Project Pre-Application

Transcription

1 Pre Application Due Date: Tues, March Draft Application Due Date: Tues, April 30, 2013 Final Application Due Date: Thurs, July 11, 2013 Project Pre-Application (Please use the Up, Down, Left & Right Arrows to move from Field to Field) Project Title: Touchet River Baileysburg Bridge Restoration Conservation Easement Assessment Submitting Organization: Blue Mountain Land Trust Project Contact Information (Complete for each contact) For additional Contact Info Sheets go to: Mrs. Ms. First Name: Alison Last Name: Wesockes Address: PO Box 1473 City/Town: Walla Walla State: WA Zip: Telephone # ( 509 ) Cell # ( 509 ) address: alison@bmlt.org Project Locations: Provide a brief description of the project location including watershed, stream reach and position in watershed. This assessment will cover up to four adjacent properties with a total river length of approximately 3,600 linear feet of the North Fork Touchet River between the South Touchet Road Bridge to the Bailysburg Road Bridge < 2,000 ft up river from the USACOE levee running through Dayton, Washington Maps: Provide both a map illustrating project vicinity and a site map. Map descriptions can be placed in this section but maps should be attached as a separate page. (Contact SRSRB staff to construct maps and set up project in the HWS prior to pre-application deadline). Short Description of Project Describe project, what will be done, and what the anticipated benefits Will be in 1500 characters or less. NOTE: Many audiences, including the SRFB, SRFB s Technical Review Panel, media, legislators, and the public who may inquire about your project use this description. Provide as clear, succinct, and descriptive an overview of your project as possible many will read these 1-2 paragraphs! The description should state what is proposed. Identify the specific problems that will be addressed by this project, and why it is important to do at this time. Describe how, and to what extent, the project will protect, restore, or address salmon habitat. Describe the general location, geographic scope, and targeted species/stock. This short description should be the summary of the detailed proposal set out under the Evaluation Proposal, with particular emphasis on questions

2 Pre Application Due Date: Tues, March Draft Application Due Date: Tues, April 30, 2013 Final Application Due Date: Thurs, July 11, 2013 The PRISM database limits project descriptions to 1500 characters (including spaces); any excess text will be deleted. Additional detail should be provided in the project proposal! RCO project # , "Touchet River Baileysburg Restoration Design", submitted by the city of Dayton, was funded in the 2012 cycle with the objective of finalizing restoration plans with the landowners to improve salmon habitat on this half-mile stretch of the Touchet River. This stretch of the river is owned by private landowners. While landowners have expressed interest in the project, they have also asked that BMLT be brought to the table to determine if compensation for protecting the restored habitat is available. This assessment proposal dove-tails with project # , and includes an assessment for conservation easements on the properties involved in the project. This proposal will cover up to four willing landowners' involvement, and will provide the steps necessary for all parties involved if a conservation easement is feasible and desirable. This project is important for salmon habitat in many ways. A conservation easement on these properties will ensure that all the funds and resources invested in project and subsequent implementation of restoration designs will be protected in perpetuity, providing perpetually strong salmon spawning and habitat as the conservation easement(s) will restrict development, grazing, commercial activities, and other land uses that may negatively impact the ecological functioning of the restored fish habitat and riparian zone. Preliminary Design Description: Describe the preliminary project design that will be used to address the need described above. This section may be used to provide a more detailed description than provided above. Not required for preapplication (Max one page) This proposal includes an assessment of up to four interested landowners in the reach of the N. Fork that is identified to be restored under project # This assessment is phase 1 of 2. Phase 1 will include a title search, ensure the property is clear of hazardous materials, an appraisal and review, and landowner negotiations and meetings. Once the assessment is complete, we will apply for funding to implement phase 2. At that time, BMLT, the landowners, and SRFB will know specific costs for the conservation easement, and will have identified any major hurdles to completing the easement. This will allow for a cleaner, faster acquisition process in phase 2. Estimated Budget: List SRFB request match and total project costs Budget Cost/Unit Unit Matching SRFB Project Cost Items Hazardous materials assessment Funds Request $1,000 4 $600 $3,400 $4,000 Title Search $200 4 $120 $680 $800 Appraisal and $11,000 4 $6,600 $37,400 $44,000 review Administrative $5,000 4 $3,000 $17,000 $20,000 Total Matching $10,320 Total SRFB Request $58,480 Total Project Cost $68,800 Evidence that this project is part of the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan: List the HWS project number and title of project as stated in the 3 Year Plan. If project is not directly stated in the 3 Year Plan list the general project category your project pertains to and describe the correlation. HWS Project Number ; Protect Riparian Habitat through Permanent Conservation Easements 2

