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(approved via email from Leslie Clark)
December 1, 2020
Page 1 of 5
To: Alex Morganroth, City of Renton
Copies: Michael Norton and Clay Antieau, Seattle Public Utilities
Derek Nelson, McMillen Jacobs Associates
From: Ryan Crotty and Tessa Gardner-Brown, Floyd|Snider
Date: July 16, 2020
Re: Shoreline Permit Exemption Request for Focused Geotechnical Investigation
1.0 Purpose
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) seeks a shoreline letter of exemption to conduct a focused
geotechnical investigation to assess subsurface conditions within the Cedar River at the site of
the existing sockeye salmon broodstock collection facility (BCF). The information gathered during
the geotechnical investigation would inform future upgrades to the BCF and construction
approach. A previous geotechnical investigation was completed in 2019 for upland portions of
the existing BCF site (refer to LUA19-000013 for the associated shoreline exemption). Both the
proposed and former geotechnical investigation are exempt from review under the State
Environmental Policy Act per WAC 197-11-800.17.
2.0 Project Location
The site subject to the requested shoreline exemption is located below the ordinary high water
mark (OHWM) of the Cedar River at the existing BCF site (river mile 1.7) in Renton, Washington,
located immediately upstream of the Interstate 405 Bridge (Project Site). Two borings would be
collected within the Cedar River (172305HYDR) and one contingency boring could be collected
below the OHWM on City of Renton-owned parcel 1723059014. Refer to the Proposed Project’s
site plan for more details (Attachment 1).
3.0 Existing Site Conditions
3.1 Land Uses
The current land use to the north of the Cedar River includes the City of Renton Cedar River Park
and Community Center. The current land use to the south of the Cedar River includes the Cedar
River Trail and a concrete boat ramp/driveway that provides public access to the Cedar River. The
geotechnical investigation would not interfere with the normal use of either the Cedar River Trail
or the City of Renton Cedar River Park or Community Center.
EXHIBIT "A"
City of Renton
July 16, 2020
Shoreline Permit Exemption Request for
Focused Geotechnical Investigation
Page 2 of 5
3.2 Natural Features and Shoreline Conditions
A Biological Assessment prepared in 2008 for the existing BCF characterized this reach of river as
entirely artificial, completely constrained between levees and revetments, and was regularly
dredged to prevent flooding from 1916 to the mid-1970s. Within this reach, urban and industrial
development have impaired water quality, eliminated natural floodplain connections and
riparian corridors, and reduced the amount of large woody debris. This reach is the depositional
area for many of the river’s sediments, resulting in higher levels of fine sediments than upstream
areas.
4.0 Project Description
SPU proposes to collect up to three in-water geotechnical borings (two planned borings, one
contingency boring) within the Cedar River. The borings would be completed using a sonic drill
rig, floated to the proposed boring locations using a portable barge made up of four 10-foot by
20-foot sections that would be assembled on-site, creating a 20-foot by 40-foot barge. When the
barge is launched, dimensional lumber (likely 2 inches by 14 inches) would be placed at the base
of the existing access ramp. The lumber would serve as wheel tracks, allowing the portable barge
to be placed in water deep enough to accommodate its draft, approximately 17 inches. The
lumber would be removed after the barge is launched (after 2 to 4 hours) and placed again and
removed when the barge is retrieved from the river.
The barge would be anchored on the north side of the river using a typical boat anchor or a
2-inch-diameter steel rod; both techniques would avoid the existing rock wall. On the south side
of the river, the barge would use either anchor rods or a strap tied to a tree.
The sonic drill rig would bore 6-inch-diameter holes to a maximum depth of 35 feet below ground
surface, or until bedrock, whichever is encountered first. Once a hole has been drilled, a screen
would be temporarily inserted to assess the porosity of the subsurface conditions. Cores
extracted from the bore holes would be taken upland for processing; drill cuttings would be
placed in drums for disposal at an appropriate upland location by the subcontractor. After data
collection is complete, the bore holes would be decommissioned consistent with Washington
State Department of Ecology-approved methods.
The geotechnical investigation is anticipated to take up to 3 days (1 day per boring) in July or
August 2020. Other approvals that would be required before the geotechnical investigations
could include a State Environmental Policy Act exemption, Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approval, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concurrence that no permit
is required given that the activities would not discharge fill below OHWM.
The anticipated cost for the geotechnical investigation is approximately $76,000.
City of Renton
July 16, 2020
Shoreline Permit Exemption Request for
Focused Geotechnical Investigation
Page 3 of 5
5.0 Exemption Type
According to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 173-27-040(2)(m) and Renton Municipal
Code (RMC) 4-9-190(C)(12), investigation work within shoreline jurisdiction, which is necessary
to support future development applications, is considered exempt from the need to obtain a
shoreline permit. The geotechnical investigation is being conducted to support the design of a
replacement BCF, for which SPU is currently preparing permit applications. For this reason, the
geotechnical investigation work would qualify for a shoreline letter of exemption by state law
and the locally adopted Shoreline Master Program (SMP).
Although the geotechnical investigation is exempt from the need to obtain a shoreline permit, all
shoreline activities, exempt or not, must be consistent with the locally adopted SMP and
Shoreline Management Act (SMA). Therefore, a brief consistency analysis between pertinent
SMP and SMA regulations and the work is provided below.
6.0 Consistency with Pertinent Shoreline Management Regulations
6.1 Shoreline Management Act
According to the SMA’s specific regulations regarding shoreline exemptions for site investigation
work that is necessary to support future development applications, codified under WAC 173-27-
040(m)(i-v) and RMC 4-9-190(C)(12), the following prerequisites must be met for investigation
work to be categorized as exempt per SMA standards:
i. The activity does not interfere with the normal public use of the surface waters;
The proposed geotechnical investigation would not result in the construction of a structure
or permanent alteration of land that would preclude the public’s normal use of the Cedar
River or the surrounding environment. The geotechnical investigation is anticipated to last up
to 3 days. This work would occur during the standard weekdays, avoiding times of peak
recreational use at and around the Project Site. The work would not occur during City of
Renton planned community events. Due to the short duration, the geotechnical investigation
would result in negligible interference to the public’s use of the Cedar River.
ii. The activity will have no significant adverse impact on the environment including but
not limited to fish, wildlife, fish or wildlife habitat, water quality, and aesthetic values;
The geotechnical investigation would not have a significant adverse impact to the shoreline
environment. Work would be conducted below the OHWM of the Cedar River; however,
project impact would be limited to no more than three 6-inch-diameter bore holes that would
be naturally restored after the investigation is complete. The following best management
practices would be implemented to minimize impacts to habitat or water quality:
x Work will be completed during the allowable in-water work window (July 1 to
August 31).
City of Renton
July 16, 2020
Shoreline Permit Exemption Request for
Focused Geotechnical Investigation
Page 4 of 5
x A casing will be used to contain the boring operation to prevent sediments or other
materials from entering the water.
x All waste material from this project will be disposed of at an approved upland location.
x Drilling equipment will be checked daily for leaks and be well-maintained to prevent
grease, lubricants, or other deleterious materials from entering state waters.
x Drilling equipment will be supported by a barge on the river to minimize contact with
surface waters.
x Bore holes will be decommissioned consistent with Washington State Department of
Ecology-approved methods.
x A Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan will be developed and
implemented that prevents any potential contaminants associated with construction
from entering water bodies in the project vicinity.
