Final Vegetation Management Plan Discovery Park Prepared for: Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Seattle, Washington Prepared by: Bellevue, Washington March 5, 2002 Final Vegetation Management Plan Discovery Park Prepared for: Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation 100 Dexter Seattle, Washington 98109 Prepared by: 11820 Northup Way, Suite E300 Bellevue, Washington 98005-1946 425/822-1077 March 5, 2002 This document should be cited as: Jones & Stokes. 2001. Discovery Park. Final Vegetation Management Plan. March 5. (J&S 01383.01.) Bellevue, WA. Prepared for Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Seattle, WA. Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION AND APPROACH........................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Approach .......................................................................................................................2 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND RECENT VEGETATION STUDIES ........................................3 2.1 A Brief Natural History of Discovery Park .........................................................................3 2.2 2001 Vegetation Inventory ...............................................................................................4 2.3 Results of Vegetation Inventory ........................................................................................4 2.3.1 Definitions ......................................................................................................4 2.3.2 General results.................................................................................................5 2.3.2.1 Live Vegetation............................................................................5 2.3.2.2 Standing Dead Trees and Down Woody Material..............................9 2.3.2.3 Invasive Species .........................................................................10 2.3.3 Additional Data Analysis and Previous Results..................................................10 2.3.4 Final VMP Community Types .........................................................................11 2.3.5 Indicator Status of Selected Species and Distribution within Community Types ...........................................................................................................13 2.4 Existing Vegetation Communities at Discovery Park..........................................................13 2.4.1 General Trends in Vegetation Community Distribution.......................................13 2.4.2 Reconciliation with SUNP Mapping .................................................................15 2.4.3 Discovery Park Compared to Typical Puget Trough Communities........................15 3 GENERAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................32 3.1 Native Plant Community Enhancement ............................................................................32 3.1.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................32 3.1.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................32 3.2 Interior Road Removal...................................................................................................40 3.2.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................40 3.2.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................40 3.3 Social Trails and Stairways.............................................................................................41 3.3.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................41 3.3.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................41 3.4 Wildlife Habit at Enhancement ........................................................................................42 3.4.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................42 3.4.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................42 3.5 Herbicide Use...............................................................................................................43 3.5.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................43 3.5.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................43 3.6 Himalayan Blackberry Management ................................................................................45 Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation i Jones & Stokes Final Discovery Park Vegetation Management Plan March 2002 3.6.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................45 3.6.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................45 3.7 Other Invasive Species Management................................................................................45 3.7.1 Issues ...........................................................................................................45 3.7.2 Recommendations..........................................................................................46 4 SPECIFIC AREA MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................47 4.1 Visitor Center Area........................................................................................................48 4.1.1 Special Characteristics....................................................................................48 4.1.2 Management Issues........................................................................................48 4.1.3 Management Objectives .................................................................................48 4.1.4 Recommendations..........................................................................................48 4.2 Health Path...................................................................................................................49 4.2.1 Special Characteristics....................................................................................49 4.2.2 Management Issues........................................................................................49 4.2.3 Management Objectives .................................................................................49 4.2.4 Recommendations..........................................................................................49 4.3 North Forest .................................................................................................................50 4.3.1 Special Characteristics....................................................................................50 4.3.2 Management Issues........................................................................................50 4.3.3 Management Objectives .................................................................................50 4.3.4 Priority Actions .............................................................................................50 4.3.5 Recommendations..........................................................................................50 4.4 North Bluff Forest.........................................................................................................51 4.4.1 Special Characteristics....................................................................................51 4.4.2 Management Issues........................................................................................51 4.4.3 Management Objectives .................................................................................51 4.4.4 Priority Actions .............................................................................................51 4.4.5 Recommendations..........................................................................................51 4.5 North Bluff...................................................................................................................52 4.5.1 Special Characteristics....................................................................................52 4.5.2 Management Issues........................................................................................52 4.5.3 Management Objectives .................................................................................52 4.5.4 Priority Actions .............................................................................................52 4.5.5 Recommendations..........................................................................................52 4.6 South Bluff Forest.........................................................................................................53 4.6.1 Special Characteristics....................................................................................53 4.6.2 Management Issues........................................................................................53 4.6.3 Management Objectives .................................................................................53 4.6.4 Priority Actions .............................................................................................53 4.6.5 Recommendations..........................................................................................54