3 Pre Application Due Date: Tues, March Draft Application Due Date: Tues, April 30, 2013 Final Application Due Date: Thurs, July 11, 2013 SRFB Draft Application Information Draft Date Submitted to SRSRB Project Type: (check one) Acquisition Passage, Diversion, Barrier Inventory/Design Acquisition/Restoration Upland Non-Capital In-Stream Riparian Updated Vicinity / Site Maps & Photos Please submit photos as JPEG or other non PDF picture format. Maps and designs maybe submitted in photo or PDF format. Vicinity Map Attached: Site Map Attached: Aerial or Site Specific Photos Attached: Preliminary Designs or Field Sketches: Project Proposal Guides To complete this section download the Project Proposal template that fits your proposed project and attach as a separate document. Check appropriate box below. NOTE: This project proposal will be used primarily to evaluate your project. Please include appropriate metrics within the body of the text. The below documents can be found at Attached 1) Restoration, Acquisition and Combination (Restoration & Acquisition) Project 2) Planning Projects (Assessment, design, and Study) and Combination (Planning & acquisition) Projects 3) Barrier Inventory Projects 3

4 Pre Application Due Date: Tues, March Draft Application Due Date: Tues, April 30, 2013 Final Application Due Date: Thurs, July 11, 2013 Summary of Funding Request and Match Contribution Remember to update this section whenever changes are made to your cost estimates. TOTAL PROJECT COST (A + B) (Sponsor Match & SRFB Contribution) $68,800 A. Sponsor Match Contribution (15% minimum is required for match) Appropriation/Cash Bonds Council Bonds Voter Cash Donations $10,320 Conservation Futures Donations Donated Equipment Donated Labor Donated Land Donated Materials Donated Property Interest Force Account Force Acct Equipment Force Acct Labor Force Acct Material Grants Grant Federal Grant Local Grant Private Grant State Grant IAC Grant Other Total Sponsor Match Contribution (15% Minimum Match Required of a total Project Cost) B. SRFB Contribution (grant request) $5,000 Minimum Request $10,320 $58,480 Note: *Be sure to identify the name and type of any matching grant in the Application Questionnaire Section. *The Total Project Cost must equal the totals from the following Cost Estimate Sections. 4

5 Pre Application Due Date: Tues, March Draft Application Due Date: Tues, April 30, 2013 Final Application Due Date: Thurs, July 11, 2013 Landowner Information Landowner Acknowledgment Forms (Remember to complete the Landowner Acknowledgement form for each Landowner.) To complete this section download the landowner acknowledgment form and have the landowner complete the form and submit a copy with the draft application. Draft applications without signed agreement forms may not be considered by the SRSRB for final scoring and ranking. These forms can be found on the SRSRB web site at: Current Landowner(s) of the site (name and address). Remember to complete the Landowner Acknowledgement Form. Forms pending meeting scheduled for May 16, See attached letter. Name: Address: City/Town: State: Zip: This is the END of the DRAFT APPLICATION. 5

