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Home My WebLink AboutESA NE documentation L2SA to RentonSeptember 30, 2015 Phil Segami Assistant Local Programs Engineer Northwest Region Washington State Department of Transportation P.O. Box 330310 Seattle, WA 98133-9710 Subject: No Effect Documentation, Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge Dear Mr. Segami: Enclosed is a copy of the no effects assessment for the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge. The bridge is part of a trail project proposed by King County, the Cities of Renton and Tukwila, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), as part of the larger 16-mile Lake to Sound Trail. The federal nexus for this project is federal-aid funding provided by FHWA, as administered by the WSDOT Highways and Local Programs Division. The enclosed analysis amends one that was completed in October 2011. That analysis found that the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A project will have no effect on all species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or on designated or proposed critical habitat for these species. The design considered for the previous analysis included a crossing of the Black River on an existing bridge at Monster Road. To address constructability and safety concerns, the design was subsequently modified to add a new pedestrian crossing approximately 150 feet east of the Monster Road bridge. The construction of a new pedestrian bridge over the Black River will result in potential environmental impacts that were not addressed in the previous analysis, triggering the need for a new analysis. No other changes have been made to the project design that would alter the potential environmental impacts of the project. For this reason the new analyses presented here address only the construction of the new pedestrian bridge. Based on the information and analyses presented in the enclosed document, we have determined that the proposed project will have no effect on ESA-listed species or critical habitat. The species and critical habitat addressed in detail are Puget Sound Chinook salmon, Puget Sound steelhead, bull trout, designated critical habitat for Chinook salmon and bull trout, and proposed critical habitat for steelhead. The City of Renton participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) program that is required to comply with the ESA. As directed by the September 22, 2008, biological opinion issued by NMFS for the NFIP, FEMA requires projects proposed in the floodplain to be assessed to determine ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT EVALUATION: NO EFFECT DOCUMENTATION Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge Prepared for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks 201 South Jackson, 7th Floor Seattle, WA 98104 and Washington State Department of Transportation Local Programs Division PO Box 47390 Olympia WA 98504 Prepared by Mike Hall Parametrix 719 2nd Ave, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104 September 2015 Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat i Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................1 Project Location and Setting .................................................................................................2 Project Description .................................................................................................................7 Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures ................................................................12 Action Area ............................................................................................................................13 Species and Habitat Information ........................................................................................16 Species and Critical Habitat Addressed in WKLV$QDO\VLV........................................16 Species and Critical Habitat Occurrence.......................................................................18 Analysis of Effects .................................................................................................................22 Conclusions and Effect Determinations ..............................................................................27 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................29 Tables Table 1. ESA-Listed Species and Critical Habitat Addressed in this Analysis ......................16 Table 2. Effects Determinations for Species and Designated Critical Habitat .......................28 Figures Figure 1. Vicinity Map .............................................................................................................3 Figure 2. Project Features .........................................................................................................8 Figure 3. Project Action Area .................................................................................................14 Appendices Appendix A October 2011 No-effects Determination for Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Appendix B Bridge Plan and Elevation and Proposed Ground Improvement Areas Appendix C Species Lists from NMFS and USFWS Appendix D Essential Fish Habitat Analysis Appendix E Essential Fish Habitat Analysis Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 1 Introduction King County, together with the Cities of Renton and Tukwila, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing to develop a 1.2-mile-long segment of what will ultimately be part of the larger 16-mile Lake to Sound Trail. The project is a non-motorized trail located in the jurisdictions of Renton and Tukwila in King County, Washington. The 1.2-mile-long segment is referred to as Segment A of the Lake to Sound Trail. Segment A, as well as the longer Lake to Sound Trail, is part of a regional trail system that provides non- motorized, alternative transportation and a recreational corridor for multiple trail users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, skaters, and others. A goal of the Lake to Sound Trail is to provide non-motorized transportation facilities to economically disadvantaged communities in southwest King County that have been historically underserved by such facilities. Construction work for the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A pedestrian bridge is anticipated to start in May 2016 and is expected to last approximately 5 months, excluding landscaping and minor finishes. Once complete, Segment A will be part of a larger planned system that serves employment and residential centers in South King County and connects to regional trails in Seattle and the greater Regional Trail System network. Segment A will provide a much-needed trail connection between the regional growth centers of Renton and Tukwila and safe passage under the heavy rail lines. In addition to the Green River Trail, Segment A will connect to the Interurban Trail to the south, and in the future to the Cedar River Trail. This analysis amends a no-effects assessment that was completed in October 2011 (Appendix A). The design considered for the previous analysis included a crossing of the Black River on an existing bridge at Monster Road. To address constructability and safety concerns, the design was subsequently modified to add a new pedestrian crossing approximately 150 feet east of the Monster Road bridge. The construction of a new pedestrian bridge over the Black River will result in potential environmental impacts that were not addressed in the previous analysis, triggering the need for a new analysis. No other changes have been made to the project design that would alter the potential environmental impacts of the project. For this reason the new analyses presented here address only the construction of the new pedestrian bridge. We have prepared this assessment on behalf of FHWA in response to the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings. We also evaluated the presence of essential fish habitat (EFH) as indicated in the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act). The federal nexus for this project is federal-aid funding provided by FHWA, as administered by the WSDOT Highways and Local Programs Division. This evaluation was prepared in accordance with section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, to determine whether species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered and potentially occurring in the project vicinity will be affected by project construction or operation. Effects upon critical habitat, as applicable, are also evaluated. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 2 Project Location and Setting The project site is located in the southwest quarter of Section 13, Township 23 North, Range 4 East, Willamette Meridian, in the City of Renton in King County, Washington. The proposed bridge crossing is at approximately river mile 0.25 of the Black River in the Lower Green River sub-basin of Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 9 (Green/Duwamish). The project site is in Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) number 171100130305, Green River. The approximate geographic coordinates of the project site are 47.475° N, 122.247° W. The proposed pedestrian bridge is part of Lake to Sound Segment A, which extends from Naches Avenue SW in Renton, runs parallel to the railroad tracks north of the Black River Riparian Forest, and enters Tukwila at the two railroad bridges over the Black River. Segment A joins the Green River Trail at the north end of the Starfire Sports Complex in Fort Dent Park (Figure 1). Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) RailwaySW 7th StMonster R d S W68 th Oakesd a l e A v e S W Ma u l e A v e SNaches Ave SWS 143rd St 80th Ave SIn t e r u r b a n A v e S S 144th St Beacon Coal M i n e B N S F S 143rd St Martin LutherKing Way S Duwamish River G re e n RiverTrail G reen River Sprin g b r ookCr eekCITY OFRENTONCITY OFTUKWILA UNINC.KING COUNTY Black RiverPump Station B la c k Ri v er ConcreteRecyclingPlant Black RiverRiparian Forest Fort Dent Parkand StarfireSports Complex Waterworks Gardens FosterGolf Links 0 600300Feet Figure 1 Vicinity Map Project Area LakeWashington 90 5 405 5 99 509 599 518 S E A T T L E R E N T O N B E L L E V U E S E A T A C T U K W I L A Legend: Pedestrian Bridge andApproach Trail Segments Proposed Lake toSound Trail - Segment A Existing Trail City Boundary Railroad Parks and WDFWPriority Habitat AreasPath: U:\PSO\Projects\Clients\1521-KingCo\554-1521-084 L2ST\99Svcs\GIS\MapDocs\March2015\BA_Fig1-1_Vicinity_Aug2015.mxdParametrix Sources: King County, City of Renton, WDFW 2014, WSDOT. Lake to Sound Trail --- Segment A Pedestrian Bridge Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 4 The project action area is located in a developed setting, zoned primarily for industrial uses, with large amounts of impervious surface area. A large gravel pit and concrete recycling plant are located north of the Monster Road Bridge, warehouses and an industrial operation are located to the north and south of the trail alignment, and railroad tracks run both parallel and perpendicular to the trail alignment. The project action area also includes a portion of the Black River Riparian Forest, which is designated as a resource conservation area under the City of Renton code. The Black River Riparian Forest is largely natural open space with forested riparian and wetland habitats. The area supports a diverse wildlife community, including bald eagles, great blue herons, and many waterfowl species, along with several species of raptors, songbirds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. A gravel maintenance road in this area that parallels the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad tracks is commonly used for walking and pet exercise. Historically, the Black River drained Lake Washington and received waters from the Cedar River and Springbrook Creek before joining with the Green River to become the Duwamish River. Ever since the diversion of the Cedar River into Lake Washington in 1912 and the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1916, the primary source of water in the Black River has been Springbrook Creek (Kerwin and Nelson 2000). Instream habitat of the Black River within the project action area is dominated by run-type channel morphology, with maximum stream depths greater than 6 feet. During a site visit in February 2011, the wetted width was approximately 25 feet, and no pools or riffles were observed. Bank-full width was estimated at 30 feet. Streambed material consists almost exclusively of sands and silts. The streambanks are relatively steep (approximately a 50-degree angle) and bank condition appears to be relatively stable. The streambanks at the project site, and extending a substantial distance upstream and downstream, are extensively covered with riprap, most of which is overgrown with Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) and other non-native species. No LWD is present in the Black River within the project action area, and the presence of the Black River pump station above the project site precludes LWD recruitment from upstream. Overall, the quality of fish habitat is poor, with little habitat diversity. Salmonids could use the Black River in the project action area for migration or possibly rearing, although instream cover is limited. Mobility and survival of juveniles and adults are impeded by the lack of cover provided by the steep, armored streambanks that are dominated by invasive shrubby species. Photo 1. Oblique aerial view of the Black River in the project action area, looking east. Black River pump station at top, Monster Road Bridge at bottom. Dashed red box indicates approximate location of proposed pedestrian bridge. N Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 5 Riparian vegetation in the project action area is sparse, with only a few scattered deciduous trees (Photo 1). Non-native shrub vegetation is dominant; the right (north) bank of the Black River between the pump station and the Monster Road Bridge is covered almost entirely by Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) (Photo 2). Overall, the vegetated buffer of the Black River in the project action area is generally degraded, of limited width, and dominated by herbaceous, shrub, and non-native species. A few black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera) and red alder (Alnus rubra) are greater than 15 feet tall; bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata) seedlings and saplings are also present (Photo 3). Other vegetation in the riparian area includes reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix), salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), western swordfern (Polystichum munitum), red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Under existing conditions, the riparian corridor in the project action area is not fully functioning, but it does provide some functions that support aquatic species, including some level of small woody debris or LWD recruitment, overhead stream cover, bank stability, leaf litter recruitment, and water quality maintenance. Photo 2. The Black River in the project action area, looking east (upstream) from the existing Monster Road bridge, toward the Black River pump station. The Douglas-fir sapling at left (on the north bank) is near the upstream edge of the ground improvement area and will not be removed for bridge construction. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 6 Photo 3. South bank of the Black River in the project action area. The alder tree left of center is within the proposed ground improvement area and will be removed, as will the western redcedar saplings visible to its left. The Black River is on Ecology’s current 303(d) list for violation of water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria (Ecology 2015). King County has monitored water quality at a station approximately 1 mile upstream of the project action area since 1977. Water quality conditions at that station have consistently been characterized as poor, with low dissolved oxygen concentrations, high temperatures, high fecal coliform bacteria, high turbidity, high total phosphorus and ammonia, and high conductivity (King County 2015a). In its most recent water quality report, King County (2015b) assigned the stream a water quality index score of 27, indicating a high level of concern for water quality. The primary factors behind the score are high concentrations of bacteria and nutrients, and low concentrations of dissolved oxygen (King County 2015b). Temperatures in Springbrook Creek upstream of the Black River regularly exceed 15° C during the months of June, July, August, and September, (King County 2015a), indicating conditions functioning at risk for salmonids. Dissolved oxygen concentrations are consistently below Ecology’s minimum level for salmonid rearing and migration (6.5 milligrams per liter) from May through October, and below the minimum level for spawning (8.0 milligrams per liter) during most other months (King County 2015a). Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 7 Data from WDFW (2015a, b) data indicate that Chinook salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout all have documented presence within the Black River in the project action area. The type of use is listed as migration for all species except coho, which use the lower Black River for juvenile rearing. The author of this DVVHVVPHQW conducted a site visit on April 3, 2015, verifying instream and riparian habitat conditions within project action area. Additional information about site-specific habitat conditions was collected by scientists conducting field visits for studies to support federal, state, and local permitting. Information from those field visits was also incorporated into this analysis. Before conducting fieldwork, project biologists reviewed maps and materials on the soils, hydrology, topography, land use, wetlands, streams, and wildlife habitat at and near the project site. Project Description The project elements that are the subject of this analysis are a pedestrian bridge spanning the Black River, and approach trail segments connecting the bridge with the rest of Lake to Sound Trail Segment A. The trail will typically consist of approximately 12 feet of asphalt pavement bounded by two 2-foot-wide gravel shoulders and 1-foot-wide clear zones, in accordance with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) guidelines. Currently, the Black River in the vicinity of the project site is crossed by Monster Road, a principal arterial that carries approximately 11,000 vehicles per day. The proposed project will construct a new crossing structure upstream of Monster Road for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other trail users. Project Elements A prefabricated steel girder pedestrian bridge, approximately 109 feet long and 14 feet wide, will be installed to allow trail users to cross the Black River separately from vehicle traffic. The bridge will be located about 150 feet east of the existing Monster Road bridge (Figure 2). A detailed plan and elevation of the bridge is provided in Appendix B. The contractor will construct the foundation system, then hoist the bridge on a crane and place it on the foundation. The crane will operate from the level area above the bank crest. All above-ground bridge elements will be situated upslope of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and outside of the 100-year floodplain elevation. BurlingtonNorthernSantaFe(BNSF)RailwayMonster Rd SW Black RiverPump Station B la c k R iv e rConcreteRecyclingPlant 0 10050Feet Figure 2Project Overview Legend: Pedestrian Bridge and Approach Trail Segments Foundations Ground Improvement Areas Areas of Temporary Impacts Proposed Lake to Sound Trail - Segment A River Ordinary High Water Mark 100-yearFloodplainElevationPath: U:\PSO\Projects\Clients\1521-KingCo\554-1521-084 L2ST\99Svcs\GIS\MapDocs\March2015\BA_Fig1-2_ProjectOverview_Aug2015.mxdParametrix Sources: City of Renton. Lake to Sound Trail --- Segment A Pedestrian Bridge Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS,USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 9 Substrates in the vicinity of the bridge are relatively deep, liquefiable soils that are prone to settlement and lateral spreading during a seismic event. To improve seismic stability and to prevent undue passive pressure on the bridge foundation, ground improvements will be necessary. The method to be employed is wet soil mixing, also known as the deep mixing method. This ground improvement technique improves weak soils by mechanically mixing them with cementitious binder slurry. A powerful drill constructs columns of stable soil by advancing an auger with radial mixing paddles located near the bottom of the drill string. The binder slurry is pumped to the tool as it advances; additional soil mixing is achieved as the tool is withdrawn. Schematic depiction of the deep mixing method. The deep mixing method creates columns of stabilized soil upon which the bridge foundations can be constructed. A total of approximately 60 soil columns will be created in this manner, stabilizing an approximately 16-foot by 35-foot area on the south side of the river and an approximately 16-foot by 25- foot area on the north side of the river (Appendix B). It is estimated that 4 soil columns can typically be mixed per day. Each column will be approximately 4 feet in diameter and will extend 30 to 40 feet below existing grade. Excavation for bridge foundations can begin the day after the completion of ground improvements. All ground improvement areas will be above the OHWM, and the drilling equipment will remain upslope of the OHWM at all times. The drilling equipment will be outfitted with extension arms that will allow access to the ground improvement areas from level ground; some benching may be necessary if trackhoe- mounted equipment is used for drilling. Existing riprap will be removed from the areas slated for ground improvement. Temporary three-sided sheet pile containment walls with plastic lining will be installed to prevent soil and binder slurry from entering the river. The containment walls will be installed at the downslope end and along either side of each ground improvement area. The containment walls will be installed above the OHWM and the ground improvement areas will be set back from the containment walls by approximately 5 feet, meaning the lowest portions of the ground improvement areas will be at least 5 feet above the OHWM. The sheet pile walls will be embedded approximately 10 feet and will extend about 7 feet above the ground surface. Installation and removal of the sheet pile walls will be conducted with a crane-suspended vibratory hammer, such that the piles can be installed on a slope distant from where equipment actually sits. While wet soil mixing is underway, a trackhoe will be used to gather excess slurry and spoils, which will be delivered to an approved upland disposal site, such as a gravel pit, for backfilling or reprocessing. It is Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 10 estimated that about 1,500 cubic yards of soil-cement spoils will need to be hauled off for disposal. After ground improvements are complete and riprap has been reestablished on the banks, the sheet pile walls will be removed. The bridge will have a corrugated metal form deck during installation. Once the bridge is in place, concrete will be pumped onto the bridge to create the final deck surface. Concrete will be pumped from equipment that is located above the OHWM. Edge containment will be employed to ensure that no concrete enters the river below. There will be no permanent light fixtures on the bridge. The Black River 100-year floodplain elevation at the proposed pedestrian bridge is calculated at 22.57 feet (NAVD 88) using the 1995 Flood Insurance Rate Map. The trail surface across the bridge will be 6 feet above the floodplain elevation, which will allow at least 3 feet of clearance from the bottom of any bridge element to the 100-year floodplain elevation. Construction machinery that will be used includes trucks, backhoes, a trackhoe, compressors, pumps, a drill rig (for wet soil mixing), and a crane for bridge placement. Equipment staging, fueling, and washing- out will take place in upland areas along the Monster Road corridor. Because the ground improvement areas are entirely within the regulatory buffer of the Black River, some staging of equipment in that buffer may be necessary. The project will result in no net cut or fill within the 100-year floodplain. Above the floodplain, the project will entail approximately 1,410 cubic yards of cut and 2,980 cubic yards of fill. Overwater work for bridge installation will be performed in accordance with the requirements and conditions specified in the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) issued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Conditions may include limiting such work to the fish window established for the project. Approximately 45 linear feet of trail will be constructed to connect the bridge to the rest of Lake To Sound Trail Segment A; the trail will be built the using the same methods as described for the rest of the trail (Appendix A). The approach trail segments will be asphalt pavement, approximately 12 feet wide, bounded by a 2-foot-wide gravel shoulder and a 1-foot-wide clear zone on each side. The proposed project is a non-motorized facility and therefore will not add any pollutant-generating impervious surface (PGIS) to the landscape. For this reason, no stormwater treatment is required per the 2009 King County Surface Water Design Manual. Similarly, flow control facility requirements are waived because the anticipated increase in the 100-year peak runoff flow rate under developed conditions will not exceed 0.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) in each of the four threshold drainage areas that were identified within the project boundaries (Parametrix 2015). The trail has been designed to direct stormwater to the river side of the trail for dispersion as sheet flow. The surface of the pedestrian bridge and associated project features will add approximately 1,080 square feet of impervious surface (Parametrix 2015). For bank stability, the existing riprap that is temporarily removed for wet soil mixing will be put back in place or replaced with similarly sized riprap after construction work is complete. Riprap removal and replacement will be limited to areas above the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 11 OHWM. Areas that are not covered by impervious surfaces or riprap will be hydroseeded with native grasses. Project Sequencing and Timeline Construction work for the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A pedestrian bridge is anticipated to start in May 2016 and is expected to last approximately 5 months, excluding landscaping and minor finishes. Construction activities will occur primarily during daylight hours. The actual start dates of construction will be dependent on approval of permits, including the HPA. It should be noted that the construction sequence listed below is only a likely representation of what the actual schedule may be and that variations in work timing may occur due to contractor delays or adverse weather conditions. Some of the elements will overlap and likely shift as deemed necessary and appropriate by the construction manager. It is expected that all over-water work (activities #6 and #8 below) for the installation of the bridge will be accomplished in approximately two weeks. The general sequence of major construction activities is listed below. 1. Mobilization and installation of appropriate best management practices (BMPs) according to the temporary erosion and sediment control (TESC) plan 2. Removal of existing vegetation and riprap in ground improvement areas (approximately 1 week) 3. Installation of sheet piles (approximately 1.5 weeks) 4. Ground improvements (deep mixing method) (approximately 4 weeks) 5. Installation of bridge foundations (approximately 3 weeks) 6. Placement of prefabricated bridge on foundations (approximately 2 weeks) 7. Placement of crushed surfacing top course for approach trail segments (less than 1 week) 8. Installation of asphalt pavement on trail surface and concrete on bridge deck (less than 1 week) 9. Replacement of riprap on river bank (approximately 1 week) 10. Revegetation of temporarily disturbed areas 11. Removal of BMPs (including sheet piles) and demobilization (2 weeks) Overwater work for bridge installation will be performed in accordance with the requirements and conditions specified in the HPA issued by WDFW. Conditions may include limiting such work to the fish window established for the project. Ground improvement will be timed to correspond with low water levels, typically influenced by tide and season. Approved work windows for Green River and its tributaries typically extend from August 1 through August 31. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 12 Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures The project is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations that protect wetlands, streams, and other natural resources. Many laws require avoidance or minimization of impacts to resources, and compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts. Examples of regulatory review and/or permitting processes likely to result in the implementation of impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures include the following:  Clean Water Act section 404 permitting, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Clean Water Act section 401 water quality certification, administered at the federal level by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and implemented at the state level by Ecology  National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction General Permit  The WDFW HPA review process  Review under the City of Renton Shoreline Master Program  City of Renton building, grading, clearing and other applicable permits King County will consult with WDFW and/or the City of Renton to determine appropriate measures to minimize anticipated effects. Specific impact avoidance and minimization measures for the project are identified in Appendix C. All areas temporarily affected by construction, where revegetation is possible, will be restored to pre- construction conditions and re-planted or seeded with native species. Disturbed banks and riparian zones will be restored as close as possible to pre-project condition. Native vegetation damaged or destroyed by construction in the riparian zone will be replaced where feasible, using a proven methodology and species composition, planting densities, and a maintenance plan approved by WDFW and King County Department of Permitting and Environmental Review. Compensatory mitigation for effects related to installation of the pedestrian bridge will be achieved through implementation of a plan developed by King County for the Lake to Sound—Segment A project. The plan includes habitat improvement and restoration to mitigate for project-related effects on stream buffers. All unavoidable impacts to stream buffers will be mitigated in accordance with the provisions of the City of Renton Shoreline Master Program (Renton Municipal Code [RMC] 4-3-090). Specific mitigation plans will be included in permit applications for construction of the project. The mitigation plans will focus on providing riparian buffer and wetland buffer mitigation that provides equal or greater functions than were impacted. The mitigation site will be planted at a ratio of at least 1:1 to offset project impacts. The riparian buffer component of the overall mitigation plan consists of planting native trees and shrubs within the regulated riparian buffer of the Black River. The effects of clearing trees greater than 6 inches diameter at breast height (dbh) will be offset by replanting native trees at a ratio of 1:1 or greater. On-site mitigation (in the vicinity of the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A project and within the regulated buffer of the Black River) was selected as the preferred option. Riparian mitigation will consist of planting, or underplanting, in an area where existing riparian conditions are degraded. This type of mitigation will offset the project’s impacts on stream resources by maintaining or enhancing those riparian functions that support water quality and fish habitat. The riparian functions that will benefit from mitigation include LWD recruitment, stream temperature regulation, bank stability, leaf litter recruitment, and water quality functions. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 13 Action Area The project action area is defined as the area with the potential to be affected directly or indirectly by the project actions. Project components with the potential to affect the species addressed in this analysis include construction activities (which may contribute to increased turbidity and sedimentation in waterbodies and elevated noise levels in terrestrial areas), modifications to riparian areas, and increases in the amount of non-pollutant-generating impervious surface area (which may affect the quantity of stormwater discharges to waterbodies). The action area for this project includes all aquatic habitats extending from 100 feet upstream of the proposed bridge location to 200 feet downstream, as well as all terrestrial habitats within a 3,800 foot radius of the project footprint (Figure 3). The following subsections describe the basis for these determinations. BurlingtonNorthernS a n ta F e (BNSF)Railway SW 7th StMonster Rd SW 68 t h A ve S Oakesdale Ave SWMaule A v e SNaches Ave SWS 143rd St 80th Ave SIn t e r u r b a n A v e S S 144th StBeacon CoalB N S F S 143rd St Marti n Luther KingWayS G reen Riv er Tr ail Monster Rd SWM o n s t e r R d SW B N S F Mine 5 405 R d S CITY OFRENTON CITY OFTUKWILA UNINC.KING COUNTY Black RiverPump Station BlackR ive rConcreteRecyclingPlant S p ri ngbr ookCr eekGreenRiv er River Duwamish 0 600 1,200300Feet Figure 3Project Action Area Legend: Terrestrial Portion of the Project Action AreaAquatic Portion of the Project Action Area Pedestrian Bridge andApproach Trail SegmentsProposed Lake toSound Trail - Segment A City BoundaryPath: U:\PSO\Projects\Clients\1521-KingCo\554-1521-084 L2ST\99Svcs\GIS\MapDocs\March2015\BA_Fig1-3_ProjectActionArea_Aug2015.mxdParametrix Sources: King County, City of Renton. Lake to Sound Trail --- Segment A Pedestrian Bridge Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, EarthstarGeographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping,Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 15 Aquatic Considerations Construction activities in or adjacent to waterbodies and wetlands have the potential to introduce and transport sediment into the aquatic environment at and downstream of the immediate construction or work area. The proposed project will have no potential for effects related to in-water construction because no ground-disturbing activities will take place below the OHWM of any project action area waterbodies. It is possible that areas where ground-disturbing activities remove existing vegetation may contribute to elevated levels of turbidity during subsequent rain events; however, this possibility will be minimized by using BMPs in compliance with the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines (Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group 2002). Overwater construction activities will comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the HPA and other permits issued for the project, including provisions designed to avoid or minimize the potential for adverse effects on habitat in receiving waters. Permits for overwater construction activities in the Green River watershed commonly require in-water or overwater work to be conducted during the summer (primarily August). Mean daily flows in the Black River at that time of year are consistently between 10 and 100 cubic feet per second. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has established a 200-foot mixing zone for construction-related turbidity in streams with flows in that range. Based on the above, the aquatic portion of the project action area is conservatively defined as extending from 100 feet upstream of the proposed bridge location to 200 feet downstream. This is the extent of potential construction-related increases in turbidity. Terrestrial Considerations Noise from construction defines the in-air portion of the project action area. Nearly all project elements occur near Monster Road, a principal arterial. Therefore, traffic noise was considered to be part of the baseline (ambient) noise level in the project action area. The baseline noise level along Monster Road was determined by the volume of traffic and speed of traffic. The average daily traffic volume of Monster Road is approximately 11,000 vehicles, which equates to approximately 1,000 vehicles per hour (WSDOT 2014). The posted speed limit near the project site is 35 miles per hour. Based on these numbers, the baseline (ambient) noise level along Monster Road is approximately 66 decibels on the A- weighted scale (dBA) at 50 feet. Background noise levels in the project action area are conservatively estimated to be approximately 50 dBA, similar to levels in suburban and residential areas. The surrounding area includes industrial areas (e.g., concrete recycling plant and BNSF railway corridor) as well as undeveloped areas (e.g., Black River Riparian Forest); the 50-dBA estimate falls between typical noise levels for those types of areas. The threshold level for detection of construction noise by ESA-listed terrestrial species is approximately 4 dBA above background levels. Therefore, the detection level for construction noise is 54 dBA. The loudest construction activity will be vibratory driving and removal of sheet piles, which is expected to generate noise levels of approximately 101 dBA at 50 feet (WSDOT 2014) during two relatively brief periods (approximately 1 to 1.5 weeks) near the beginning and end of the construction sequence. No impact pile driving or other activities that generate extremely loud noises will occur. Noise from other construction equipment is not expected to exceed 90 dBA. Because the noise level of other equipment is more than 10 dBA less than that of vibratory pile driving, other equipment will not make a measurable Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 16 difference in overall project-related noise levels (WSDOT 2014). Therefore, the maximum construction- related noise level will be 101 dBA. Surface conditions in the project vicinity are soft (i.e., ground cover exists between the noise source and the receptor), meaning construction noise (a point source) will attenuate at a rate of about 7.5 dBA per doubling of distance. Similarly, the traffic noise (a line source) will attenuate at a rate of about 4.5 dBA per doubling of distance. Based on these estimates, noise from the loudest construction activity (vibratory pile driving) will attenuate to the 54 dBA detection threshold approximately 3,800 feet from the project footprint. Noise from other equipment will attenuate to that threshold approximately 1,300 feet from the project footprint. Traffic noise attenuates to that level at approximately 300 feet, meaning construction noise will not be masked by traffic noise before it attenuates to background levels. The extent of project-related noise is thus calculated as the distance at which construction noise is expected to be less than or equal to background noise levels. This distance, calculated as 3,800 feet, defines the terrestrial extent of the project action area. Indirect Effects Considerations The project action area for the proposed action does not reflect any potential indirect effects associated with land use development. This is because the project has independent utility and is not linked to, or dependent on, any other projects or developments in the area. The project is not dependent on any land use development or changes in land use or zoning, and no land use development projects depend directly on completion of this project. Species and Habitat Information Species and Critical Habitat Addressed in WKLV$QDO\VLV Lists of species that are listed or proposed for listing under the ESA and that may be present in the project action area were obtained from the NMFS and USFWS websites in July 2015 (Appendix D). Based on a review of habitat associations and conditions, as well as known and expected distribution, three ESA- listed or proposed species have the potential to be affected by project activities and are addressed in this BA. These are Puget Sound Chinook salmon, Puget Sound steelhead trout, and bull trout (Table 1). Table 1. ESA-Listed Species and Critical Habitat Addressed in this Analysis Species Status Federal Jurisdiction Critical Habitat Status Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (Puget Sound ESU) Threatened NMFS Designated; present in project action area Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (Puget Sound DPS) Threatened NMFS Proposed; present in project action area Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) Threatened USFWS Designated; none in project action area ESU – Evolutionarily Significant Unit DPS – Distinct Population Segment Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 17 The USFWS Information, Planning, and Conservation System identified five ESA-listed wildlife species as potentially occurring in areas that might be affected by the proposed project (Appendix D). None of these species is expected to occur in the project action area, however, for the following reasons:  Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and gray wolf (Canis lupus) are identified as potentially occurring in King County. However, the project action area is in a lowland setting with relatively high levels of human activity and no nearby roadless areas and thus does not provide suitable habitat for either of these species. No observations of either species have been documented within 5 miles of the project action area (WDFW 2015a).  Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) require old-growth forest for nesting and marine habitat for foraging. No breeding or foraging habitat is present in the project action area and no observations have been documented within 5 miles (WDFW 2015a). The nearest location where critical habitat has been designated for the marbled murrelet is more than 25 miles from the project action area.  Yellow-billed cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus) require large blocks of riparian forest habitat for breeding and foraging. No such habitat is present in or near the project action area. Currently, the species no longer breeds in western Canada and the northwestern continental United States (Washington, Oregon, and Montana) (79 FR 59992, October 3, 2014). No observations of this species have been documented within 10 miles of the project action area (WDFW 2015a). No critical habitat for the yellow-billed cuckoo has been proposed in Washington State.  Streaked horned larks (Eremophila alpestris strigata) are known to occur in Washington State only in portions of southern Puget Sound, along the Washington coast, and at lower Columbia River islands (78 FR 61452, October 3, 2013). Breeding habitat for streaked horned larks in Washington consists of grasslands and sparsely vegetated areas at airports, sandy islands, and coastal spits. The subspecies is largely absent from the Puget Trough during the nonbreeding season; individuals observed in this area outside of the breeding season have been seen using habitats similar to those used for breeding. No such habitat is present in the project action area, and the project action area is not within the known range of the subspecies. The nearest location where critical habitat has been designated for the streaked horned lark is more than 90 miles from the project action area. Based on the above, the proposed project has no potential to affect Canada lynx, gray wolves, marbled murrelets, yellow-billed cuckoos, or streaked horned larks. These species will not be addressed further in this analysis. Information from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Natural Heritage database indicates that no ESA-listed threatened or endangered plants are known to occur within 5 miles of the project site (WDNR 2014). The only ESA-listed plant with the potential to occur in or near the project action area is golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta), which is known from historical observations in the region. Suitable habitat for golden paintbrush (open grasslands in glacial outwash prairies) is not present at any locations where project-related actions will occur. For these reasons, the proposed project has no potential to affect this species. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 18 Species and Critical Habitat Occurrence The project action area includes the Black River approximately 0.25 mile upstream of its confluence with the Green River. Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout are present in the Green River at the Black River confluence. Although the Green River is outside of the project action area, all three species could venture into the Black River, with varying degrees of likelihood. The author of this BA conducted a site visit on April 3, 2015. Additional information about site-specific habitat conditions was collected by scientists conducting field visits for studies to support federal, state, and local permitting. Information from those field visits was also incorporated into this analysis. Before conducting fieldwork, project biologists reviewed maps and materials on the soils, hydrology, topography, land use, wetlands, streams, and wildlife habitat at and near the project site. This site visit verified instream and riparian habitat conditions within project action area. Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound ESU are listed as threatened under the ESA (63 FR 11482, March 24 1999). Primary factors contributing to declines in Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound ESU include habitat blockages, genetic modification of wild fish through interbreeding with hatchery fish, urbanization, logging, hydropower development, harvests, and flood control and flood effects (NMFS 1998). The overall abundance of Chinook in the Puget Sound ESU has declined substantially, with both long- and short-term abundance trending predominantly downward. According to WDFW (2015b), fall-run Chinook salmon are present in the Black River in the project action area, and rearing habitat is available in the Green River at the Black River confluence. Conditions favorable for Chinook salmon spawning or rearing do not exist in the project action area. Recent and historical records indicate that Chinook do not use the Black River for spawning or rearing (Williams et al. 1975; Harza 1995). However, small numbers of adult fall Chinook migrating up the Green River occasionally stray into the Black River and become trapped in Springbrook Creek above the Black River pump station. There is little if any suitable spawning habitat in Springbrook Creek, and the pump station blocks downstream passage of adult salmon (Kerwin and Nelson 2000). Adult salmonids that make it past the pump station are believed to experience high levels of stress or be killed outright before spawning (Harza 1995). If any juvenile Chinook salmon are produced in Springbrook Creek, they face degraded water quality conditions and would be able exit the system only when the downstream passage facility is operating, between early April and mid-June (Kerwin and Nelson 2000). Chinook salmon in the Green River system are a summer/fall-run stock. Adult summer/fall Chinook migrate upstream in the Green River from late June to mid-November, spawning from September through mid-November. Most spawning generally takes place in the mainstem Green River from river mile 23 to river mile 61.2 and in the lower 6 miles of Newaukum and Soos creeks (WDFW 2002). Those areas are more than 10 miles upstream of the Black River/Green River confluence. Most Chinook salmon in the Green River exhibit an ocean-type life history, in which juveniles migrate to estuaries during the first year of life, generally within 3 to 4 months of emergence (Lister and Genoe 1970). Seaward migration of Green River Chinook fry typically begins in January and peaks in early March; a secondary peak of outmigration (consisting of fingerlings, not fry) occurs from May through July (Ruggerone and Weitkamp 2004). A small proportion of Green River Chinook salmon are stream- Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 19 type fish—that is, juveniles that overwinter in the watershed before migrating seaward (Grette and Salo 1986). Stream-type Chinook salmon may migrate to the ocean any time of year (Healey 1991). Green River summer/fall-run adult Chinook salmon may venture into the project action area while they are migrating upstream between June and mid-November. Juvenile Chinook salmon migrating down the Green River could be carried into the project action area during flood flows and other situations when water elevations downstream of the Black River pump station are higher than those on the upstream side. Overlaps between high flows and Green River juvenile outmigration are most likely to occur from January through June. Any juveniles that may be produced in the Springbrook Creek system would only be able to enter the project action area (which is downstream of the Black River pump station) from April through mid-June. Puget Sound Steelhead The Puget Sound steelhead DPS is listed as a threatened species under the ESA (72 FR 26722, May 11, 2007). The DPS includes all naturally spawned anadromous winter-run and summer-run Oncorhynchus mykiss (steelhead) populations, in streams within the river basins of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and Hood Canal, Washington. The DPS also includes steelhead from artificial propagation programs in the Green River. According to WDFW (2015b), winter steelhead are present in the Black River in the project action area. Juvenile steelhead have been captured at numerous locations in Springbrook Creek upstream of the Black River pump station, although degraded water quality in the lower reaches of the stream likely hinder juvenile survival (Kerwin and Nelson 2000). Adult steelhead that migrate upstream of the pump station cannot return to the Green River mainstem (Harza 1995). The nearest documented spawning habitat is in the mainstem Green River more than 10 miles upstream of the Black River/Green River confluence (WDFW 2015b). Natural-origin steelhead that spawn in the Green River system are a winter-run (ocean-maturing) population1. Adults typically enter fresh water and migrate upstream from November through May, and spawning generally occurs from early March through mid-June (WDFW 2002; Puget Sound Steelhead Technical Recovery Team 2013). Juvenile steelhead tend to reside in fresh water for 2 years or more before migrating to marine habitats. Juvenile outmigration typically takes place during April and May (Busby et al. 1996). The downstream passage facility at the Black River pump station operates between early April and mid-June, so the pump station is unlikely to hinder outmigration of juvenile steelhead. Adult steelhead may venture into the project action area while they are migrating upstream between November and May. Juvenile steelhead migrating down the Green River could be carried into the project action area during flood flows and other situations when water elevations downstream of the Black River pump station are higher than those on the upstream side. Overlaps between high flows and Green River juvenile outmigration are likely to occur during April and May. Juveniles produced in the Springbrook Creek system may also be able to enter the project action area (which is downstream of the Black River pump station) during April and May. 1 A summer-run steelhead population is also present in the Green River. That population originated from the Skamania Hatchery in the Columbia River Basin and is not included in the ESA-listed Puget Sound DPS. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 20 Bull Trout Bull trout is listed as a threatened species (64 FR 58910, November 1, 1999). Historically, bull trout were present in the White River (Mongillo 1993), which was once connected to the Green/Duwamish river system but has since been diverted to the Puyallup River. Today, the lower Green River, Duwamish River, and adjacent nearshore habitats appear to be used only by foraging anadromous bull trout that originate in other river systems (70 FR 56212, September 5, 2005). Bull trout have been reported in the lower Green River as far upstream as the mouth of Newaukum Creek (about river mile 41) (King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks 2002; Goetz et al. 2004). Reports of historic use of tributaries in the lower Green River are rare (King County Department of Natural Resources 2000). Bull trout are not known to occur in the Black River, and there have been no documented occurrences of spawning (WDFW 2015b). Water temperatures in the Black River basin are too high to support reproduction by this species (Harza 1995). The Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan did not identify the Green/Duwamish river system as a bull trout core area—that is, the system is not considered to be a biologically functioning unit for bull trout because it lacks the necessary combination of core habitat (i.e., habitat with all necessary components for spawning, rearing, foraging, migrating and overwintering) and a core population (Shared Strategy for Puget Sound 2007). However, the lower Green River, including the reaches immediately downstream of the project action area, supports foraging, migration, and overwintering habitat for subadult and adult bull trout (USFWS 2010; WDFW 2015b). Anadromous bull trout migrate from the marine environment into freshwater habitats in the fall or early winter. Overwintering subadults and adults remain in freshwater habitats until late winter and spring (Goetz et al. 2004; USFWS 2010). Based on the absence of documented sightings and the lack of suitable habitat, bull trout are not known or expected to use the Black River in the project action area. The possibility for fish to venture from the Green River into the project action area cannot entirely be discounted, however. Adult or subadult bull trout could enter the project action area from fall through late winter. Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Critical Habitat The lower Green River and much of the Black River, including the portion of the Black River within the project action area, have been designated as critical habitat for Puget Sound Chinook salmon (70 FR 52630, September 2, 2005). The following PCEs of Puget Sound Chinook salmon critical habitat may be found in the project action area: 1. Freshwater spawning sites with water quantity and quality conditions and substrate supporting spawning, incubation, and larval development. Existing Conditions: Chinook salmon are neither known nor expected to spawn in the project action area. Water quality in the system that drains to the Black River is generally poor, characterized by high temperatures, low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, and elevated levels of contaminants. Streambed material consists almost exclusively of sands and silts and are not likely to be suitable for spawning, incubation, or larval development. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 21 2. Freshwater rearing sites with water quantity and floodplain connectivity to form and maintain physical habitat conditions, and support juvenile growth and mobility; water quality and forage supporting juvenile development; and natural cover such as shade, submerged and overhanging large wood, log jams and beaver dams, aquatic vegetation, large rocks and boulders, side channels, and undercut banks. Existing Conditions: Chinook salmon are neither known nor expected to rear in the project action area, and conditions favorable for rearing are not present. Water quality in the system that drains to the Black River is generally poor, characterized by high temperatures, low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, and elevated levels of contaminants. No large woody debris (LWD) is present in the stream channel in the project action area, and the Black River pump station precludes the recruitment of LWD from upstream. Kerwin and Nelson (2000) were not able to assess the existing extent or condition of off-channel habitat in the Springbrook Creek subbasin, which includes the Black River. It is clear, however, that floodplain connectivity in the Lower Green River sub-basin is severely limited as a result of the diversion of the White River, construction of levees and revetments, and operation of the Howard Hansen Dam (Kerwin and Nelson 2000). 