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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_Wetland_Assessment_100710_v1 RAEDEKE ASSOCIATES, INC. 5711 NE 63rd Street Seattle, Washington 98115 (206) 525-8122 Fax: (206) 526-2880 TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM July 30, 2010 To: Mr. Mark Segale, Segale Properties, Inc. From: Christopher W. Wright, Raedeke Associates, Inc. RE: Upper Balch Pit - Wetland Reconnaissance (R.A.I. No. 2000-011-002) The purpose of this document is to summarize the results of our wetland reconnaissance of the Upper Balch Pit property on July 28, 2010. PROJECT LOCATION The Upper Balch Pit is a 14-acre property located south of NE 4th Street and west of Monroe Avenue NE in Renton, Washington. This places the property within a portion of Section 16 Township 23 North Range 5 East, W.M. DEFINITIONS AND METHODS We based our wetland investigation upon the guidelines of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987), as revised in the Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual published by the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE 1997). The WDOE wetlands manual is required by state law for all local jurisdictions, is consistent with the 1987 COE wetland delineation manual with respect to wetland identification and delineation, and incorporates subsequent amendments and clarifications provided by the COE. The COE, which requires use of the 1987 delineation manual, as amended, has federal regulatory jurisdiction of the dredging or filling of "Waters of the United States," including wetlands. As outlined in this methodology, the interaction of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soil, and wetland hydrology must be present for an area to be classified as wetland. To be consistent with current regulations, field investigations were conducted in a manner consistent with the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys and Coast Region (COE 2010). Mr. Mark Segale July 30, 2010 Page 2 FIELD INVESTIGATION I visited the site on July 28, 2010 for the purpose of determining if wetlands were present on the site. RESULTS General Site Description The Upper Balch Pit is a reclaimed gravel mine. The lowest portions of the site are used to dispose of fill material from other sites. The lowest portions of the site are unvegetated. The side slopes of the Upper Balch Pit are vegetated with a mix of deciduous trees and shrubs common to the region. Central and southern portions of the Upper Balch Pit contain a vegetation community consisting of grasses, herbs, and shrubs. A storm drainage pipe conveys water from Monroe Avenue NE to the lowest portion of the Upper Balch Pit along the eastern slope of the site. Observed Conditions The lower portions of the Upper Balch Pit are undergoing active reclamation. Fill material has been imported to the site and spread over the ground surface. As a result this portion of the site is currently unvegetated. The fill consists of material of differing permeability and did not exhibit any hydric soil characteristics. Surface water runoff from the pipe along the eastern slope collects as surface water in portions of the site on less permeable material placed as part of the reclamation project. The surface water infiltrates into the more permeable areas and does not constitute wetland hydrology conditions. The eastern and southern slopes of the Upper Balch Pit contain a vegetation community consisting of black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera), big-leaf maple (Acer macrophylla), and red alder (Alnus rubra). The shrub understory is predominantly Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniancus). Herbaceous plants observed on the slopes include foxglove (Digitalis sp.), common horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and stinging nettle (Urtica dioicia). Soils on the slopes are gravely sandy loams that did not exhibit any redoximorphic features or other indicators of wetland conditions. No water was observed on the side slopes. The central portions of the Upper Balch Pit, not undergoing active reclamation, as well as the northern and western side slopes, support a vegetation community comprised of Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Himalayan blackberry, common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense), velvet grass (Holcus lanatus), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Soils observed in the central portions of the site appear to be previously placed fill material with no hydric soil indicators. No hydrology was observed in the central portions of the site. Mr. Mark Segale July 30, 2010 Page 3 SUMMARY In summary, based on our observations and analysis, the Upper Balch Pit property contains no areas that exhibit wetland characteristics. The areas with some surface water are the result of storm drainage discharge to the site from the adjoining roadways. LIMITATIONS We have prepared this letter for the exclusive use of the Segale Properties, Inc. and their consultants. No other person or agency may rely upon the information, analysis, or conclusions contained herein without permission from Segale Properties, Inc. The determination of ecological system classifications, functions, values, and boundaries is an inexact science, and different individuals and agencies may reach different conclusions. With regard to wetlands, the final determination of their boundaries for regulatory purposes is the responsibility of the various resource agencies that regulate development activities in or near wetlands. We cannot guarantee the outcome of such agency determinations. Therefore, the conclusions of this report should be reviewed by the appropriate regulatory agencies prior to any detailed site planning or construction activities. We warrant that the work performed conforms to standards generally accepted in our field, and prepared substantially in accordance with then-current technical guidelines and criteria. The conclusions of this report represent the results of our analysis of the information provided by the project proponents and their consultants, together with information gathered in the course of this study. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this information. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to call me at (206) 525-8122.