Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_WTLD-2016-05-20-Altmann_Oliver May 20, 2016 AOA-4982 John Everett Denova Northwest, LLC 6830 S. 220th Street Kent, WA 98032 SUBJECT: Wetland and Stream Reconnaissance on 2611 Union Ave. NE Parcel 042305-9142, Renton, WA Dear John: On March 1, 2016 I conducted a wetland and stream reconnaissance on the subject property utilizing the methodology outlined in the May 2010 Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2.0). The southeast corner of the site is developed with a single-family residence. The remainder of the property is undeveloped except for a large utility line corridor that traverses the far western portion of the site from south to north. The area west of the utility corridor was not reviewed as part of the reconnaissance since there was no proposed work in the vicinity of that area. Existing Conditions The project site outside of the existing residence consists of an upland forest that slopes down from south to north. Vegetation consisted primarily of a canopy of big- leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), with an understory dominated by snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis), hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), and sword fern (Polystichum munitum). No hydrophytic plant communities were observed. Borings taken throughout the site revealed high chroma, dry, non-hydric soils. In addition, there was no evidence of ponding or prolonged soil saturation on the property during a field investigation conducted during a winter of above-average precipitation. John Everett May 20, 2016 Page 2 Eastern Drainage During the site review, runoff was observed discharging from the stormwater conveyance system adjacent the Sierra Heights Elementary School off-site to the south. This runoff is conveyed within a roadside ditch along the west side of Union Ave. NE prior to conveyance through a well-defined channel in the northeast portion of the subject property. Runoff within the on-site channel was observed infiltrating on the slope during the field investigation and the channel did not extend to the north property line. This drainage on the site is not mapped as a stream on the City of Renton critical area maps or on any WA State mapping system (i.e., SalmonScape or FPARS). Since the drainage does not originate from a wetland and appears to convey only artificially collected stormwater runoff it should not be regulated as a stream by the City of Renton. If you have any questions regarding the reconnaissance, please give me a call. Sincerely, ALTMANN OLIVER ASSOCIATES, LLC John Altmann Ecologist