Port plans habitat restoration projects

PHOTO courtesy of port of tacoma

The Port of Tacoma Commission and staff discussed plans to develop the Hylebos Creek area on Port Parcel 88, formerly known as Parsons Property, into a habitat renewal project during a recent meeting.

The project aims to reverse environmental damage caused by former landowners and to reserve land for future habitat expansion.

The project fulfills three parts of the port’s immediate existing habitat obligations, resulting in approximately 21 acres of new, restored or enhanced upland habitat and associated buffers. But, the fourth part of the project, planning 2.8 acres for possible future expansions, made some port commissioners uneasy about spending money for development that may not happen.

“Why would we spend the money now, if we might not even build anything in the future?” asked Commissioner Don Johnson. “If regulations or laws regarding environmental mitigation change, we might have to start from scratch and the money spent will be out the window.”

Managers for the project disagree and explained that planning for future mitigation will save time and money in the future.

“Changes in environmental mitigation regulations are not very common,” said Sue Mauermann, director of the port’s environmental programs. “So, it’s wise to bank some of the money for advanced mitigation now.”

The port’s attorney, Robert Goodstein, agreed with Mauermann, explaining that although rules regarding environmental clean-ups change frequently, mitigation plans for habitat “have a much longer shelf life.”

“Having a design concept would probably make economical sense for future mitigation,” Goodstein said.

Commissioners approv-ed authorization to award an architectural/design contract to KPFF Engineering, which will cost approximately $577,500.

The project’s four-part design concept will include: 14.24 acres of freshwater and inter-tidal marsh associated buffer areas and habitat for Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) restoration; 3.3 acres of upland buffer with native plants (Parsons restoration), 871 square feet of emergent wetland, and enhancing 1,742 square feet of wetland buffer; 0.8 areas of tidally influenced marsh (Lincoln Avenue Grade Separation [LAGS] mitigation); and 2.8 acres of tidally influenced marsh area for future expansion (future habitat mitigation).

The more than 14-acre habitat restoration portion of the project was started by the city of Tacoma, and fulfills a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for the city’s NRDA. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oversees the NRDA process and acts as a trustee on behalf of the public, to protect and restore coastal and marine resources.

Early last year, the city of Tacoma made plans to restore wetlands on a Tacoma Public Utility marsh, located in the middle of the Hylebos Peninsula, for NRDA. In April 2008, the port made an agreement with the city to move the NRDA location and to take over the project planning. The city has already contributed $134,962 toward the 14-acre NRDA restoration project and in April 2008, port commissioners authorized an additional $2,095,115 for the project. Tara Mattina, public affairs manager for the port, said the more than $3 million price tag for this project would also include permitting for a multi-use terminal on the Blair-Hylebos peninsula.

“A lot of the cost is being covered with the public’s money, so we want to make sure we are spending it wisely,” explained Mattina. “We don’t want to spend too much too soon, but we also don’t want to have too little too late.”

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