Final Undi Rd Bypass BA_2021-11-19.pdf

Biological Assessment

Undi Road Bypass Improvements

Jefferson/Clallam Counties, Washington

November 2021

This page is intentionally left blank.

Undi Road Bypass Improvements

Jefferson/Clallam Counties, Washington

Prepared for:

Federal Highway Administration

Western Federal Lands Highway Division

610 East Fifth Street

Vancouver, WA

Prepared by:

Jim Starkes

Senior Biologist

DAVID EVANS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

14432 SE Eastgate Way, Suite 400

Bellevue, WA 98007

DEA project number: FHAX00000280

November 2021

Undi Road Bypass Improvements November 2021

Executive Summary

At the request of the Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway

Division, David Evans and Associates, Inc. prepared this biological assessment for improvements at three locations on the Undi Road Bypass (T27N, R13W, S1 and S2; T28N, R13W, S35 and 36). The construction of three additional vehicle pullouts are also proposed. The project sites are located within hydrologic unit code (HUC) 17100101 and Water Resource

Inventory Area 20.

The proposed road improvements and pullouts are located in an area that provides nearby designated critical habitat for the Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed marbled murrelet.

Potential impacts to this species would be through terrestrial noise impacts from construction activities and construction disturbance zones that would remove trees and create canopy gaps within the forest. No suitable nesting trees would be removed. Proposed road improvements and pullouts will not impact other ESA-listed birds (northern spotted owl, streaked horned lark, yellow-billed cuckoo) or fish (bull trout) because of a lack of their presence within the action area.

Table S-1 summarizes the status and effects determinations for ESA-listed species that may occur in the project and action areas.

Table S-1: Summary of Effects Determination

Common Name Scientific Name ESA-Federal Lead

Effects Determination

Critical Habitat Present?

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

USFWS NLAA Yes

Streaked Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris strigata

USFWS NE No

Northern Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis caurina USFWS NE No

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus USFWS NE No

Puget Sound/Coastal Bull Trout

Salvelinus confluentus USFWS NE No

NLAA: Not Likely to Adversely Affect NE: No Effect USFWS: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Biological Assessment vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 Purpose and Need

2.0 Project Description

2.1 Overview

2.2 Proposed Road Improvements

2.2.1 Road Improvement Site 1

2.2.2 Road Improvement Site 2

2.2.3 Road Improvement Site 3

2.2.4 Vehicle Pullouts

2.3 Equipment

2.4 In-Water Work

2.5 Avoidance and Minimization

2.5.1 Best Management Practices/Temporary Erosion Sediment Control

2.5.2 Conservation Measures

3.0 Project Area and Action Area

3.1 Terrestrial Effects

3.2 Aquatic Effects

4.0 Environmental Baseline

4.1 Study Methods

4.2 Environmental Setting

4.2.1 Terrestrial Habitats

4.2.2 Aquatic Habitats (Wetlands and Streams)

5.0 Description of Listed Species and Critical Habitat

5.1 Marbled Murrelet

6.0 Analysis of Effects

6.1 Effects to Habitats

6.2 Effects to Listed Species

6.2.1 Direct Effects – Marbled Murrelet

6.2.2 Indirect Effects – Marbled Murrelet

6.2.3 Interdependent and Interrelated Actions or Activities

7.0 Determination of Effects

7.1 Marbled Murrelet

7.2 Northern Spotted Owl

7.3 Bull Trout

7.4 Yellow-billed Cuckoo

7.5 Streaked Horned Lark

Biological Assessment viii

8.0 References

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Impervious Surface at the Road Improvement Sites and Pullout Sites

Table 2. Construction Equipment Likely to Be Used on the Project

Table 3. Project-related BMPs Applicable to All Project Actions

Table 4. Erosion Control Measures in the TESC Plans

Table 5. USFWS-Listed Species Potentially Present in the Action Area

Table 6. Disturbance, Disruption, and/or Physical Injury Distance Thresholds for

Marbled Murrelet During the Nesting Season

Table 7. Project Effects within Designated Critical Habitat with Habitat Impacts or

Vegetation Removal

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Site Vicinity Map

Figure 2. Proposed Plan at Road Improvement Site 1

Figure 3. Proposed Plan at Road Improvement Site 2

Figure 4. Proposed Plan at Road Improvement Site 3

Figure 5. Proposed Plan for Three Vehicle Pullouts

Figure 6. Roadway Plans for Vehicle Pullouts 1, 2, and 3

Figure 7. Terrestrial Action Area

Figure 8. Marbled Murrelet Habitat (Davis Layer)

Figure 9. Marbled Murrelet Occurrence

LIST OF PHOTOS

Photos 1 and 2. Conifer trees with suitable marbled murrelet nest platforms near Site 1

Photos 2 and 3. Conifer trees with suitable marbled murrelet nest platforms near Site 2

Photos 4 and 5. Conifer trees with suitable marbled murrelet nest platforms near Site 3

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Design Exhibits

Appendix B: USFWS IPAC ESA-Listed Species

Appendix C: Photo Log

Biological Assessment ix

Acronyms and Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CMP Corrugated Metal Pipe

ADT Average Daily Traffic

BA Biological Assessment

BMP Best Management Practice dBA A-weighted decibels dbh diameter at breast height

DEA David Evans and Associates, Inc.

