Loading...
2021.0237.PR0007 Pocket Gopher Report Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher (Thomomys Mazama) Absence Report Prepared for: Dennis Daly Xxxx Johnson Point NE Olympia, WA 98506 Prepared by: Alexander Callender, MS, PWS Ecologist LAND SERVICES NORTHWEST LLC (360) 481-4208 September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 1 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report is the result of a survey of the 5.62 acre parcel at 17021 103rd Avenue SE Parcel # 64303100500 in Yelm, WA with the legal description of Section 29 Township 17 Range 2E Quarter NW NE Plat MCKENNA IRRIGATED TRACTS BLK 31 LT 4 & 5 Document 009/044 E 282F LYING WLY OF NLY EXT OF E LN OF LT 10 BLK 31 LESS CC 09-2-032159-4 in Thurston County (Figure 1). The Purpose of this report is to provide a study of the presence or absence of indicators of the Mazama Pocket Gopher (Thomomys Mazama) (MPG). Four subspecies of Mazama pocket gophers found in Thurston County are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Impacts to Mazama pocket gophers should be avoided or addressed through USFWS permitting processes. The presence of this species on a property may have regulatory implications that may limit the amount or type of development that can occur on a property in order to avoid “take” of the species. Take is defined under the ESA as as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any threatened or endangered species. The Thurston County Protocol which has been adopted is accepted as the best available science in order to avoid the risk of take and requires two Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 2 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 visit 30 days apart among other things. The protocol has been copied and the information should meet the needs of the City of Yelm. This study should allow the reader to assess whether the Mazama pocket gopher is likely to be found on site and what the implications of its presence or absence may have with regard to permitting a residence or other structures or development. 2.0 METHODS 2.1 Review of Existing Information Background Review Background information on the subject property was reviewed prior to field investigations and included the following: • Thurston County Geodata Gopher Soils Shapefiles • WDFW Priority Habitats and Species Information • USFWS species list information • WDFW species information 2.2 Summary of Existing Information The existing information shows gopher soils within 600 feet of the subject property. They are a Spanaway gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes and Spanaway gravelly sandy loam 3-15 percent slopes, which are more preferred according to Attachment A below (Figure 2) . 3.0 Existing Conditions The subject property is a relatively flat 5.62 acre parcel. The parcel has fruit trees and large Douglas firs in the northeastern portion of the property and pastureland on the remaining acreage. Walmart is to the south (Figure 3). The site was cross fenced and there is a large amount of concrete debris found on site. Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 3 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 4 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 5 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 The WDFW Priority Habitats and Species Map shows the MPG in the vicinity of the subject property within 600 feet (Appendix B). Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 6 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 2.3 2018 Mazama Pocket Gopher Protocol A. General Information – 2018 Approach 1. The MPG review season will run June 1-October 31, 2018. Survey Done August 24, 2018 2. The protocol described in this memorandum will only apply to properties not known to be occupied by MPG since April 2014, the date of the federal listing. 3. Negative determinations will be valid for the length of the underlying County permit or approval, per County code. The determination is negative. 4. Qualified consultants may perform field reviews and submit results for County evaluation, per the CAO. Consultants must have received training from USFWS at one of the two trainings offered in May/June 2018.s The author is on the USFWS list as having passed the training and is qualified to make a determination with this certification. B. In-Office Procedures 1. Staff will review land use applications to determine if the MPG field screening protocols described in this memorandum must be initiated for the following: a. Within 600 feet of a site known to have positive MPG occurrence; or The PHS shows the Mazama pocket gophers in the vicinity of the site and within 600 feet. b. On or within 300 feet of a soil type known to be associated with MPG occupancy. The Map shows associated soils The soils are Spanaway gravelly sandy loam which are preferred by the MPG. 2. County staff will determine if other factors preclude the need for field screening. See Preliminary assessment below. N/A 3. Staff will notify applicants if their application cannot be excluded from further review. 4. Applicants may hire a consultant to perform field review, or may request that field review be conducted by County staff according to the protocol described in this memorandum. 5. County staff will review critical area reports submitted by consultants. 6. For sites to be screened by the County, staff will coordinate site visits with landowners/applicants, ensure advance notification and property access, and develop site visit schedules. 7. For sites where no MPG activity is observed, the County will provide applicants with a project condition that requires them to stop construction activity and alert the County and USFWS if evidence of MPG occupancy is observed. N/A - No activity observed 8. Thurston County landowners who know or learn that Mazama pocket gophers are present on their property can move forward with their proposed development by: 1) proposing mitigation to the County as directed in the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance (Title 24 TCC); or 2) contacting USFWS directly to discuss the review, assessment, and mitigation process most appropriate for their site(s) and proposed activities; or 3) waiting to participate in the yet to be completed Thurston County HCP. C. Preliminary Assessment Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 7 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 As land use applications are received, properties mapped with or within 300 feet of gopher and/or prairie soils undergo the following preliminary assessment in-office. 