There is no potential for long-term aesthetic impacts because the bore holes would be
decommissioned and natural river bedload movement would restore the riverbed to its
original condition once investigation work is complete.
iii. The activity does not involve the installation of any structure, and upon completion
of the activity the vegetation and land configuration of the site are restored to
conditions existing before the activity;
As stated previously, the geotechnical investigation would not result in the permanent
installation of a structure. Furthermore, the disturbed riverbed would be naturally restored
to its original condition once the investigation activities are complete.
iv. A private entity seeking development authorization under this section first posts a
performance bond or provides other evidence of financial responsibility to the local
jurisdiction to ensure that the site is restored to preexisting conditions; and
The applicant is a public agency. The disturbed riverbed would be restored naturally by river
deposition once investigation work is complete.
v. The activity is not subject to the permit requirements of RCW 90.58.550;
The permit requirements outlined in RCW 90.58.550 pertain to oil or natural gas exploration
in marine waters. The Proposed Project is not subject to these requirements.
6.2 City of Renton Shoreline Master Program
A consistency analysis between pertinent City of Renton SMP development standards that apply
to all activities within the shoreline (RMC 4-3-090(D)), and the geotechnical investigation is
provided below.
City of Renton
July 16, 2020
Shoreline Permit Exemption Request for
Focused Geotechnical Investigation
Page 5 of 5
Environmental Effects
The following measures would be taken to ensure that the Proposed Project would result in no
net loss of ecological function:
1. The extent of disturbance would be kept to the minimum practicable to conduct the
geotechnical investigations. The geotechnical investigation would not require more
than three total bore holes. Disturbance would be limited to a hole diameter of
approximately 6 inches. No other earthwork is proposed.
2. The geotechnical investigation would not alter/remove trees or vegetation along the
shoreline or within the river.
3. Bore holes would be decommissioned in accordance with methods approved by the
Washington State Department of Ecology.
4. Disturbance would be limited to a maximum of 3 days.
In addition to the no-net-loss requirement for any development or activity within shoreline
jurisdiction, RMC 4-3-090(D)(2)(c) includes a provision that requires compliance with the City of
Renton’s critical areas regulations even if the subject activity is exempt from a shoreline
development permit. Because the geotechnical investigation would occur within the Cedar River,
compliance with the RMC’s critical areas regulations is required.
According to the exempt activities table in the City of Renton’s critical areas regulations
(RMC 4-3-050(C)), site investigative work necessary for land use application submittals such as
surveys, soil logs, percolation tests, and other related activities is considered an activity exempt
from the critical areas regulations, provided that the investigative work does not disturb more
than 5 percent of the critical area and associated buffer. This regulation also requires impacts to
be minimized and disturbed areas to be immediately restored at a one-to-one ratio. The
geotechnical investigation would disturb significantly less than 5 percent of the Cedar River
within the Project Site, and all disturbed areas would be naturally restored to their original
condition once the data have been retrieved from the bore holes.
7.0 Conclusion
As demonstrated in this narrative and the supporting materials that compose the application
package, the proposed geotechnical investigation activities are compliant with applicable
provisions from the SMA and City of Renton SMP. Therefore, SPU respectfully requests issuance
of a shoreline letter of exemption.
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 Site Plan and Neighborhood Map
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Parcel ID:
1723059014
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I:\GIS\Projects\MJA-SPU-BCF\MXD\Cedar River Sockeye Hatchery Broodstock Collection Facility Geotechnical Exploration Phase 2\Site Plan and Neighborhood Map.mxd
7/16/2020
Site Plan and
Neighborhood Map
Seattle Public Utilities
Broodstock Collection Facility
Geotechnical Investigation
Renton, WA
Legend
!(In-water Geotech Boring
!(
Contingency In-water
Geotech Boring
OHWM
5-ft Elevation Contour
Parcel of Interest
Shoreline Jurisdiction
Abbreviations:
bgs = Below ground surface
ft = Feet
OHWM = Ordinary high water mark
Project
Area
Seattle
Renton
012024060
Scale in Feet ¹
Notes:
· Geotech borings will be up to 35 ft bgs.
· Parcel boundary and 5-ft elevation contours
obtained from King County GIS.
· Aerial imagery obtained from Nearmap, 2020.
· Inset basemap tiles by Stamen Design, under
CC BY 3.0. Data by OpenStreetMap, under ODbL.