ESA Endangered Species Act

FHWA Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division

GIS Geographic Information System

HUC hydrologic unit code

LAA Likely to Adversely Affect

MP Mile Post

NE No Effect

NLAA Not Likely to Adversely Affect

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NWFP Northwest Forest Plan

PEM Palustrine Emergent

PHS Priority Habitats and Species

PGIS Pollution Generating Impervious Surface

PSS Palustrine Scrub Shrub

SPC Spill Prevention Control

TESC Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control

USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

WDFW Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation

Biological Assessment x

Biological Assessment 1

1.0 Introduction

The Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA) is pursuing a project to improve three sites along Undi Road Bypass, beginning approximately at

Milepost (MP) 0.0 and ending approximately at MP 2.2. From approximately MP 0.0 to MP 0.5, three existing widened areas will also be improved as vehicle pullouts. The Undi Road Bypass project is located approximately 6 miles southeast of Forks, in Jefferson and Clallam counties, Washington, at Townships 27N, Range 13W, Sections 1 and 2, and Townships 28N, Range 13W, Sections 35 and 36 (Figure 1).

This Biological Assessment (BA) examines potential project impacts on federally threatened and endangered species listed under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It also evaluates potential impacts based on existing information about current habitat conditions and suitability for providing the life history requirements of these species. Section 7 of the ESA of 1973 (as amended) requires federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service

(NMFS) and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) if they determine that any actions they authorize, fund, and/or conduct may affect any federally proposed or listed species, or result in destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. The project is receiving federal funding from FHWA.

This BA identifies the potential project impacts to federally listed species and their critical habitats, lists the conservation measures to mitigate those impacts, and makes a determination of effect for each species. In this document, the term “project area” refers to the actual footprint of the project. Analysis in the BA is based on the “action area,” which includes all areas that will be affected directly or indirectly by the proposed action and is not limited to the immediate project footprint. See Section 3.0 for a more detailed description of the action area.

1.1 Background

The original Undi Road was a two-lane, mostly paved road that provided access from

U.S. Highway 101 near Bogachiel State Park to the north side of the Bogachiel River and local residences, ending at the Bogachiel River Trailhead in the Olympic National Forest (Figure 1). A portion of the former Undi Road was destroyed by a large landslide in the winter of 2015/2016.

Soon after, in 2016, Jefferson County constructed the Undi Road Bypass, an emergency bypass road route approximately 2 miles long that utilized existing Washington State Department of

Natural Resources forest access roads, as well as a new alignment to connect downhill to the existing Undi Road.

The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) on the Undi Road Bypass was 54 at MP 1.5 (Jefferson County

2017). ADT of Undi Road was 103 at M.P. 0.56 (Clallam County 2009) and 50 at MP 1.34 beyond the Undi Road Bypass intersection (Jefferson County 2020). The vehicles using this road are a mix of passenger cars and trucks, recreational vehicles, and logging trucks.

Biological Assessment 2

Biological Assessment 3

1.2 Purpose and Need

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve three sites along the Undi Road Bypass, and provide surface maintenance at three vehicle pullouts beginning approximately at MP 0.0 and ending approximately at MP 2.2. Improvements are necessary to accommodate the variety of vehicles that use the road after a landslide closed the original Undi Road in 2015 and 2016.

Passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, trucks with horse trailers, and commercial logging trucks commonly use the road. The objective of the project is to improve safety and mobility along the bypass, focusing on the three sites, while maintaining access to the Olympic National

Park, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, and the homes of several county residents that live along the road.

The existing roadway alignments at Road Improvement Site 1 (MP 0.0) and Road Improvement

Site 2 (MP 0.5) require adjustments to improve conveyance of traffic and safe navigation. Site 1 does not have adequate geometry, signage, and striping to guide drivers on the road. The alignment of Site 2 does not provide the sight distance or width for logging trucks to maneuver the curve in the roadway around the steep slope of a hill. Surface maintenance between MP 0.0 and MP 0.5 is needed to improve navigability, including at three locations where the existing roadway is slightly wider than the typical roadway width. Site 3 requires signing and striping to more effectively direct traffic from the existing Undi Road to the bypass.

Biological Assessment 4

2.0 Project Description

2.1 Overview

The following summarizes the necessary improvements at each of the three road improvement sites and the proposed vehicle pullouts on the Undi Road Bypass (DEA 2021a):

• Site 1 (Jefferson County/Clallam County): Site 1 is an intersection that connects Undi

Road and Undi Road Bypass. Based on existing conditions and observations, drivers continue to take the original Undi Road despite the signs guiding them to take the bypass road. The work is expected to include horizontal realignment of both the existing Undi

Road and the Undi Road Bypass approach, signing and striping, and hard surfacing to make Undi Road Bypass the primary route.

• Site 2 (Clallam County): This site has a sharp curve near the top of a hill (MP 0.47 in

Figure 1), which causes sight distance deficiencies and mobility configuration issues when longer vehicles, such as horse trailers and logging trucks, try to navigate the curve simultaneously. The proposed work at this site includes both horizontal alignment and vertical profile adjustments in conjunction with roadway widening, which would increase the turning radius and thus allow for safer movements around the curve. Excavation into the adjacent hillside will facilitate the widening.

• Site 3 (Jefferson County): This site is a T-intersection that consists of the gravel approach of the Undi Road Bypass where it intersects the original Undi Road. This segment of the bypass is very steep and there are concerns about guiding drivers onto

Undi Road Bypass. Work to improve the road will include signing, hard surfacing, and striping.