3. Freshwater migration corridors free of obstruction with water quantity and quality conditions and natural cover such as submerged and overhanging large wood, aquatic vegetation, large rocks and boulders, side channels, and undercut banks supporting juvenile and adult mobility and survival. Existing Conditions: The Black River in the project action area is unlikely to function as a migratory corridor for Chinook salmon. The Black River pump station presents a significant barrier to migration. Adult fish that make it past the pump station are believed to experience high levels of stress or be killed outright before spawning (Harza 1995). If any juvenile Chinook salmon are produced in Springbrook Creek, they would be able exit the system only when the downstream passage facility is operating, between early April and mid-June. Water quality in the system that drains to the Black River is generally poor, characterized by high temperatures, low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, and elevated levels of contaminants. No LWD is present in the stream channel in the project action area. Mobility and survival of juveniles and adults are further impeded by the lack of natural cover provided by the steep, armored streambanks that are dominated by invasive shrubby species such as Himalayan blackberry. Puget Sound Steelhead Critical Habitat The lower Green River and much of the Black River, including the portion of the Black River within the project action area, have been proposed for designation as critical habitat for Puget Sound steelhead (78 FR 2726, January 14, 2013). The PCEs identified in the proposed rule for Puget Sound steelhead are identical to the PCEs identified in the final designation of critical habitat for Puget Sound Chinook salmon. The existing condition of Puget Sound steelhead critical habitat PCEs is as described for Puget Sound Chinook salmon PCEs, above. Bull Trout Critical Habitat Critical habitat was designated for bull trout in 2005 and then re-designated in 2010 (75 FR 63898, October 18, 2010). The portion of the Green River into which the Black River empties is mapped as Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 22 critical habitat for bull trout. The Green River is not within the project action area, however, and the Black River was not included in the designation. Analysis of Effects A high priority was placed on designing the project to include measures and features that avoid and minimize adverse effects on vegetation and wildlife. Construction activity will be limited to a relatively small area immediately adjacent to existing cleared areas to minimize vegetation clearing and leave as much vegetation undisturbed as possible. The project does not include construction activities below the OHWM of the Black River; therefore, the project will not result in any stream fill, nor will alterations to fish passage structures be required. The following discussions analyze potential direct effects (i.e., those related to construction-related impacts, riparian habitat modifications, and the presence of the pedestrian bridge and new impervious surfaces) and indirect effects of the proposed Lake to Sound—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge project. Construction-related Impacts Construction activities occurring directly adjacent to the Black River could increase turbidity and total suspended sediment levels in the river, resulting in disrupted feeding or migration, physiological stress, or increased metabolic oxygen demand. However, by adhering to the terms of applicable federal, state, and local permits (including the HPA issued by WDFW), the project will meet applicable water quality standards. Furthermore, the potential for increased turbidity or suspended sediment levels will be minimized or avoided through the implementation of BMPs and the TESC plan in compliance with the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines (Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group 2002). Moreover, construction work for pedestrian bridge installation will take place primarily during the summer months, when ESA-listed fish species are highly unlikely to be present in the project action area. Upland sources of erosion, such as construction access roads, will be contained using erosion control and sediment detention measures. Erosion control measures will be frequently inspected as to maintain a continuous barrier between ground-disturbing activities and the Black River. Proper implementation and maintenance of these and other measures described in this assessment will essentially eliminate the risk that upland activities could generate turbidity in the project action area. Project activities near waterbodies also have the potential to introduce pollutants through spills of fuel, hydraulic fluid, or other substances. All work will be conducted in compliance with the SPCC plan for the project and BMPs will be implemented to prevent construction-related pollutants from entering streams. Based on these factors, the potential for construction activities to result in the introduction of pollutants into waters that support ESA-listed fish is extremely low. Overwater work will be confined to the footprint of the new pedestrian bridge. The proper application of BMPs will ensure that no concrete, falling material, or dust enters project waters. All overwater work for bridge installation will be performed in accordance with the requirements and conditions specified in the HPA issued by WDFW. Conditions may include limiting such work to the fish window established for the project, which typically corresponds with the period when most salmonids are least likely to be Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 23 present in in the project action area. Approved work windows for Green River and its tributaries typically extend from August 1 through August 31. Vibratory installation of sheet piles for the containment walls around the ground improvement areas will be conducted above the OHWM and in the dry (i.e., above the waterline at the time of construction). Based on monitoring of in-water noise levels associated with impact pile driving adjacent to or within the OHWM of a river, WSDOT (2014) has determined that driving in the dry is an effective means of minimizing the effects of sound in the water and protecting fish. Moreover, studies of sound levels in waterbodies adjacent to land-based pile driving activities have focused on impact pile driving, which generates substantially higher sound intensity levels than vibratory driving. For these reasons, elevated sound intensity levels from vibratory driving of sheet piles will not have any adverse effects on fish. Adult Green River summer/fall-run Chinook salmon are the only species life stage with an appreciable potential for exposure to effects from overwater work. Chinook salmon from the Puget Sound ESU typically migrate from marine habitats to freshwater spawning areas between June and mid-November and could therefore be present in the project action area when such work is underway. The likelihood of exposure to contaminants from overwater work is extremely low, however, because (1) the risk will be minimized through the proper application of appropriate BMPs, (2) the Black River pump station immediately upstream of the project action area presents a substantial barrier to upstream and downstream migration through the area, (3) reaches of the Black River and Springbrook Creek upstream of the project action area not known or expected to provide suitable spawning habitat for Chinook salmon, and (4) work will be performed in accordance with the requirements and conditions (including fish windows) specified in the HPA, likely limiting overwater work to late summer months when it is unlikely that high flows in the Green River will cause migrating adult salmon to seek low-velocity resting areas in the Black River. Other species and life history stages are extremely unlikely to be present in the project action area when overwater construction activities occur. Juvenile Chinook salmon could enter the project action area from January through June; adult steelhead could enter the project action area while they are migrating upstream between November and May; juvenile steelhead could enter the project action in April and May; and adult or subadult bull trout could enter the project action area from fall through late winter. All of these periods are outside of the anticipated late-summer window for overwater work. There is a slight potential for species and life history stages other than adult Chinook salmon to be present in the project action area when ground-disturbing construction work (other than overwater work) takes place. Site preparation in the ground improvement areas could begin as early as May, with ground- disturbing activities continuing through the spring and summer months. Juvenile Chinook salmon could enter the project action area during May or early June and adult or juvenile steelhead could enter the project action area during May. The potential for exposure to elevated levels of sediment or turbidity will be extremely low because (1) no ground-disturbing work will occur below the OHWM, (2) ground- disturbing work is expected to occur during the late spring and summer months, when water levels in the Black River are generally low and there is almost no possibility of high flows in the Green River causing adult or juvenile fish to seek low-velocity resting areas in the Black River, (3) work in the initial stages of construction (i.e., during the period when steelhead or juvenile Chinook might enter the project action area) will consist of activities (site preparation and riprap removal) with a very low potential of delivering sediments or pollutants to the Black River, and (4) the risk of exposure will be minimized through the proper application of appropriate BMPs in compliance with the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 24 Species Act Program Guidelines (Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group 2002). In addition, the Black River pump station immediately upstream of the project action area presents a substantial barrier to upstream and downstream migration through the area. The likelihood is further reduced for juvenile Chinook salmon because reaches of the Black River and Springbrook Creek upstream of the project action area are not known or expected to provide suitable spawning habitat for Chinook salmon. No ground-disturbing activities will take place during the fall and late winter months, when adult or subadult bull trout could enter the project action area. Riparian Habitat Impacts Installation of the pedestrian bridge and construction of the approach trail segments are expected to result in minimal effects on the condition of riparian habitat along the Black River. The existing vegetated buffer of the Black River in the project action area is generally degraded, of limited width, and dominated by non-native herbaceous and shrubby species. Approximately 2,900 square feet within the Black River riparian buffer (1,100 square feet on the north bank and 1,800 square feet on the south bank) will be permanently or temporarily affected by ground improvement work. This includes the ground improvement areas themselves, as well as the areas that will be enclosed within the containment walls around the ground improvement areas. The work will entail the removal of existing vegetation (primarily Himalayan blackberry with a few scattered and small trees), removal of existing riprap, installation of containment walls, and wet soil mixing, after which riprap will be returned to the steep stream banks and the level areas at the top of the banks will be scarified and planted. It is assumed for this analysis that vegetation removal in all portions of the ground improvement areas, and in the areas directly underneath the pedestrian bridge, will be permanent. The remaining portions of the areas within the containment walls will be subject to temporary impacts. For bank stability, the existing riprap that is temporarily removed for wet soil mixing will be put back in place after construction work is complete. Disturbed areas that are not covered by impervious surfaces or riprap will be hydroseeded with native grasses. The portion of the north bank of the Black River that will be affected by temporary or permanent clearing is covered almost entirely by Himalayan blackberry. The existing vegetation on the north bank does not provide shade or LWD, nor does it contribute substantially to stream channel formation or maintenance, organic matter input, or other functions that support ESA-listed fish species. No trees are within the affected area. Vegetation disturbance on the north side of the river is not expected to result in any adverse effects on ESA-listed fish. The portion of the south bank of the Black River that will be affected by temporary or permanent clearing is covered primarily by Himalayan blackberry and other low-growing shrubs, but more trees are present than on the north bank. Clearing of the ground improvement area will entail the removal of a 12-inch dbh red alder and about 5 saplings (cottonwood, western redcedar, and Sitka spruce, all smaller than 4 inches dbh). The removal of trees from the riparian area will reduce the potential for future recruitment of LWD to the Black River, reducing the potential for the development of complex in-stream habitat features that could be used by ESA-listed fish species. The potential for adverse effects is minimal, however, because the Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 25 Black River does not support reproductive populations of Chinook salmon, steelhead, or bull trout. The effects of clearing will also be mitigated by replanting native vegetation at a nearby location in the riparian area of the Black River. Over the long term, the native grasses, shrubs, and trees planted at the mitigation site may provide greater ecological function than the mostly non-native vegetation that will be affected at the project site. The riparian functions that will benefit from mitigation include LWD recruitment, stream temperature regulation, bank stability, leaf litter recruitment, and water quality functions. It is also likely that new trees will be able to take root and start growing in the disturbed areas on the stream bank, as was evidently the case with the trees growing in the riprap there now. Based on the nature and location of buffer impacts, no substantial degradation of riparian functions (e.g., fish and wildlife habitat, food chain support, water temperature maintenance) or processes (e.g., water flow; erosion and accretion; infiltration; groundwater recharge and discharge; sediment delivery, transport, and storage; large woody debris recruitment; organic matter input; nutrient and pathogen removal; stream channel formation/maintenance) will result from permanent project-related clearing and no substantial effects on stream habitat or fish resources are anticipated in the Black River. In addition, the project will comply with the requirements of the City of Renton Shoreline Master Program, which will entail the implementation of measures to ensure no net loss of ecological function. Pedestrian Bridge Impacts All bridge components spanning the Black River will be designed and installed in accordance with the provisions of the HPA and other permits issued for the project. Per WAC 220-660-030, the HPA provisions will be designed to ensure no net loss of habitat functions necessary to sustain fish life. Compliance with the provisions of the HPA and other permits will be expected to avoid or minimize the potential for adverse effects resulting from the loss of in-stream habitat due to bridge construction. Any unavoidable impacts will be addressed through compensatory mitigation. Shade from overwater structures such as bridges can be a migration barrier for fish. Juvenile salmonids avoid dark, shaded areas under structures, resulting in loss of access to habitat, blockage of movement, and potentially increased exposure to predators. In addition, shade from overwater structures can provide hiding cover for some non-native species, such as smallmouth bass, that prey on native fish. The new pedestrian bridge over the Black River will be 14 feet wide. The portion of the bridge spanning the OHWM of the river will be approximately 44 feet long, meaning approximately 616 square feet of the river will be affected by shading from the bridge. The bottom of the bridge deck will be at least 3 feet above the elevation of the 100-year floodplain, which is approximately 10 feet higher than the OHWM. The height of the bridge above the water will reduce the intensity of any shade-related effects. The bridge will be oriented on a north-south axis, minimizing the amount of time that any given point receives shade over the course of a day. The Black River is not considered to be an important migratory corridor for salmonids because the Black River pump station immediately upstream of the study area presents a substantial barrier to upstream and downstream migration. In addition, reaches of the Black River and Springbrook Creek upstream of the project action area are unlikely to provide suitable spawning or rearing habitat for Chinook salmon or high-quality spawning or rearing habitat for steelhead. Moreover, the narrow footprint and north-south orientation of the bridge will further diminish the potential for the structure to cast shade that presents a migration barrier for any juvenile salmonids that may pass through the project action area. The potential Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 26 for the bridge to present a migration barrier to juvenile bull trout is negligible because bull trout are not known or expected to use habitats in the Black River within or upstream of the project action. All above-ground bridge elements will be situated upslope of the OHWM and outside of the 100-year floodplain elevation. Therefore, the presence of the bridge will not affect the flood storage capacity of the Black River floodplain. Impervious Surface Impacts Management of runoff from Segment A of the Lake to Sound Trail, including the pedestrian bridge and approach trail segments, will comply with the requirements of the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (Ecology 2012). No inter-basin transfers of stormwater will occur (i.e., all stormwater will remain in the basin in which it originated). The new impervious surfaces will support only non-motorized traffic and will therefore be non-pollutant-generating. Metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other contaminants commonly associated with roadway runoff will not be generated by the pedestrian and bike trail, meaning the proposed project will have no discernable effect on water quality in the project action area. Therefore, this analysis considers only the potential for effects on stream flows due to changes in the amount of impervious surface in the project action area. Construction of the pedestrian bridge and associated project features will add approximately 1,080 square feet (0.02 acre) of impervious surface within the project action area. No changes in flow regime, including peak flows and base flows of the Black River, are expected because the volume of runoff from the small amount of added impervious surface will be miniscule compared to the magnitude of stream flows within the Black River and the lower Green River. The anticipated increase in the 100-year peak runoff flow rate under developed conditions will be less than 0.1 cfs (Parametrix 2015). According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the maximum regulated flow for the 100-year recurrence interval is 12,000 cfs at the project site. In addition, most runoff from the approach trail segments is expected to infiltrate within or be intercepted by vegetated buffers along the Black River, which are between 25 and 50 feet wide. Based on the above, the increased amount of impervious surface in the project action area is not expected to result in any appreciable effects on the hydrology of the Black River, including base flow and peak flow. Indirect Effects The possible introduction of excess sediment and pollutants into action area waterbodies during project construction could reduce the availability of prey items for ESA-listed fish species in the project action area. However, the potential for any such impacts will be avoided or minimized by the implementation of BMPs and the TESC plan in compliance with the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines (Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group 2002). Any unavoidable impacts will occur only while and immediately after the ground-disturbing activities take place and are not expected to cause any long-term changes in foraging behavior or prey availability. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 27 Construction of the pedestrian bridge on Segment A of the Lake to Sound Trail will not cause any indirect effects associated with induced changes in land use, for the following reasons:  The project will not create any new roads, lanes, intersections, interchanges, or other facilities with the potential to alter access to nearby lands.  