With regard to maintenance and monitoring, there are five items to discuss. Overall, we are happy with the site. We’ll start with four items that we know need adaptive management and end on a high note regarding the marsh vegetation.
Maintenance of Invasives
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The site came with several infestations of Japanese knotweed and himalayan blackberry, as well as a host of other invasives. As of now, we have the blackberry under control through manual removal of the stems and roots. There remains one infestation of knotweed that we are managing actively. This is the infested area in May of 2014. In May of 2015, the plants occupied about 400% more area and they were 6 feet tall. These are approximately 4 feet tall.
Maintenance of Invasives
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I excavated the stems and roots using my wetland shovel to get as deep as two feet. This is 300 pounds of knotweed that was bagged in thick plastic and hauled to the landfill.
Maintenance of Invasives
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This is the completed site in May, at the end of the day.
Maintenance of Invasives
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After three months, new shoots had emerged. These were treated with Roundup.
• Second root excavation planned for next week • Includes removal of Rubus and other
undesireable invasives onsite and along fenceline with Port property
• Will be coordinated with EarthCorps maintenance effort this fall
• Expected to continue through next summer
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Vegetation Management
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We noted and were also informed by Donna that portions of the site were looking really dry. We have been trying to work with the landscape contractor to improve the irrigation programming. Ultimately, I rolled up my sleeves and figured out the programming, zonation and timing. I started by finding that this zone was programmed, but the water to this zone was not turned on.
Vegetation Management
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After turning on this zone and doubling the watering time throughout (40 min/day), we are seeing a great response.
Vegetation Management
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In the early spring, we noted several trees that did not survive the winter. These were replaced in May and they are thriving.
Vegetation Management
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Many of the willow and dogwood whips did not produce leaves – partly due to the irrigation issues. These are scheduled to be replaced this fall, when the weather is wetter and after some other repairs are made.
Vegetation Management
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We have had some welcome natural recruitment, such as pearly everlasting and soft rush
Vegetation Management
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Sitka alder and what I hope is Sweetflag or Yellowflag Iris.
Vegetation Management
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Horsetail has also established in several places. While this can be a nuisance, it competes with other, less desirable invasives
Shoreline Erosion
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Recall that in the design, the Trustees indicated that they did not like the use of rock for toe stabilization. We relied on the fact that the wingwall would protect this site. However, small boat traffic up river causes wakes that still make it to the banks in several places where the wake gets around the wingwall. This causes erosion of the toe during high tide.
Shoreline Erosion
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In addition, our landscapers missed the mark when it came to the planting of salmonberry. They planted it well within the intertidal zone, so none of it survived.
Shoreline Erosion
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Coupled with the failure of the whips to survive in places, the toe of the slope has eroded away. Our plan is to place topsoil in the area again, install whips and salmonberry at a higher elevation, and to place coarse wood and large wood along the toe of the slope to help mitigate the wakes. We’ll also place large wood on the berm to dissipate the wakes.
Berm Settling
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The majority of the berm has retained the habitat mix
Berm Settling
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However, the area affected by the small bat wakes has settled and eroded a bit, such that the habitat mix has settled and moved downslope. We plan to replace the eroded berm height with the soil used in the wetland, then apply at least two feet of habitat mix again now that the settling has stopped. We’ll also place large wood at the top of the berm to dissipate the wake action.
Marsh Vegetation Establishment
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In our spring meeting with you, we told you that we were unsure of the success of the marsh plantings. We’re happy to say that the majority of the plugs have survived.
Marsh Vegetation Establishment
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You can see in these photos, that the sedge and rush type species have not only survived, but established new growth.
Marsh Vegetation Establishment
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Also, the salicornia that was planted came from California, so we were expecting no survival. While it is not as densely established as the sedges and rushes, it seems to be taking hold throughout the site and we hope it continues to fluorish.
Other
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Aside from that, the only other O&M related discussion revolves around debris that enters the site from the river. Some coarse woody debris has settled on the site, including some man-made wood, which will be removed by Earth Corps. Also, in my visit last week, I found these panels of 3-inch styrofoam…they are now in the back of my truck headed to the dump with the knotweed next week.
Other
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I have seen geese and ducks during high tide. I found these raccoon prints in the site during low tide earlier this week. Our monitoring later this year will include snorkel surveys for fish and other aquatic species.
