5900 36TH AVE W SEPA 015 - 034 - SOUNDVIEW BUSINESS CAMPUS - VERITAS Land Use Decision Documents 2025-04-22

5.4 COHO SALMON The life history of Coho salmon is summarized in Appendix A. 5.4.1 Critical Habitat No coho salmon critical habitat has been designated in Washington (NOAA Fisheries 201 lb). 5.4.2 Environmental Baseline There is no coho habitat on the subject property, however there is habitat within the action area. The nearest coho habitat (Edgewater Creek) is approximately 0.015 miles (650 feet) downstream of the site (WDFW 2014). Coho habitat also exists in Japanese Gulch Creek, approximately 0.02 miles (925 feet) downstream of the site. Connectivity to these off -site habitats will be intermittent, via a man-made stormwater conveyance system. 6.0 EFFECTS OF THE ACTION 6.1 DIRECT EFFECTS Direct effects are defined as immediate effects of the project on the species or its habitat. Direct effects include those resulting from interdependent or interrelated actions. The development site is approximately 0.02 miles upstream from fish habitat in Japanese Gulch Creek, and approximately 0.015 miles upstream from fish habitat in Edgewater Creek, both of which are habitat for listed anadromous salmonids. A total of approximately 33 acres of land will be developed. Site preparation, including clearing and grading, will occur in the drier times of the year while building construction will continue year-round. The project will result in existing scrub -shrub land to be cleared and 0.25 acres (10,823 square feet) of wetland to be eliminated. Activities necessary to implement this action will result in direct effects to the action area with potential effects to listed species. Construction of the proposed industrial manufacturing center and infrastructure will require clearing and mass grading of the site. These activities will require the use of heavy machinery, which will be confined within the approved disturbance areas. Disturbances will also include permanent wetland impacts. Wetland impacts will be completed during the dry season when hydrology levels are diminished. This will help reduce the likelihood of a direct effect on the off site stream systems. Due to the lack of fish within the project area, no direct impacts to fish species or their habitats are expected. Vegetation Removal The approximately 33 acres to be developed will be cleared of vegetation. Wetland vegetation to be impacted includes red alder, western red cedar, trailing blackberry, creeping buttercup, lady fern, Salmonberry, soft rush, toad rush, and slough sedge. On -site vegetation currently considered buffer will be removed and includes big -leaf maple, red alder, ocean spray, western Biological Evaluation 24 WRI #14109 Soundview Business Campus Revision #2: October 2, 2015