5.3.11 Inner Quartermaster Harbor the Subarea at Inner Quartermaster Harbor Includes Several Drift Cells Extending Into and out of the Harbor (See Map 2)

Priority Areas and Subarea Recommendations

5.3.11 Inner Quartermaster Harbor The subarea at inner Quartermaster Harbor includes several drift cells extending into and out of the harbor (see Map 2). It is the most highly developed area on Vashon Island; this area includes the marina inside the harbor. The harbor has areas of fragmented habitat function overall, depending on individual residential choices for planting or removing riparian vegetation and installing docks. Generally, the entire shore of this subarea is armored.

The Judd Creek watershed is the largest watershed on the islands and flows into Quartermaster Harbor in this subarea. It is a documented salmon stream and is the only stream in the project area other than the Green/Duwamish River with documented Chinook utilization (WDFW 2002). The mouth of Judd Creek is armored and there is little riparian vegetation along the creek delta. Other creeks in the subarea may be periodically utilized by salmon if accessible and the creek mouths of all tributaries, particularly those that are not in pipes, may be utilized by juvenile salmon migrating and rearing in the nearshore. The subarea contains Raab’s Lagoon, which exhibits a small creek and an armored berm that partially disconnects the lagoon from the bay.

5.3.11.1 Habitat Needs and Goals Habitat needs in this subarea include conserving and restoring the tributary mouths and lagoon, which have been subject to development along the borders. Restoring riparian vegetation where possible in this entire area is important to maintain and sustain the herring spawning here. In addition, low‐energy habitats offered by the tributary mouths and lagoon could be greatly improved to offer highly functioning juvenile salmonid feeding habitat.

5.3.11.2 Priority Recommendations Habitat recommendations in this subarea include the following (Map 17):

• Conserve the mouth of Judd Creek, one of the largest salmon producing creeks on the islands. Rehabilitate the armoring and riparian vegetation conditions just outside the mouth of the creek.

FINAL Prioritization of Marine Shorelines of WRIA 9 May 2006

WRIA 9 Technical Committee 64 030239‐01 Priority Areas and Subarea Recommendations

• Conserve/Restore the Tsugwalla Creek adjacent riparian zone. This creek currently has a wood bulkhead and bridge across it. Removing the structure and conserving riparian vegetation will improve habitat function.

• Conserve/Restore the mudflat and marsh complex south of the marina. Mudflats are important sites for primary production that forms the base of the aquatic food web. Conservation will help maintain these processes. Restoration of the mudflat at the stream would remove fill to expand the mudflat and marsh. The mudflat habitat at the marina would be improved by reconfiguring the boat lift area to reduce the amount of overwater structure.

• Restore creek at Raab’s Lagoon by removing armor at the mouth of the lagoon and adding riparian vegetation, particularly at the northwest perimeter.

FINAL Prioritization of Marine Shorelines of WRIA 9 May 2006

WRIA 9 Technical Committee 65 030239‐01 Inner Quartermaster Harbor This subarea contains several tributary mouths and a lagoon which have been developed along the borders. Restoring riparian vegetation where possible in this entire area is important to maintain and sustain the documented herring spawning here.

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Conserve and rehabilitate creek mouth Restore creek and Conserve unarmored shoreline and intact riparian conserve riparian zone vegetation at the mouth of Judd Creek. This is one Restore creek with wood of the two largest salmon-producing tributaries on bulkhead bridge across by the islands. The creek mouth has extensive riparian Q u a r t e r m a removing structure. Conserve vegetation and provides desirable pocket estuary s t e r existing riparian vegetation. habitat. Removal of armoring and addition of riparian H a vegetation just outside the mouth of the creek would r b

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Restore Raab's Lagoon

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A Conserve and restore mudflat and marsh I Subarea Recommendations Model Results: Current Function R Mudflats support the primary production forming the Current Function W

- Conserve e l t base of the aquatic food web. Conservation of the 0% - 40% t a e mudflat will help maintain these functions. Removing Conserve/Restore 40% - 60% S -

4 fill along the shoreline to expand the marsh to the east 60% - 80% 0 -

9 Restore 80% - 90%

3 of the marina would improve habitat. The mudflat habitat 2

0 90% - 100%

3 at the marina would be improved by reconfiguring the 0 \ s boat lift area to reduce the amount of overwater structure. b o J \ : J Map 17 Inner Quartermaster Harbor Subarea and Priority Recommendations 0 1,000 2,000 4,000 Identification of Priority Habitats Scale in Feet WRIA9 Nearshore Habitat Assessment