1. For properties or project areas that appear to meet County criteria below, an internal review is conducted by staff biologist to determine if the project may be released from the full gopher review process. The following criteria may release a project from further gopher review: a. Locations west of the Black River, or on the Steamboat Island or Cooper Point peninsulas. N/A b. Sites submerged for 30 consecutive days or more since October 31, 2017. N/A c. Sites covered with impervious surfaces (as defined in CAO Chapter 17.15 and Title 24). N/A d. Fully forested (>30%) sites with shrub and fern understory. N/A e. Sites that consist of slopes greater than 40 percent, or that contain landslide hazard areas (per existing County regulations). N/A f. Sites on less preferred MPG soils north of Interstate 5. N/A g. Building to take place in the footprint of an existing structure (also mobile home replacements in the same footprint). N/A h. Mobile home replacements in existing lots in an existing mobile home park. It is not a mobile home replacement. i. Heating oil tank removal N/A j. Foundation repair N/A k. Projects which lie >300 feet from mapped gopher soils. It is within 300 ft There is a portion of the Northeast corner that would meet the fully forested conditions (Appendix C) 2. If a property and/or project area do not meet internal review criteria, the project is put on a list to be scheduled for full MPG review during the appropriate seasonal review period. 3. In addition to the in-office preliminary assessment, the County HCP biologist may, if time allows, visit properties prior to the first gopher review in order to screen for prairie habitat. This screening process focuses on the presence or absence of native prairie plants, Oregon white oak trees (Quercus garryana), or Mima mounds protected under the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). Although there may be some prairie species present, the area has been pasture and has been graded and the prairie habitat was not found. D. Implementation Measures In order to ensure the review process runs efficiently, the following measures will be implemented as part of the 2018 screening approach. These are intended to reduce costs and staff Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 8 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 time, and ensure that MPG screening requests, especially those associated with building permit applications, are screened during the screening season. 1. No soil verification will be required in conjunction with MPG field screening. 2. Site mowing or brushing will be required to initiate first site visits, where necessary and feasible, and completed two to four weeks in advance of the site visit. Site was mowed and the ground was visible in most areas. 3. No further screening will be conducted in 2018 following the detection of MPG mounds on a property. The County will notify landowners that MPG evidence has been detected within two weeks. The Mazama pocket Gopher mounds were not found. 4. At the end of the 2018 season, County staff will provide data regarding MPG occupancy to USFWS. 5. No additional site visit will be required if indeterminate mounds are detected, if the full number of required visits has been completed. N/A 6. The County will prioritize project specific applications over non-project applications. This will help ensure that applicants that have projects ready for construction will receive necessary permits and may initiate construction in a timely manner. E. Site Visit Overview County field personnel or hired consultants will conduct field observations to determine MPG presence on sites with potential habitat. These site visits will be conducted as follows: 1. All valid site visits must be conducted from June 1 through October 31, 2018. Site visits outside that survey window will not be considered valid. Site visit conducted August 24, 2018 and September 25, 2018 2. A site or parcel is considered to be the entire property, not just the footprint of the proposed project. The entire property was surveyed 3. Sites with less preferred soils (see Attachment A) will be visited two (2) times, at least 30 days apart. N/A -No MPG activity found 4. Sites with more preferred soils (see Attachment A) will be visited two (2) times, at least 30 days apart. No MPG activity found 5. Site conditions must be recorded on a data sheet or similar information documented in narrative form. A template data sheet can be found on the County website at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/gopher-reviews/index.html 6. Document and describe which areas of the parcel cannot be screened due to limited accessibility and/or dense understory. This should be depicted on an aerial or site plan submitted to the County. N/A 7. The ground must be easily visible to ensure mound observation and identification. Request mowing if necessary to ensure visibility. Wait two to three weeks after mowing before beginning screening. The first survey was conducted without mowing, but visibility was ok. The area was mowed for the second survey and the survey was conducted 2 weeks after mowing. http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/gopher-reviews/index.html F. Detailed Field Methodology Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 9 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 1. The survey crew orients themselves with the layout of the property using aerial maps, and strategizes their route for walking through the property. 2. Start GPS to record survey route. 