• Road Pullouts (Clallam County): Between Road Improvement Sites 1 and 2, three existing widened vehicle pullouts are located on the Undi Road Bypass as a safety measure for the passage of large vehicles when traffic is present in both directions. These pullouts will be improved without further widening to minimize impacts to terrestrial areas and to minimize increases in impervious surface.

Design exhibits are presented in Appendix A.

2.2 Proposed Road Improvements

2.2.1 Road Improvement Site 1

Road Improvement Site 1 is located at the intersection of Undi Road and the Undi Road Bypass

(MP 0.0). Most of the improvements at this site are intended to allow drivers to smoothly transition to the bypass road from the original Undi Road. These improvements include a realignment of the Undi Road approach to a “T” configuration. Hard surfacing using a Type 2 double chip seal over an 18-inch aggregate base is proposed.

Biological Assessment 5

The intersection will be widened slightly from an existing 17,440 square feet to a proposed

18,160 square feet, for an increase in impervious surface of 720 square feet. The entire area of disturbance resulting from the removal of the previous alignment and realignment into a “T” approach will occupy a total of 12,220 square feet (0.28 acres). Tree removal may occur in this area, as necessary. Trees to be removed will be in the 6-inch to 24-inch dbh range. No larger trees will be removed and no potentially suitable trees with murrelet nesting platforms are present in this area.

Proposed striping will include stop bars and median striping due to the proposed hard surfacing and the roadway alignment. New signage will be added to guide drivers toward the Bypass in lieu of the original Undi Road (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Proposed Plan at Road Improvement Site 1

2.2.2 Road Improvement Site 2

Road Improvement Site 2 is located at MP 0.47. Proposed improvements at this site will allow drivers to better navigate the 90-degree turn near the top of a hill and help with sight distance deficiencies. Vehicle turning tests performed along the site’s curved roadway using logging trucks indicate that several improvements are needed. The alignment will be adjusted to have a larger radius for logging trucks to maneuver around the curve. Lanes will also be widened to

16.5 feet to provide adequate width to support the dynamic envelope of the logging trucks. This roadway widening and adjustment can be achieved by cutting the hillside slope at 1H:1V to

2H:1V inclination in order to widen the existing 23 feet of roadway by 17 feet along the inside of the curve. The road will be hardened using a Type 2B double chip seal over an 18-inch aggregate

Biological Assessment 6 base. Safety features such as delineators and a guardrail will be installed where needed. The roadway profile will also be graded as required.

The roadway will be widened from an existing 11,100 square feet to a proposed 14,840 square feet, for an increase in impervious surface of 3,740 square feet. The entire area of disturbance resulting from the required cut into the existing hillside will occupy a total of 19,780 square feet

(0.45 acres). Tree removal will occur in this area over the entire cut. The hillside cut will occur on the uphill side of the Bypass (south side of the road) where trees are relatively small. Trees to be removed will be in the 6-inch to 24-inch dbh range (Figure 3). No larger trees will be removed and no potentially suitable trees with murrelet nesting platforms are present on the uphill side of the road within the proposed cut area. Approximately 100 feet north of Site 2 within a steep downhill ravine, several large trees are present, some of which provide suitable nesting platforms for murrelet. None of these trees will be removed or disturbed.

Figure 3. Proposed Plan at Road Improvement Site 2

2.2.3 Road Improvement Site 3

Road Improvement Site 3 is located at MP 2.18. Improvements at this site will focus on signing and striping to guide traffic more effectively onto Undi Road Bypass. Because existing wetland areas are present, no road widening or increase in impervious surface is proposed at this site. The road will be hardened using a Type 2B double chip seal over an 18-inch aggregate base (Figure

4). No trees will be removed as part of road improvements at Site 3.

Biological Assessment 7

2.2.4 Vehicle Pullouts

Three vehicle pullouts will be improved, located at existing widened areas of the Undi Road

Bypass between Road Improvement Sites 1 and 2 (Figure 5). Compacted gravel material is currently present at these areas, though not as thick as the existing road surfaces, suggesting that the areas have been used in the past as rough pullouts. Though not as developed as the existing gravel road surfaces, the areas are likely considered impervious because of existing compacted soils.

The three pullouts will each occupy between 780 square feet and 840 square feet (total of 2,440 square feet) and are not considered to add to existing impervious surface (Figure 6). The surface of the pullouts will be hardened using a Type 2B double chip seal over a 14-inch aggregate base.

Areas will not be widened beyond the existing rough pullouts. No trees are present at any of the proposed vehicle pullouts, so none will be removed.

Figure 4. Proposed Plan at Road Improvement Site 3

Biological Assessment 8

Figure 5. Proposed Plan for Three Vehicle Pullouts

Figure 6. Roadway Plans for Vehicle Pullouts 1, 2, and 3

Biological Assessment 9

In total, the improvements at the three road improvement sites will increase pollution generating impervious surface (PGIS) by 4,460 square feet, as summarized in Table 1. The vehicle pullouts are not anticipated to increase PGIS. Because the expected increase in PGIS is less than 5,000 square feet, additional stormwater treatment will not be required, in accordance with the

Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual for Western Washington (Ecology

2019). A stormwater site plan, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, source control Best

Management Practices (BMPs), preservation of natural drainage systems, and on-site stormwater management will be implemented in accordance with Washington Department of Ecology guidance (Ecology 2019).

