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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_Wetland_Stream_Reconnaissance_251120_v1 9505 19th Avenue SE, Suite 106, Everett, WA 98208 425.337.3174 www.wetlandresources.com April 15, 2025 JKM Holdings, LLC Attn: Geoffrey Sherwin PO Box 188 Puyallup, WA 98371 RE: Wetland and Stream Reconnaissance – 3601 Lincoln Avenue NE, Renton, WA Wetland Resources, Inc. (WRI) performed a site investigation on April 7, 2025, at the 1.10-acre property located at the address referenced above. The King County tax identification number for the subject parcel is 3345700230. The site is located within the May Creek sub-basin of the Cedar River/Lake Washington watershed, Water Resource Inventory Area 8. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) locator for this parcel is Section 32, Township 24, Range 5E, W.M. The parcel is developed with a single-family residence, a shop/garage, and driveway. Vegetation near the house is maintained landscaping and lawn and a row of trees is present along the western edge of the parcel. The site is relatively flat, with a west-facing slope beginning near the western property line. Surrounding land use is generally single-family residential. May Creek, May Creek Park, and associated undeveloped open space is located to the west/southwest of the parcel. The purpose of this report is to present information related to wetlands and streams on and in the vicinity of the subject parcel. Landslide, erosion, and other geological hazard areas are beyond the scope of this report. REVIEW OF EXISTING INFORMATION Prior to conducting the site investigation, public resource information was reviewed to gather background information on the subject property and the surrounding area regarding wetlands, streams, and other critical areas. These sources include the following: • United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetlands Inventory (NWI): This resource maps a riverine feature (May Creek) to the west, on the west side of Jones Avenue NE. • USDA/NRCS Web Soil Survey: The Web Soil Survey indicates that the property is underlain by Alderwood gravelly sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes. • WDFW Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) Interactive Map: The PHS Interactive Map maps May Creek off site to the west. This stream is listed as habitat for Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout. Wetland Resources, Inc. Lincoln Avenue Reconnaissance Report April 15, 2025 WRI #25103 2 • King County iMap: King County depicts May Creek to the west of the site, on the west side of Jones Avenue NE. • City of Renton interactive GIS map: This resource maps May Creek and an associated wetland over 300 feet off site to the west. Another wetland is mapped approximately 100 feet to the south of the property. Landslide and erosion hazard areas are shown in the western portion of the site. Geologically hazardous areas are outside of the scope for this report. METHODOLOGY The Washington State Department of Ecology document Determining the Ordinary High Water Mark for Shoreline Management Act Compliance in Washington State (Anderson et al. 2016) was used to determine the presence of any streams on the subject site. Wetland areas were determined using the routine determination approach described in the Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2.0) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2010). Under the routine methodology, the process for making a wetland determination is based on three steps: 1) Examination of the site for hydrophytic vegetation (species present and percent cover); 2) Examination of the site for hydric soils; 3) Determining the presence of wetland hydrology The wetland identified was rated pursuant to the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington: 2014 Update as required by Renton Municipal Code (RMC) 4-3-050G.9.c. Please note the wetland ratings presented in this report are based on preliminary information and are subject to change if the wetlands are formally delineated. FINDINGS On-site vegetation near the residence includes Japanese maples, wisteria, rhododendrons, and other installed landscaping plants. Native vegetation observed near the western boundary of the site includes big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum; FACU), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla; FACU), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus; FACU), and sword fern (Polystichum munitum; FACU). Sampled soils were dry and generally very dark brown (10YR 2/2) in the upper layer and dark brown (10YR 3/3) in the second layer. Soil texture was typically loam or sandy loam across the site. Given the lack of hydrophytic vegetation, wetland hydrology, or hydric soil indicators, there are no wetland areas present on the property. No flowing water, channels, scours, or sorted material were observed on the site; therefore, there are no streams on the site. Off-site Wetlands and Streams May Creek and an adjacent wetland are approximately 320 feet to the west/southwest of the site. Since May Creek and the adjacent wetland are over 300 feet from the subject property, these features do not cast a buffer onto the parcel. Shoreline jurisdiction would extend 200 feet from the edge of these features and per the City of Renton’s GIS map information, the shoreline environment associated with May Creek terminates west of the site. Wetland Resources, Inc. Lincoln Avenue Reconnaissance Report April 15, 2025 WRI #25103 3 A second wetland mapped by the City of Renton is present a little over 100 feet to the south the of property. This wetland (Wetland A) was evaluated and is discussed below. Wetland A (Off-site) HGM Category: Slope Wetland Rating Category: III City of Renton Buffer: 100 feet Wetland A is a located approximately 100 feet south of the subject property along a sloped area east of Jones Avenue NE. As this wetland is off-site, information about this wetland was gathered from aerial imagery, publicly available resources like the City of Renton interactive map, and observations from adjacent rights-of-way. Vegetation in Wetland A includes black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera; FAC), red alder (Alnus rubra; FAC), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus; FAC), horsetail (Equisetum sp.), and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea; FACW). Saturation and standing water were observed at the toe of the slope, along the west side of Jones Avenue NE. As the wetland is located off of the property, soils within the wetland area were not sampled. Wetland A is a Category III wetland with a moderate habitat score. Per RMC 4-3-050G.2, this wetland requires a 100-foot buffer and a 15-foot building setback from the wetland buffer. USE OF THIS REPORT This Wetland and Stream Reconnaissance Report has been prepared for JKM Holdings, LLC to assist with identifying on-site and nearby critical areas as required by the City of Renton. This report is based largely on readily observable conditions and, to a lesser extent, on readily ascertainable conditions. No attempt has been made to determine hidden or concealed conditions. The laws applicable to critical areas are subject to varying interpretations and may be changed at any time by the courts or legislative bodies. This report is intended to provide information deemed relevant in the applicant's attempt to comply with the laws now in effect. This report conforms to the standard of care employed by ecologists. No other representation or warranty is made concerning the work or this report and any implied representation or warranty is disclaimed. Wetland Resources, Inc. Meryl Kamowski, PWS Senior Ecologist Enclosure: Reconnaissance Map