Lake Ballinger Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project, Mountlake Terrace, Washington
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Lake Ballinger Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project, Mountlake Terrace, Washington Continuing Authorities Program, Section 206 Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment Prepared by: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District In Coordination With: City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington JULY 2020 This page left blank to facilitate duplex printing. Executive Summary This integrated feasibility report and environmental assessment (FR/EA) presents the results of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) feasibility study to identify and evaluate alternatives to restore degraded wetland, riparian and riverine ecosystems in Ballinger Park, Mountlake Terrace, Washington. The Corps is undertaking this effort in partnership with the City of Mountlake Terrace, WA, the non-Federal sponsor (Sponsor). The study is being conducted under the authority of Section 206 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. Ballinger Park is located in the City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, approximately 14 miles north of downtown Seattle. The specific area of focus for this study is Hall Creek and associated wetlands and floodplain within Ballinger Park, in the Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek Watershed. This feasibility study focuses on addressing degraded floodplain connectivity and degraded wetland and channel habitat for species of concern, including fish, amphibians and migrating birds. The proposed project would restore wetland functions and riparian habitat, and would improve Essential Fish Habitat for coho and Chinook salmon, as designated by the National Marine Fisheries Services in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The proposed project would be consistent with the Sponsor’s Ballinger Park Master Plan and the Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek Watershed Forum’s strategic action plan for flood reduction, and water quality, and habitat improvement in the watershed. The Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek Watershed Forum is comprised of Snohomish County and the cities of Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Lake Forest Park, Lynnwood, and Shoreline. The Recommended Plan is Alternative 5, Upper & Lower Channel Work with Pond Enhancement. This alternative would include wetland, stream channel and riparian zone restoration, benefiting fish and wildlife in and around Hall Creek and in Lake Ballinger. Based on October 2020 price levels, the estimated first cost of the Recommended Plan is $5,405,000. Lake Ballinger Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project Page i Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment July 2020 This page left blank to facilitate duplex printing. Lake Ballinger Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project Page ii Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment July 2020 Contents The sections of this FR/EA that are required for NEPA compliance are denoted with an asterisk (*) following the section heading. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ i Contents .............................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... v List of Appendices ................................................................................................................ vi List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ..................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Purpose and Scope ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Study Authority* ................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Lead Federal Agency and Non-Federal Sponsor* ............................................................... 2 1.4 Location of Study Area* ...................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Proposal for Federal Action* .............................................................................................. 5 1.6 Overview of Integrated Feasibility Report / Environmental Assessment .......................... 5 2. Need for and Objectives of Action .................................................................................. 7 2.1 Existing and Historical Conditions ....................................................................................... 7 2.2 Future Without Project Conditions ..................................................................................... 8 2.3 Problems and Opportunities ............................................................................................... 8 2.4 Purpose and Need for Action* .......................................................................................... 10 2.5 Resource Significance—Technical, Institutional, Public ................................................... 10 2.6 Objectives and Constraints ............................................................................................... 12 2.7 Public Scoping Comments and Resources of Concern* ................................................... 15 3. Plan Formulation ......................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Management Measures .................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Screening of Measures...................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Measures Carried Forward for Further Evaluation and Alternative Formulation ............ 26 3.4 Formulation of Alternatives .............................................................................................. 27 3.5 Alternatives to be Evaluated ............................................................................................. 30 3.6 Evaluation of Alternatives ................................................................................................. 43 3.7 Cost Effectiveness and Incremental Cost Analysis (CE/ICA) ............................................. 45 3.8 Final Array of Alternatives ................................................................................................ 48 3.9 Completeness, Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Acceptability ............................................. 49 Lake Ballinger Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project Page iii Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment July 2020 3.10 Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) ......................................................................................... 52 4. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences* ........................................... 55 4.1 Hydraulics and Hydrology ................................................................................................. 56 4.2 Water Quality .................................................................................................................... 61 4.3 Geotechnical ..................................................................................................................... 66 4.4 Vegetation/Wetlands ........................................................................................................ 70 4.5 Aquatic Resources ............................................................................................................. 75 4.6 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................. 77 4.7 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................... 80 4.8 Air Quality and Noise ........................................................................................................ 83 4.9 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................................ 87 4.10 Cultural and Historic Properties ........................................................................................ 90 4.11 Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste ......................................................................... 92 5. Recommended Plan / Agency Preferred Alternative* ................................................... 95 5.1 Plan Components .............................................................................................................. 95 5.2 Design and Construction Considerations ........................................................................ 108 5.3 Lands, Easements, Rights-of-Way, Relocations, and Disposal Areas (LERRD ................. 109 5.4 Environmental Considerations ....................................................................................... 110 5.5 Cost Estimate .................................................................................................................. 112 5.6 Cost Share ....................................................................................................................... 112 5.7 Operations, Maintenance, Repair, Rehabilitation, & Replacement ............................... 113 5.8 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ........................................................................