Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_Biologist assessment Memo 1 Technical Memorandum To: City of Renton Planning Division From: Ian Welch (HDR), Tobin Story, PWS (HDR) Date: December 8, 2020 Subject: Hoquiam Avenue NE Luminaires Project Wetland and Wetland Buffer Assessment Biologists Statement 1.0 Introduction This memo serves to summarize the methods and results of a critical areas reconnaissance conducted in the Hoquiam Avenue NE Luminaires Project corridor. Four new utility poles would be installed along the project corridor within the right-of-way. In addition, new luminaires and arms would be installed at existing and new pole locations. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has requested that biologists certified to conduct wetland surveys, conduct a reconnaissance in the project corridor to document the presence of critical area, in particular the extent of wetlands and wetland buffer conditions in relation to the project work. This memo documents the results of the recon-level field visit. 2.0 Methods Existing documents reviewed for this critical areas reconnaissance included the following:  City of Renton GIS data online: Critical Areas map (2020)  U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) National Wetland Inventory maps (2020)  Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) on the web (2020) These documents provide background information on the hydrology, land use, and documented wetlands and streams in the project area. Based on a review of existing information, two wetlands are mapped by the City of Renton (2020) in the vicinity of the project. A small stream, Honey Creek, is mapped as crossing under Hoquiam Ave NE near the north end of the project corridor (Figure 1). 2.1 Field Investigation Following this review, HDR biologists completed a field reconnaissance of the project corridor. The entire corridor was walked in the field within the road right-of-way. As part of the survey, a wetland scientist was present to confirm the extent of wetlands and wetland buffer vegetation in the project corridor. Existing vegetation and ground conditions throughout the project corridor were observed. Wetland boundaries in the immediate vicinity of the project were estimated based on ground saturation, vegetation, and topography, and wetland buffer conditions were observed and documented. 3.0 Results The field reconnaissance survey was conducted on November 24, 2020. Site photographs from the survey are attached in this memo. The project would add four additional poles within the project corridor and add lighting to the remaining existing poles (Figure 1). Honey Creek, which crosses through a culvert under Hoquiam Ave NE near the north end of the project, is not within the area affected by any of the new pole installations and would not be impacted by any project activities. Per Renton code (RMC 4-3-050G.2) a 115-foot stream buffer applies to Honey Creek. The project corridor is within the road prism through which the creek is conveyed within a culvert. The stream buffer extends perpendicular from the end of the culvert and therefore is outside the edge of the area where project activities would occur (RMC 4-3-050G.7.c.ii). There are two wetlands mapped and observed adjacent to the project corridor, one on each side of Hoquiam Ave NE (Figure 1). The wetland on the east side of the road (Wetland 1) is located adjacent to the project corridor. The wetland is a depressional PSS/PFO (palustrine scrub/shrub and palustrine forested) wetland. Dominant species include Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra), black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera), hardhack (Spiraea douglasii), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). The wetland is associated with Honey Creek. The dominant hydrologic regime is seasonally flooded. Based on the field visit this wetland was rated as a Category II wetland with a moderate habitat score (6 points). Per City of Renton code (RMC 4-3-050G.2), this results in a buffer width of 100 feet for low impact land uses. Utility corridors without a maintenance road constitute a low impact land use (RMC 4-3-050G.2 Footnote 7). The required buffer for Wetland 1 would extend to the edge of the existing road. Per the Renton code (RMC 4-3-050G.2 Footnote 6), areas that are functionally and effectively disconnected from the wetland by a permanent road or other substantially developed surface of sufficient width and with use characteristics such that buffer functions are not provided shall not be counted toward the minimum buffer. Replacement of the luminaires on existing poles, and installation of the new poles would occur in the wetland buffer (Figure 1); however, the buffer where the existing and proposed new poles are located currently consists of road prism, and is vegetated by grasses and herbaceous species common to disturbed areas. Replacement of the lights and installation of the new poles would not require clearing of any trees. Holes for the new poles would be dug within the road right-of-way and would not result in impacts to the wetland. Any minor impacts from pole installation would be temporary, confined to the road prism, and would be restored to existing conditions immediately following construction. No trees would be removed as part of this project, so there would be no impacts to the existing forested condition of the adjacent wetland buffer. On the west side of the road, the mapped wetland (Wetland 2) is located approximately 100 feet west of the road at the closest point. This wetland was not observed from the project area, and its extent not verified. However, all project activities would occur on the east side of the road and would have no impacts to the buffer of Wetland 2. 4.0 Summary The nature of the project impacts would not adversely affect the functions of Wetland 1 or its buffer. Excavation of holes and installation of new poles would be localized, temporary, and occur completely within the road right-of-way. The road prism where the new poles would be installed does not provide any ecological function for the wetland buffer, and therefore the project would not result in any impacts to the wetland itself or the wetland buffer function. There will be no net loss of ecological functions and processes as a result of construction or operation of this project. 5.0 References U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2020. National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Mapper. Available online at https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/mapper.html. Accessed January 2020. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). 2020. Priority Habitats and Species Mapper. Available online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/phs/. Accessed January 2020. Path: \\bel-srv03\gisdata\Projects\Washington\Puget_Sound_Energy_007022\HoquiamAveCAE_10261754\Map_Docs\WetlandReport\WetlandFieldRecon.mxd--kj kj kj kj kj kj kj kjkj kjkj !( !( !( !( &- &- !( &- &- !(!We t l a n d 2 !We t l a n d 1 H o n e y C r e e k SR900 Hoquiam Ave NEHoquia m PlN E NE 13th Pl PrivateRdIlwacoAveNE NE 12th St Oliver Hayden HS AcRd !(Existing Pole &-Proposed Pole kj Verifie d Wetlan dBoundary --Culvert Renton Strea ms Renton We tlands WetlandBuffer FIGURE 1 Date: 12/7/2020 WETLANDS FIELD R EC O NN A ISSA N C E HOQUIAM AVENU E NELUMINAIRES PROJ ECT SO URCES: W etlands, streams, and roads - City of Bainbridge Island (2019), Aerial - City of Renton (2020) Online. I 0 75 150Feet1 inch = 150 feetLakeWashingtonLakeSammamish§¨405§¨ 5 ST169 §¨90 ST520 ST167 ST99 ST509 Sea ttle Bellevue Newcast le Renton Tukwila SeaTac Kent Des Moines I MAPEXTENT Attachment A Site Photos Photo 1: South end of the project corridor looking north along project alignment on east side of road. There are not critical areas at the south end of the project. Photo 2: North end of project corridor within Wetland 1 buffer. Poles are located in the road prism that does not provide ecological function for the buffer. Tobin is standing on the culvert inlet for the creek.