6 2013 Project Proposal for Planning Projects (Assessment, Design, and Study) and Combination Planning and Acquisition Projects, Excluding Barrier Inventories Please respond to each question individually do not summarize your answers collectively in essay format. Local citizen and technical advisory groups will use this information to evaluate your project. Limit your response to ten pages (single-sided) You may delete the italicized portion of the questions and inapplicable supplemental questions to shorten the proposal). RCO Manual 18, Salmon Recovery Grants section and appendix references are available at Submit this proposal as a PRISM attachment titled Project Proposal. 1. Problem Statement Provide an overview of fish resources, current habitat conditions, site or reach conditions, gaps in knowledge, and other key salmon recovery problem(s) in the watershed that this project is intended to address. This stretch of the river is in a high priority restoration area in an MSA identified in the Salmon Recovery Plan for South East Washington Current habitat conditions are degraded, as the stream channel has been straightened and leveed nearby, reducing channel length and off-channel habitat. This project builds on previous successful SRFB proposals, including # , Touchet River Assessment County Line to USFS Boundary. That geomorphic assessment identified this 3,600 feet stretch of river as a priority enhancement area with the greatest potential for enhancing natural watershed function and habitat conditions for steelhead. Then, the city of Dayton s SRFB Project was funded in 2012 to develop construction-ready final design plans for restoring this reach, with landowner input. In order to protect the restored reach, an assessment of potential voluntary conservation easements with landowners is needed. The conservation easement process works nicely broken into two phases; first is the assessment phase, and the second phase is completing the conservation easement. Ideally, the assessment will lead to conservation easements, which will protect the investment made into restoring this reach, as land use will be limited to uses that will not negatively affect stream function. A landowner along this reach requested BMLT s involvement in the process, as they will likely need compensation in order to make the restoration process feasible.

7 2. Project Purpose When answering the questions below, please refer to Chapter 4 of the Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines (wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=00043) for a definition of restoration goals and objectives. A. State the project goal(s). The primary goal of this project is permanent protection of riparian habitat and floodplain from degradation from land management and development. This goal supports the restoration efforts on this stretch of river, so that the increased floodplain capacity and increased channel complexity will continue into the future. Summer steelhead, spring Chinook, and bull trout will all benefit from this protection. B. List the project s objectives. Objectives include conducting feasibility assessments for conservation easements on up to four parcels. This includes all the necessary preliminary work needed to engage landowners, bring awareness to potential project hurdles, and provide a concrete budget for easement acquisition. 3. Project Context A. Describe the location of the project in the watershed The four adjacent property owners are located along a 3,600 ft. stretch of the North Fork Touchet River. The downstream end of the project is located at the South Fork Touchet Road Bridge, approximately 2,400 linear ft. upstream from the North Fork Touchet River mouth. The upstream end of the project is located at Baileysburg Road Bridge. The project occurs in the near shore, main stem, off channel, and adjacent uplands to the river. Each of the four properties is approximately 15 acres, so ideally the total area under conservation easement would be about 60 acres. B. List the fish resources present at the site and targeted by this project. Species Life History Present (egg, juvenile, adult) Current Population Trend (decline, stable, rising) ESA Coverage (Y/N) Life History Target (egg, juvenile, adult) Steelhead All Stable Y All Bull Trout Spring Chinook Juvenile, adult Stable Y Juvenile, adult All Stable N All