Table 1. Impervious Surface at the Road Improvement Sites and Pullout Sites

Proposed Construction Areas Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Pullouts (3)

Existing Impervious Surface (square feet) 17,440 11,100 17,070 822 840 780

Proposed Impervious Surface (square feet) 18,160 14,840 17,070 820 840 780

Difference (square feet) +720 +3,740 0 0 0 0

Total Increase in Impervious Surface (square feet) +4,460

2.3 Equipment

The construction of the project will use common equipment typically used for construction of buildings and paving. Table 2 shows a list and typical usage of the construction equipment likely to be used on a project of this nature. The table also provides the typical noise levels, measured in A-weighted decibels (dBA), generated by the equipment (WSDOT 2020).

Table 2. Construction Equipment Likely to Be Used on the Project

Equipment Typical Uses Noise levels (dBA)

Air Compressor Providing air power for pneumatic tools such as rock drills, jackhammers, rotary hammers, etc.

Asphalt Emulsion Distributor Paving 82

Backhoe Minor excavating, digging, and backfilling 84

Bulldozer Earthmoving 86

Chainsaw Tree removal/clearing and grubbing 83

Crane Lifting, moving various heavy objects within a relatively small radius, drilling large holes (with drilling apparatus attached)

Dump Truck Transferring fill and excavated material 73

Front-end Loader Loading trucks, filling trenches, excavating in limited areas, and conducting miscellaneous earthwork operations

Generator Running electric-powered tools 73

Steel Drum Roller Compacting surfaces

Sweeper Providing dust control and construction cleanup 82

Track-hoe/Excavator Excavating, digging trenches 87

Trucks and Trailers Hauling equipment and materials, transporting excavated or embankment (fill) material

Water Truck Compacting earth, dust control 72

Biological Assessment 10

2.4 In-Water Work

No in-water work is proposed for the construction of this project.

2.5 Avoidance and Minimization

2.5.1 Best Management Practices/Temporary Erosion Sediment Control

Project-related BMPs and temporary erosion control measures to prevent or minimize potential discharges into the adjacent forested area and wetlands are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3. Project-related BMPs Applicable to All Project Actions

1 A temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (TESC) Plan will be developed and implemented for all project actions requiring clearing, vegetation removal, grading, ditching, filling, embankment compaction, or excavation. The BMPs in the plans will be used to control sediments from all vegetation removal or ground-disturbing activities. BMPs will also include use of silt fences or wattles to prevent sediment and construction debris from entering streams and wetlands.

2 Only vegetation that is a necessity for the project to be constructed will be removed. Delineate clearing limits with orange barrier fencing wherever clearing is proposed in or adjacent to a stream/wetland or its buffer.

3 Erosion control blankets may be installed on steep slopes that are susceptible to erosion and where ground-disturbing activities have occurred. Use of erosion control blankets will prevent erosion and assist with establishment of native vegetation.

4 Ground disturbance will not occur during wet conditions (during or immediately following rain events).

5 All temporary and permanent erosion and sedimentation control measures will be inspected on a regular basis, and will be maintained and repaired to ensure continued performance of their intended function.

6 Sediment control BMPs will be maintained throughout construction, and the contractor will remove captured sediment before removing the BMPs in order to avoid the potential release of sediments to the creek.

7 Where practicable for soil stability, native vegetation and/or a native seed mixture will be planted in areas disturbed by construction activities.

8 The contractor will prepare a Spill Prevention Control (SPC) Plan before beginning construction. The SPC Plan will identify the appropriate spill containment materials, which will be available at the project site at all times.

9 All equipment to be used for construction activities will be cleaned and inspected before arriving at the project site to ensure that no potentially hazardous materials are exposed, no leaks are present, and the equipment is functioning properly.

10 Construction equipment will be inspected daily to ensure there are no leaks of hydraulic fluids, fuel, lubricants, or other petroleum products. If a leak is detected on heavy equipment used for the project, the equipment will be immediately removed from the area and not used again until adequately repaired.

11 No paving, chip sealing, or stripe painting will occur during periods of significant rain or wet weather

Biological Assessment 11

Table 4. Erosion Control Measures in the TESC Plans

1. TESC measures are the minimum requirements for anticipated site conditions. During the construction period, TESC measures must be upgraded as needed for unexpected storm events and modified to account for changing site conditions.

2. The TESC measures and facilities must be satisfactorily maintained until the construction is completed and the potential for on-site erosion has passed. The TESC plans are to be considered a dynamic minimum guideline and as such will most likely need to be continually evaluated and/or modified, depending upon site conditions.

3. The implementation of these TESC plans and the construction, maintenance, replacement, and upgrading of these TESC facilities is the responsibility of the construction contractor until all construction is approved.

4. The boundaries of the clearing limits shown on the plans must be clearly flagged in the field prior to construction. During the construction period, no disturbance beyond the flagged clearing limits will be permitted. The developer and the contractor must maintain the flagging for the duration of construction.

5. Trackout from construction activities and machinery will be minimized by sweeping on daily basis for the duration of the project.

6. The TESC facilities shown on plans must be constructed before or in conjunction with all clearing and grading, so as to ensure that the transport of sediment to surface waters, drainage systems, and adjacent properties is minimized.

