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Habitat Assessment Form Narrative Wetland Resources, Inc. Murray – 5502 161st Place NE July 2017 - WRI # 17208 1 July 19, 2017 Murray Family of Companies Attn: Todd Levitt 14410 Bel-Red Road Bellevue, WA 98007 RE: Habitat Unit Assessment Form Narrative for King County Tax Parcels: [PHONE REDACTED] and [PHONE REDACTED] (5502 161st Place NE) Redmond Zoning Code (RZC) 21.64.020(A)(1) identifies Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (HCAs) as those areas with the presence of certain protected species and habitats. The protected species include species of concern as defined by Redmond (federally or state designated threatened, endangered, sensitive, or candidate species), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) designated priority species, and species of local importance. The protected habitats include those areas that species of concern have a primary association, WDFW designated priority habitats, habitats of local importance, naturally occurring ponds less than 20- acres in size, waters of the state, aquatic resources planted with game fish, and land essential to preserving habitat connections. Definitions of these terms are found in RZC 21.78. In addition to the protections afforded to other critical areas, the presence of HCAs requires additional protections stipulated by RZC 21.64.020E and RZC 21.64.020G. The investigation area is approximately 0.79-acres comprised of two legal parcels ([PHONE REDACTED] and [PHONE REDACTED]) located at the southern end of a cul-de-sac at 5502 161st Place NE, in the City of Redmond, Washington as part of Section 14, Township 25N, Range 05E. Wetland Resources, Inc. (WRI) completed a site investigation on July 18, 2017 to conduct a Habitat Unit Assessment on and in the vicinity of the aforementioned tax parcels in order to determine the presence of any HCAs through use of City of Redmond Habitat Unit Assessment Forms. This document is intended to serve as a brief narrative accompanying those forms. The subject parcel is located in a suburban residential setting approximately 0.25 southwest of Marymoor Park, and 1 mile northwest of Lake Sammamish. Nearby land uses consist of housing, recreation (i.e. parks), and commercial business centers. The subject property is bordered on the southwest by a recently completed subdivision north of NE 51st Street, across from 162nd Avenue NE. A topographically low area is present on the subject property that runs roughly west to east across the property. ---PAGE BREAK--- Habitat Assessment Form Narrative Wetland Resources, Inc. Murray – 5502 161st Place NE July 2017 - WRI # 17208 2 HABITAT UNIT ASSESSMENT FORMS The City of Redmond Habitat Unit Assessment Form was used to evaluate the habitat units present on the subject property, pursuant to the Critical Areas Reporting Requirements outlined in RZC Appendix 1. Habitat Type A (Fringe/Patchy Forest) received a total score of 14 on the habitat unit assessment form. Habitat Type B (Partially Developed Yardspace) received a total score of 9. The Habitat unit assessment forms are attached to this report. The primary reason for the difference in the habitat unit scores is the presence/absence of forested areas and the relative presence of invasive plant species. Habitat Unit A (Fringe/Patchy Forest) is a mature forest area composed of two vegetation community types with a moderate level of interspersion, and consists of an upperstory and understory. The presence of invasive plant species is low. This habitat unit fringes the west, southwest, and northwest boundaries of the subject site, and acts to extend a minor habitat corridor used by suburban wildlife, such as black-tailed deer. Habitat Unit B (Partially Developed Yardspace) is an open pasture/lawn area composed of three vegetation community types with a moderate level of interspersion, and consists of a herbaceous field with a sparse overstory of small trees in the southeast corner of the parcel. The presence of invasive plant species is moderate. This habitat unit comprises the majority of the subject site, and acts to connect two adjacent small, forested habitats used by suburban wildlife, such as black- tailed deer. Neither habitat unit contains any priority habitats, nor are any priority species expected to make use of them. The size of both units is small (less than 10 acres). SUMMARY OF SITE INVESTIGATION The multi-tiered forested communities that comprise Habitat Unit A (Fringe/Patchy Forest), and the forb-rich Habitat Unit B (Partially Developed