GeoEngineers 5/22/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Smith Island AMS Year 5 Monitoring | October 31, 2022 Page 3 File No.0661-128-02 spans the waterward, center, and landward portions of the AMS. Each sample plot will be 1 square meter in size. The percent cover of all plant species present within each sample plot will be recorded, and those with less than 5 percent cover will be recorded as “trace” cover. Vegetation monitoring will assess the development and composition of the vegetated communities within the AMS. All sampling will be conducted by field personnel trained to identify common native and invasive intertidal wetland species and to visually estimate percent cover. Photopoints will be collected from the end point of each transect looking towards the sampled vegetation. A handheld GPS unit will be utilized in navigating to each sampling location, and points will be recorded at each vegetation sample. This method will allow for an unbiased sample, providing greater coverage of the AMS, while also minimizing sampling-related impacts on vegetation development (i.e., repeated trampling within the same plots). Task 5 - Native, Nonnative, and Hybrid Cattail Vegetation Monitoring Vegetation monitoring of an existing patch of cattail as a control sample and second patch of mowed (treated) cattail will be performed to assess composition and expansion of patches in response to mowing treatment. A transect that bisects the AMS and center of the cattail patch will be monitored for vegetation species and richness following the same methods described above for vegetation monitoring. Additionally, the perimeter of the patch will be collected using a handheld GPS and a vegetation transect photopoint collected. Task 6 – Year 5 Monitoring Report The Year 5 Mitigation and Monitoring Report will be submitted to USACE, Ecology, and other stakeholders following the completion of monitoring activities. The report will include a general discussion of the development of site characteristics including wetland hydrology, vegetation community (native and invasive plant establishment), effectiveness of cattail patch treatment, and other pertinent details for assessing estuarine wetland functions. It will also summarize the results of the progress of the site in meeting the mitigation performance standards from the Advance Mitigation Plan (AMP). The report will contain the following specific sections per the approved AMP (ICF 20194). ■ An introductory section with project background information and a summary of site conditions. ■ Monitoring activities conducted during the year with a description of the methods used, the results of the monitoring, a discussion of the results, and the progress achieved toward meeting the associated performance standards, and overall site goal. 4 ICF International (ICF). 2019. Diking District 5, Smith Island Estuary Restoration Advance Mitigation Plan. Prepared for City of Everett Public Works Department on behalf of Diking Improvement District #5. September 2019.