7. Soils must not remain exposed and unworked for more than 14 days, unless permitted otherwise. Exposed and unworked soils must be covered by mulch, sodding, plastic covering, jute-matting, or as otherwise approved or required by the construction inspector.

8. Dust generated during construction activities must be controlled by wetting dust sources such as areas of exposed soils, washing truck wheels before they leave the site, and installing and maintaining rock construction entrances, if required by the construction inspector.

2.5.2 Conservation Measures

Additional activities, most within the proposed design of the project, will be undertaken to further protect sensitive and valuable habitats adjacent to the site. These measures include:

• The project will not remove any mature trees with a trunk diameter (dbh) of 24 inches or greater in order to preserve possible nesting habitats for marbled murrelet.

• All construction activities, including clearing, grubbing, and staging, will be limited to the project footprint or other previously disturbed areas in order to prevent/minimize disturbances to any marbled murrelet within the area.

• Because work will occur in areas of designated critical habitat for marbled murrelet, construction activities will not begin until two hours after sunrise and will cease two hours before sunset during the marbled murrelet nesting season (April 1 to

September 23).

Biological Assessment 12

3.0 Project Area and Action Area

The project area is limited to the immediate footprint of each of the three road improvement sites and the proposed vehicle pullouts. The project area includes the roadway improvements as well as the immediate area where construction effects will occur, including tree removal and clearing/grubbing activities to access each site, staging areas, and other nearby areas potentially modified by construction.

The action area includes all areas that will be affected directly or indirectly by the proposed action and is not limited to the immediate project footprint. The action area will include potential effects of construction disturbances, construction noise, terrestrial habitat impacts, and impacts to aquatic environments.

3.1 Terrestrial Effects

For this project, the terrestrial action area is defined by the extent of construction noise emanating from each road improvement site and vehicle pullout. Based on the types of construction equipment proposed for the project (see Table 2), noise levels are expected to reach

93 dBA (at 50 feet baseline distance), which is the noise level associated with various construction equipment that will be used to construct the road improvements project. Pile driving will not be conducted. Assuming typical levels of noise attenuation in a “soft” environment (such as the largely forested habitats in the vicinity of the project), noise disturbance is expected to attenuate to ambient noise levels typical of the project vicinity (59 dBA; assuming ambient traffic levels on Undi Road, Undi Road Bypass, and U.S. Highway 101 [see Section 4.2 below]) within 953 feet (0.18 mile) of construction (Figure 7).

The following equation shows the noise attenuation calculation (WSDOT 2020):

50 feet*10((91-59)/25) = 953 feet

3.2 Aquatic Effects

Aquatic effects are not anticipated from construction activities associated with the three road improvement sites and the vehicle pullouts. Recent wetland delineation surveys (DEA 2021b;

see Section 4.2.2) found that two small streams are present near one of the vehicle pullouts. This pullout location will be field evaluated in order to assist the project to avoid the streams, and

BMPs will prevent or minimize runoff from construction activities.

Road improvements are not expected to increase road usage over current levels. The increase in

PGIS will be minor and less than the regulatory threshold of 5,000 square feet.

Biological Assessment 14

Terrestrial Action Area

Figure 7

Biological Assessment 15

4.0 Environmental Baseline

4.1 Study Methods

DEA conducted a field review to determine the presence of environmental resources in anticipation of environmental impacts and to verify environmental documentation needs (DEA

2021b). This field review included a review of fish species, vegetation, potential wildlife habitat, stream boundaries, potential wetlands, hazardous materials, and other issues. Geographic

Information System (GIS) databases, topographic and aerial maps, soil surveys, and other databases and information were referenced before the field review was conducted.

DEA reviewed the NMFS Protected Resources website and the USFWS endangered species listings for the project area to determine the potential presence of ESA-listed species and critical habitat within the project vicinity. Appendix B includes the species lists and designated critical habitat in the project vicinity. A Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) Report was requested and obtained from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on September 17, 2021.

A DEA biologist conducted a field reconnaissance site visit to the project area on August 6, 2021, to document critical areas, species presence, and potential fish and wildlife habitat in the action area, and to examine existing forest habitats, particularly with respect to suitability for nesting by the ESA-listed marbled murrelet. DEA investigated habitat composition, condition of upland habitats, and wetlands. The field reconnaissance included driving the Undi Road Bypass alignment and stopping at each of the three road improvement sites to examine site specifics and evaluate forest habitats for potential marbled murrelet use (DEA 2021b). Appendix C provides photographs from the site visit.

4.2 Environmental Setting

4.2.1 Terrestrial Habitats

Undi Road Bypass is a nonstandard two-lane gravel road with an existing width of less than 18 feet at most locations. It provides users access to Olympic National Forest and the Bogachiel

River Trail, which is an entrance point for Olympic National Park. All three road improvement sites carry low traffic volumes. Jefferson County recorded an ADT of 54 vehicles at MP 1.5 in

2017 and 50 vehicles at MP 1.34, beyond the Undi Road Bypass intersection, in 2020. Clallam

County recorded an ADT of 103 vehicles at MP 0.56 in 2009. These traffic counts were not performed during peak seasons, so it is expected that these numbers would be higher in summer, when hiking trails are more active. The 2016 Annual Traffic Report by Washington State

Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reports 1,700 vehicles at the nearest traffic count location on U.S. Highway 101 at the Undi Road intersection. There are no data for the projected traffic volumes at the three sites along Undi Road Bypass. Before the landslide occurred, Undi

Road Bypass at Road Improvement Site 1 was primarily used by logging trucks, but it now serves as the main road used by all traffic in place of the original Undi Road.

