Grand Ridge – Canyon Creek AcquisitionRCO #08-1787 – Urban Wildlife

July 2008

Snoqualmie Watershed

Snohomish Basin (WRIA 7)

Skykomish Watershed

Three parcels: 75 acres

Connected to 2,200 acres of public land:

Grand Ridge Park

Mitchell Hill Forest

Tiger Mountain Forest

Project will protect 75 acres of mature coniferous forest

including 4200 feet of Canyon Creek

Grand Ridge Park

The Bigger PictureSnohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan (2005)Snohomish Basin Steelhead Trout ‘State of the Knowledge’ Technical

Memorandum (2008)Waterways 2000 (1995)Patterson Creek Rapid Rural Reconnaissance (2004)Parks Open Space Plan (2006)

Uniqueness/Significance

Snohomish Basin is second largest basin in Puget Sound

Patterson Creek – High Priority basin – Waterways 2000

Canyon Creek – highest quality basin in Patterson Creek

Headwaters protection of Canyon Creek

Photo by Allan Bauer in Grand Ridge area

Uniqueness/Significance

Seventy five acres of mature coniferous forest

Close proximity to cities of Sammamish, Issaquah and Snoqualmie

Connected to 2,200 acres of public land

Most diverse salmonid spawning population in Patterson Creek

Cold water infusion to Patterson Creek

Fish and Wildlife Species and Communities

Target Fish Species include:Steelhead (ESA-threatened)CohoChinook (ESA-threatened)Cutthroat Trout

Other Aquatic Target SpeciesWestern Pearlshell Mussel

Salmon and Trout DistributionYellow = ChinookRed = CohoBlue = Steelhead

Photos by Allan Bauer in Grand Ridge area

Birds

115 species of birds

27 known nesters

Target Species include:•Bald Eagle•Pileated Woodpecker•Northern Pygmy Owl•Merlin•Coopers Hawk

Fish and Wildlife Species/Communities

Photo by Allen Bauer in Grand Ridge Area

Mammals

33 species of mammals

Target species include:• Black Bear• Bobcat• Cougar• Short-tailed Weasel• Flying Squirrel

Fish and Wildlife Species/Communities

Photo by Allen Bauer in Grand Ridge Area

Fish and Wildlife Species/Communities

Herps

Nine species including:

•Pacific Giant Salamander

•Red BackedSalamander

•Pacific Tree Frog

Fish and Wildlife Species/Communities

Plant Communities

Target Communities include:

•Western Red Cedar/Western Hemlock/Devil’s

club/Sword Fern

•Old Growth/Mature Forest

•Snags and Logs

•Urban Natural Open Space

•Riparian Habitat

•Instream Habitat

Quality of Habitat

Mature coniferous habitat

Mature conifers with 50-60 inch diameters

Average stand age: 80 years

Abundance of old fire snags

Intact riparian corridor

Woody debris in streams

Minimal invasive species

Immediacy of Threat to Species and Communities

•Steelhead and Chinook listed due to loss of habitat

•Loss of mature coniferous forests due to development

Steelhead juvenile on site: July 08

Species/Community Protection

Protection of headwaters of Canyon Creek

Property poses last remaining threat of development in Canyon Creek basin

Protection of hydrologic and sediment processes (Snohomish Conservation Plan)

Ecological Roles/Taxonomic Distinctness/Rarity

Wild Snoqualmie salmon stocks:

Steelhead (Threatened under ESA)

Both summer and winter run

Chinook (Threatened under ESA)

Six percent of historic abundance

Coho (Species of Concern under ESA)Snohomish Basin produces 25 -

50% of all Puget Sound Coho

Immediacy of Threat to Habitat

Potential harvest and development of site

Surveyed and permitted for harvest in 2007 with 2008 extension

RA-5 zoning would allow 15 houses, roads and associated clearing

Long-Term Viability

•Landowners under one LLC willing to sell for conservation

•Managed as part of greater Grand Ridge Natural Area

•King County manages more than 20,000 acres of open space and natural areas

Enhancement of Existing Protected Land

and On-going Stewardship

Publicly reviewed and approved Site Management Plan:

• Documents significant natural resources

• Identifies public passive recreation

• Provides general planning and management guidance to preserve and protect fish and wildlife habitat

Public Benefit

Fulfills King County’s mission under the Comprehensive Plan to preserve and protect open space

Three elementary schools located within two-mile radius of project site

Grand Ridge Trail provides easy access for educational and scientific opportunities

Photos by Allan Bauer

Project Support

Financial Support

King County cash match of 77%

Community Support

Partnership for Rural King County

Patterson Creek Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Snoqualmie Watershed Forum

Conservation Futures Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Cascade Land Conservancy

Community members exploring Grand Ridge site

Public Access OpportunitiesSeventy five acres will enhance existing trail network

• Access to site provided by adjacent seven-mile Grand Ridge Backcountry Trail

• Seventy five acres is within view corridor of trail

• Trail provides opportunities for hiking, biking & horseback riding

Grand Ridge Trail

Target parcels in proximity to Grand Ridge Trail

Proximate Population Pressures

Five-mile radius captures three cities. Populations as of 2005.• Issaquah: 17,059 • Sammamish: 38,640 • Snoqualmie: 6,300

Grand Ridge – Canyon Creek Acquisition

Photo by Allan Bauer in Grand Ridge area

Thank you!