400 RIVERSIDE RD SEPA 016 - 039 - RIVERSIDE BUSINESS PARK Land Use Decision Documents 2025-04-14

improvements in shoreline modifications to improve forage fish habitat, improvement of riparian buffers,removal of fish blockages and forestland cover,and a reduction in impervious surface (Tulalip Tribes,2016). This project, as proposed with current stormwater infrastructure and shoreline riparian restoration ' actions,would actually improve the watershed functions in the basin. The restoration of the shoreline riparian area will occur in a 50 foot wide band upland of the Snohomish River area, the routing and detention of stormwater will reduce discharge of turbid into the river. All of these actions should ' contribute to improving water quality and habitat presence conditions in this part of the basin. ' 4.6 Baseline Conditions of Snohomish River in Project Area In the 2016 State of Our Watershed Report:Snohomish River Basin funded by the Tulalip Tribes,the Snohomish River Basin was analyzed in comparison to the 2012 State of the Watershed Report.They found that"..the Snohomish marine nearshore is more than 95%armored,modified or artificial,with three quarters of that impact occurring south of the Snohomish River estuary between Everett and Mukilteo" (Tulalip Tribes, 2016). Salmonids forage and spawn on areas where erosional drift occurs and shading is adequate. The areas of armoring that have been in existence along the project site prevents the ability of this area to provide adequate fish rearing, migration, or foraging habitat. This armoring in the project area has occurred mainly to protect the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad in the area (Tulalip Tribes, 2016). This not only affects the ability of listed species to utilize the area, it limits the ability of the fish they forage on to populate the site. Therefore, the riparian area of the project site is currently in a highly-degraded condition and it is unlikely to find listed fish species in ' both terrestrial project action area nor the aquatic action area. There have been tidal marsh restorations that have been completed, including the Spencer Island project, the Qwuloot Tidal Marsh and Smith Island. Smith Island is located on the opposite bank of the project area.Therefore, salmonid and forage fish species are more likely to be found in these areas that provide adequate habitat conditions (Tulalip Tribes,2016). However,the Port of Everett,will be ' restoring the shoreline riparian area concurrent with the proposed project. This action is expected to improve riparian and floodplain functions which will provide increasing protection of the Snohomish River watershed. I Soundview Consultants LLC December 8,2016 1413.0003 Riverside Business Park—FEMA ESA Habitat Assessment Report Page 11