Sites 1 and 2 lie within Washington State Department of Natural Resources property, and Site 3 lies within private property. Vegetation is relatively similar at each site, with minor variation in tree size and timber age classes. Vegetation at the three road improvement sites primarily consists of second growth forest dominated by western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Sitka

Biological Assessment 16 spruce (Picea sitchensis), along with smaller amounts of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga mensiezii), and red alder (Alnus rubra) (DEA 2021b). Tree sizes within and adjacent to the three sites primarily range between approximately 8 inches dbh to 24 inches dbh, but the forest also has some old growth characteristics, including large conifers of more than 60 inches dbh. Figure 8 presents the “Davis Layer” (Davis et al. 2011) of potential suitable habitat for marbled murrelet within the project area, based on the availability of potential nesting habitat. This dataset was created for analysis of potential impacts on marbled murrelet habitat from WSDOT transportation projects. It is a polygon dataset of marbled murrelet habitat selected from the marbled murrelet types Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) raster dataset. The NWFP represents marbled murrelet nesting habitat as of 2012 in Washington as described in Davis et al. (2011).

Biological Assessment 17

Figure 8

Biological Assessment 18

Potential marbled murrelet nesting habitat in the Davis Layer does not overlap the proposed three road improvement sites, but such habitat is present immediately north of the Undi Road Bypass between Sites 1 and 2 and east and south of Site 3 (see Figure 8). This presence and location of habitat are consistent with the trees with potentially suitable murrelet nest platform branches that were observed during the site visit. Many such trees were observed within the forest canopy north of Site 1 (see Photos 1 and 2) and Site 2 (see Photos 3 and 4), and west of Site 3 (see

Photos 5 and 6).

The site visit included observations of the understory vegetation, which was mostly composed of sword fern (Polystichum munitum). Slough sedge (Carex obnupta) was observed at Sites 1 and 3, where there are potential wetlands (see Section 4.2.2 below for further discussion of wetlands).

Tree heights are estimated to be between 40 and 80 feet; Site 1 has the tallest trees. Larger trees were observed beyond the likely project disturbance limits at Sites 1 and 3 (DEA 2021b).

Photos 1 and 2. Conifer trees with suitable marbled murrelet nest platforms near Site 1

Biological Assessment 19

Photos 3 and 4. Conifer trees with suitable marbled murrelet nest platforms near Site 2

Photos 5 and 6. Conifer trees with suitable marbled murrelet nest platforms near Site 3

Biological Assessment 20

4.2.2 Aquatic Habitats (Wetlands and Streams)

Several small wetland areas and tributary streams were identified during wetland delineation studies conducted in the vicinity of the road improvement sites and vehicle pullouts (DEA

2021b). Most were found near Road Improvement Site 1 and near the southernmost vehicle pullout location. Preliminary results of these studies are summarized below.

Road Improvement Site 1

Several wetlands were identified in depressions on the north side of Road Improvement Site 1 east and west of the intersection. Vegetation in this area is dominated by mixed conifer and deciduous forest that has been actively logged in the past. Several culverts cross the road in this area (DEA 2021b).

Three wetlands, identified as Wetlands W1 through W3, were identified on the north side of both

Undi Road and Undi Road Bypass at Road Improvement Site 1. Wetland W1 was delineated just east of the intersection and is the beginning of a shallow depressional wetland dominated by palustrine forested vegetation. A small culvert crosses under Undi Road Bypass to Wetland W1, but there were no stream or wetland characteristics south of the road. Vegetation is dominated by black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), red alder (Alnus rubra), slough sedge (Carex obnupta), and salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis). Wetland W2 is a palustrine emergent/palustrine scrub-shrub wetland (PEM/PSS) located west of the intersection and is dominated by salmonberry, vine maple (Acer circinatum), and slough sedge. Wetland W3 is very similar to Wetland W2 but is located farther west. Culverts connect Wetlands W2 and W3 to areas south of Undi Road. It is possible that all three of these wetlands intersect farther to the north and drain to Undi Lake

(DEA 2021b).

Vehicle Pullouts

Four additional wetlands, identified as Wetlands W4 through W7, were delineated in the proximity of the southernmost vehicle pullout located between Road Improvement Sites 1 and 2

(DEA 2021b).

Wetlands W4 and W7 are located on opposite sides of Undi Road Bypass at Pullout 1, where the road turns sharply northeast. These two wetlands are connected by an approximately 54-inch-diameter corrugated metal pipe (CMP) squash culvert. Wetland W4 appears to be a headwater wetland that originates as a PEM meadow to the south, with a surrounding fringe of wetland forest. A small, isolated segment of stream is present near the culvert in Wetland W4, where water flow has produced signs of scour. Vegetation in Wetland W4 is dominated by slough sedge, skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus), salmonberry, and Sitka spruce. Wetland W7 is a slope/depressional system, with areas of saturated seep zones. Vegetation in Wetland W7 is dominated by slough sedge, skunk cabbage, salmonberry, western red cedar, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock. Wetland W7 supports a large stand of mature conifer forest that begins within the delineated portion of the wetland that extends north toward Undi Lake. According to the

Davis Layer (see Figure 8), the area is documented habitat for marbled murrelet. The largest trees measured during the site visit were in excess of 50 inches dbh in this area. Wetland W4 is a

Category III depressional wetland, and Wetland W7 is a Category I depressional wetland.

