE OF CONTENTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project ii Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 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. Cover Types and Associated Typical Species........................................................... 22 Exhibit 11. Habitat Cover Types within Study Area..................................................................... 23 Exhibit 12. Wildlife Species Possibly Occurring in King County Under USFWS Jurisdiction ..... 26 Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report iii GLOSSARY BMPs (Best Management Practices) Best management practices, referred to commonly as BMPs, are methods used to minimize or avoid effects to water quality such as sediment getting into streams, during construction. Examples of BMPs include installing filter fabric fence downstream of all exposed slopes, around existing drainage inlets, and along river, stream, and drainage channels near work areas to prevent sediment-laden stormwater from entering streams. Buffer A jurisdictionally designated width of land between development and a landscape feature. Cover Type The different types of habitat that are considered on a landscape level. Critical Habitat Specific area occupied by a listed species within its geographic range, which contains the physical or biological features essential to conserving the species and which may require special protection or management considerations. Deciduous Trees that shed their leaves annually to allow them to cope with the stress of cold or dry conditions. Dominate More than 50 percent of the population is composed of one identical species. Downgradient The direction that water flows; i.e., downstream. Ecosystem A community of interdependent organisms and the physical environment they inhabit. Encroachment Intrusion by roads or development into habitat areas that reduces the area available to wildlife or reduces the functions of the habitat area. Federal-listed Species Species of wildlife that are considered to be at-risk and are protected by U.S. laws. Filter fabric fence A BMP measure that consists of cloth fencing that is installed into the ground surrounding a construction site to keep soil from leaving the area. Habitat fragmentation The separation of a habitat by human development into pieces that are no longer physically connected to each other. Impervious surface A surface that does not allow the passage of liquids, such as pavement. Indirect effect Indirect effects are defined in the WSDOT Environmental Procedures Manual as the “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.” Pervious surface A surface that allows the penetration of liquids, such as grassy areas. Piscivorous animal Animals that rely solely on fish as a food source. Point source A specific source of pollution, such as a construction staging area. Priority Habitats Habitat types with unique or significant value to a diverse assemblage of species. Programmatic commitments These are commitments made by WSDOT within the Environmental Impact Statement for the overall I-405 corridor. As the proposed improvements for the entire corridor were called a “program”, the commitments are referred to as programmatic. Raptor A raptor is a carnivorous (meat-eating) bird. All raptors share at least three main characteristics: keen eyesight, eight sharp talons, and a hooked beak. Eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls are all considered raptors. GLOSSARY Renton Nickel Improvement Project iv Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report Reconnaissance-level field surveys A qualitative survey, where the biologist walks the site, photographs key areas, and makes observations of plants and wildlife, to assess overall site conditions. Right-of-way Land legally established for public use by pedestrians, vehicles, or utilities. Riparian corridor Strips of land along rivers and streams that contain elements of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Salmonids Any member of the family Salmonidae, which includes all species of salmon, trout, and char (including bull trout). Sedimentation Particles deposited or settling out of the water column and forming sediment on the bed of a channel or water course. Sensitive receptors Land uses that are considered sensitive to noise impacts such as residences. Sensitive species Any wildlife species native to Washington State that is vulnerable or declining and is likely to become endangered or threatened throughout a significant portion of its range within the state without cooperative management or removal of threats. Species of concern Species whose conservation standing is of concern to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but for which status information is still needed for consideration to list the species under the Endangered Species Act. Staging area Areas in unused right-of-way that will be used for employee parking, large equipment storage, and material stockpiles during construction of the project improvements. State Monitor species Wildlife species that are monitored by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife for status and distribution to prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered. State-listed Species Species of wildlife that are considered to be at-risk and are protected by Washington State laws. Understory The vegetation of a forest that grows in the shade of the canopy (branches of mature trees meeting overhead). The understory usually consists of smaller herbaceous and shrub species such as ferns, various berries, and ivies. Urban forest Cover type that is typically dominated by big leaf maple and alder with an understory of smaller herbaceous and shrub species. Urban matrix Cover type comprised of a mix of buildings, pavement, manicured lawns, and ornamental vegetation. Vegetative community A unique area of vegetation within an ecosystem that is composed of specific species of plants. Wetlands Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wildlife corridor Interconnected parcels of land that are created as a means to conserve or generally improve the environment and are managed to support biodiversity to benefit wildlife. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report v ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT BMP Best Management Practice DNR Washington State Department of Natural Resources EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement FHWA Federal Highway Administration NHP Natural Heritage Program PHS Priority Habitats and Species USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service WAC Washington Administrative Code WDFW Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation Renton Nickel Improvement Project vi Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report This page intentionally blank. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 G r e en R i v e r C e d ar Riv 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 e r u r ban Ave SMa ple V alley H w yRainier Ave SS W Sun s e t B lvdS W 7 t h S t S W G r a d y W a y Lind Ave SWTUKWILA RENTON S pri n g br ook CreekBenson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr SI-405 Northern Project Limit at SR 169 I-405 Southern Project Limit at I-5 !"`$ %&e( Aæ Aç Aí SR 167 Southern Project Limit at SW 41st St 0 0.25 0.5 Miles M AÅ Arterial Road Freeway Trail Stream Lake Park Municipality INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 2 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃInterurban TrailFort Dent Park W Valley HwyInterurban Ave S RENT ONT UKWI L AG r e en RiverSouthcenter B lv d65th Ave SAí %&e( %&e(UP RRBNSF RRBridge Restripe Only Bridge Rail Replacement Bridge Rail Replacement M o n s t e r R d S WTUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí 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 %&e( 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 %&e( Potential Staging Area Bridge Replacement S prin g br o o k Cr eekBridge Replacement TUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ SW 19th StLind Ave SWS G r a d y W a y Aæ %&e( Potential Staging Area Noise Wall Renton CinemaRolling Hills Creek Panther Creek Wetlands SW 16th St Lake AveSouthRainier Ave STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí 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 Proposed Renton Renton I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed SR 167 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel Proposed Noise Wall ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 7 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃPanther Creek Wetlands S W 2 7 t h S t Talbot Rd SEast Valley RdTalbot Rd SPotential Staging Area SW 23rd St TUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí SR 167 Improvements: 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. M0250500 Feet SR 167 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton RentonÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ 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 6. Project Overview Section 5 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 8 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃSW 41st St S W 3 3 r d S t Panther CreekEast Valley RdTalbot Rd SLind Ave SWAæ SR 167 Southern Project Limit at SW 41st St TUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí SR 167 Improvements: 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 Feet 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 9 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃS G rady W ayB e a c o n S 7 t h S tWilliams %&e( Potential Staging Area Replace Bridge Bridge Widening Existing Bridge to be Demolished Thunder Hills Creek Rolling Hills Creek Noise Wall Benson Rd STalbot Rd STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec, 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report C edar River Cedar River Interpretive Trail Cedar River Park Liberty Park Ma p l e V a ll e y H w y H o u s e r W a y S N 3 r d S t Bronson Wa y N%&e( I-405 Northern Project Limit at SR 169 Aç Restripe Only Main AvenueCedar Ave SRenton Ave STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 S W G r a d y W a y Lind Ave SWS pri n g br ook CreekSW 23rd St Aæ Aí M 0 0.25 0.5 Miles 100 Year Floodplain 500 Year Floodplain Park Renton Tukwila Springbrook Creek Wetland & Habitat Mitigation Bank 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife 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 upland vegetation and wildlife as we plan for this project? Within the study area, wildlife and upland vegetation are two important components of the local ecosystem; therefore, these resources are being considered during the planning for the I-405 Renton Nickel Improvement Project. Improvements to roads and highways, such as this project, have the potential to affect the vegetation within the study area. Since vegetation provides habitat and other needs for wildlife, changes to this ecosystem component can have an effect on wildlife. Many federal, state, and local regulations ensure the protection of these resources and are guided by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This discipline report provides information to satisfy the requirements of the ESA. This report considers upland vegetation and wildlife together because wildlife habitat is typically defined by the vegetation communities that provide the food, water, and shelter that species need to survive. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 20 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report Understanding how the Renton Nickel Improvement Project will affect wildlife and upland vegetation is part of the environmental review process, and this report evaluates the direct and indirect effects to upland vegetation and wildlife that will occur as a result of this project. The various federal, state, and local regulations for wildlife and vegetation that exist to help guide development of the project are also discussed in this report. What are the key points of this report? The key points of this report are: The study area provides limited habitat for wildlife. The various habitats within the study area, which are defined later in this report, include approximately 2,625 acres of urban matrix, 167 acres of urban forest, 160 acres of parks, 73 acres of riparian corridor, and 19 acres of wetlands. The majority of this habitat, urban matrix, provides minimal suitable habitat for wildlife use. Bald eagles, which are on the federal protection list, have been spotted flying over Renton. The study area does not include any nesting or wintering areas. No other federal or state listed and protected wildlife species or wildlife habitat occurs within the study area. The project will permanently remove approximately 13 acres of wildlife habitat, which is primarily urban matrix cover type and considered to have the least habitat value. Although this habitat will be replaced largely by new impervious surfaces, the area represents less than 0.4 percent of the available habitat within the study area. The project will have only minor effects on wildlife and their habitat. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 21 EXISTING CONDITIONS How was information on wildlife and vegetation collected? Initially, the project biologist reviewed important databases of plants and animals, including: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Natural Heritage Program (NHP), which details known records of rare plants and rare plant communities Priority Habitats and Species Program (PHS) administered by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), which details priority habitats and species information The project biologist also coordinated with various agencies to prepare this report. Working with information obtained from DNR and WDFW staff, the project biologist contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to update the databases and validate expected species use of the study area. Following review of existing data, project biologists conducted reconnaissance-level field surveys at selected locations using aerial photography to verify the type and condition of vegetation and habitat resources within the proposed right-of-way limits. What are the landscape cover types and wildlife habitat characteristics of the study area? An ecosystem is a community of interdependent organisms (i.e., wildlife species) and the physical environment (i.e., habitat) in which they live. For this report, wildlife habitat is the vegetation communities that provide the food, water, and shelter that the various wildlife species depend on to survive. Because vegetation communities define wildlife habitat, the project biologist considered each cover type as a different wildlife habitat type. Each type was identified by the dominant vegetation community in the area. The cover types within the study area include roadside vegetation, urban matrix, parks, wetlands, and riparian corridors. Exhibit 10 lists these cover What is the Priority Habitats and Species Program? The Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) Program fulfills a fundamental responsibility of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)— to provide comprehensive information on important fish, wildlife, and habitat resources in Washington. The PHS List catalogues habitats and species considered to be priorities for conservation and management. Priority species require protective measures for their perpetuation due to their population status, sensitivity to habitat alteration, and/or recreational, commercial, or tribal importance. Priority habitats are those habitat types or elements with unique or significant value to a diverse assemblage of species. What is a cover type? Cover type refers to different types of habitat that are considered on a landscape level. Cover types within the study area include urban matrix, urban forest, parks, riparian corridor, and wetlands. These cover types are defined and described later in this report. EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 22 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report types along with the typical wildlife species that may be found in each one. Exhibit 10. Cover Types and Associated Typical Species Species Roadside Vegetation Urban Matrix Parks Wetlands Riparian Corridors Birds American robin X X X X Starling X X X X X Northwestern crow X X X X X Brewer's blackbird X X X X House finch X X X White crowned sparrow X X X X Cedar waxwing X Winter wren X X Song sparrow X X X X Mourning dove X X X X Dark eyed junco X X X X X Rufous hummingbird X Northern flicker X X X Black-capped chickadee X X X Red tail hawk X X X X Red-winged blackbird X Mallard X X Red-headed merganser X Mammals Eastern cottontail X X X X Opossum X X X X X Raccoon X X X X X Coyote X Deer X X Field mice X X X X X Meadow vole X X X X Bats X X X X X Amphibians Pacific chorus frog X X Exhibit 11 illustrates where these cover types occur within the study area. The following discussion describes each cover type. Grasses, Himalayan blackberry, and Scot’s broom dominate the roadside vegetation cover type in most areas. Roadside vegetation is disturbed and may be mowed regularly. These areas generally do not provide suitable habitat for a diverse array of wildlife species. However, songbirds and small rodents often utilize these habitat areas and may attract larger raptors such as red-tailed hawks. EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 23 G r e en R i v e r C e d ar Riv er Panther Creek Wetlands Black 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 p le V alley H w yRainier Ave SS W Sun s 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 S pri n g brook CreekBenson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr SAæ Aç!"