Natural Systems Design 12/16/2022

EVERETT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT  SMITH ISLAND ESTUARY RESTORATION YEARS 5 & 6 MONITORING YEARS 5 THROUGH 6 PERFORMANCE MONITORING The City of Everett Public Works Department (EPWD) has requested Natural Systems Design, Inc. (NSD) submit a scope of work for supporting EPWD in Years 5 and 6 of performance monitoring of the Smith Island Estuary Restoration Advance Mitigation Site (the project). The Project was constructed to reestablish and rehabilitate approximately 47.5 acres of tidal wetlands within the lower Snohomish River estuary to fully functioning and self-sustaining estuarine marsh, mudflat, and tidal channel habitats. The project was constructed in phases over the course of three summer construction seasons between 2016 and 2018. A tidal channel network was excavated to promote tidal exchange with adjacent Union Slough, and material was placed in existing drainage ditches to restore the ground surface to appropriate elevations for estuarine habitats. Excavated native materials were used to create marsh benches at an intertidal elevation to support marsh habitat and promote habitat complexity. The project was constructed as advance compensatory mitigation for EPWD anticipated future unavoidable impacts to wetlands and waters, as specified in Table 1-1 of the Advance Mitigation Plan (ICF 2016) within the project’s defined geographic area. The Advance Mitigation Plan specifies performance monitoring across a 10-year monitoring period, or until the performance standards are met. Once the project has achieved the required level of performance, the City may request early termination of the quantitative monitoring. At the request of EPWD, NSD has prepared this Scope of Work which outlines the tasks NSD will undertake to complete Years 5 and 6 performance monitoring and reporting. NSD would replicate the elements and methods specified in the Advance Mitigation Plan, consistent where applicable with the methods and approach utilized for Years 1 through 4 monitoring. Year 1 was completed by ICF in 2019 and NSD completed Years 2, 3, and 4 in 2020 through 2022. Under this Scope of Work, NSD will complete the following tasks: Task 1: Verification of Estuarine Habitat Area, Hydrology, and Salinity Year 5 Monitoring Task 2: Wetland Vegetation Development Year 5Monitoring Task 3: Fish Use Year 5 Monitoring Support Task 4: Wildlife Use Year 5Monitoring Task 5: Year 5 Monitoring Report Task 6: Client Coordination and Project Management Year 5 Task 7: Year 6 Condition Check Task 8: Additional Unanticipated Services For this project, NSD’s core team consists of Steve Winter, PWS, Principal In-Charge overseeing the project team and supporting Project Manager and lead wetland biologist Torrey Luiting, PWS, Senior Ecologist; and Danny Stratten, Project Scientist, leading the vegetation mapping and field monitoring; Bob Keller leading the wildlife monitoring and Kelvin Andrews leading the acquisition of the site photo via NSD’s drone. DocuSign Envelope ID: B75A46E0-B4A7-4C6C-B91E-69B691B92514