WETLANDS

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT

Habitat Management Plans --Habitat Assessment Reports--Wildlife Reports--Biological Assessments

Wildlife

RAPTOR MANAGEMENT PLAN

Hawk, osprey, bald eagle, or other raptor nests typically require a 300-foot buffer excluding construction. If your project is within one-half mile of a bald eagle nest or foraging area or if a raptor nest is located at or near the project site, a raptor management plan will be required by the County as a part of your permit process.

PE Consultants LLC has successfully prepared numerous raptor management plans throughout western Washington. Nests were relocated in Redmond, an osprey nest was protected at Pleasant Harbor, a bald eagle nest was preserved in Federal Way and on Anderson Island. We can help you navigate through this process.

The protected Bald Eagle requires additional federal protects through the Endangered Species Act.

Mazama Pocket Gopher

The Mazama Pocket Gopher is a sensitive species that has been proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Occurring in remnant patches of prairie habitat, yards, cattle pasture, and airport fields located in the south Puget Sound area, the Mazama Pocket Gopher is a sensitive species with diminishing preferred habitat. This species prefers western Washington prairie habitat, which was once maintained by native Americans through fire to produce conditions suitable for growing and harvesting camas for food. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has afforded protections for this species and its habitat. There protections include maintaining and restoring prairie habitat, planting native prairie vegetation, mowing every several years to eliminate invading trees and shrubs, infrequent plowing if soils are compacted, and as a very last resort relocating gophers to better habitat.

Habitat Management Plans	Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) or Habitat Assessment Reports are required by counties during the land use permit process when sensitive species or habitats are present. These reports describe the existing wildlife habitat, use patterns, species presence, projects impacts, and mitigation or conservation measures. These reports are prepared by PE Consultants LLC and reviewed by regulatory biologists at the County (i.e., Thurston, Mason, King, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties) or City of permit jurisdiction and at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Habitat Assessment Reports	Pierce County requires a Habitat Assessment Report for any land use project that may affect sensitive species or their habitats. Sensitive species may include elk, species of waterfowl, bald eagle, raptors, salmon, and other species designated as State Priority Species by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Priority Habitats, designated by WDFW, also will trigger the need to prepare a Habitat Assessment Report. If the Priority Habitat or Species is present, but no impacts will occur as a result of the proposed land use, a less involved Habitat Assessment Study is required. If the Priority Habitat or Species is not present, then a Habitat Assessment Letter, the least intensive report, is required.
Beaver Management Plans		Beavers can cause tree and flood damage on your property. This industrious rodent can also create wetlands that could devaluate your property. There are ways to manage beavers to limit their land damaging potential. PE Consultants LLC can provide a plan to be approved by the WDFW and your local government that would limit or reverse beaver damage to your land.
Bald eagle Management Plans		A Bald Eagle Management Plan is required by Local Governmental Agencies and reviewed by the WDFW for land use projects within one-half mile of a bald eagle nest. A nearby bald eagle winter roosting area or a foraging area may also trigger the need to prepare a Bald Eagle Management Plan. The Bald Eagle Management Plan describes the presence of the bald eagle and its habitat, use of individuals on the land, project impacts, and conservation and mitigation measures.
Elk Management Plans		Any land use proposal that has the potential to disrupt elk migratory patterns, breeding activity, or foraging habitat requires an Elk Management Plan submitted to the Local Governmental Agency of permitting jurisdiction (City or County). The plan is reviewed by the WDFW prior to the issuance of land use permits. The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project does not negatively impact elk populations.
riparian Management Plans		Riparian Management Plans are required by Local Governmental Agencies and reviewed by the WDFW for land use projects that have the potential to impact riparian habitat adjacent to streams and rivers. Riparian habitat is the interface between river and upland habitat. Wetlands often occur in the riparian zone. Many species utilize the riparian zone for habitat, such as the beaver, otter, American dipper, marsh wren, and others.
Biological assessment		Biological Assessments are required by Federal Agencies for projects that have the potential to affect Federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). PE Consultants LLC prepares these reports when a Corps permit is required or if the project has some other sort of Federal Nexus. Lesser forms of this report are required under certain circumstances. This report is a part of the ESA consultation process with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries.