HomeMy WebLinkAboutStream Study_PSE Gas Main Ext_149th Ave SEGas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 1
Technical Memorandum
To: Julie Nelson (PSE)
From: Dangelei Fox, WPIT (HDR), Maki Dalzell, PWS (HDR)
Date: December 21, 2016
Subject: Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo
1.0 Introduction
As part of the Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Project (Project), Puget Sound Energy
(PSE) plans to extend an existing 4-inch natural gas main along 149th Avenue SE and install a
service line to an existing Verizon Wireless Communication facility in Renton, Washington
(Figure 1). The purpose of this project is to provide the natural gas service to the Verizon facility.
The proposed gas main will be installed via horizontal directional drill (HDD). This memorandum
has been prepared to meet requirements for the stream study per Renton Municipal Code
(RMC) 4-8-120D19 but does not address King County code requirements. It documents the
existing conditions of Madsen Creek in the project vicinity and evaluates potential impacts to the
stream and its buffer resulting from the proposed project. No formal wetland delineations were
conducted as part of the study.
2.0 Project Description
2.1 Project Location
The project alignment begins at the northwest corner of the intersection of Maple Valley
Highway and 149th Avenue SE in Renton, Washington (Township 23 North, Range 5 East,
Section 23). The project crosses the Cedar River Trail to the north and travels east for
approximately 110 feet to the edge of 149th Avenue SE (Figure 1). The project alignment then
crosses a culverted segment of Madsen Creek and continues north along the west side of 149th
Avenue SE extending into the unincorporated areas of King County (Figure 1). The land use in
the project area is residential low density on east of 149th Avenue SE, and the Ron Regis Park
is located west of 149th Avenue SE (City of Renton 2015).
2.2 Project Elements
The proposed project consists of installation of a 4-inch natural gas main line at the northwest
corner of the intersection of Maple Valley Highway and 149th Avenue NE and a 1-1/4-inch
medium density polyethylene gas service line from the mainline to an existing Verizon Wireless
Communication Facility at 15214 149th Avenue SE. Installation of the main line will be
accomplished via HDD and pass under a culverted segment of Madsen Creek.
Four bore pits will be excavated to install the gas main. Bore Pit 1 will be located on north side
of the Cedar River Trail (Figure 2). The pit, approximately 3 feet wide and 5 feet long, will be
partially in the asphalt trail and gravel shoulder. Bore Pit 2 will be approximately 5 feet wide and
5 feet long and will be entirely located in the gravel shoulder on the north side of the Cedar
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek 2
River Trail. Bore pits 3 and 4 will be located on either side of the culvert crossing of Madsen
Creek, adjacent to 149th Avenue SE. Bore Pit 3 will be approximately 5 feet wide and 5 feet
long and is located in the mulched area on the south side of Madsen Creek. Bore Pit 4 will be
on the grass lawn area on the north side of Madsen Creek, and its proposed dimension is
approximately 5 feet wide and 10 feet long. See Figure 2 and photos 1-4 for the location of bore
pits.
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dsenCreek149THAVESEProject Location 154THPLSERon RegisPark Verizon WirelessCommunication Facility
CEDARRIVERTRAILSERENTON-MAPLEVALLEYRD
CedarRiver
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PATH: G:\PROJECTS\WASHINGTON\PUGET_SOUND_ENERGY_007022\MADSEN_CREEK_ASSESSMENT_10049274\7.2_WP\MAP_DOCS\VICINITY.MXD - USER: MDALZELL - DATE: 12/16/2016
FIGURE 1. PROJECT VICINITY
0 500FeetO
DATA SOURCE: Stream - City of Renton (2016),Street and Municipal Boundary - King County(2016), and Aerial - ESRI Online (2016)
LEGEND
Project LocationStreamStreetMunicipal Boundary
GAS MAIN EXTENSION AT MADSEN CREEK
ProjectLocation
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek 4
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MadsenCreek(TypeF)
SERENTONMAPLEVALLEYRD 149thAVESECEDARRIVERTRAIL
!36-inch Sewer LineDitch1Verizon WirelessCommunication Facility
!Red alder, black cottonwood, and willows
!
Big-leaf maple andRed alder
Ornamental Maple andCedar Tree
!Red alder !Paper birch and Japaneseknotweed !
Proposed GasService Line
!Proposed GasMainline
Bore Pit1
Bore Pit2
Bore Pit3
Bore Pit4
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King CountyRentonKing CountyRentonPATH: G:\PROJECTS\WASHINGTON\PUGET_SOUND_ENERGY_007022\MADSEN_CREEK_ASSESSMENT_10049274\7.2_WP\MAP_DOCS\SITE_PLAN.MXD - USER: MDALZELL - DATE: 12/16/2016
FIGURE 2. SITE MAP
GAS MAIN EXTENSION AT MADSEN CREEK
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DATA SOURCE: Floodplain - City of Renton (2016), 2-footContour, Parcel, Municipal Boundary, and Sewer Line - KingCounty (2016), Aerial - ArcGIS Online (2016)
LEGENDProposed Gas Main LIne
Proposed Gas Service Line
Proposed Bore Pit Location
Study AreaOHWM(Delineated November 28, 2016) ,,Culvert
,FlowStream Buffer in Renton2-foot ContourKing County Sewer Line100-year Floodplain
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5555Riparian Canopy Cover
ParcelMunicipal Boundary
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Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 7
3.0 Stream Assessment Methods
The project study area is defined as 100 feet upstream and downstream from the proposed
stream crossing location and 100 feet around the bore pit locations in Renton. Streams outside
of the study area were not formally delineated, but assessed based on characteristics visible
from public rights of way or available information in existing documents and studies, maps
and/or aerial photographs.
3.1 Document Review
Existing documents reviewed for this stream assessment include the following:
● City of Renton Surface Water Classifications and Wetlands Map (2016)
● City of Renton Planning Land Use Map (2015)
● WDNR Forest Practices Application Review System (FPARS) (2016)
● WDFW Priority Habitat Species web application (2016a)
● WDFW SalmonScape web application (2016b)
● USDA NRCS web soil survey (2016)
● Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Limiting Factors Report for the Cedar‐Sammamish Basin
(Kerwin 2001)
● Elliott Bridge No.3166 Replacement Environmental Impact Statement (King County
2003)
These documents provide reference information on the soils, streams, land use, and aquatic
and terrestrial habitat in the study area.
3.2 Field Investigation
Field investigations for the project were conducted by HDR biologists on November 28, 2016.
Streams
To determine the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of freshwater streams in the project area,
HDR biologists utilized Ecology’s (Olsen and Stockdale 2010) guidance for OHWM
identification, which is based on the Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58.030(2)(b) and
Washington Administrative Code (WAC 173-22-030(11)). Ecology defines the “ordinary high
water mark” as:
“on all lakes, streams, and tidal water is that mark that will be found by examining the bed
and banks and ascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so common and
usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character
distinct from that of the abutting upland, in respect to vegetation as that condition exists on
June 1, 1971, as it may naturally change thereafter, or as it may change thereafter in
accordance with permits issued by a local government or the department: PROVDIDED, that
in any area where the ordinary high water mark cannot be found, the ordinary high water
mark adjoining saltwater shall be the line of mean higher high tide and the ordinary high
water mark adjoining fresh water shall be the line of mean high water.”
HDR biologists looked for physical indicators including, but not limited to, a natural scour line
impressed on the bank, distribution of upland and water tolerant vegetation, and bed and banks.
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 8
The locations of OHWM for identified streams within the study area were surveyed using the
Trimble GEO-7X GPS device. The resulting data were incorporated into Figure 2.
The City of Renton classifies streams based on the state of Washington’s Water Typing System
established in WAC 222-160-030. Streams are regulated by the City of Renton per the critical
areas regulations (RMC 4-3-050).
Table 1. Summary of the Water Typing System for the City of Renton
Stream Type Definitiona
Type F
Waters that are known to be used by fish or meet the physical criteria to be
potentially used by fish and that have perennial (year-round) or seasonal
flows.
