Ordinance 3129-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Restoration and Land Use Concepts floodplain during flood events, and show no obvious preferences for pools, heavy vegetation, or deep water habitats (i.e., depression zones;Sommer et al. 2005;Sommer et al.2001). The subarea plan proposals will provide connections between the Snohomish River and the adjoining floodplain via the tidal wetland restoration areas. Reconnecting the Snohomish River to its floodplain will provide off-channel refugia habitat for juvenile salmonids. Improved groundwater connectivity will increase groundwater recharge and improve water quality in Wood Creek and the Snohomish River by contributing cooler, cleaner water. In addition to tidal wetlands, the plan also proposes non-tidal wetland restoration. Both types of wetlands provide important water quality benefits from nutrient and sediment retention to water cooling(Pentec Environmental 2001). These benefits,in turn, provide a healthier environment for aquatic species. Likewise, riparian buffers help reduce stream temperature (Pentec Environmental 2001). Within the Everett region there is a shortage of mature riparian forest, which was once prevalent(Pentec Environmental 2001). This project will contribute to the eventual establishment of mature riparian forest. Riparian forest has been correlated to improved habitat for fish through increased food supply via insects that drop to the water, large woody debris deposition, and temperature reduction(Pentec Environmental 2001;USFWS 1998). Overhanging vegetation shades the water, leading to reduced warming. This, in turn, assists in the maintenance of oxygen levels in the water that support fish and shellfish. The subarea plan proposals would increase riparian buffers, which would benefit salmonid species and upland species that would use the area for forage food and habitat. Under the subarea plan the makeup of the wildlife population will likely trend towards greater diversity in aquatic, amphibious,bird, and insect species and away from terrestrial animal predominance. However, the increase in vegetation and natural habitat will increase food and foraging opportunities for all species, leading to greater population and diversity. Interconnected habitat will also provide more wildlife corridors for migration. 3.3.1.3 SEWIP Salmon Overlay Scores The subarea plan was evaluated according to a modified version of the Tidal Habitat Model Rationale and Protocols per the SEWIP SO. This exercise resulted in the scoring of the Draft Subarea Plan June 2009 Everett Marshland 44 070346-01