Other
• EarthCorps sheduled to visit site for year-1 maintenance in October (litter, goose exclusion, minor improvements) • Grette scheduled to conduct year-1
monitoring in September • Bluefield to implement maintenance after
Grette report is published (for record to show the action items and completion)
• inue through next summer
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DNR Easement
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As you recall, the projects along the Duwamish include DNR lands. The red box here shows the area of Site 1 that is on DNR land.
DNR Easement
• Initially thought to be SDOT land • Worked with SDOT and DNR to revise Lease and
initial DNR Easement • First-ever DNR long-term easement with private entity • Bluefield signed in May, DNR in August • To be filed with King Co. Auditor next week • inue through next summer
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Site 2 Status
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That is all we have for Site 1. Now onto Site 2. This is the latest valuation drawing, prepared two weeks ago.
Programmatic Critical Path Items:
• Financing for Design and Permitting
• Commitment for Financing
• Sale of 30 Credits
• Permit Approvals in Place (under way)
X
X
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In our spring meeting, we discussed the critical path to construction. Since that time, we have initiated feasibility work, design and permitting. We are still anticipating a 30 credit sale before we can move to construction.
30% SIP Design (submitted to SDOT)
1.) Port Parcel Add Marsh, Mudflat and Channel Reverse Channel Entrance Purchase and Sale Agreement in the works Port condemnation expected in September 2.) Railroad Crossing Eliminate Existing SDOT Access
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This is the habitat plan taken from the valuation exercise and the basis for the 30% submittal to SDOT.
Port Parcel
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Recall that the port parcel is approximately 0.25 acre of intertidal area and upland
Port Parcel
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Including a retaining wall between the intertidal area and the upland.
Railroad Crossing
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Likewise, the 30% includes a proposal to include a railroad crossing to help us eliminate the existing access road and push the habitat as far up as possible.
Railroad Crossing
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The crossing would take place here, going directly toward the swingbridge.
Technical Critical Path Items: • RR Crossing is Economically Feasible
– Sufficient Valuation (in process) – Permission from Railroad to allow crossing
• Port Parcel is Economically Feasible – Sufficient Valuation (in process) – Agreement on Purchase (in process) – Acquisition does not trigger major cleanup action
by EPA (Phase 1 ESA completed)
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In our spring meeting, we discussed the important technical items that we were assessing. The red indicates the status of these. Read from slide
Valuation
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We have been working closely with Michael to get our GIS files organized in a way that allows him to efficiently analyze the design relative to the valuation guidelines that you are using.
Valuation
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We have landed on a 2.35 acre project area, with about 1.8 acres of haitat (about twice the size of site 1)
Valuation – Creosote Walls/Pilings
6 pilings and wall
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Now that the mapping is done, we have accounted for the many creosote pilings that are in the intertidal zone. Here, the port parcel has a 56 foot wall that includes 6 piings
Valuation – Creosote Walls/Pilings
5 pilings and wall
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The SDOT (DNR) property has a 46 foot wall with 5 pilings
Valuation – Creosote Walls/Pilings
7 dolphins with 7 pilings each 3 with Navigation lights (replace 2 with concrete pilings?)
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In the waterway, there are 7 dolphins with 7 pilings each. Three of them have NAV lights (two of which are working). We anticipate replaceing the two working piles with concrete piles an working NAV lights that are solar powered, requiring no wiring or cables.
Valuation – Creosote Walls/Pilings
16 Other Pilings
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There are 16 other pilings that are not associated with the walls or dolphins.
Valuation – Creosote Walls/Pilings
Piling Count: Walls 11 Dolphins 49 Other 16 Total 76
How to consider 56 and 46 foot wall length?
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In total, there are 76 pilings in the project area, along with 106 feet of retaining wall that is made of creosote treated poles. We’ll be working with John, Rebecca and Michael on figuring out how to value the removal of these. We’ll also have to work with DNR to make sure that none of the existing leases are affected.
Schedule
• Submitted 30% to SDOT in June • Design Guidance meeting on October 18!
• JARPA and SEPA come after 60% • Estimated Spring 2015
• Permits in place by Fall 2015 • Construct during 2015 – 2016 fish window • Pending sale of 30 credits