Type Np
Waters that do not contain fish or fish habitat and that have perennial (year-
round) flows. Perennial stream waters do not go dry any time of a year of
normal rainfall. However, for the purpose of water typing, Type Np waters
include the intermittent dry portions of the perennial channel below the
uppermost point of perennial flow.
Type Ns
Waters that do not contain fish or fish habitat and have intermittent flows.
These are seasonal, non-fish habitat streams in which surface flow is not
present for at least some portion of a year of normal rainfall and are not
located downstream from any stream reach that is a Type Np Water. Ns
Waters must be physically connected by an above-ground channel system to
Type S, F, or Np Waters.
a. RCM 4-3-050.G.7.a.
Fish presence was determined through the review of previous studies, an assessment of the
available habitat, the hydrologic condition of all identified surface waters, WDFW SalmonScape
online maps (2016b), and WDFW Priority Habitat and Species List (2016a) in the study area.
Stream buffers
Buffer widths were assigned to streams based on the stream type (RCM 4-3-050.G.2). The
stream types described in this report are based on the stream reaches within the study area;
upstream reaches may be rated lower or higher.
Table 2. Standard Buffer Widths for the City of Renton
Stream Type Stream Buffer Widtha
Type F 115 feet
Type Np 75 feet
Type Ns 50 feet
a. RCM 4-3-050.G.2.
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 9
The City of Renton measures stream buffers according to the following guidance (RMC 4-3-
050.F.7.c.ii):
Buffer: The boundary of a buffer shall extend beyond the boundaries of the stream or lake
to the width applicable to the stream/lake class as noted in subsection G2 of this Section,
Critical Area Buffers and Structure Setbacks from Buffers. Where streams enter or exit
pipes, the buffer in this subsection shall be measured perpendicular to the OHWM from the
end of the pipe along the open channel section of the stream.
4.0 Findings
4.1 Streams
The study area is located in the Madsen Creek subbasin within Washington Water Resource
Inventory Areas (WRIA) #8 (Cedar/ Sammamish). HDR biologists delineated the OHWM of
Madsen Creek within the study area. Table 3 (below) summarizes the stream, type and buffer
width.
Table 3. Summary of Streams in the Project Study Area
Stream Name Tributary To Stream Type in Study Area Stream Buffer Width
Madsen Creek Cedar River Type F 115 feet
4.1.2 Madsen Creek
Madsen Creek is located in the City of Renton and in unincorporated King County. The
headwaters of Madsen Creek originate in a residential neighborhood on the south side of the
Cedar River Valley, just north of Lake Youngs, approximately 2 miles southeast of the project
area. Several small tributaries converge with the main stem channel before descending north
down the valley slope toward the Cedar River. South of Maple Valley Road, Madsen Creek
flows westerly along the highway for approximately 650 feet and crosses the highway through a
box culvert (King County 2003).
North of Maple Valley Road, Madsen Creek flows west for approximately 110 feet west along
the Cedar River Trail before crossing 149th Avenue SE in a concrete box culvert. The culvert
was submerged and was not visible during the site visit. On the upstream portion of the culvert
crossing, the bankfull width was measured at approximately 9 feet with a water depth of
18 inches. The left bank height was measured at 10 inches above surface water, and the right
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 10
bank height was measured at one inch. The stream substrate predominantly consisted of fine
silts. The area is mapped as Newberg silt loam, which tend to be well drained soils (USDA
NRCS 2016). Vegetation on the stream bank is dominated by Himalayan blackberry (Rubus
armeniacus), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), giant
horsetail (Equisetum giganteum), scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale) and nootka rose (Rosa
nutkana). Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) was observed more dominant near 149th
Avenue SE but thinned out upstream where thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) became more
dominant. Trees observed include red alder (Alnus rubra), black cottonwood (Populus
balsamifera), Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis) and Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra). See photos 5, 9,
and 10 for vegetation.
At the culvert crossing, a man-made drainage ditch (Ditch 1) was identified along the east side
of 149th Avenue NE. HDR biologists observed that the majority of the stream flow being
diverted to this ditch at the time of field investigation. Ditch 1 is approximately 4 feet wide with
constructed banks 2 feet in height (Photo 8). The water level was observed at approximately
5 inches. The channel substrate consisted of fine silts, sands and small 0.5-inch cobbles. The
ditch was mostly unvegetated with some sparse grasses, blackberry and soft rush (Juncus
effusus). Ditch 1 runs north along 149th Avenue NE for 850 feet and discharges into the Cedar
River at River Mile (RM) 5 (Kerwin 2001).
Downstream of the culvert crossing on the west side of 149th Avenue SE, not much flow was
observed in the stream channel. The bankfull width of the channel was observed at
approximately 11 feet with a water depth of 19 inches. The bank height was observed at
4 inches above water surface on both the left and right banks. The substrate was predominantly
fine silts. Vegetation is dominated by Himalayan blackberry and alder trees. Some reed
canarygrass and one big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) tree was observed along the stream.
Approximately 130 feet from the culvert crossing, a patch of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum
cuspidatum), a few scattered birch trees (Betula papyrifera), and snowberry were also
observed. Madsen Creek flows west for approximately 370 feet from the culvert crossing and
then flows north for approximately 1,300 feet before entering the Cedar River.
4.2 Ecological Functions
Riparian areas are the zones where aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems interact (May 2000).
Riparian vegetation along Madsen Creek provides shade, bank stability control, woody debris
recruitment, organic nutrient input, sediment/nutrient filtering, and food supply for terrestrial
species and birds.
Terrestrial species that likely utilize the study area include small mammalian species such as
raccoons, opossums, squirrels, skunks, moles, voles, and rats. Deer, mink, and coyotes may
also use the study area for foraging. Birds commonly found in the study area include songbirds,
hawks, owls, bald eagles, ospreys (King County 2003). Birds observed at Madsen Creek during
the field visit included spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus), song sparrows (Melospiza melodia),
black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), and American robins (Turdus migratorius).
Outside of the study area, a perched bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and a soaring
Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) were also observed along the Cedar River near the cul-de-
sac at the northern end of 149th Avenue SE, approximately 800 feet from the project area.
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 11
According to the Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) list, no terrestrial priority habitat species
were mapped in the project area (WDFW 2016a).
According to the WDFW SalmonScape and PHS (2016a and 2016b), Madsen Creek has
documented occurrences of fall Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), winter
steelhead (O. mykiss), sockeye (O. nerka) and resident coastal cutthroat (O. clarki). Breeding
habitat for coho, winter steelhead and sockeye is documented in Madsen Creek. Chinook and
steelhead are federally threatened species.
5.0 Project Impacts
5.1 Stream Impacts
No permanent or temporary impacts to Madsen Creek will occur as a result of this project. No
in-water work is associated with the proposed project and no trees or riparian vegetation will be
removed as a result of this project.
5.2 Stream Buffer Impacts
Madsen Creek is a Type F stream and therefore has a required buffer width of 115 feet (RMC4-
3-050.G.2). Per City of Renton code requirements, the stream buffer is measured perpendicular
to the OHWM from the end of the culvert along an open channel section of a stream (RMC 4-3-
050.F.7.c.ii). Bore pits 1 and 2 are located within the stream buffer of Madsen Creek, and Bore
pits 3 and 4 are located outside of the stream buffer using this definition (see Figure 2, Site
Map).
The proposed location of Bore Pit 1 is partly within a paved and a gravel area (Photo 1). The
bore pit will disturb approximately 3 by 5 feet of asphalt and gravel. Bore Pit 2 is located in a
gravel shoulder north of Bore Pit 1 adjacent to the Cedar River Trail. The bore pit will disturb
approximately 5 by 5 feet of gravel. No vegetation clearing or tree removal is required to install
Bore pits 1 and 2. As a result, this project is not expected to have any stream buffer impacts to
Madsen Creek.