3. Walk the survey transects methodically, slowly walking a straight line and scanning an area approximately 2-3 meters to the left and right as you walk, looking for mounds. Transects should be no more than five (5) meters apart when conducted by a single individual. The survey was conducted according to the protocol with 5 meter transects performed by a single individual the first time and two people the second time. 4. If the survey is performed by a team, walk together in parallel lines approximately 5 meters apart while you are scanning left to right for mounds. The survey was conducted according to the protocol. 5. At each mound found, stop and identify it as a MPG or mole mound. If it is a MPG mound, identify it as a singular mound or a group (3 mounds or more) on a data sheet to be submitted to the County. (County has developed data sheets for your use on http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/gopher-reviews/index.html ) Only mole mounds were found. 6. Record all positive MPG mounds, likely MPG mounds, and MPG mound groups in a GPS unit that provides a date, time, georeferenced point, and other required information in County GPS data instruction for each MPG mound. Submit GPS data in a form acceptable to the County. County GPS Data instruction can be found at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/gopher-reviews/index.html N /A 7. Photograph all MPG mounds or MPG mound groups. At a minimum, photograph MPG mounds or MPG mound groups representative of MPG detections on site. No MPG mounds found. 8. Photos of mounds should include one that has identifiable landscape features for reference. In order to accurately depict the presence of gopher activity on a specific property, the following series of photos should be submitted to the County: a. At least one up-close photo to depict mound characteristics No MPG mounds were found. b. At least one photo depicting groups of mounds as a whole (when groups are encountered). N/A c. At least one photo depicting gopher mounds with recognizable landscape features in the background, at each location where mounds are detected on a property N/A d. Photos can be taken with the GPS unit or a separate, camera, preferably a camera with locational features (latitude, longitude) N/A e. Photo point description or noteworthy landscape or other features to aid in relocation.Additional photos to be considered. Photos are found in Appendix A f. The approximate building footprint location from at least two cardinal directions. N/A g. Landscape photos to depict habitat type and in some cases to indicate why not all portions of a property require gopher screening. Appendix C 9. Describe and/or quantify what portion and proportion of the property was screened, and Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 10 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 record your survey route and any MPG mounds found on either an aerial or parcel map. 90% of the property was screened. The impervious around the on site trailer and te forested area were not included, but were surveyed as available (Appendix C). 10. If MPG mounds are observed on a site, that day’s survey effort should continue until the entire site is screened and all mounds present identified, but additional site visits are not required. No mounds were found. 11. In order for the County to accurately review Critical Area Reports submitted in lieu of County field inspections the information collected in the field (GPS, data sheets, field notes, transect representations on aerial, etc.) shall be filed with the County. GPS No mounds were found. Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 11 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 3.0 RECONNAISSANCE Land Services NW LLC conducted a survey on August 24, 2018 and September 24, 2018 to identify mound features found on site. An additional survey was conducted on September 15, which showed no mounds as well A walking survey was conducted and as mounds were encountered, a GPS point was taken with a Garmin 64 ST in WGS 84 projection and a photo was taken. The photos are in Appendix A. The transect tracks are located in Appendix C. 4.0 RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS A previously mentioned, the area has highly preferred soils for the MPG, but the gopher was not found on site. The walking survey noted numerous mounds which were found in a linear association typical of moles. The mounds were circular and not crescent shaped and there were no visible plugs. All these indicators make it very likely that the area has moles, but no mounds typical of the Mazama pocket gopher were found on site. Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 12 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Appendix A Photos Mole Mound Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 13 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Vole Hole Typical Mole Mound Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 14 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 The Exclusion Area was surveyed informally and no mounds were found. Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 15 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Exclusion Area Lumpy mound Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 16 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 17 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Appendix B WDFW Priority Habitats and Species Map Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 18 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 19 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 20 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 21 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Appendix C MPG Survey Form and Transect Maps Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 22 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 23 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 24 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 25 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 26 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018 Daly Mazama Pocket Gopher Absence Rcport ```````` - 27 - Land Services NW LLC September 27, 2018