1901 MERRILL CREEK PKY 2018-01-01 MF Import

areas. Present and past land use practices were also noted, as were significant geological and hydrological features. Once likely wetland areas were located, the standard on-site determination method was used to delineate the outer edge of the wetlands using the procedures outlined in the Washington State WeBands Identification and Delineation Manua!(1997) and the Corps Federal Manual for ldentifying and Delineating Jur.'sdictional Wetlands (1989). Plant species were identified (Hitchcock and Cronquist, 1973) and the wetland status of plant species was assigned according to the List of P/ant Species that Occur in Wetlands, published by the U.S. Fish and Wiidlife Service (Reed 1988, 1993). Wetland classes were determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's system of wetland classification (Cowardin, et. aL 1979). Vegetation was considered hydrophytic if greater than 50% of the dominant plant species had a wetland indicator status of facultative or wetter(i.e., facultative, facultative wetland, or obligate wetland). Soil on the site was considered hydric if one or more of the following characteristics were present: . organic soils or soils with an organic surface layer, • matruc chroma just below the A-horizon (or 10 inches, whichever is Iess) of 1 or � less in unmottled soils or 2 or Iess if mottles were present, or �,� . gleying immediatety below the A-horizon. �' Indicators of wetland hydrology may include, but are not necessarily limited to: ;.� drainage patterns, drift lines, sediment deposition,watertnarks, historic records, visual observation of saturated soils, and visual observation of inundation. An evaluation of the vegetation, soits and hydrology was made at various locations along the interface of wetland and upland. Wetland boundary points were then detertnined from this infortnation. Appendiz A contains data sheets prepared for representative locations in both the uplands and wetlands. These data sheets document the vegetation, soils, and hydrology information that aided in the wetland boundary determination. 4.0 RESULTS 4.1 Analysis of Existing Information National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) do not indicate that any wetlands are located on the site(Figure 2). Mercili and Ring Creek, which flows from so�th to north near the east edge of the site, is mapped as a Riverine, Intermittent, Streambed, Seasonally Flooded wetland (R4SBC). Since these maps are only general inventories based largely on aerial photographs and because wetland areas change over time, actual field investigation was necessary to ensure that any wetlands were identified. Wetland�nd Strcam Study Report TaAsae�Consulhnb Mertill Crcek Aptrtments 2 �� Febru�ry 20,f998 