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The Watershed Companyâ–  EAIBlumen <br /> June 2012 <br /> were estimated but not surveyed during the March 2012 assessment(Appendix <br /> A,Figure 49-1). The widest on-site part of the wetland and buffer,which is <br /> contiguous with the off-site natural area to the north,is not proposed to contain <br /> any benches or tables, and the proposed trail in that area avoids the wetland and <br /> is only partially within the buffer. The proposed features would promote an <br /> increase in educational and passive recreational value of the wetland without <br /> having a substantial impact. <br /> The Everett Municipal Code(EMC)permits public trails,including interpretive <br /> signage, overlooks, and benches,in critical areas and their buffers provided the <br /> following criteria are met: <br /> a. The trail or path is designed to minimize impacts to the critical area and <br /> its buffer.The trail is located on the outer edge of the buffer,except for <br /> areas which provide for public viewpoints or educational opportunities <br /> and which are designed to minimize the footprint of the trail/path within <br /> the critical area or its buffer.Trails and paths shall not be permitted when <br /> critical area functions will be substantially degraded. <br /> b. The trail surface meets all other requirements including all applicable <br /> water quality standards.Use of pervious surfaces is encouraged. <br /> c. Critical area and buffer widths shall be increased where possible,equal to <br /> the width of the trail corridor,including disturbed areas. <br /> d. Trails proposed to be located in landslide or erosion hazard areas shall be <br /> constructed in a manner that does not increase the risk of landslide or <br /> erosion and in accordance with an approved geotechnical report. <br /> e. Public and quasi-public trails shall include interpretive signs identifying <br /> the critical area and buffer specific to the site. <br /> The preliminary design would meet all of these criteria. The trails,kiosk,and <br /> benches are intended to promote passive recreational use of the site, including <br /> wildlife watching. Trails would be constructed of crushed rock,which would <br /> allow for some stormwater to infiltrate,and runoff would infiltrate into the <br /> surrounding vegetated areas. The short portion of the trail that is proposed to <br /> enter the wetland would do so only in a narrow,unavoidable wetland finger that <br /> extends westward from the main body of the wetland(see Appendix A,Figure <br /> 4.9-1),and the trail would be designed to avoid impacts(by raising it in a <br /> boardwalk or similar structure). Because the trails would not be open to <br /> motorized vehicles,runoff would not carry pollutants to the surrounding area, <br /> and neither water quality nor hydrology is expected to be impacted. Buffer <br /> vegetation removal for the new trail system would be limited to a narrow band <br /> Page 27 <br />