8 C. Discuss how this project fits within your regional recovery plan and local lead entity s strategy to restore or protect salmonid habitat in the watershed The Salmon Recovery Plan for SE Washington (2011) identifies this stretch of river as a priority restoration/protection reach, and is important for steelhead and spring Chinook spawning. The role that BMLT plays in this larger scale effort is really dovetailing on successful SRFB proposals, making the restoration component more feasible for landowners. By placing conservation easements on the properties, landowners can be compensated for the loss of land opportunity created from restoration. D. Explain why it is important to do this project now instead of at a later date. It is important to conduct the conservation easement feasibility assessment while the final restoration plans are being created. Having landowners buy-in to the idea of forever protecting the restoration efforts on this reach is important, and some landowners may not agree to the restoration if compensation is not available. There is a meeting May 16, 2013 with the landowners to move forward on the restoration design, so it is imperative that BMLT be involved at this stage. The city of Dayton is utilizing SRFB funding from 2012 to plan this restoration project, but cannot implement it until the landowners are fully on board, which may only happen if BMLT can compensate them for their losses. E. If any part or phase of this project has previously been reviewed or funded by the SRFB, please fill in the table below. Project # or Name Status Status of prior phase deliverables and relationship to current proposal? Completed In Process Not Funded* Identified this reach as important for restoration Completed In Process Not Funded* Completed In Process Not Funded* Will create final restoration design for this reach. BMLT s assessment proposal will enable landowners to be compensated for protecting the restored area, making restoration implementation more feasible. 4. Project Description

9 A. Provide a detailed description of the proposed project and how it will address the problem described above. Up to four adjacent protective conservation easements will be established along this 3,600 linear feet stretch of river. The project is envisioned to take place in phases: Phase 1 will take place in 2013/2014, with title search, assessment of the property, appraisal, and verification of absence of hazardous materials on the property. If each appraisal is acceptable to the corresponding landowner, Phase 2 will be submitted in 2014 for conservation easement purchases in The conservation easements will be managed to protect aquatic values, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space. B. Clearly list and describe all products that will be produced (i.e., project deliverables). This project will evaluate property title, general condition, and current market value both presently and with development restrictions typical of a conservation easement. Title Search is necessary to determine whether any existing easements may make permanent protection of the property/properties difficult. An appraisal and appraisal review are also necessary, but prior to this step BMLT will negotiate with landowners prohibited and permitted uses, as well as create a property boundary map. The appraisals examine current property rights and land values, as well as land values with potential development restrictions typical of a conservation easement, and provides a loss of value the landowner would expect if a conservation easement were placed on the property. This value would be the basis for purchase of rights specified in conservation easements. If the potential purchase price(s) proposed to the landowners are acceptable and other findings show it would be beneficial to move forward, BMLT will propose acquisition grants next year knowing the amount of funds needed to purchase the easement, that there are no unknown restrictions on the property, that it is not contaminated in any way from hazardous materials, and that the landowners will accept the proposed purchase price. C. If the project will occur in phases or is part of a larger recovery strategy, describe the goal of the overall strategy, explain individual sequencing steps and which steps are included in this application. This assessment is phase 1 of two phases. Once phase 1 is complete and the feasibility assessment determines it beneficial to move forward, phase 2 will be implemented to permanently protect the identified properties via conservation easements. BMLT just completed a strategic land conservation plan, and this project aligns closely with our identified priority conservation strategies of riparian protection and fish and wildlife habitat. The overall strategy of the conservation plan is to protect the lands that have the highest conservation value in a strategic fashion. These contiguous parcels provide a great opportunity for linking conservation and restoration efforts.

10 As mentioned above, this proposal is building on a grant received by the city of Dayton, with the intention of restoring this critical stretch of stream to enable more natural ecological functioning and salmon habitat. Therefore, this proposal builds on the larger recovery strategy of the City of Dayton, the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, and other partner organizations. D. If your proposal includes an assessment or inventory (NOTE: project may extend across a wide area and cover multiple properties): i. Describe any previous or ongoing assessment or inventory work in your project s geographic area and how this project will build upon rather than duplicate completed work. In spring 2013, BMLT completed a strategic land conservation plan that will internally guide projects we target for conservation and areas of focus within our service area. This assessment was completed with private funds, and gives more of a large picture road map to conservation, and does not assess potential projects at a parcel-level. Therefore, the assessment proposed in this SRFB process will identify how feasible conservation easements are on up to four adjacent parcels within our focus area. The project-specific assessment proposed here is complementary to our large-scale conservation plan, as well as complimentary to the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan. ii. Describe how the assessment or inventory addresses the stages and elements in Guidance on Watershed Assessment for Salmon (Joint Natural Resources Cabinet, May 2001, hed.pdf). The stages of watershed assessment as outlined in Guidance on Watershed Assessment for Salmon have already been completed from RCO project # ; and that report identifies this stretch as an important restoration reach for salmon recovery. N/A N/A E. If your proposal includes developing a design: F. If your proposal includes a fish passage or screening design: G. Describe other approaches and design alternatives that were considered to achieve the project s objectives and why the proposed alternative was selected. One alternative is to combine phases 1 and 2 into one grant proposal; meaning the appraisal, title review, landowner negotiations, hazardous materials assessment, etc.

