05-0017 DOE Comment 032208
March 22, 2008
City of Yelm
Development Services
Attention: Grant Beck
105 Yelm Avenue West
Yelm, WA 98597
Dear Mr. Beck
SUBJECT: State Environmental Policy Act Review Comments for Yelm Village I (SEPA No. 08-0032), Yelm Village II (SEPA No. 08-0048) and Burnett Road Commercial (SEPA No. 08-0058), Thurston
County, Washington, WRIA 11.0000
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) appreciates this opportunity to provide comments and suggestions regarding the three proposed projects (identified above)
within the City of Yelm, Thurston County in Section 13 Township 17 North Range 1 East and Section 24 Township 17 North Range 1 East.
While there are no streams or fish habitat concerns regarding the three proposed developments the WDFW wishes to comment on potential habitat impacts to the Mazama Pocket Gopher (sp.
Thomomys mazama).
Mazama Pocket Gopher are considered a priority species under the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Habitat and Species program and currently listed as State Threatened
due to population declines and elimination of prairie habitat by development and other land uses.
The locations of the subject properties have been identified as having prairie soils indicative of Mazama Pocket Gopher habitat. Therefore, WDFW will need to send a qualified biologist
to the subject property to conduct a field survey in order to verify and record (GPS positional data) the presence or absence of Mazama Pocket Gopher mounds.
Mr. Beck, SEPA Review Comments for Yelm Village I and II and Burnett Road Commercial projects, page 2
Should any of the properties in question contain these mounds WDFW will provide additional consultation to the City of Yelm regarding wildlife protection / habitat management for the
listed species.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide these comments. If you have any question, please contact me at 360-902-2579 or kunzjpk@dfw.wa.gov.
Sincerely,
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Program