6.0 Mitigation
The proposed project avoids impacts to Madsen Creek and its buffers as the project will not
require in-water work or remove any woody vegetation in the stream buffer within the City of
Renton. Bore pit 4, located in the Cedar River floodplain would require minor temporary
disturbance to lawn grass; however, any disturbed area would be restored to preconstruction
condition. Overall the proposed activity is not expected to alter or degrade the ecological
functions in the project area; therefore, no mitigation is required for this project..
7.0 References
City of Renton. 2016. COR interactive online mapping tool. http://rp.rentonwa.gov
/SilverlightPublic/Viewer.html?Viewer=COR-Maps. Accessed December 2016.
City of Renton Public Works. 2016. Surface Water Classifications and Wetlands Map.
http://rentonwa.gov/uploadedFiles/Government/FIT/GIS/PDF_Files/WaterClass%20and
%20Wetlands_22x34_reduced.pdf
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek Stream Assessment Memo 12
City of Renton Community and Economic Development. 2015. Comprehensive Planning Land
Use Map. http://rentonwa.gov/uploadedFiles/Government/FIT/GIS/PDF_Files/
Comprehensive%20Landuse%20Plan.pdf. Accessed November 2016.
Kerwin, J. 2001. Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Limiting Factors Report for the Cedar‐
Sammamish Basin (Water Resource Inventory Area 8). Washington Conservation
Commission. Olympia, Washington.
King County. 2003. Elliott Bridge No.3166 Replacement, King County: Environmental Impact
Statement. King County Department of Transportation. Seattle, Washington.
May, C. 2000. Protection of Stream-Riparian Ecosystems: A Review of Best Available Science.
Kitsap County, Washington, Office of the Natural Resources Coordinator.
USDA, NRCS. 2016b. Web Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/ WebSoil
Survey.aspx. Accessed November 2016.
WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2016a. Priority habitats and species list.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/phs/. Accessed November 2016.
WDFW. 2016b. SalmonScape web application.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/salmonscape/index.html. Accessed November 2016.
WDNR (Washington State Department of Natural Resources). 2016. Forest Practices
Application Review System (FPARS). http://www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-
services/forest-practices/forest-practices-application-review-system-fpars. Accessed
November 2016.
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek
Photographs
Gas Main Extension at Madsen Creek
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Photo 1: Bore Pit 1 in gravel area adjacent to Cedar River Trail. Pit is 3 feet by 5 feet. Photo facing west. Photo 2: Bore Pit 2 in gravel area adjacent to the Cedar River Trail. Pit is 5 feet by 5 feet. Photo facing north. Photo 3: Bore Pit 3 located in mulched area north of Cedar River Trail, adjacent to 149th Avenue SE. Pit is 5 feet by 5 feet. Photo facing west. Photo 4: Bore Pit 4, 10 feet by 5 feet. Pit is located north of Madsen Creek, adjacent to 149th Avenue SE. Photo facing NW. 1 2 3 4
Photo 5: Madsen Creek, looking upstream from east side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing east. Photo 6: Madsen Creek flows below 149th Avenue SE (west) and north in ditches parallel to 149th Avenue SE. Facing north from east side of 149th. Photo 7: Facing south on east side of 149th Avenue SE. Looking upstream. Photo 8: Facing south on east side of 149th Avenue SE. Channelized ditch flow of a portion of Madsen Creek looking upstream. Culvert
Photo 9: Madsen Creek looking upstream on east side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing east. Photo 10: Madsen Creek, looking downstream on east side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing west. Photo 11: Madsen Creek, on west side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing downstream (west) from culvert. Photo 12: Madsen Creek, on west side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing upstream (east), towards culvert. Culvert
Photo 13: Madsen Creek, stream bank vegetation. Facing southwest, downstream from 149th Avenue SE. Photo 14: Vegetation in OHWM of Madsen Creek. Japanese knotweed and birch. Facing south on west side of 149th Avenue SE. Photo 15: Madsen Creek, on the west side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing upstream (east) near Japanese knotweed patch. Photo 16: Madsen Creek, on the west side of 149th Avenue SE. Facing downstream (west) near Japanese knotweed patch.