`$ Aí %&e( AÇ AÅ Legend Project Study Aea Municipality Parks Riparian Corridor Urban Forest Urban Matrix Wetland Complex M00.250.5 Miles Exhibit 11. Habitat Cover Types within Study Area The majority of the study area, approximately 2,625 acres, consists of an urban matrix cover type. Urban matrix is comprised of a mix of buildings, pavement, manicured lawns, and ornamental vegetation which provides very little habitat for wildlife. Wildlife also generally tend to avoid urban matrix areas because of the high level of human use. With of the lack of natural vegetation and the level of human disturbance, this cover type provides minimal habitat value for wildlife. Wildlife species that use these urban matrix areas are generally opportunistic (they feed on whatever food is available) and use structures for cover. What is an urban matrix cover type? Urban matrix is comprised of a mix of buildings, pavement, manicured lawns, and ornamental vegetation. This cover type provides very little habitat for wildlife. EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 24 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report Mixed into the urban matrix are isolated stands of deciduous urban forests totaling approximately 167 acres. Big-leaf maple and alder with an understory of sword fern, snowberry, English ivy, and Himalayan blackberry generally dominate the vegetative community in urban forests. These isolated stands have a relatively high degree of use by wildlife in the area. Wildlife use these stands for cover, foraging, nesting, and denning areas. Snags and downed logs, an important habitat component for forest animals, are generally lacking in stands of urban forest within the study area. This lack of habitat limits the value of the forested habitat for species dependent on these features such as woodpeckers, cavity-nesting birds, and some mammals and amphibians. These urban forest areas are not protected and may be developed in the future. However, due to protections within the sensitive areas ordinances for steep slopes, some of these stands on steeper slopes will not be removed by development. Parks along the corridor consist of a mix of maintained lawns that are used for recreation with some urban- forested areas interspersed within the parks. The park areas approximately total 160 acres. These areas are protected from future development and will continue to provide limited wildlife habitat. Approximately 19 acres of wetlands occur within the study area. As displayed in Exhibit 18 in the Wetland Discipline Report, individual wetlands can have several functions and values that are important to wildlife species such as providing shelter and habitat. About half the wetlands within the study area have functions and values that provide shelter and foraging habitat for migratory and resident birds and small animals. These wetlands have higher quality habitat compared to that provided by roadside and urban matrix habitats, and may support a higher abundance and diversity of wildlife. For an in-depth discussion on wetlands, please see the Wetlands Discipline Report. The term riparian refers to land lying alongside or interacting with flowing water. Often riparian corridors contain elements of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The riparian corridor typically supports aquatic habitats and functions within the watercourse with which they are associated. Streams and their associated riparian corridors frequently provide refuge and foraging opportunities, and may provide an essential migratory route that links otherwise isolated wildlife populations. The streams within a riparian Example of urban forested cover type Wetlands adjacent to SR 167 EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 25 corridor may contain salmonids that provide a food base for wildlife species in the area. The study area has approximately 73 acres of riparian corridor, primarily along the Cedar River and the Green River. The Green River riparian corridor is characterized by sparse black cottonwood and alder trees with invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry and reed canarygrass interspersed with common species such as willow and Indian plum. Generally, because the vegetation lacks continuity and the Interurban Trail runs through the corridor, the Green River provides a fragmented corridor for wildlife movement. The Cedar River has a continuous riparian corridor west of the project that ends at I-405 due to development within Renton. Vegetation within the Cedar River riparian corridor consists mainly of black cottonwoods and big leaf maple. However, invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry and Japanese knotweed dominate the understory. In addition, some snowberry persists and willows are common along the stream bank. Do any federally protected species or critical habitat occur in the study area? According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the wildlife species listed in Exhibit 12 could occur in King County. However, there are no known occurrences of any of these federally protected species within the study area. The study area contains habitat for bald eagles and City of Renton staff have observed them in Renton1. However, because the closest known bald eagle nesting or wintering areas are located almost two miles south of the study area, bald eagles are not considered to be present. 