Yardspace), provide moderate-quality habitat function on the subject property. The physiognomy of Habitat Unit A provides an abundance of perches, food, cover, and other important resources for wildlife. The invertebrates associated with Habitat Unit B provide a valuable food resource for insectivorous bird species. Migratory songbirds may potentially nest within Habitat Unit A during late spring/early summer. Although moderate wildlife value is provided by the on-site habitat, the disturbed conditions surrounding the site are significantly degraded. The minor habitat areas present on and adjacent to the site do not contain any specific features that would establish them as priority habitat. Past housing development has fragmented the area. While further development will increase fragmentation, the undeveloped habitat on and adjacent to the subject site is already relatively isolated. Wildlife species that currently use the on-site habitat are predicted to have higher tolerance to human-wildlife interactions than species that utilize more rural habitat sites. While the habitat units on the subject site are used by a variety of wildlife species, only federally or state species of concern, priority species, species of local importance, or breeding migratory ---PAGE BREAK--- Habitat Assessment Form Narrative Wetland Resources, Inc. Murray – 5502 161st Place NE July 2017 - WRI # 17208 3 songbirds afford protection to upland areas. There is no observed evidence that any federal, state, or locally important species use the subject site. Further, there is no recorded information on commonly used available resources that would indicate such use. No ponds, waters of the state, or aquatic resources are on or adjacent to the site. No HCAs were identified on the subject parcels. USE OF THIS REPORT This Habitat Assessment Form Narrative for King County parcels [PHONE REDACTED] and [PHONE REDACTED] is supplied to Murray Family of Companies as a means of determining possible presence of Habitat Conservation Areas, as required by The City of Redmond. This report is based largely on readily observable conditions and, to a lesser extent, on readily ascertainable conditions. No attempt has been made to determine hidden or concealed conditions. The laws applicable to critical areas are subject to varying interpretations and may be changed at any time by the courts or legislative bodies. This report is intended to provide information deemed relevant in the applicant's attempt to comply with the laws now in effect. This report conforms to the standard of care employed by wildlife ecologists. No other representation or warranty is made concerning the work or this report, and any implied representation or warranty is disclaimed. Wetland Resources, Inc. Scott Walters, PWS Associate Ecologist & Wildlife Biologist [EMAIL REDACTED] (425) 337-3174 ATTACHMENTS: CITY OF REDMOND HABITAT UNIT ASSESSMENT FORMS PHOTOGRAPHS OF HABITAT UNITS HABITAT UNIT MAP ---PAGE BREAK--- Habitat Assessment Form Narrative Wetland Resources, Inc. Murray – 5502 161st Place NE July 2017 - WRI # 17208 4 References Redmond, City of. Title 21, Redmond Zoning Code. Chapter 21.64, Critical Areas Regulations. Redmond, City of. 2012. Map 64.3. Streams Classification. Redmond, City of. 2011. Map 64.2. Critical Wildlife Habitat: Willows/Rose Hill Neighborhood. Redmond, City of. 2005. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (Core Preservation Areas) Critical Areas Map. WDFW. 2017. Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) Interactive Map. http://apps.wdfw.wa.gov/phsontheweb/. Accessed January 2017. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- PHOTOGRAPHS OF HABITAT UNIT A (FRINGE/PATCHY FOREST): PHOTOGRAPHS OF HABITAT UNIT B (PARTIALLY DEVELOPED YARDSPACE): ---PAGE BREAK--- THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ---PAGE BREAK--- HABITAT B HABITAT A 0 200 100 SCALE: 1" = 100' Delineation / Mitigation / Restoration / Habitat Creation / Permit Assistance 9505 19th Avenue S.E. Suite 106 Everett,Washington 98208 Phone: (425) 337-3174 Fax: (425) 337-3045 Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Sheet 1/1 WRI Job # 17208 Drawn by: S. Walters Date: July 19, 2017 HABITAT UNIT MAP 5502 161st Place NE Redmond, Washington Murray Family of Companies Attn: Todd Levitt 14410 Bel-Red Road Bellevue, WA 98007 HABITAT UNIT MAP 5502 161ST PLACE NE PORTION OF SECTION 14, TOWNSHIP 25N, RANGE 05E, W.M. LEGEND HABITAT A HABITAT B SITE BOUNDARY ---PAGE BREAK--- THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK