APRIL 2018

Environmental mitigation: Enhancing natural resources and parks When planning transportation projects, WSDOT tries to limit or avoid adverse effects to the environment. When that isn’t possible, we look for ways to mitigate those effects. How? We coordinate with regulatory agencies, local jurisdictions and others on mitigation projects in specific parks, wetlands and other sensitive areas. As reconstruction of SR 520 moves forward, we continue to refine the highway project’s design and reassess its impacts. Because of various project design refinements, we have reduced SR 520’s environmental impacts. Below are key mitigation projects for the SR 520 Program.

5. Portage Bay Park 3EvanEsv anCrese Crk eek Creates a new, approximately 4-acre public park in on the north shore of Portage Bay, with water access for boaters and open space for 8 1 BBeeara rCree Creekk other uses. Completion expected in 2018. Natural Area UniversityUn iofon Bay WashingtonNatural Area Kirkland Montlake Redmond Triangle project 6. South Lake 5 10 7 WSDOT-Owned Improved about 4 acres of lake-shore salmon hab- PortageBryant BBayuildi Parkng WSDOTPe nPeninsulainsula East Approproaacchh Fish passage improvements itat by planting native vegetation, removing de- Montlake 520 cades-old industrial structures, and enhancing Washington Park near-shore habitat. Completed in 2015. WashAirnbgotreotnu mPark MedinaMedina Arboretum Yarrow Creek 999 11 Yarrow Creek 5 Montlake Seattle Bellevue

Seattle 405 7. SR 520 East Approach Lake Improved about 1 acre of sockeye-spawning habitat beneath the Washington east end of the new floating bridge by adding lakebed gravel, removing bulkheads and rubble, and restoring/replanting the 90 shoreline. Completed in 2017.

Mercer 8. Island Improves existing wetlands and buffers, and creates new wetlands – about 22 acres combined – within the ’s Union Bay Natural Area, northeast of Husky Stadium. Completed in 2018. LEGEND:

SR 520 corridor Wetland mitigation Aquatic mitigation 9. Washington Park Arboretum Wetland and aquatic mitigation Parks mitigation Taylor Creek 6 Makes a variety of improvements in the Arboretum, including creation of a new north entry, improved South multiuse trail. Loop trail open. Other projects are underway; completion date TBD. Grass Creek mitigationGrass siteCreek 101 101 South Lake Washington 4 Shoreline Restoration 109109 HoquiamHoquiam Renton AberdeenAberdeen CCeeddaarr RiRivever 101101 1212 169 Renton 2 EllioElliotttt BBririddgege Rea Reacchh 10. WSDOT Peninsula Grays Harbor Cosmopolis Grays Harbor Cosmopolis Enhances wetlands and wetland buffers, controls invasive plant species Pontoon Construction Pontoon Construction 105105 ProjectProject location location and adds habitat features within this 6-acre WSDOT-owned property next to the Washington Park Arboretum. Mitigation planned following Montlake Phase. 1. Bear Creek Improved about 16 acres of important stream and riparian habitat for 11. Yarrow Creek salmon by stabilizing creek bank, adding stream gravel and wood, and Restored wetlands and rehabilitated the stream to planting native vegetation. . Completed in 2015 improve fish and wildlife habitat, and added eight large, fish-friendly culverts within SR 520’s Eastside corridor to improve fish migration. Completed in 2014. 2. Cedar River Elliott Bridge Reach Restored about 5 acres of wetlands, side channels, floodplain and river habitat for migrating fish, including Chinook salmon. Completed in 2016. Mitigation Reserves Program Wetland mitigation 3. Evans Creek The King County Mitigation Reserves Program allows participants Restored about 32 acres of wetlands on land previously farmed at the to pool financial resources for larger restoration projects with confluence of Bear Creek and Evans Creek, near Redmond. greater environmental benefits. WSDOT is contributing to the Completed in 2013. county’s program to mitigate for a portion of the SR 520 program’s impacts to wetlands. Financial commitments made in 2017 and 2018.

4. Grass Creek Restored wetlands and shoreline habitat in the 68-acre Grass Creek site in Grays Harbor County by removing a portion of earthen dike and re-establishing tidal channels. (SR 520 pontoons were constructed in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County.) Completed in 2011.

Project completed APRIL 2018

What is Section 106? Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act seeks to accommodate historic preservation concerns with the needs of a Federal undertaking by identifying historic properties potentially affected, assessing effects, and seeking ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects. Federal agencies, and their designees, must consult on these effects with other agency officials, federally recognized tribes, and parties with an interest in the effects of the project on historic properties.

Section 106 and the SR 520 Program In 2011, after a two-year consultation process, WSDOT executed a Programmatic Agreement (PA) committing to a number of mitigation measures for the SR 520 Program. There are six signatories to the agreement and 21 concurring parties. Some Section 106 PA commitments include: measures to reduce construction effects on historic properties, interpretive signage throughout the project area, consultation on landscape and urban design, regular consultation with consulting tribes and quarterly meetings between WSDOT, PA signatories and concurring parties. Historic photo of the Montlake Bridge. SR 520 PA signatories and concurring parties include: • Signatories o Advisory Council on Historic Preservation o Federal Highway Administration o US Army Corps of Engineers o NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center o Washington State Historic Preservation Officer o Washington State Department of Transportation • Concurring Parties o City of Seattle- Department of Neighborhoods Historic photo of St. Demetrios Greek o Concerned Citizens of Montlake - SR 520 Othordox Church. o Eastlake Community Council o Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks o Historic Seattle Preservation Foundation o King County Historic Preservation Office o Madison Park Community Club o Montlake Community Club o Muckleshoot Indian Tribe o North Capitol Hill Neighborhood Association o Portage Bay/ Roanoke Community Council o Seattle Yacht Club o Shelby-Hamlin Residents TE 520 o Snoqualmie Indian Tribe U PR O O R o Stillaguamish Tribe G E o Suquamish Tribe R T

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o Tulalip Tribe A M

o University of Washington T S o Washington Park Arboretum Foundation o Washington Trust for Historic Preservation SECTION 106 APRIL 2018

Montlake Historic District: Potential sign locations Montlake-area greenways, parks and historic residential architecture

Montlake Cut Union Bay Flashing beacon E Shelby St

E Hamlin St to be improved 520 (by city) Planned Portage Bay Lake Wa sh in off-street trail g t o E Roanok n

e St B

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E Louisa St E e Pl opportunity E Miller St Montlak E Calhoun St Parks

25th Ave E E McGraw St

E Lynn St Cluster of

Boyer Ave E Cluster of Tudor Revival

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L Central Area a

24th Ave E

26th Ave E k Neighborhood e

W Greenway route a

s h Greenway i n g In t t o e n r l B ak l en v Future city of

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Seattle E Pl E neighborhood E Crescent St greenway route

17th Ave E E Galer St effects

E Lee St

22nd Ave E

19th Ave E 18th Ave E Commitment in 2011 Section 106 Programmatic Agreement stipulations III.C.3 and III.A.4 is for up to six signs in the Montlake area

Text excerpts from Section 106 Programmatic Agreement (May 2011) WSDOT will consult with the concurring parties ... to develop a sign plan for historic markers or signage for the Montlake Historic District. Once the sign plan is approved by TE 520 U PR O O WSDOT, in consultation with DAHP and the City of Seattle, WSDOT will fund fabrication R G and installation of up to five historic markers or signs within the district. (III.C.3) E R T

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Within the area of Montlake Boulevard where WSDOT plans modifications to medians, M T

WSDOT will consult with the concurring parties to this Agreement, DAHP, and other S stakeholders as appropriate on design, wording, and placement of a sign about the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and the Olmsted design for this portion of Montlake SECTION 106 Boulevard. (III.A.4) New Washington Park Arboretum Loop Trail open!

• The Washington Park Arboretum Loop Trail project provides a multiuse loop trail from the intersection of East Madison through the Arboretum to the intersection of Foster Island Road and Lake Washington Boulevard.

• The addition of the 1.2 miles of paved multiuse trail creates a "loop" with the existing Arboretum Drive, providing an accessible path for all visitors. The path offers recreation opportunities and access to new parts of the Arboretum collection.

• WSDOT and the SR 520 Program provided $7.8 million to help fund the project. Vine-cutting ceremony at the Loop Trail Grand A jogger runs on a new 1.2-mile paved walking and cycling path in Opening. the Washington Park Aboretum. (Photo courtesy Ellen M. Banner/ The Seattle Times)

Arboretum Loop Trail LEGEND

White dash - new loop trail Existing access on Aboretum Drive 1,2,3,4,5 Reference points for construction updates

1 South end of trail at 31st Ave. E.

2 Trail below Pacific Connections Garden 3 Birch parking lot 4 Willcox bridge 5 North end of trail/Aboretum Drive