Biological Assessment 21

Wetlands W5 and W6 are small slope wetlands located on the east side of Undi Road Bypass just north of Wetland W4. They are fed by groundwater that flows into the existing roadside ditch and is routed through culverts under the road and down into Wetland W7. These small wetlands have PSS and PEM vegetation. The PEM vegetation is presumably maintained by occasional county roadside maintenance. Wetland W6 is connected to Stream S1 (see below). Both wetlands are rated as Category IV slope wetlands (DEA 2021b).

Two small tributary streams, Streams S1 and S2, were identified near Wetland W7 in the vicinity of Pullout 1. Neither stream is likely to support fish due to their seasonal nature and steep gradient, and these two small streams are likely to be classified as Type 4 streams under Clallam

County Code. Stream S1 is a small seasonal stream that flows down a steep slope east of Undi

Road Bypass and into a 42-inch CMP culvert under the road, and joins Wetland W7 on the west side of Undi Road Bypass. The bankfull width of the stream is approximately 6 feet; it has a

15 percent gradient, and a gravel/cobble substrate. Riparian vegetation is dominated by willow salix spp.), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), water parsley

(Oenanthe sarmentosa), and red alder. Stream S1 is connected to seeps coming out of Wetland

W6. On the west side of the road, Stream S1 flows down a half-pipe CMP flume to the base of the slope and Wetland W7 (DEA 2021b).

Stream S2 is another steep seasonal stream located farther uphill on Undi Road Bypass. The gradient of Stream S2 varies between 10 and 15 percent; its substrate is cobble and boulders; and its width varies from 1 foot to 5 feet. Stream S2 flows through a 36-inch CMP under Undi Road

Bypass and down a steep slope into Wetland W7 (DEA 2021b).

Road Improvement Site 2

During wetland fieldwork, no wetlands or streams were identified in the vicinity of Road

Improvement Site 2 (DEA 2021b).

Road Improvement Site 3

During wetland fieldwork, several small wetlands were identified at Road Improvement Site 3;

these are classified as PEM/PSS wetlands. Two perennial streams also cross the road west of the intersection that are likely small tributaries of the Bogachiel River, which is approximately 0.15 mile to the south (DEA 2021b).

Biological Assessment 22

5.0 Description of Listed Species and Critical Habitat

This section addresses the legal status and distribution of listed species that have potential to occur in the action area. Those species listed by USFWS as threatened and endangered that have the potential to occur in the action area are listed in Table 5. No ESA-listed species under the jurisdiction of NMFS are present within the project area and action area.

Table 5. USFWS-Listed Species Potentially Present in the Action Area

Common Name Scientific Name Federal Status Likely Presence in

Action Area

Marbled murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus Threatened Yes

Critical habitat Designated Yes

Northern spotted owl Strix occidentalis caurina Threatened No

Critical habitat Not Designated No

Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus Threatened No

Critical habitat Not Designated No

Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Threatened No

Critical habitat Not Designated No

Streaked horned lark Erimophila alpestris strigata Endangered No

Critical habitat Not Designated No

USFWS has identified a total of five listed species in the vicinity of the project area (see Table

5). Only one species, marbled murrelet, has designated critical habitat within the action area. One other species, northern spotted owl, has been documented in the general vicinity, but outside of the action area and the last observation was in 2002. Listed species under NMFS jurisdiction do not occur in the Bogachiel River or tributaries (NMFS 2016).

Three of the species—bull trout, yellow-billed cuckoo, and streaked horned lark—have never been documented in the action area. Because the action area is outside the known range of these species and/or lacks suitable habitat, the proposed project would have “no effect” on these three species.

Yellow-billed cuckoo. The yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) is considered extirpated from Washington as a breeding population (Wiles and Kalasz 2017). There have been a handful of scattered observations of transient individuals over the last few decades, none of which were in Jefferson County or Clallam County (Bird Web 2021). The project would have no effect on yellow-billed cuckoo.

Streaked horned lark. The streaked horned lark (Erimophila alpestris strigata) is closely associated with prairie grasslands or sparsely vegetated coastal areas. It is not known to occur in heavily forested habitats (Stinson 2016). The project would have no effect on streaked horned lark.

Bull trout. Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) are a char native to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and western Canada (WDFW 2004). Compared to other salmonids, bull trout have more specific habitat requirements that appear to influence their distribution and

Biological Assessment 23 abundance. They need cold water to survive, so they are seldom found in waters where temperatures exceed 59 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit. They also require stable stream channels, clean spawning and rearing gravel, complex and diverse cover, and unblocked migratory corridors. Spawning occurs in streams where surface water temperatures do not rise above 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) during the spawning period (USFWS 2014) and thus typically requires spawning habitats that are glacial in origin or are drained by higher altitude snow fields.

Bull trout are not found within the Bogachiel River or its tributaries; critical habitat has not been designated except for coastal areas and tidal reaches near the river mouth (WDFW Statewide

Washington Integrated Fish Distribution Database; 50 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part

17). At the lowest reaches of the river, anadromous varieties from other coastal watersheds may use the mouth and tidal portions of the river to feed. The proposed road improvements and vehicle pullouts will have no impacts on the Bogachiel River or any of its tributaries; therefore, the project will have no effect on bull trout.

Northern Spotted Owl. The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) inhabits structurally complex forests from southwest British Columbia through the Cascade Mountains and coastal ranges in Washington, Oregon, and California, as far south as Marin County. The spotted owl was listed under ESA as threatened on June 26, 1990, because of widespread loss of spotted owl habitat across its range and the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms to conserve the species. Many populations of spotted owls continue to decline, especially in the northern parts of the species’ range, even with extensive maintenance and restoration of spotted owl habitat in recent years. Research and monitoring indicate that spotted owls generally rely on mature and old-growth forests, because these habitats contain the structures and characteristics required for nesting, roosting, and foraging (USFWS 2011).

Currently, the most important range-wide threats to the spotted owl are competition with barred owls, ongoing loss of spotted owl habitat as a result of timber harvest, habitat loss or degradation from stand replacing, wildfire and other disturbances, and loss of amount and distribution of spotted owl habitat as a result of past activities and disturbances (USFWS 2011).

Designated critical habitat for northern spotted owl is not present within the project area and action area, and no owls have been found within the vicinity of the action area in nearly 20 years.

However, according to the WDFW PHS Program, two spotted owl detections were made in 1997 and 2002 within the general vicinity of the site. Both detections were well outside of the terrestrial noise-driven action area; they were located approximately 4,000 feet and 10,300 feet to the northeast of the easternmost Site 3. Given the lack of designated critical habitat, the low number of detections, and observed historical detections having been outside of the terrestrial action area, the project will also have no effect on northern spotted owl.

5.1 Marbled Murrelet

Status: The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a small seabird of the Alcidae family. Murrelets spend most of their lives in the marine environment, where they forage in near-shore areas and consume a diversity of prey species, including small fish and invertebrates. In their terrestrial environment, the presence of platforms (large branches or deformities) used for

Biological Assessment 24 nesting is the most important characteristic of their nesting habitat. Murrelet habitat use during the breeding season is positively associated with the presence and abundance of mature and old-growth forests, large core areas of old growth, low amounts of edge habitat, reduced habitat fragmentation, proximity to the marine environment, and forests that are increasing in stand age and height (USFWS 2012).

Marbled murrelet has experienced significant declines in the last decade over most of its range, including a 6.7 percent decline on the Washington outer coast from 2000 to 2013 (Falxa and

Raphael 2015). The species decline has been largely caused by extensive removal of late-successional and old growth coastal forest, which serves as nesting habitat for murrelets.

Additional factors in its decline include high nest-site predation rates and human-induced mortality in the marine environment from disturbance, gillnets, and oil spills. In addition, murrelet reproductive success is strongly correlated with the abundance of mid-trophic level prey. Effects to the marine environment that impact the availability of that prey can occur through overfishing or oceanographic variation from weather or climate events. Effects to adults in the marine environment from disturbance events such as underwater detonations or pile driving can also impact their ability to forage and successfully provide for their young.

USFWS listed the marbled murrelet as threatened on October 1, 1992, throughout its range in

Washington, Oregon, and California. Critical habitat for the marbled murrelet was designated originally on May 24, 1996. It was subsequently revised on October 5, 2011 (50 CFR Part 17).

USFWS has identified the following Primary Constituent Elements for marbled murrelet:

1. Individual trees with potential nesting platforms, and

2. Forested areas within 0.5 mile (0.8 kilometer) of individual trees with potential nesting platforms, and with a canopy height of at least one-half the site-potential tree height. This includes all such forest, regardless of contiguity.

Currently, USFWS has designated critical habitat that encompasses all of the road improvement sites and vehicle pullouts for marbled murrelet in the action area.

Presence in the Action Area: The WDFW PHS Program has documented approximately 15 occupied nest sites of marbled murrelet within the vicinity of the action area (see Figure 9).

Most of these marbled murrelet nest sites are in the vicinity of Undi Lake and the Bogachiel

River, nearest to Road Improvement Sites 1 and 2, and the vehicle pullout locations. The closest detected nest sites to the road improvement sites are approximately 1,478 feet northwest of Site 2 and 1,584 feet southwest of Site 1. These detections are outside of the calculated terrestrial action area of 953 feet from each of the three road improvement sites and pullouts. Suitable habitat for marbled murrelet is present in the terrestrial action area, but not within the project footprint of the Sites 1 and 2. Sections 6 and 7 discuss further the evaluation of effects to marbled murrelet.

Biological Assessment 25

Marbled Murrelet Occurrence

Figure 9

Biological Assessment 26

6.0 Analysis of Effects

This section addresses the effects of the project to listed species. Direct effects are those effects caused directly by construction or operation of the proposed action. Indirect effects are those caused by, or resulting from, the proposed action that are later in time but are still reasonably certain to occur. These indirect effects could include effects on future food resources and foraging areas.

Interrelated actions are those that are part of a larger action and depend on the larger action for their justification (NOAA Fisheries 1996). Interdependent actions are those that have no independent utility apart from the action under consideration (Federal Register 1986).

6.1 Effects to Habitats

Effects to terrestrial habitats would be limited to any tree removal activities that would take place within the…