The project will not alter the level of service on existing roads in the project action area.  No building moratoria are in place that are contingent on the proposed project.  No land use changes are tied by permit condition to the proposed project.  No reasonably foreseeable actions or land use changes will be caused by or result from the project.  No current development plans include scenarios for the planning area where land use differs based on “build” versus “no-build” outcomes related to the proposed project.  No land use changes are likely to occur at a different rate as a result of the proposed project. Conclusions and Effect Determinations We have determined that the proposed Lake to Sound—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge will have no effect on ESA-listed species for the following reasons:  No suitable habitat for ESA-listed terrestrial species is present within or near the project action area.  Appropriate BMPs will be employed to minimize or eliminate sediment and pollutant inputs to waterbodies during construction.  ESA-listed aquatic species are not expected to be present in the project action area when construction activities are underway; project construction activities will be timed and sequenced to avoid ground-disturbing activities in sensitive areas when migrating salmonids may be present.  No spawning habitat for ESA-listed aquatic species is present in the project action area, and the potential for water and substrates in the project action area to provide suitable rearing, foraging, or refuge habitat is extremely low, based on poor water quality; lack of LWD and other sources of instream cover; steep, armored streambanks that are dominated by invasive shrubby species; and the presence of the Black River pump station immediately upstream of the project action area, which presents a substantial barrier to upstream and downstream migration.  The Black River does not support reproductive populations of Chinook salmon.  Water temperatures in the Black River basin are too high to support reproduction by bull trout.  The vegetated buffer of the Black River in the project action area is generally degraded, of limited width, and dominated by non-native herbaceous and shrubby species. In addition, only a small portion (approximately 2,900 square feet) of the riparian buffer will be affected by ground- disturbing activities, and the effects of riparian vegetation loss will be mitigated by replanting native vegetation in the riparian area of the Black River.  The project will comply with the City of Renton Shoreline Master Program, which requires the implementation of measures to ensure no net loss of ecological function.  Shade from the pedestrian bridge is not expected to present a migration barrier for juvenile salmonids because the bridge will be narrow and well above the water’s surface, and the bridge will be oriented on a north-south axis, minimizing the amount of time that any given point receives shade over the course of a day. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 28  Management of runoff from new impervious surfaces will comply with the requirements of Ecology’s 2012 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington.  The volume of runoff from 0.02 acre of new impervious surface will be miniscule compared to the magnitude of stream flows within the Black River and the lower Green River. We have determined that the proposed Lake to Sound—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge will have no effect on designated or proposed critical habitat for ESA-listed species for the following reasons:  Designated critical habitat for bull trout is not present in the project action area.  Conditions favorable for spawning or rearing by Chinook salmon or steelhead are not present, and the presence of the Black River pump station immediately upstream of the project action area presents a significant barrier to migration, meaning the primary constituent elements of critical habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead are essentially absent from the project action area. Table 2 provides a distinct statement of the overall effect of the project on each species and critical habitat considered in this analysis. Table 2. Effects Determinations for Species and Designated Critical Habitat Species Status Federal Jurisdiction Effect Determination Critical Habitat Effect Determination Chinook salmon (Puget Sound ESU) Threatened NMFS No Effect No Effect Steelhead trout (Puget Sound DPS) Threatened NMFS No Effect N/A1 Bull trout Threatened USFWS No Effect No Effect 1 Critical habitat for Puget Sound steelhead has been proposed but not designated. Proposed steelhead critical habitat occurs in the project action area. Should critical habitat be designated before project completion, the project will have no effect on critical habitat for Puget Sound steelhead. We have further determined that the project will not adversely affect EFH for Pacific coast salmon, Pacific coast groundfish, or coastal pelagic species. A full EFH analysis is included as Appendix E. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 29 Literature Cited Busby, P. J., et al. 1996. Status review of west coast steelhead from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. U.S. Dep. Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-27, 281 pp. Ecology (Washington State Department of Ecology). 2012. Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, Volumes I – V. Publication Number 12-10-030. Prepared by Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Program. Olympia, Washington. August 2012. Ecology (Washington State Department of Ecology). 2015. 2012 Washington State Water Quality Assessment (305[b] report and 303[d] list). Available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/303d/currentassessmt.html. Accessed February 3, 2015. Goetz, F.A., E. Jeanes, and E. Beamer. 2004. Bull trout in the nearshore. Preliminary draft. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District. Seattle, WA. Grette, G.B., and E.O. Salo. 1986. The status of anadromous fishes of the Green/Duwamish River system. Prepared for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, by Evans-Hamilton, Inc., Seattle, Washington. Harza. 1995. Comprehensive fisheries assessment of the Springbrook, Mill, and Garrison Creek watershed. Bellevue, Washington: prepared for City of Kent, Washington. Healey, M.C. 1991. Life history of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Pages 311 393 in C. Groot and L. Margolis, editors. Pacific salmon life histories. UBC Press, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia. Kerwin, J. and T. S. Nelson. 2000. Habitat Limiting Factors and Reconnaissance Assessment Report: Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watersheds (Water Resource Inventory Area 9 and Vashon Island). Washington State Conservation Commission and King County Department of Natural Resources. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. 2002. King County bull trout program: 2001 bull trout surveys, freshwater and marine nearshore. Prepared by Taylor Associates, Inc. Seattle, WA. King County Department of Natural Resources. 2000. Literature review and recommended sampling protocol for bull trout in King County. Seattle, WA. King County. 2014b. Water Quality Index Report for Springbrook Creek (Station 317). http://green.kingcounty.gov/wlr/waterres/streamsdata/WQIReport.aspx?Locator=0317. King County. 2015a. Stream report for Springbrook Creek (Station 0317). Available at http://green2.kingcounty.gov/wlr/waterres/streamsdata/watershedinfo.aspx. Accessed February 3, 2015. Lister, D.B. and H.S. Genoe. 1970. Stream habitat utilization by cohabiting underyearlings of Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho (O. kisutch) salmon in the Big Qualicum River, British Columbia. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 27:1215-1224. Mongillo, P.E. 1993. The distribution and status of bull trout/Dolly Varden in Washington State, June 1992. Washington Department of Wildlife, Fisheries Management Division. Report No. 93–22. Olympia, Washington. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 30 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 1998. Factors contributing to the decline of Chinook salmon: an addendum to the 1996 west coast steelhead factors for decline report. Protect Resources Division, Portland, Oregon. NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2004. Preparing essential fish habitat assessments: a guide for federal action agencies. Available at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/fish_habitat/efh_consultations_go.html. Parametrix. 2011. Technical Memorandum: Preliminary stormwater management plan, Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A. October 12, 2011. Parametrix. 2015. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A. Final Technical Information Report: Drainage and Floodplain. Prepared by Parametrix, Seattle, Washington. April 2015. Puget Sound Steelhead Technical Recovery Team. 2013. Identifying historical populations of steelhead within the Puget Sound Distinct Population Segment. Final Review Draft. 149 pp. Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group. 2002. Regional road maintenance Endangered Species Act (ESA) program guidelines. Developed by the Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group, Seattle, Washington. Available at http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/Roads/Environment/RegionalRoadMaintenanceESA Guidelines.aspx. Ruggerone, G.T. and D.E. Weitkamp. 2004. WRIA 9 Chinook salmon research framework: Identifying key research questions about Chinook salmon life histories and habitat use in the Middle and Lower Green River, Duwamish Waterway, and marine nearshore areas. Report prepared for the WRIA 9 Steering Committee. Shared Strategy for Puget Sound. 2007. Puget Sound salmon recovery plan. Adopted by National Marine Fisheries Service 19 January 2007. Volume I (plan) and Volume II (local watershed chapters). Available online at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/recovery_planning_and_implementati on/puget_sound/puget_sound_chinook_recovery_plan.html Accessed July 2, 2013. USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010. Bull trout final critical habitat justification: rationale for why habitat is essential, and documentation of occupancy. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon. September 2010. WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2002. Washington State salmon and steelhead stock inventory (SaSI). WDFW, Olympia, Washington. Available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/sasi/. WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2015a. PHS on the Web: An interactive map of WDFW priority habitats and species information for project review. Available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/phs/. Accessed January 16, 2015. WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2015b. Salmonscape fish database and mapping application. Available online at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/salmonscape/. Accessed January 16, 2015. WDNR (Washington Department of Natural Resources). 2014. Washington Natural Heritage Program geographic information system data set. Data current as of September 2014. Obtained July 30, 2015. WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation). 2014. Biological assessment preparation advanced training manual. Version 04-02-2014. Available online at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Biology/BA/BAguidance.htm. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat APPENDIX A October 2011 No-effects Determination for Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A October 24, 2011 PMX No. 554-1521-084 (A/2T300F) Jason Rich King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division 201 South Jackson, 7th Floor Seattle, WA 98104 Re: No Effects Letter Lake to Sound Trail Improvements – Segment A Dear Mr. Rich: King County is proposing to develop a 1.1-mile segment (Segment A) of what will ultimately be the 16-mile Lake to Sound Trail. The project is a non-motorized trail located in the jurisdictions of Renton and Tukwila in King County, Washington. Segment A, as well as the longer Lake to Sound Trail, is part of a Regional Trail System that provides non-motorized, alternative transportation and a recreational corridor for multiple trail users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, skaters, and others. A goal of the Lake to Sound Trail is to provide non- motorized transportation facilities to economically disadvantaged communities in southwest King County that have been historically underserved by such facilities. We have prepared this assessment on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in response to the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings. We also evaluated the presence of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as indicated in the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act). The federal nexus for this project is federal-aid funding provided by FHWA, as administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Highways and Local Programs Division. This evaluation was prepared in accordance with section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, to determine whether species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered and potentially occurring in the project vicinity will be affected by project construction or operation. Effects upon critical habitat, as applicable, are also evaluated. The USFWS and NMFS species lists were accessed on their websites on September 15, 2011 (attached). Based on information provided at those websites, the following ESA-listed species could occur within the action area: Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Puget Sound Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) (Threatened) Steelhead trout (O. mykiss) Puget Sound ESU (Threatened) King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 2  Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) Coastal/Puget Sound Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (Threatened)  Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) Southern DPS (Threatened)  Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) (Threatened)  Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) (Threatened)  Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) (Threatened)  Gray wolf (Canis lupus) (Endangered)  Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) (Threatened)  Golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) [historic] (Threatened) Designated critical habitat occurring in or near the action area includes the following:  Puget Sound Chinook salmon critical habitat  Coastal/Puget Sound bull trout critical habitat USFWS identifies endangered, threatened, and proposed species that may be present in a project area based on the species that are known or expected to be present within the county or counties in which the project occurs. For most of the species on the list for King County (Canada lynx, gray wolf, grizzly bear, northern spotted owl, and marbled murrelet), the project area—in a lowland, urban setting, with no roadless areas or old-growth forest nearby—does not fall within the species’ current or historical range, does not contain suitable habitat, or both. No observations of any of these species have been documented within 10 miles of the project site (WDFW 2011a). The proposed project, therefore, has no potential to affect these species and they will not be addressed further in this analysis. Information from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Natural Heritage database indicates that no threatened or endangered plants are known to occur within 1.5 miles of the project site (WDNR 2011). Suitable habitat for golden paintbrush (open grasslands in glacial outwash prairies) is not present at the project site. For these reasons, the proposed project has no potential to affect this species. NMFS recently listed the southern DPS of Pacific eulachon as threatened (75 FR 13012, March 18, 2010) and has proposed critical habitat for this DPS (76 FR 534, January 5, 2011). Because there are no suitable eulachon spawning rivers within at least 10 miles of the action area and no proposed critical habitat within 60 miles of the project, the project has no potential to affect this species. PROJECT LOCATION The project is located adjacent to the Black River within the cities of Renton and Tukwila, King County, Washington in Section 13, Township 23 North, Range 4 East, Willamette Meridian (Figure 1). The project area is located within the lower Green River basin and the Black River sub-basin (Watershed Resource Inventory Area [WRIA] Stream Number 09-004). The basin has a sixth-field hydrologic unit code (HUC) designation of 171100130305. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 3 The Segment A project area is a linear corridor mostly within an existing trail corridor. Two parallel railroad tracks (Burlington Northern Santa Fe [BNSF] and Union Pacific) cross the western quarter of the proposed trail corridor on elevated bridges oriented north-south. Another set of BNSF railroad tracks is located north of the eastern three-quarters of the proposed trail corridor, with an east-west bearing. These tracks tie into the north- south tracks north of the project area. East of the railroad bridges, the proposed trail alignment is within the City of Renton; west of the railroad bridges the proposed trail alignment is within the City of Tukwila. The project area is described from east to west below. The eastern terminus is located at a cul-de-sac on Naches Avenue SW near an office park. The eastern three- quarters of the proposed trail alignment, from Naches Avenue SW to Monster Road (approximately 4,300 linear feet), follows an existing gravel maintenance road south of the BNSF east-west railroad tracks and north of the Black River, along the northern perimeter of the Black River Riparian Forest. The gravel maintenance road is commonly used for walking and pet exercise. The existing road surface in most of this portion consists of compacted gravel and ranges from 10 to 12 feet wide. Areas immediately outside the edge of the existing gravel surface generally consist of grasses, low-growing annual plants, blackberry thickets, and native riparian trees. Uses outside this portion of the project area include a concrete recycling plant and an area zoned for light industrial uses just north of the railroad tracks. The proposed trail alignment crosses over the Black River using the existing Monster Road Bridge, then crosses Monster Road south of the river. For the western quarter of the proposed trail alignment, west of Monster Road, the alignment lies south of the Black River. For the first 150 feet west of Monster Road, the alignment is on existing paved surfaces, and then it follows a dirt footpath that joins an existing dirt road beneath the railroad bridges for 650 feet. The westernmost 600 feet of the proposed trail alignment is on maintained lawns associated with Fort Dent Park. Land use in the area is a mix of parkland and commercial/industrial sites. West of the railroad bridges, the area south of the proposed trail alignment is dominated by Fort Dent Park and the Starfire Sports Complex. The confluence of the Black and Green Rivers is located just north of the west end of the Segment A project area. Commercial businesses are north of the Black River and south of the trail corridor. Interstate 405 is located less than 1 mile south of the site. The project alignment is bisected by both Monster Road, a main arterial within the City of Renton, and the railroad bridges. Waterbodies potentially affected by the project include the Green and Black Rivers. The project alignment meets the Green River at about river mile (RM) 11.0 on the right bank of the river and parallels the lower 1,500 feet of the Black River (RM 0.0 to 0.3). Both streams are located within the Green/Duwamish River Watershed, within WRIA 9. The Duwamish River is defined as the portion of the Green/Duwamish River system downstream from the confluence of the Black River (River Mile [RM] 11.0) to Elliott Bay (RM 0.0), while the Green River extends upstream from the Black River. For the purpose of this report, the term ‘Duwamish River’ pertains to the first 11 miles of the river system, while the term ‘Green River’ pertains both to the portion of river above RM 11.0 and to the river system as a whole. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 4 The Lower Green River basin begins at the Auburn Narrows (RM 31) and continues to just downstream of the confluence with the Black River in Tukwila (RM 11). The lower Green River basin is composed of two areas that are split by the Black River basin to the north and the Mill Creek basin to the south. It is mostly on the urban side of the urban growth boundary and contains portions of the cities of Kent, Auburn, Tukwila, Federal Way, and SeaTac. Land uses include residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural, as well as some major highways, including Interstate 5. There are extensive areas of office/commercial and multi-family residential development. This area has developed rapidly over the past 20 years. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The purpose of the Segment A project is to design and construct an alternative non-motorized transportation corridor and multi-use recreational trail between Naches Avenue SW and the Green River Trail in the cities of Renton and Tukwila. Segment A will provide non-motorized access to recreation and employment centers and complete a link in the Regional Trail System network. The trail is intended to safely accommodate a variety of groups such as bicyclists, pedestrians, runners, wheelchair users, and skaters. Trail design standards will safely accommodate different ages and skill levels within those groups. Segment A is typically approximately 12 feet of asphalt pavement bounded by two 2-foot-wide shoulders and 1- foot-wide clear zones, in accordance with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) guidelines. The construction schedule for the project has not been determined, but the project will include:  Constructing a 12-foot-wide asphalt pavement trail with soft-surface (gravel) shoulders  Performing minor grading to construct the trail (approximately 1,500 cubic yards of cut and 1,100 cubic yards of fill, disturbing an area of approximately 2 acres outside the proposed trail footprint)  Creating non-motorized improvements on the east side of the Monster Road Bridge over the Black River  Installing a pedestrian-actuated signal crossing of Monster Road south of the bridge  Constructing an undercrossing feature beneath two railroad bridges to protect trail users from potential falling debris  Building one small retaining wall, 2 to 3 feet tall and no more than 200 feet long  Constructing up to two 10-foot by 20-foot pull-out rest areas (one at the northern perimeter of the Black River Riparian Forest and potentially one north of Fort Dent Park)  Installing one culvert  Installing split-rail fencing and plantings to minimize the potential for disturbance to sensitive wildlife The proposed project will not add any pollution-generating impervious surface (PGIS) to the project area. For this reason, no stormwater treatment is required per the 2009 King County Surface Water Design Manual. Similarly, flow control facility requirements are waived because the anticipated increase in the 100-year peak runoff flow rate under developed conditions does not exceed 0.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) in each of the four threshold drainage areas that were identified within the project boundaries (Parametrix 2011). The trail has been designed to King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 5 direct stormwater to the river side of the trail for dispersion as sheet flow. The use of permeable asphalt is not proposed at this time. Construction machinery that will be used includes typical equipment such as trucks, backhoes, compressors, and pumps. Potential best management practices (BMPs) for erosion and sediment control include, but are not limited to, placement of silt barriers, stormwater drain inserts, or straw bales/matting, as necessary. All erosion control measures will be inspected regularly to ensure adequacy and assess maintenance needs. A temporary erosion and sedimentation control (TESC) plan will be implemented to ensure that sediment-laden water does not enter any waterbody or drainage system. During the construction period, TESC measures will be implemented and maintained. Both a spill prevention control and countermeasures (SPCC) plan and a TESC plan will be closely followed during construction activities. ACTION AREA The action area for the proposed project is defined as the immediate construction area and all terrestrial habitat within 0.25 mile, as well as waters and aquatic habitat within the Green and Black Rivers, immediately adjacent to the trail alignment extending to 300 feet downstream of the alignment (Figure 1). We believe this is a conservative estimate of the maximum extent of terrestrial construction noise and of possible water quality effects (turbidity) on fish species. HABITAT CONDITIONS AND POTENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF PROPOSED OR LISTED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT A Parametrix biologist conducted a field reconnaissance on February 1, 2011. This site visit verified instream and riparian habitat conditions within the two project area streams. Both streams are highly urbanized, although riparian conditions within the Black River Riparian Forest, south of the trail alignment, are generally good. See attachments for photos of habitat conditions within the action area. The eastern three-quarters of the trail alignment (approximately 4,300 linear feet, from Naches Avenue SW to Monster Road) follows an existing, maintained gravel maintenance road. This portion parallels the BNSF railroad tracks and is commonly used for walking and pet exercise. The existing road surface in most of this portion consists of compacted gravel and ranges from 10 to 12 feet wide. Areas outside the edge of the existing gravel surface generally consist of grasses, low-growing annual plants, blackberry thickets, and native riparian trees. Traveling west from Monster Road, the alignment is on existing paved surfaces for approximately 150 feet. The next 650-foot stretch follows a dirt footpath that joins an existing dirt road beneath the railroad bridges. The westernmost 600 feet of the trail alignment is on maintained lawns within Fort Dent Park. Instream habitat of the Black River within the project area is dominated by run-type channel morphology, with maximum stream depths of greater than 6 feet. At the time of the site visit (February 2011), the wetted width ranged between approximately 30 and 40 feet and no pools or riffles were observed. Streambed material consists almost exclusively of sands and silts. The streambanks are relatively steep (approximately a 50-degree angle) and bank condition appears to be relatively stable. Underneath the Monster Road Bridge, both streambanks are 100 percent armored with riprap, from the edge of the water to the bridge deck. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 6 No large woody debris (LWD) was observed in the action area, and the presence of the Black River pump station above the project site precludes LWD recruitment from upstream. Overall, the quality of fish habitat is poor, with little habitat diversity. Within the action area, the Black River would probably be used for salmonid migration or possibly rearing, although instream cover is somewhat limited. The stream buffers in the Black River within the project area are generally degraded, of limited widths, and composed of herbaceous, shrub, and nonnative species. Downstream of Monster Road Bridge the stream buffer widths vary between 50 and 100 feet on the north side of the river to about 75 to 150 feet on the south side. The entire trail alignment west of Monster Road is within the regulatory buffers identified by the Cities of Renton and Tukwila on the south side of the Black River; approximately the westernmost 200 feet of the alignment is within the buffer for the Green River. Upstream of the bridge, the vegetated buffer widths average from 100 to 150 feet on both sides of the Black River. Only the westernmost 700 feet of the trail alignment east of Monster Road is within the buffer on the north side of the Black River. The vegetated buffer consists of lightly forested and herbaceous plant communities, although the forested zone is restricted to within 50 feet of the river. Vegetation includes red alder (Alnus rubra), tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix), salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera), western redcedar (Thuja plicata), western swordfern (Polystichum munitum), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Where the trail alignment is within 200 feet of the Black River upstream of Monster Road, riparian vegetation is sparse, with only a few scattered deciduous trees. Nonnative shrub vegetation is dominant; the area between the trail alignment and the river is covered almost entirely by Himalayan blackberry. The vegetation in this area is not adequate to support a properly functioning riparian zone (e.g., stream shading, LWD recruitment, leaf litter input, stream channel formation and maintenance). Under existing conditions, the riparian corridor throughout the project area is not fully functioning, but it does provide some functions that support aquatic species, including some level of small woody debris or LWD recruitment, overhead stream cover, bank stability, leaf litter recruitment, and water quality maintenance. The predominant cover type within the project footprint is the gravel surface of the existing maintenance road. Where the existing surface does not consist of gravel, a worn dirt trail exists and is largely free of trees and shrubs that would support riparian functions. WDFW (2011a, b) data indicate that Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead trout, and cutthroat trout all have documented presence within the Black River, within the action area. The type of use is listed as migration for all species except coho, which use the lower Black River for juvenile rearing. Conditions favorable for Chinook salmon spawning and rearing do not exist in the project area; recent as well as historical records indicate that Chinook do not use this area for spawning or rearing (Harza 1995; Williams et al. 1975). However, small numbers of adult fall Chinook migrating up the Green River occasionally stray into the Black River and become trapped above the Black River pump station (the pump station blocks downstream passage of adult salmon). In the fall of 1997, adult Chinook were observed entering the Black River and attempting to spawn near the SW 27th Street culvert, in Springbrook Creek, 2.3 miles upstream of the project area (WSCC 2000). Bull trout are not known to occur in the Black River, and there have been no documented occurrences of spawning (WDFW 1998). Water temperatures in the Black River basin are too high to support reproduction by King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 7 this species (Harza 1995). Small numbers of bull trout have been documented using the Duwamish River downstream of the confluence of the Green and Black rivers (WSCC 2000). Bull trout are considered possible but not likely present in the Green River upstream of that point. The western terminus of the trail alignment is approximately 50 feet from the Green River and approximately 200 feet upstream of the Green/Black confluence. The lower Green River and the majority of the Black River, including the reaches within the action area, have been designated as critical habitat for Puget Sound Chinook salmon (NMFS 2005). Much of the length of the mainstem Duwamish/Green River (including a small portion of the action area) has also been designated as critical habitat for bull trout (USFWS 2010), although this designation does not include the Black River. Critical habitat for the Puget Sound steelhead DPS has not been proposed or designated at this time, but based on steelhead distribution and life history requirements, designated critical habitat for steelhead in the future would likely include those reaches of the Black and Green Rivers designated as Chinook salmon critical habitat. POTENTIAL PROJECT IMPACTS Impervious surfaces: Upon the completion of trail construction, the 16-foot-wide trail corridor will generally consist of 12 feet of asphalt pavement bounded by two 2-foot-wide gravel shoulders, all of which is considered impervious surface. This amounts to 2.1 acres of impervious surface over the 1.1-mile length of the trail, which is an increase of 0.8 acre from current conditions (the existing hardened gravel surfaces in the trail corridor cover approximately 1.3 acres). Construction of the two pull-out rest areas will result in an additional 400 square feet (0.01 acre) of impervious surface. Stream buffer impacts: After trail construction is complete, approximately 23,500 square feet (0.54 acre) of land area within stream buffers will consist of paved or graveled surfaces. Under current conditions, approximately 18,000 square feet (0.40 acre) of this area consists of pavement, gravel, or other impervious surfaces. Trail construction, therefore, would result in a net increase of approximately 5,600 square feet (0.13 acre) in the amount of impervious surface within stream buffers. Trail construction near the western trail terminus will result in the removal of two Douglas-fir trees (14 inches and 19 inches diameter at breast height [dbh]) approximately 50 feet from the Green River and three Douglas-fir trees (19 to 24 inches dbh) approximately 100 feet from the Black River. Two ornamental deciduous trees (5 and 7 inches dbh) within 80 feet of the Black River will also be removed. Between the railroad tracks and Monster Road, two large cottonwood trees (30 and 36 inches dbh) approximately 40 feet from the Black River will be removed. Four or five small (6 to 9 inches dbh) cottonwood trees will also be removed in this area. Between two and five deciduous trees may be removed near the eastern trail terminus; all of these are more than 500 feet from any streams. Temporary disturbance: Approximately 6,565 square feet (0.15 acre) of vegetation will be temporarily disturbed by construction activities, largely within 2 feet of the project footprint. EFFECTS ANALYSIS Impervious surfaces: No changes in the water quality of project area streams will result, because no new PGIS will be created. No dissolved metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or other contaminants commonly associated with roadway runoff will be generated on the pedestrian and bike trail. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 8 No changes in flow regime are expected, including peak flows and base flows of the Black River or Green River, because the amount of flow generated from the small amount of added impervious surface (0.8 acre) will be miniscule compared to the magnitude of stream flows within the lower Black and Green Rivers. The mean monthly flow rate in the lower Duwamish River immediately downstream of the confluence of the Black and Green Rivers varies from 400 cfs in August to 2,600 cfs in January. Peak flows are substantially higher. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the maximum regulated flow for the 100-year recurrence interval is 12,000 cfs at the project site. Proposed changes in land cover are expected to increase 100- year peak flows by less than 0.1 cfs (Parametrix 2011). In addition, the vegetated buffers between the trail and the Black and Green Rivers will allow ample opportunity for stormwater runoff to be infiltrated or intercepted before entering the waterbodies. Most of the trail alignment (0.7 mile of the total 1.1-mile length) is between 200 feet and 1,000 feet from the Black River, separated from the waterbody by the wide, flat, densely vegetated Black River Riparian Forest. All stormwater from this portion of the trail will be infiltrated or intercepted before it reaches the water. Even where the trail is less than 200 feet from the Green River or Black River, most stormwater is expected to infiltrate within or be intercepted by vegetated buffers that are between 25 and 50 feet wide. No inter-basin transfers of stormwater will occur (i.e., all stormwater will remain in the basin in which it originates). For the reasons identified above, the project will have no impact on the hydrology or water quality of the Black River or the Green River. Stream buffer impacts: The overall quality of the riparian buffer areas that will be permanently displaced is low to moderate. Of 23,500 square feet of the proposed trail alignment that falls within regulatory stream buffers, only about 5,600 square feet consists of natural or other pervious surfaces—primarily grass or nonnative herbaceous and shrub species. The existing buffer functions of the areas within the project footprint are somewhat degraded, compared to fully forested conditions. Where it falls within stream buffers, the trail alignment is generally between 25 and 50 feet from the project area streams. The low-growing vegetation in the project footprint does not provide shade or LWD, nor does it contribute substantially to stream channel formation or maintenance, organic matter input, or other functions that support ESA-listed fish species. Several of the trees in the trail alignment west of Monster Road have the potential to provide shade, LWD, and other riparian functions for the Black River. Removal of these trees could reduce the capacity of the riparian area to contribute to habitat conditions required by Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. The potential for adverse effects is negligible, however, because the Black River does not support reproductive populations of any of these species. In addition, the coniferous trees are more than 50 feet from the stream on relatively flat slopes and, therefore, have little potential to contribute shade or LWD. Lastly, the areas from which the trees will be removed are relatively densely wooded, compared to most portions of the trail alignment; numerous other trees will persist and contribute to riparian functions in those areas after project construction is complete. Based on the nature and location of buffer impacts, therefore, no substantial degradation of riparian functions (e.g., fish and wildlife habitat; food chain support; water temperature maintenance) or processes (e.g., water flow; erosion and accretion; infiltration; groundwater recharge and discharge; sediment delivery, transport, and storage; large woody debris recruitment; organic matter input; nutrient and pathogen removal; stream channel formation King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 9 and maintenance) is expected to result from project-related clearing and no effects on stream habitat or fish resources in the project area streams are anticipated. Furthermore, an equivalent or greater area of riparian buffer will be enhanced as part of the project mitigation activities. Locations for buffer mitigation planting have not yet been established. The preferred option for buffer mitigation is on-site planting with native trees and shrubs in areas along the project alignment between the proposed trail and the Black and Green Rivers. All removal of trees from stream buffers will occur within the jurisdiction of the City of Tukwila, which requires a Tree Clearing Permit for such activities. Under the terms of this permit, all trees larger than 4 inches diameter that are removed will be replaced with one or more new trees, based on the replacement ratios in the Tukwila Municipal Code. All understory vegetation within the root zone of protected trees will either be retained or removed by methods that do not damage the tree, and then replaced with suitable vegetation. Temporary disturbance: Construction activities occurring directly adjacent to project area streams could increase turbidity and total suspended solids levels. However, no earthwork or riparian clearing will occur within 25 feet of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of the Green or Black River, and in most cases the closest construction distance to the rivers will be greater than 40 feet. Furthermore, any such effects will be avoided through the development and implementation of BMPs, including TESC and SPCC plans. Any overwater work will be confined to the existing Monster Road Bridge surface. All work in this area will be conducted in the dry season and the proper application of BMPs will ensure no concrete, falling material, or dust enters project waters. Temporarily cleared areas will be restored to pre-construction conditions and re-planted or seeded with native species after construction activities are complete, and no effects on listed species will occur. Impact minimization and mitigation: Key project elements and mitigation measures to reduce and avoid impacts of the project are as follows:  The streams in the action area have been avoided to the greatest extent feasible and no permanent filling of streams is anticipated.  