3815_PGSF WMVD Pkg 2_Vol 4-2_03.03.2026_BXWA_Certified

ASPECT CONSULTING 10 FINAL PROJECT NO. AS190583A-08  MAY 21, 2025 an archaeological midden; however, the SWCA archaeologists on-Site determined that the shelly deposit did not contain intact midden. Nonsignificant historical remains (e.g., pilings supporting a former fuel AST) were also observed. As documented in the Interim Action Report (Aspect, 2015a), one lithic artifact, an edge- altered cobble, associated with a few fire-modified rocks, was identified within the dredge fill, which also required a work stoppage for investigation by SWCA. Identification of the cobble and its association with fire-modified rocks warranted recording the artifact as an isolate. SWCA retained the isolate in curation until the end of the IA, and then donated it on K-C’s behalf for permanent curation at the Tulalip Tribe’s Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, which is a certified collections and archaeological repository. The isolate was also recorded with the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), as required by law. SWCA’s cultural resource monitoring report for the first IA has been provided to DAHP and Ecology; however, state law restricts public disclosure of the locational information regarding the artifact. 2.3.1.2 Second Interim Action (2020) During the 2020 IA, archeological monitoring was conducted by Perteet Inc., under subcontract to Aspect, during excavation of the Hydraulic Barker Area and the Central Maintenance Shop Area (see Section 4.3), where penetration into underlying native soil was possible. In both excavation areas, archeological monitors observed and documented structural remains and building debris associated with historical mill operations. Identified structural remains were located within historical fill and no evidence of intact cultural remains within native sediment was observed. No precontact artifacts or buried surfaces were observed during monitoring. A cultural resource monitoring report for the second IA was provided to DAHP and Ecology (Aspect, 2021). 2.3.1.3 Third Interim Action (2021-2023) Archaeological monitoring was conducted by Cultural Resource Consultants during portions of the 2021-2023 interim action, where there was a moderate potential for encountering buried cultural resources. A cultural resource monitoring report of the third IA is included as Appendix G to the Final Construction Report (Landau, 2024). Potential buried archaeological resources were not identified during the third IA (Cultural Resource Consultants, 2022). 2.4 Environmental Setting This section describes the environmental setting of the Upland Area, including topography, climate, hydrogeology, and ecological setting. 2.4.1 Topography The Upland Area topography is generally flat with a gentle westward slope toward the Waterway. Within the Port property there is centralized depression that is designed to direct stormwater inward, away from the shoreline, to infiltrate into the existing fill material (prior to completion of the third IA). Ground surface elevations within the Upland Area range from approximately 18 feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988