11 would all occur under the same grant as conservation easement acquisition. This was determined to be more time consuming and costly in the long run, as seen in previous proposals where that was the case. More recently, BMLT has proposed projects in two phases, making the process more clean and timely; and provides more concrete numbers in the applications. H. Describe your experience managing this type of project. Blue Mountain Land Trust holds 10 conservation easements, six of which have been funded through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Therefore, BMLT is well versed in expectations, timelines, associated paperwork, and requirements associated with sound conservation easement transactions. We are a non-profit organization with stewardship funds held in investments designed for long-term stewardship and easement enforcement. BMLT is assisted by a 10 person Board of Directors including attorneys, an accountant, a wildlife manager, and others; as well as staff. Alison Wesockes, the conservation director, has been directly involved with monitoring all 10 easements, as well as completing two SRFB-funded easements in She is also working to complete another easement in 2013, funded through WA RCO. I. Explain how the project s cost estimates were determined. All estimates were determined based on previous assessment costs. Amounts for appraisals and appraisal reviews, as well as title search, were determined from actual costs billed for previous assessments. The estimates for administrative costs was determined by comparing to previous assessments, and considering the time necessary for landowner negotiations, coordinating with restoration efforts, and coordinating all necessary contract work. N/A J. List Project Partners and their role and contribution to the project. K. List all landowner names. Landowner Acknowledgement Forms pending meeting scheduled for May 16, Potential landowner names include James and Valerie Korsberg, Bonnie Williams, James Fletcher, and Dwight Robanske. L. Contingency Planning: State any constraints, uncertainties, possible problems, delays, or additional expenses that may hinder completion of the project. Explain how you will address these issues as they arise and their likely impact on the project.

12 During the assessment phase, there are many uncertainties this is why phase 1 is so important. Potential delays may include mortgage subordination, implementation of final restoration plans being completed by city of Dayton, and evaluating project potential based on landowner participation. Depending on the number of landowners willing to move forward into phase 2, BMLT will need to evaluate if the project is worthwhile. More specifically, the ideal situation is with all four adjacent landowners willing to complete the project; meaning the contiguous stretch of river restoration will be protected in perpetuity. If not all landowners are willing to move forward, the project potential will need to be re-evaluated. List and describe the major tasks and schedule you will use to complete the project. (Planning projects should typically be completed within two years of funding approval). Major tasks associated with this conservation easement assessment include the following for each individual parcel: title search, hazardous materials assessment, draft list of reserved rights and prohibited uses, appraisal and appraisal review. This will be completed in fall/winter 2013/2014. Assuming favorable findings from the assessment, Phase 2 (to be requested from SRFB in 2014) would develop and acquire the conservation easements in Supplemental Questions for Projects that Include Acquisition (Applies to combination projects; These are not included in the ten-page limit) A. Provide a detailed description of the property. Up to four separate, but adjacent, properties will be assessed for conservation easement feasibility. The properties are about 15 acres each, and are currently used for residential purposes. All four properties have the North Fork Touchet River running through them. The stream channel has been straightened and leveed historically, reducing channel length and off-channel habitat. This has resulted in loss of complexity and diminished carrying capacity, particularly wintering habitat of high flow refuge habitat for juvenile steelhead and spring Chinook. The conceptual design will reduce confinement and increase complexity. The potential is to protect up to 3,600 linear feet of the river, as well as the adjacent riparian areas and floodplain. This area is located in a lowgradient geomorphic response reach that historically exhibited complex and diverse channel hydraulics, floodplain connectivity, and valley spanning riparian areas. B. State what type of acquisition is proposed (e.g., fee title, conservation easement). Conservation easements