A high priority was placed on avoiding and minimizing riparian buffer impacts.  The plan includes the use of retaining walls to narrow the trail footprint in the vicinity of some riparian buffers.  Earthwork and clearing near streams will be limited to the dry season to reduce the potential for sediment runoff.  Construction of the trail will occur on an existing gravel maintenance road to minimize impacts to functioning riparian buffers.  Where feasible, the trail will be widened on the north side of the existing corridor to minimize impacts to riparian buffers and wildlife habitat. No direct or indirect effects to forage species are expected within or downstream of the action area, and the project will neither increase traffic capacity nor have any measurable effect on human population growth in the area. For these reasons, the project is not expected to have any indirect effects on ESA-listed species. Segment A is intended to become part of a larger planned Lake to Sound trail system connecting to regional trails in Seattle and the greater Regional Trail System network. The improvement of the larger trail system, therefore, is King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 10 considered an interrelated activity under ESA, because the activity is related, but not dependent upon, completion of the larger Lake to Sound Trail system (i.e., Segment A has independent utility as a local trail). A second segment of the trail, Segment B, located adjacent to Des Moines Memorial Drive in the cities of SeaTac and Burien, is currently funded for design and is currently undergoing a separate ESA consultation. The other segments of the trail are not funded. Based on the location of the proposed trail, local land use codes, critical areas ordinances, and state and federal regulations, these interrelated activities are not expected to affect listed species. DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS ON PROPOSED OR LISTED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT Listed or proposed species will not be susceptible to impacts related to project activities for the reasons summarized in Table 1 and in the bulleted statements below. Therefore, we have determined that this project will have no effect on all species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under the ESA. Additionally, the project will have no effect on designated critical habitats for these species. Table 1 identifies the listed or proposed species that may occur in the project vicinity and summarizes the nearest known occurrences, effect determination, and the rationale for the determination for each species. Table 1. Effect Determinations and Rationale – Lake to Sound Trail, Segment A Listed Species/ Critical Habitat Jurisdictional Agency Nearest Suitable Habitat Effect Determination Effect Determination Rationale Chinook salmon NMFS Black River (25 feet) No Effect See below Chinook salmon critical habitat NMFS Black River (25 feet) No Effect See below Steelhead trout NMFS Black River (25 feet) No Effect See below Bull trout USFWS Green River (50 feet) No Effect See below Bull trout critical habitat USFWS Green River (50 feet) No Effect See below Eulachon NMFS > 10 miles No Effect No suitable habitat present Marbled murrelet USFWS Marine waters (> 5 miles) No Effect No suitable habitat present Northern spotted owl USFWS > 10 miles No Effect No suitable habitat present Canada lynx USFWS > 10 miles No Effect No suitable habitat present Gray wolf USFWS > 10 miles No Effect No suitable habitat present Grizzly bear USFWS > 10 miles No Effect No suitable habitat present Golden paintbrush USFWS > 10 miles No Effect No suitable habitat present The proposed project will have no effect on bull trout, Chinook salmon, or Puget Sound steelhead for the following reasons:  The project will not result in additional PGIS within the action area and there will be no increase in pollutant loading, so no negative effects to ESA-listed fish will result. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 11  No alteration of peak flows or base flows in project area streams will result from the increase in impervious surface associated with trail construction because the amount of flow generated from the added impervious surface (0.8 acre) will be miniscule compared to the magnitude of stream flows within the lower Black and Green Rivers, and the existing riparian buffers will effectively infiltrate or intercept the small amount of runoff generated from these surfaces.  No inwater or overwater work will occur and appropriate BMPs will be implemented to eliminate the risk of erosion and the chance of sediments entering action area waterbodies. As part of this effort, TESC and SPCC plans will be prepared and implemented. Based on the project location (relative distance to designated critical habitat) and the nature and scope of project activities as discussed above, the project will have no effect upon designated critical habitat for Chinook salmon or bull trout. ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH) ANALYSIS The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes a mandate that NMFS must identify essential fish habitat (EFH) for federally managed commercially harvestable fish, and federal agencies must consult with NMFS on all activities, or proposed activities, authorized, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely affect EFH. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has designated EFH for the Pacific salmon fishery, federally managed ground fishes, and coastal pelagic fisheries. Of the federally managed commercial habitat species, the Green and Black Rivers contain EFH for Pacific salmon, such as Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. However, for the reasons listed above, the project will have no deleterious effects on the physical, chemical, or biological components of these or other fish-bearing waterbodies. Therefore, the project will have no effect on Pacific salmon EFH. No EFH for groundfish or coastal pelagic species occurs within or adjacent to the action area. Based on these findings, the project will not adversely affect EFH. CONCLUSION This assessment satisfies FHWA’s responsibilities under Section 7(c) of the ESA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act at this time. We are sending you this copy of our assessment for your files. We will continue to remain aware of any change in status of these species and will be prepared to reevaluate potential project impacts if necessary. Please call me at 425-458-6200 if you require additional information or have any questions about this project. Sincerely, Parametrix Mike Hall Scientist Attachments: Figure 1 - Project Vicinity and Action Area Map USFWS King County Species List NMFS Species List Project Area Photographs King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Parks Division October 24, 2011 Page 12 REFERENCES Harza. 1995. Comprehensive fisheries assessment of the Springbrook, Mill, and Garrison Creek watershed. Bellevue, Washington: prepared for City of Kent, Washington. NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). 2005. Endangered and threatened species; designation of critical habitat for 13 evolutionarily significant units of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and steelhead (O. mykiss) in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; Final Rule. September 2, 2005. Federal Register 70(170):52630–52858. Parametrix. 2011. Technical Memorandum: Preliminary stormwater management plan, Lake to Sound Trail— Segment A. October 12, 2011. USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service). 2010. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for Bull Trout in the Coterminous United States; Final Rule. October 18, 2010. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal Register 75(200):63898–64070. WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 1998. 1998 Washington State salmonid stock inventory. Appendix: Bull trout and Dolly Varden. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. 437 pp. WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2011a. Priority Habitats and Species Report for the Lake to Sound Trail – Segment A project vicinity. Olympia, Washington. WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2011b. Salmonscape database. Available at: <http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/salmonscape/index.html>. Accessed on May 2, 2011. WDNR (Washington Department of Natural Resources). 2011. List of surveyed land sections in Washington identified by the Natural Heritage Program as reported to contain Natural Heritage Features. Available at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/HowTo/ConservationRestoration/Pages/amp_nh_data_instructio ns.aspx. Williams et al. 1975. A catalog of Washington streams and salmon utilization. Volume 1, Puget Sound Region. Washington Department of Fisheries. Olympia, Washington. WSCC (Washington State Conservation Commission). 2000. Habitat Limiting Factors and Reconnaissance Assessment Report: Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watersheds (Water Resource Inventory Area 9 and Vashon Island), Olympia, Washington. December 2000. ATTACHMENTS Proposed Rest Area ProposedRetaining Wall Proposed Culvert SW 7th StMonster R d S W 6 8 th A v e S Oakesdale Ave SW Ma u l e A v e SNaches Ave SWS 143rd St 80th Ave SIn t e r u r b a n A v e S S 144th St B N S F S 143rd St Martin Luther King Way S Duwamish River G re e n Ri ver T r ail G reen River Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNS F) R a ilw a y CITY OFRENTONCITY OFTUKWILA UNINC.KING COUNTY Black RiverPump StationBlack R iv e r ConcreteRecyclingPlant Black RiverRiparian Forest Fort Dent Parkand StarfireSports Complex Waterworks Gardens FosterGolf Links 0 800400Feet Figure 1Project Vicinity andAction Area Map Project Area LakeWashington §¨¦90 §¨¦5 §¨¦405 §¨¦5 UV99 UV509 UV599 UV518 S E A T T L E R E N T O N B E L L E V U E S E A T A C T U K W I L A ´Legend: ProposedTrail Alignment Existing Trail City Boundary Railroad Action AreaPath: K:\gis\1521-king-co\554-1521-084_LakeToSound\MapDocs\Fig1ESA_Oct2011.mxdParametrix Sources: King County, City of Renton, WDFW 2011, WSDOT, Aerials Express 2009. Lake to Sound Trail --- Segment A LISTED AND PROPOSED ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT; CANDIDATE SPECIES; AND SPECIES OF CONCERN IN KING COUNTY AS PREPARED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICE (Revised August 1, 2011) LISTED Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) – CoastalPuget Sound DPS Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) Gray wolf (Canis lupus) Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos = U. a. horribilis) Marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) Major concerns that should be addressed in your Biological Assessment of project impacts to listed animal species include: 1. Level of use of the project area by listed species. 2. Effect of the project on listed species' primary food stocks, prey species, and foraging areas in all areas influenced by the project. 3. Impacts from project activities and implementation (e.g., increased noise levels, increased human activity and/or access, loss or degradation of habitat) that may result in disturbance to listed species and/or their avoidance of the project area. Castilleja levisecta (golden paintbrush) [historic] Major concerns that should be addressed in your Biological Assessment of project impacts to listed plant species include: 1. Distribution of taxon in project vicinity. 2. Disturbance (trampling, uprooting, collecting, etc.) of individual plants and loss of habitat. 1. Changes in hydrology where taxon is found. DESIGNATED Critical habitat for bull trout Critical habitat for the marbled murrelet Critical habitat for the northern spotted owl PROPOSED None CANDIDATE Fisher (Martes pennanti) – West Coast DPS North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luteus) – contiguous U.S. DPS Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) [historic] Yellowbilled cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) SPECIES OF CONCERN Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Beller's ground beetle (Agonum belleri) Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) Hatch's click beetle (Eanus hatchi) Larch Mountain salamander (Plethodon larselli) Longeared myotis (Myotis evotis) Longlegged myotis (Myotis volans) Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) Northwestern pond turtle (Emys (= Clemmys) marmorata marmorata) Olivesided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) Pacific Townsend’s bigeared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii townsendii) Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) River lamprey (Lampetra ayresi) Tailed frog (Ascaphus truei) Valley silverspot (Speyeria zerene bremeri) Western toad (Bufo boreas) Aster curtus (whitetop aster) Botrychium pedunculosum (stalked moonwort) Cimicifuga elata (tall bugbane) Endangered Species Act Status of West Coast Salmon & Steelhead (Updated Aug. 11, 2011) Species1 Current Endangered Species Act Listing Status2 ESA Listing Actions Under Review Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) 1 Snake River Endangered 2 Ozette Lake Threatened 3 Baker River Not Warranted 4 Okanogan River Not Warranted 5 Lake Wenatchee Not Warranted 6 Quinalt Lake Not Warranted 7 Lake Pleasant Not Warranted Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha) 8 Sacramento River Winter-run Endangered 9 Upper Columbia River Spring-run Endangered 10 Snake River Spring/Summer-run Threatened 11 Snake River Fall-run Threatened 12 Puget Sound Threatened 13 Lower Columbia River Threatened 14 Upper Willamette River Threatened 15 Central Valley Spring-run Threatened 16 California Coastal Threatened 17 Central Valley Fall and Late Fall-run Species of Concern 18 Upper Klamath-Trinity Rivers Not Warranted 19 Oregon Coast Not Warranted 20 Washington Coast Not Warranted 21 Middle Columbia River spring-run Not Warranted 22 Upper Columbia River summer/fall-run Not Warranted 23 Southern Oregon and Northern California Coast Not Warranted 24 Deschutes River summer/fall-run Not Warranted Coho Salmon (O. kisutch) 25 Central California Coast Endangered 26 Southern Oregon/Northern California Threatened 27 Lower Columbia River Threatened • Critical habitat 28 Oregon Coast Threatened 29 Southwest Washington Undetermined 30 Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Species of Concern 31 Olympic Peninsula Not Warranted Chum Salmon (O. keta) 32 Hood Canal Summer-run Threatened 33 Columbia River Threatened 34 Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Not Warranted 35 Pacific Coast Not Warranted Steelhead (O. mykiss) 36 Southern California Endangered 37 Upper Columbia River Threatened 38 Central California Coast Threatened 39 South Central California Coast Threatened 40 Snake River Basin Threatened 41 Lower Columbia River Threatened 42 California Central Valley Threatened 43 Upper Willamette River Threatened 44 Middle Columbia River Threatened 45 Northern California Threatened 46 Oregon Coast Species of Concern 47 Southwest Washington Not Warranted 48 Olympic Peninsula Not Warranted 49 Puget Sound Threatened • Critical habitat 50 Klamath Mountains Province Not Warranted Pink Salmon (O. gorbuscha) 51 Even-year Not Warranted 52 Odd-year Not Warranted 1 The ESA defines a “species” to include any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife. For Pacific salmon, NOAA Fisheries Service considers an evolutionarily significant unit, or “ESU,” a “species” under the ESA. For Pacific steelhead, NOAA Fisheries Service has delineated distinct population segments (DPSs) for consideration as “species” under the ESA. Lake to Sound Trail – Segment A No Effects Letter Attachment 554-1521-084 (A/2T300F) Photograph 1. View of left bank riparian vegetation along the Black River, looking east from Fort Dent Park. Note presence of shrub vegetation and scattered small trees. Himalayan blackberry and other non-native species are also present. Photograph 2. View of proposed trail alignment, looking east from near the Green River Trail. Note degraded understory riparian conditions and the lack of vegetated ground cover. The trees will be maintained in place, where feasible. Lake to Sound Trail – Segment A No Effects Letter Attachment 554-1521-084 (A/2T300F) Photograph 3. View of riparian conditions on right bank of Black River, looking south from immediately upstream (east) of the Monster Road Bridge. Note the presence of non-native vegetation and scarcity of mature trees. Photograph 4. View of existing gravel trail/proposed trail alignment, looking east from immediately upstream (east) of the Monster Road Bridge. The Black River is on the right side of the photo and the Black River Pump station is in the background. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat APPENDIX B Bridge Plan and Elevation and Proposed Ground Improvement Areas ENGINEERING . PLANNING . ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES OFLAKE TO SOUND TRAIL SEGMENT A GREEN RIVER TRAIL TO NACHES AVE SW 47DRAFT411 108TH AVENUE N.E., SUITE 1800BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004T. 425.458.6200 F. 425.458.6363www.parametrix.com 60% REVIEW SUBMITTAL FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFRAFRAFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAFAFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRARRRRRRRAARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRARRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFFFFFFFFF 17 TESC9 CLEARING, GRADING AND TESC PLAN Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat APPENDIX C Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 C-1 Bridge Design:  A prefabricated pedestrian bridge will be used to reduce the risk of construction debris entering the river.  The waterward face of all bridge elements that may come in contact with waters of the state will be landward of the OHWM.  All above-ground portions of the bridge foundations, as well as the entire bridge itself, will be located upslope of the elevation of the 100-year floodplain.  There will be at least 3 feet of clearance between the bottom of the bridge structure and the elevation of the 100-year peak flow.  There will be no permanent light fixtures on the bridge.  To maximize the amount of light under the bridge, the bridge was designed to be as far above the water’s surface as possible, within the constraints imposed by avoidance of wetland impacts and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bridge Installation:  Contractors will be instructed to minimize damage to river banks when placing the bridge structure.  Biotechnical slope protection (i.e., using plants and plant materials for erosion control) outside the bridge shadow will be encouraged where feasible. Equipment Use:  Equipment use will be confined to specific access and work corridors to protect riparian, wetland, and aquatic vegetation.  In stream buffers and wetland buffers, when wet or muddy conditions exist, equipment that reduces ground pressure will be used whenever feasible.  Equipment will be checked daily for leaks; any required repairs will be completed in an upland location before the equipment is used in or near the water. Construction Materials:  Construction and deconstruction material will be stored in a location and manner that will prevent contaminants such as petroleum products, hydraulic fluid, fresh cement, sediments, sediment- laden water, chemicals, or any other toxic or harmful materials from entering waters of the state.  Construction materials will not be stockpiled waterward of the OHWM unless no other feasible location exists and it is explicitly authorized by WDFW and the City of Renton.  Only clean, suitable material will be used as fill.  To prevent leaching, forms will be constructed to contain any wet concrete. Impervious material will be placed over any exposed wet concrete that has the potential to come in contact with waters of the state. Forms and impervious materials will remain in place until the concrete is cured.  Wood treated with oil-type preservatives (e.g., creosote, pentachlorophenol) will not be used in any portions of structures that may come in contact with the water of the Black River. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 C-2 Construction-related Sediment, Erosion, and Pollution Containment:  Sediment control measures and BMPs (e.g., sheet piles, sediment fences, erosion control blankets, hay bales, coir logs, storm drain inlet filters, jute matting, mulch application) will be installed before the initiation of construction activities that may increase the erosion potential or act as a sediment source. All erosion control measures will be inspected regularly to ensure adequacy and assess maintenance needs. A TESC plan will be implemented to ensure that sediment-laden water does not enter any waterbody or drainage system. During the construction period, TESC measures will be implemented and maintained. Both the TESC plan and a spill prevention control and countermeasures (SPCC) plan will be closely followed during construction activities.  All ground-disturbing work will be conducted above the surface elevation of the water in the Black River at the time of construction.  All ground improvement areas will be above the OHWM, and the drilling equipment used for wet soil mixing will remain upslope of the OHWM at all times.  Project-related contaminants, such as petroleum products, hydraulic fluid, fresh concrete, sediments, sediment-laden water, chemicals, or other toxic or harmful materials, will be prevented from entering or leaching into waters of the state. For example, when the concrete deck is being added to the bridge, edge containment will be employed to ensure that no concrete enters the river below.  Excess slurry and spoils will be delivered to an approved upland disposal site, such as a gravel pit, for backfilling or reprocessing.  Upland sources of erosion, such as construction access roads, will be contained using erosion control and sediment detention measures.  No ground-disturbing activities will take place near the OHWM of any waterbodies in the project action area during rain events or when sufficient water is present to allow hydrologic connectivity with downstream waters.  Waste material from the project, such as construction debris, silt, excess dirt, or overburden, will be deposited in an upland area above the limits of anticipated floodwater.  All trash from the project will be deposited at an appropriate upland location. General  Areas for equipment storage, vehicle storage, fueling, servicing, and hazardous material storage will be established in a location and manner that will prevent contaminants such as petroleum products, hydraulic fluid, fresh concrete, sediments, sediment-laden water, chemicals, or other toxic or harmful materials from entering waters of the state.  The contractor will limit site work to daylight hours and comply with local permit restrictions.  Trees close to the trail will be limbed rather than removed where practicable.  Any straw used for erosion and sediment control will certified as free of noxious weeds and their seeds.  The transport and introduction of aquatic invasive species will be prevented by thoroughly cleaning vessels, equipment, boots, waders, and other gear before entering or removing the gear from the job site.  There will be no change in the amount of fill within the 100-year floodplain, or below the OHWM. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat APPENDIX D Species Lists from NMFS and USFWS West Coast Region Home About Us What We Do Aquaculture Fish Passage Habitat Protected Species Fisheries Hatcheries Resources Permits & Authorizations Publications Education & Outreach Maps & Data Recent Stories Newsroom NOAA Affiliates West Coast Region Home »Salmon & Steelhead »Recovery Planning »Puget Sound Recovery Plans Puget Sound Chinook Overview of Recovery Efforts Recovery Plan Population Trends •Salmon Population Trend Summaries •Salmon Population Summary Database •5-Year Salmon Status Review 1.4MB Hood Canal Summer-run Chum Overview of Recovery Efforts Recovery Plan Population Trends •Salmon Population Trend Summaries •Salmon Population Summary Database •5-Year Salmon Status Review 1.4MB Puget Sound Steelhead Current Recovery Planning Efforts Recovery Outline 5.3MB Population Trends •Salmon Population Summary Database •5-Year Salmon Status Review 1.4MB Recovery Information About Recovery Planning & Implementation in Puget Sound 2011 Implementation Status Assessment Final Report •Appendix A to Final Report Partners Puget Sound Action Plan Technical Recovery Team Publications Get Involved Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Domain The Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Domain is located in the northwestern corner of Washington State. It includes several large river systems flowing from the western slopes of the Cascade mountains, multiple estuaries, the San Juan Islands, Hood Canal, and a northern portion of the Olympic Peninsula. This domain has three listed species of salmon and steelhead: Puget Sound Chinook, Hood Canal Summer-run Chum, Puget Sound steelhead. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this region through its Oregon & Washington Coastal Area Office. For more information, please contact: Elizabeth Babcock, Puget Sound Recovery Coordinator, 206.526.4505 . NOAA HOME WEATHER OCEANS FISHERIES CHARTING SATELLITES CLIMATE RESEARCH COASTS CAREERS ◾Contact the West Coast Region ◾Learn more about ESA Section 7 consultations ◾Learn more about the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund ◾Log into my IFQ account ◾Find a biological opinion ◾Report a stranded or entangled marine mammal ◾Report a violation ◾Find grant opportunities How do I? West Coast Region Comment on Proposed Rules Grants Jobs Feedback Locate NOAA Staff About Us NOAA Fisheries Service Fisheries Home Privacy Policy Information Quality Disclaimer About Us U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge IPaC Trust Resource Report Generated July 30, 2015 11:41 AM MDT 2EQSN-2BLMR-AJ7D2-SD7TE-4YZ4BMIPaC Trust Resource Report 07/30/2015 11:41 Page 2 Information for Planning and ConservationIPaC Version 2.1.0 US Fish & Wildlife Service IPaC Trust Resource Report Project Description NAME Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge PROJECT CODE 2EQSN-2BLMR-AJ7D2-SD7TE-4YZ4BM LOCATION King County, Washington DESCRIPTION No description provided U.S. Fish & Wildlife Contact Information Species in this report are managed by: Washington Fish And Wildlife Office 510 Desmond Drive Se, Suite 102 Lacey, WA 98503-1263 (360) 753-9440 2EQSN-2BLMR-AJ7D2-SD7TE-4YZ4BMIPaC Trust Resource Report 07/30/2015 11:41 Page 3 Information for Planning and ConservationIPaC Version 2.1.0 Threatened Threatened Threatened Threatened Threatened Endangered Species Proposed, candidate, threatened, and endangered species that are managed by the and should be considered as part of an effect analysisEndangered Species Program for this project. This unofficial species list is for informational purposes only and does not fulfill the requirements under of the Endangered Species Act, which states that FederalSection 7 agencies are required to "request of the Secretary of Interior information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of a proposed action." This requirement applies to projects which are conducted, permitted or licensed by any Federal agency. A letter from the local office and a species list which fulfills this requirement can be obtained by returning to this project on the IPaC website and requesting an Official Species List from the regulatory documents section. Birds Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus CRITICAL HABITAT There is critical habitat designated for this species.final https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=B08C Streaked Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris strigata CRITICAL HABITAT There is critical habitat designated for this species.final https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=B0B3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus CRITICAL HABITAT There is critical habitat designated for this species.proposed https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=B06R Fishes Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus CRITICAL HABITAT There is critical habitat designated for this species.final https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=E065 Flowering Plants Golden Paintbrush Castilleja levisecta CRITICAL HABITAT has been designated for this species.No critical habitat https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=Q26U 2EQSN-2BLMR-AJ7D2-SD7TE-4YZ4BMIPaC Trust Resource Report 07/30/2015 11:41 Page 4 Information for Planning and ConservationIPaC Version 2.1.0 Proposed Endangered Threatened Mammals Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis CRITICAL HABITAT There is critical habitat designated for this species.final https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A073 Gray Wolf Canis lupus CRITICAL HABITAT has been designated for this species.No critical habitat Critical Habitats Potential effects to critical habitat(s) within the project area must be analyzed along with the endangered species themselves. Bull Trout Critical Habitat Final designated https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=E065#crithab Chinook Salmon Critical Habitat Final designated https://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=E06D#crithab Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat APPENDIX E Essential Fish Habitat Analysis Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 E-1 Action Agency: FHWA (in collaboration with WSDOT, King County, and the Cities of Renton and Tukwila) Project Name: Lake to Sound Trail Pedestrian Bridge, Renton, WA Background The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-267), requires federal agencies to consult with NMFS on activities that may adversely affect essential fish habitat (EFH). The objective of this EFH assessment is to determine whether or not the proposed action(s) “may adversely affect” designated EFH for relevant commercially, federally-managed fisheries species within the proposed action area. It also describes conservation measures proposed to avoid, minimize, or otherwise offset potential adverse effects to designated EFH resulting from the proposed action. EFH has been defined for the purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act as “those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity” (NMFS 2004). NMFS has further added the following interpretations to clarify this definition:  “Waters” include aquatic areas and their associated physical, chemical, and biological properties that are used by fish, and may include areas historically used by fish where appropriate;  “Substrate” includes sediment, hard bottom, structures underlying the waters, and associated biological communities;  “Necessary” means the habitat required to support a sustainable fishery and the managed species’ contribution to a healthy ecosystem;  “Spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity” covers the full life cycle of a species (NMFS 2004); and  “Adverse effect” means any impact that reduces the quality and/or quantity of EFH; such impacts can include direct (e.g., contamination or physical disruption), indirect (e.g., loss of prey, reduction in species’ fecundity), site-specific, or habitat-wide impacts, including individual, cumulative, or synergistic consequences of actions. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has designated EFH for the Pacific coast groundfish fishery, the coastal pelagic species fishery, and the Pacific coast salmon fishery. The Green River tributaries in the project action area contain EFH for Pacific coast salmon. No marine habitats are present in the action area; therefore, EFH for groundfish and coastal pelagic species is not addressed in this assessment. The EFH designation for the Pacific coast salmon fishery includes all streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and other waterbodies currently or historically accessible to salmon in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, except above impassable barriers. The Pacific coast salmon management unit includes Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 E-2 Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. Chinook and coho salmon have been documented in areas that may be directly or indirectly affected by the proposed action. The quality of water and substrates in the Black River as fish habitat is low. Water quality is generally poor, characterized by low dissolved oxygen concentrations, high temperatures, and high levels of fecal coliform bacteria, turbidity, and nutrients. Streambed material consists almost exclusively of sands and silts. Mobility and survival of juveniles and adults are impeded by the lack of LWD and other sources of instream cover, as well as steep, armored streambanks that are dominated by invasive shrubby species. The Black River pump station immediately upstream of the project action area presents a substantial barrier to upstream and downstream migration. Description of the Proposed Action The proposed action involves the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Black River, as part of Segment A of the Lake to Sound Trail. The proposed action is described in greater detail in Section 1.2, Project Description. Potential Adverse Effects of Proposed Project The potential effects of the proposed project on fish habitat are described in Section 4, Effects of the Action. Following is a brief overview of potential adverse effects identified in that discussion.  Construction activities above or adjacent to waterbodies, clearing, grading, and bridge construction, have the potential to introduce sediment and contaminants into those aquatic resources. However, this possibility will be minimized because no earthwork or riparian clearing will occur below the OHWM of the Black River. In addition, BMPs will be implemented during project construction in compliance with the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines (Regional Road Maintenance Technical Working Group 2002), to reduce the potential for the introduction of sediment or contaminants into waterbodies in the action area.  Temporary or permanent impacts to riparian habitat adjacent to waterbodies in the action area are not expected to adversely affect fish habitat quality, based on (1) the absence of forested riparian habitat in the areas where temporary disturbance will occur, (2) the generally degraded condition of the riparian buffer of the Black River in the project action area, (3) plans to restore temporarily cleared areas to pre-construction conditions after construction activities are complete, including replanting or seeding with native species, and (4) compensatory mitigation for any reductions in the overall ecological functions of any affected riparian buffers, wetlands, and wetland buffers.  Shade from the pedestrian bridge is not expected to present a migration barrier for juvenile salmonids because (1) most of the bridge surface will consist of grated decking that will allow sunlight to reach the water’s surface and (2) the bridge will be oriented on a north- south axis. In addition, areas directly under the new pedestrian bridge, where there is adequate height between the bridge and the ground level, will be replanted with native small shrubs and herbaceous plants. Lake to Sound Trail—Segment A Pedestrian Bridge No Effects Documentation for ESA-listed Species and Critical Habitat September 2015 E-3 Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Measures Strict adherence to permit timing restrictions and BMPs specified in Section 1.3, Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures, will protect fish-bearing waters within and downstream of the project action area from water quality effects during and after project construction. Conclusions The project will not result in any long-term adverse modifications to waters or substrates that support spawning, migration, or rearing by Chinook, coho, and pink salmon in the action area. As such, project construction or operation will have no direct, indirect, or cumulative adverse effects upon Pacific coast salmon EFH. No EFH for Pacific coast groundfish or coastal pelagic species occurs within or adjacent to the action area. Based on these findings, the project will not adversely affect EFH for Pacific coast salmon, Pacific coast groundfish, or coastal pelagic species.