1 Scoping Report, I-405 Renton Nickel Improvement Project, WSDOT 2005. Cedar River riparian corridor EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 26 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report Exhibit 12. Wildlife Species Possibly Occurring in King County Under USFWS Jurisdiction Common Name Scientific Name Federal Status Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Threatened Canada lynx Lynx canadensis Threatened Gray wolf Canis lupus Threatened Grizzly bear Ursus arctos horribilis Threatened Northern spotted owl Strix occidentalis caurina Threatened Marbled murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus Threatened Marsh sandwort Arenaria paludicola Endangered Golden paintbrush Castilleja levisecta Threatened Yellow billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Candidate Pacific fisher Martes pennanti Candidate The USFWS also lists designated critical habitat. Critical habitat for the spotted owl and marbled murrelet is listed as occurring in King County. However, no designated critical habitat for these two species occurs within the study area. Do any state-listed or other state priority species or monitor species occur in the study area? According to WDFW’s database listing in Appendix A, the study area does not contain any state-listed or other state priority species. However, both osprey and blue heron occur in the study area and WDFW considers these to be state monitor species. State monitor species are not considered Species of Concern, but WDFW monitors these species for status and distribution to prevent them from becoming endangered, threatened, or sensitive. Within the study area, osprey have an active nest about a quarter of a mile south of I-405 and east of SR 181. Also, a great blue heron rookery (a breeding ground for herons) exists about three quarters of a mile north of I-405 along the Black River. Osprey catching fish EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 27 Do WDFW, DNR or other priority wildlife habitats occur in the study area? According to correspondence from DNR in Appendix A, no priority wildlife habitats or plant species occur in the area. Wetlands are present in the study area and are protected by federal, state, and local jurisdictions. Any encroachments on wetlands by the project will require mitigation to compensate. Please refer to the Wetlands Discipline Report for more information. Renton Nickel Improvement Project 28 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report POTENTIAL EFFECTS What methods were used to evaluate the project’s potential effects on wildlife and vegetation? Project biologists conducted reconnaissance-level field surveys at selected locations using aerial photography to verify the type and condition of vegetation and habitat resources within the proposed right-of-way limits. Based on the reconnaissance, specialists created a cover type map of the study area shown in Exhibit 11. Using this map, the project biologists overlaid the proposed project improvements to quantify the amount of habitat and documented sensitive wildlife species that the project will disturb or remove. Noise from roadway operation and construction can adversely affect wildlife species by disrupting communication, interfering with mating, and reducing the ability to obtain sufficient food, water, and cover. The project biologist coordinated with the noise specialist to determine whether any identified changes in noise will affect wildlife and their use of the study area. Because water quality also plays a key role for both vegetation and wildlife, the project biologist also coordinated with the team on factors that can alter water quality. These factors include additional impervious surface, construction runoff, and water quality treatment. The biologist also reviewed other studies to evaluate project effects: I-405 Corridor Program Draft Upland Vegetation, Habitat, and Wildlife Expertise Report Draft Wildlife and Vegetation Discipline Report for Renton to Bellevue Project Pertinent literature on the effects of transportation corridors on wildlife and vegetation What is reconnaissance-level field survey? This type of survey is considered qualitative. The biologists visit the site to assess overall conditions. This means that the biologists walk the study area, photograph key areas, and note observations of various plant types and signs of wildlife and their use of the area. However, the biologists do not perform a quantitative survey that physically measures specific features or perform actual inventories of plant species or wildlife. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 29 Will project construction temporarily affect habitat and associated wildlife species? Construction activities generate temporary effects. These effects generally include: Clearing and removing habitat. Noise and disturbance from construction activities. Water quality degradation. Clearing and removing habitat Because the existing roadways and commercial and residential developments have already disturbed the various habitats in the study area, clearing and removing vegetation during construction will have only minor effects on wildlife. Approximately 0.1 acre (0.1 percent) of riparian corridor, 1.6 acres (0.9 percent) of urban forest, and 66 acres (2.5 percent) of urban matrix will be removed during construction. The loss of the habitats represents less than 2.4 percent of the total amount of these available habitats. Not all of the habitat clearing will be permanent; any area that is cleared during construction, but not paved over as part of the project, will be replanted with native vegetation once construction is completed. The activity of clearing will displace wildlife at least temporarily and increase mortality of resident wildlife using those areas. Although clearing and grading also reduce foraging opportunities, and may increase the chances of mortality to birds that nest in bushes and trees within the construction areas, the lost areas represent a minor fraction of available habitat. Construction will not shade vegetated areas and therefore will have no effect on plant growth. Approximately 0.6 acre (3.2 percent) of wetlands will be disturbed temporarily as part of project construction. Wetland habitat provides higher quality habitat that supports a higher abundance and diversity of wildlife than roadside and ornamental vegetation. Wetland habitat will be created as compensatory mitigation as discussed in the Wetlands Discipline Report. What types of habitat will be affected by clearing? 66 acres of urban matrix will be removed during project construction. This cover type is comprised of a mix of buildings, pavement, manicured lawns, and ornamental vegetation and provides very little habitat for wildlife. 0.1 acre of riparian corridor will be cleared during project construction. Riparian corridors provide opportunities for movement of wildlife between suitable habitat types. 1.6 acres of urban forest will be cleared during project construction. Urban forest consists of isolated stands of deciduous urban forests. Big leaf maple and alder with an understory of sword fern, snowberry, English ivy and Himalayan blackberry generally dominate the vegetative community in these areas. 0.6 acre of wetlands will be disturbed for project construction. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 30 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report Noise and associated construction activity Noise can disturb wildlife by disrupting their communication, interfering with mating, and reducing the ability to obtain sufficient food, water and cover. For these reasons, wildlife will avoid the area while construction activities generate higher noise levels. However, many species that exist in this area will not be affected as they are used to human disturbance and noise. See the Noise Discipline Report for more information on the effects of noise on wildlife throughout the study area. Water quality As described in the Surface Water and Water Quality Discipline Report, construction-related water quality effects are primarily caused by sediment from erosion, although accidental spills of paint or other hazardous materials can also affect water quality. Turbid water caused by sediment reduces foraging opportunities for piscivorous animals (those that rely solely on fish as a food source) such as osprey. Sediments and spills from construction activities are not expected to adversely affect water quality downgradient of the project because this project will use best management practices (BMPs) to protect receiving water bodies. These BMPs will minimize turbidity by limiting the sediment leaving the construction areas and entering local channels. WSDOT will address the potential for accidental spills to affect water quality by completing a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan prior to construction. Will the project temporarily affect listed species, species of concern, and priority species? Federal species No known terrestrial federally listed species or federal species of concern are known to occur in the study area. Although bald eagles have been observed in Renton, no nesting or wintering areas have been documented in the study area. Therefore, project construction will not affect federally protected species. Federally listed species and species of concern will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in the biological assessment being prepared for this project. What are best management practices? Best management practices, referred to commonly as BMPs, are methods used to minimize or avoid effects to water quality such as sediment getting into streams, during construction. An example of a BMP is installing filter fabric fence downstream of all exposed slopes, around existing drainage inlets, and along river, stream, and drainage channels near work areas to prevent sediment-laden stormwater from entering streams. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 31 State species Per correspondence with WDFW and DNR, no state- listed or state species of concern are known to occur in the study area. Therefore, the project will not affect state-listed or state species of concern. Will the project permanently affect habitat and associated wildlife species? Habitat loss The Renton Nickel Improvement Project will permanently remove approximately 13 acres of habitat to construct the improvements. This existing habitat will be replaced with pavement or other facilities, such as stormwater detention ponds. The project will convert approximately 11 acres (0.4 percent) of urban matrix into stormwater detention facilities and impervious surfaces. Also, 0.1 acre (0.06 percent) of urban forest, 0.01 acre of riparian corridor (0.01 percent), and approximately 1.7 acres (8.9 percent) of wetlands will be converted to transportation and stormwater uses. Although removing this habitat will permanently reduce refuge, breeding, and foraging opportunities for wildlife, it represents less than 0.4 percent of the total available habitat within the study area. Please see the Wetland Discipline Report for the exact amount and locations of wetlands to be disturbed In developed areas, wildlife tend to move along riparian corridors or other vegetated corridors such as utility corridors. The existing highway already acts as a barrier to wildlife migration, so the project will not create any new obstructions. However, with a wider roadway, wildlife will need to cross a greater distance to travel between wildlife corridors, which can increase the risk of collisions with vehicles. Currently, bridges span the riparian corridors, allowing free movement of wildlife underneath the highway, in particular at the Green River. These bridges over the Green River will remain so the project will not affect current wildlife movement in the area. The new southbound and northbound bridges over Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale Avenue could affect the vegetation along Springbrook Creek area due to shading effects. This bridge could shade wildlife habitat areas as well as reduce the productivity of the vegetation along the streambank. Any wildlife species relying on this vegetation for foraging, nesting What is habitat fragmentation? Habitat fragmentation occurs when roads, houses, or other manmade structures or development separates habitat into pieces that are no longer directly connected. This loss of connections between suitable habitats increases the chances of localized extinctions of remnant wildlife populations. How does wildlife move through developed areas? Wildlife move using a variety of areas. Typically, wildlife avoid humans by moving along riparian corridors next to streams or other open vegetated corridors such as those maintained for overhead transmission lines or pipelines. Bridges also provide for wildlife movement. Wildlife can use these areas to avoid vehicles and people and reach other habitat areas. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 32 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report and refuge could be forced to find another place to meet their habitat needs. The new Benson Road overpass will likely affect the Rolling Hills Creek forest area due to shading effects. The structure will shade habitat areas and reduce the productivity of the vegetation. Many wildlife species may rely on the vegetation for foraging, nesting and refuge. Noise The existing highway has already introduced high levels of noise and human disturbance. For this reason, increased noise from additional highway capacity is unlikely to affect wildlife in the study area. As described in the Noise and Vibration Discipline Report, one noise wall is planned within the study area. The noise wall will begin at Talbot Road and extend to the intersection of South 14th Street and South 15th Street a distance of approximately 2,150 feet and will be built in urban matrix cover type within the ROW. Water quality The additional highway capacity provided by the new impervious surface area will increase the traffic-related pollutants in the stormwater runoff. Water quality treatment will be provided to treat an area equivalent to the new impervious surfaces created by this project so that no net changes in water quality are expected. Five new stormwater ponds and several ecology embankments will be built as part of this project to control and treat stormwater discharge; these stormwater facilities will also create new habitat for waterfowl as well as improve water quality. Refer to the Surface Water and Water Quality Discipline Report for more information on water quality treatment measures. Will the project permanently affect listed species, species of concern, or priority species? Federal species Effects on federally listed species and federal species of concern will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. No known terrestrial federally listed species or federal species of concern occur in the study area. Although bald eagles have been observed in Renton, no known nesting or wintering areas occur in the study area. Therefore, the POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 33 project is not expected to affect federally protected species. Please refer to the Biological Assessment prepared for this project for species determinations. State species Per correspondence with WDFW and DNR in Appendix A, no state-listed or state species of concern are known to occur in the study area. Therefore, the project will not affect state-listed or state species of concern. Does the project have indirect effects? Examples of indirect effects to upland vegetation and wildlife include growth-inducing effects and other impacts related to any induced changes in the pattern of land use in the Cities of Renton and Tukwila. No indirect effects on wildlife and vegetation within the study area are anticipated from any additional development not associated with the project. What are indirect effects? Indirect effects are defined in WSDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual as the “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.” Were cumulative effects looked at for this discipline? The team did not evaluate cumulative effects for this discipline report. A report of cumulative effects is not needed for every discipline studied for NEPA and SEPA documentation. The disciplines that were studied for cumulative effects are Air Quality, Surface Water and Water Quality, Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat, and Wetlands. Cumulative effects for these disciplines are presented in the Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report 34 MEASURES TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE PROJECT EFFECTS What has been done to avoid or minimize negative effects to wildlife and wildlife habitat? Mitigation measures listed in the Surface Water and Water Quality Disciple Report will be followed for this project. In addition, BMPs such as revegetating construction zones and roadside areas with native plants to offset habitat loss due to construction, will help protect wildlife resources. Structures are being added or modified to help protect wildlife resources in the study area. One new noise wall will be built along I-405 that may help reduce noise impacts to wildlife in this area. The Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale Avenue bridges will be replaced with a single structure. This new structure will have longer spans to provide additional wildlife passage underneath it. How will the project compensate for unavoidable negative effects on wildlife or wildlife habitat? Compensation will include replanting all temporarily disturbed areas with native species and restoring and enhancing migratory bird habitat where practicable. Compensation will also include creating, restoring, and enhancing wetlands through the Springbrook Creek Habitat and Wetland Mitigation Bank project. The new wetlands will be designed to provide higher quality habitat than what currently exists. Renton Nickel Improvement Project 35 Upland Vegetation and Wildlife Discipline Report REFERENCES Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 2005 I-405 Kirkland Nickel Project Wildlife and Vegetation Discipline Report. February 2005. 2005 Wildlife and Vegetation Discipline Report for Renton to Bellevue. June 2005. 2005 Scoping Report, I-405 Renton Nickel Improvement Project. April 2005. 2004 Environmental Procedures Manual, Section 431. September 2004. 2004 Highway Runoff Manual. March 2004. 2001 I-405 Corridor Program Draft Upland Vegetation, Habitat, and Wildlife Expertise Report. June 2001. 2001 I-405 Corridor Program, NEPA/SEPA Final Environmental Impact Statement. APPENDIX A Agency Correspondence