13 C. Describe the size of the property to be acquired. To be determined through the phase 1 assessment. Describe the property s proximity to publically owned or protected properties in the vicinity. BMLT holds additional conservation easements in the watershed. Upstream, BMLT protected 99 acres at the confluence of North Fork Touchet River and Wolf Fork Touchet River; as well as hopefully securing another 37 acres at the confluence of the North Fork Touchet River and Jim Creek in Approximately two miles downstream from Dayton, there are two almost adjacent properties protected along the Touchet River. In addition to these protected lands, the project site is about 14 miles downstream from Forest Service Land. D. If uplands are included on the property to be acquired, state their size and explain why they are essential for protecting salmonid habitat. N/A E. State the percentage of the total project area that is intact and fully functioning habitat. The project site is undergoing restoration work; and the final restoration plans should be complete this year. Therefore, this number is unknown at this time. F. Explain property restoration needs. This is outside the scope of this proposal. BMLT will not be in charge of implementing any of the restoration plans currently being drafted. Our purpose will be to implement a permanent conservation easement on the properties, so that the investment from restoration efforts will be maintained and protected. G. List structures (home, barn, outbuildings, fence) on the property and any proposed modifications. This is dependent on specific parcels, so this will be determined after the May 16, 2013 meeting. H. Describe adjacent land uses (upstream, downstream, across stream, upland). Downstream, the river goes through Dayton, WA. Upstream, the river goes through rural residential uses. I. Describe the proximity of the property to other protected or functioning habitats, and the size and quality of those protected properties.

14 See project and Supplemental Questions D J. Describe the: i. Zoning/land use A-2 Zone: minimum 5-acre lots ii. iii. Shoreline Master Plan designation Portion of site within 100-year floodplain Unknown at this time; depends on each specific parcel iv. Portion of site within designated floodway Unknown at this time; depends on each specific parcel K. Explain why federal, state, and local regulations are insufficient to protect the property from degradation. Current laws and regulations have allowed sufficient degradation of this stretch of river. The restoration project being undertaken by the City of Dayton still requires landowner approval. Some landowners have expressed reservations for this project, as they may need compensation for property lost through the restoration process. Therefore, purchasing a conservation easement from these landowners enables everyone to come out ahead: the restoration work can be completed, the landowners are compensated for their loss in land use; and that stretch of river will be protected in perpetuity. In addition, current zoning allows for 5-acre minimum lots. That means that subdivision is possible, creating more fragmentation and potential river management issues due to development. L. For projects that have a goal of saving water: N/A M. If buying the land, explain why acquiring a conservation easement to extinguish certain development, timber, agricultural, mineral, or water rights will not achieve the goals and objectives of the project. N/A N. For acquisition projects intending to purchase multiple properties within an area, identify all the possible parcels that will provide similar benefits and certainty of success and provide a clear description of how parcels will be prioritized and how priority parcels will be pursued for acquisition. The properties proposed for conservation easement feasibility assessments are going to be part of a larger river restoration project. This project is only occurring

15 on this stretch of the river as of now, so protecting these parcels is the only way to protect the restoration efforts. O. Describe your approach to long-term stewardship of the land. Identify any planned use of the property, including the upland areas. Long-term stewardship of the land includes at least annual monitoring to ensure all conservation values outlined in the easement are being protected.

16 Touchet River Baileysburg Bridge Restoration CE Assessment Blue Mountain land Trust SRFB Application 2013 Vicinity Map:

17 Site Map:

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