TagDes Moines Creek Basin Plan(16)

Authorization of Interlocal Agreement V, Des Moines Creek Basin Plan

Authorization of Interlocal Agreement V, Des Moines Creek Basin Plan

Proposed Des Moines Creek Business Park West Development, File #LUA2022-0044, by Laura Hartema, Friends of Des Moines Creek October 18, 2024 • Complex manipulation of the site • Array of stormwater treatment • Huge detention pond • Underground water quality facilities • Complete/partial filling of wetlands/streams/ravines • Redirecting flows through a network of French drains and pipes • Altering wetlands and their buffers • Removing over 500 trees, some of which are considered landmark trees • >30 acres of disturbance • Arsenic in soils • Impacts to neighbors/neighborhood • Decreased property values with removal of greenspace. • All indicates this development needs more environmental review to prove it does not have significant impacts to critical areas and the surrounds. Des Moines Creek Business Park West Development, Master Plan 1936 Aerial

Property Acquisition for Des Moines Creek Park October 1, 2020 BACKGROUND  Since 2018, the City of SeaTac has expressed an interest in acquiring approximately 8-acres of forested WSDOT surplus land adjacent to Des Moines Creek Park.  Expands open space to allow for an improved trail system.  New trailhead to include educations and outreach elements, recreation amenities, safer ingress and egress and expand capacity.  Preserves high value conservation property adjacent to one of the city’s salmon bearing streams.  Listed in PROS Plan to increase recreation opportunities and trails. BACKGROUND  In 2019, City Council authorized staff to pursue grant funding opportunities.  To begin formalized discussion with WSDOT regarding the acquisition of the subject property.  Secured $2.29M to date for acquisition purposes.  Additional $1M to be decided in 2021-2022 budget process. MAP OF PROPERTY CURRENT FUNDING SOURCES 2019 King County Conservation Futures Grant $1.1 M City Matching Requirement $1.1 M (403 Fund) Proceeds from sales of Conservation Property $90,000 2020 King Conservation Futures Grant $0.5 M (Awarded if City matches) City Matching Requirement $0.5 M (TBD) TOTAL FUNDING $3.29M ($1M pending/TBD) A third party, independent appraiser has been hired to determine a fair market value between the range of $5.2M and $5.8M. APPROACHES ON ACQUIRING SUBJECT PROPERTY  Purchase portions of the 8-acres over time as funding becomes available or;  Enter into a purchase and sales contract for the entire 8-acres BENEFITS OF ENTERING INTO CONTRACT  Provides price certainty for the City…

 Wetter winters and drier summers for Pacific NW  Increases in storm intensity and magnitude for Puget Sound Case Study Site: Des Moines Creek Regional Detention Facility (RDF)  30+ acres comprised of forested, scrub-shrub, emergent and open water wetlands  130 acre-feet of storm-water detention  RDF altered wetland hydrology especially during storm events….SO…. Research Questions: 1. Does altered hydrology of the RDF mimic PNW climate change? 2. Is RDF an ideal candidate for analyzing wetland plant community impacts related to PNW climate change? Results:  Potential hydrologic correlations between RDF and climate change projections for 2-yr and 5-yr events  No qualitative evidence of transition from forested- ->scrub-shrub->emergent->open water pseudo- indicative of climate change impacts  RDF with modifications may be ideal candidate Recommendations:  Run HSPF model for RDF using climate change data  Develop comprehensive vegetation monitoring plan to assess plant species richness Des Moines Creek Basin Projects were funded & implemented by the Des Moines Creek Basin Committee consisting of King County, Cities of Sea-Tac and Des Moines; Port of Seattle and WSDOT. Committee: Kern Ewing, Jim Fridley, Alan Hamlet