HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260205_PJA26-0095_Critical Area BACHMAN ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC
519 34th Street • Anacortes,WA 98221
(206)963-2909 • andrea@bachmanenvironmental.com
September 18, 2018
BYK Construction, Inc.
Attn: Paul Woodmansee
133 West State Street, Suite 101
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
RE: Reconnaissance Report— Snohomish County Parcel #31052800100902
Introduction
On August 30, 2018, Bachman Environmental performed a reconnaissance-level investigation on the
parcel referenced above. The property is located at 16612 5 Is' Ave NE in the city of Arlington, WA
(within a portion of Section 28, Township 31N, Range 05E,W.M.).
The purpose of the investigation was to identify potential regulated critical areas (i.e., wetlands or fish and
wildlife habitat conservation areas) on and in the vicinity of the project area.
Results of the investigation indicate that the site contains no regulated wetlands or fish and wildlife habitat
conservation areas. There are regulated critical areas off-site in the vicinity, which are not likely to affect
the development potential of the property.
Landscape Setting
The subject property is relatively flat and rectangular with the long axes oriented east-west. It is fronted to
the east by 51It Ave NE. The southeastern part of the property contains an existing gravel driveway, an
unoccupied single-family residence, several associated outbuildings, and scattered trees. The remainder of
the property consists of a managed field that is periodically mowed. Abutting land uses consist of
commercial use to the north, industrial to the east and undeveloped agricultural fields to the south and
west. The subject property is zoned for General Commercial (GC) use.
Methods
Wetland areas are determined using the routine determination approach described in the Corps of
Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and the Regional Supplement
to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region
(Version 2.0) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2010).
Available online resources reviewed included the National Wetland Inventory(NWI) map of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey, WDFW PHS on the web, and WDNR
Forest Practices Application Review System (FPARS) water type map.
The National Wetland Inventory map displays a forested wetland more than 1,000 feet to the west of the
subject property, while the WDFW PHS on the web displays a similar feature at the same location that is
larger and located a little over 500 feet from the subject property.
FPARS water type map displays a ditched drainage course as a Type N Water, located offsite to the
southeast paralleling the eastern side of 5151 Ave NE. There are no apparent indicators of fish presence
within this drainage course. Any regulatory measures associated with the drainage are unlikely to
detrimentally affect the subject site due to its location on the opposite side of the road.
Results/Findings
The dominant vegetation generally consisted of common field species such as orchardgrass (Dactylis
glomerata, FACU), red clover (Trifolium pratense, FAC), English plantain (Plantago lanceolata, FACU), and
common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, FACU). The dominant vegetation did not meet the positive
indicators criteria for hydrophytic vegetation. The soils are black (IOYR 2/1) sandy loam in the upper 8
inches and brown (IOYR 4/3) fine sandy loam from 8 to 16+ inches. The soils were dry throughout the
profile. The soils did not meet wetland hydric soils indicators. There were no wetland hydrology
indicators present. Based on the lack of field indicators, no wetlands were identified.
There are drainage ditches along the northern, eastern, and southern property lines of the subject parcel.
Such ditches are typical of the area as part of the historic agricultural practices. The on-site ditches
appeared to have been constructed out of uplands and did not support wetland hydrology indicators. No
culverts or connectivity to the off-site drainage course to the east were identified.
No water was present within the ditches at time of the August 301h site visit. There were no discernable
signs of flow or scour marks for determining an ordinary high water mark, which suggests that the ditches
do not contain relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing water.
The drainage ditch along the northern property line extends off-site to the west. Although access was not
obtained to determine the full extent of this ditch an examination of aerial photos and LIDAR images
indicate that the off-site segment may extend to jurisdictional wetlands several hundred feet off-site to the
west. In general, ditches excavated wholly in and draining only uplands that do not carry relatively
permanent flow are not typically considered jurisdictional by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). If
deemed necessary during the planning or permitting phase of the project, the applicant may request a
jurisdictional determination from the Corps if the plan proposes to impact that northern ditch.
Use of this Report
This report is supplied to Paul Woodmansee as a means of determining existing conditions during the
feasibility phase of this project.
Bachman Environmental conformed to the accepted standards and methods employed by ecologists in
Western Washington. The analysis and conclusions supplied in this report are based on best professional
judgment. No attempt has been made to determine hidden or concealed conditions. The regulations
applicable to critical areas are subject to varying interpretations and may be changed at any time by the
courts or legislative bodies.
Should you have any questions or concerns relating to the findings of this report, please feel free to call at
(206) 963-2909.
Sincerely,
Andrea Bachman, PWS