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MOUNTAINEERS FOUNDATION

RHODODENDRON PRESERVE

SUMMARY OF MONITORING CONDUCTED DECEMBER 13, 2014

PREPARED BY MINDY ROBERTS (FEBRUARY 9, 2015)

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SUMMARY:

Date of monitoring 12/13/14

Participants Mindy Roberts, Eugene Radcliff, Jeff Wirtz, Jim Gates, Wes Cooper

Parcels visited 1120765 (Hidden Valley), 1134659 (Big Tree); 2339224 and 2339232 (near Ueland Tree Farm)

Parcels observed NA

Activities: Performed?

General conditions assessment Yes

Invasive species removal Yes – holly to 3”, ivy

Boundaries identified Rough only; did not locate any survey markers

Species identified Yes – beta test for iNaturalist.org for Bioblitz 2015

Photopoints and/or cameras Yes – Photopoints MF2 through MF10 established and installed three triggered cameras (Huey, Dewey, and Louie)

Other management activities Identified method for hauling tank across creek with high line; naturalized trail around Big Tree roots; monitored Ueland Tree Farm conservation easements

Follow up needed? Yes – check on Big Tree root protection; identify boundary with UTF; install more permanent open space signs at NE corner of parcel 2309797 (nothing there now), southern boundary of 2339232 (nothing there now and no trail access), and 2309797 (sign on southern conservation easement parcels but not thgis Foundation parcel); move old oil tank and dispose of it

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Recommended actions and completion status:

# Action Priority Lead Completion status

1 check on Big Tree roots in January Medium Mindy As of January 4, all branches still in place; continue checking

2 identify and manage boundaries more specifically

Low Committee

3 post permanent open space signs Medium Mindy

4 map area in need of restoration thinning in parcel 2309797

Medium Mindy with consultant

5 haul oil tank across Wildcat Creek High Eugene and Wes

6 haul oil tank up driveway, clean, and dispose/recycle

High Eugene

7 develop invasive species control plan for parcel 2309797 to eradicate scotch broom and holly

Low Mindy with consultant

8 develop thinning plan for the young forest in parcel 2309797.

Medium Mindy with consultant

9 upload iNaturalist photos Low Mindy January 2015 – complete

10 develop camera plan for this region Medium Eugene and Mindy

11 test soils around oil tank for contamination High Eugene

12 remove tree across Big Tree trail Low Steve/Katha

13 engage Mark Mauren on UTF thinning High Mindy

14 send conservation area monitoring report forms to Mark Mauren of UTF

High Mindy

15 remove ivy from fireplace Low Committee

16 record Big Tree camera Dewey location Low Mindy

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CONTENTS

Summary of Activities .................................................................................................................................................... 5

Party Members .............................................................................................................................................................. 6

General Conditions Assessment .................................................................................................................................... 6

Hidden Valley and Big Tree Trail ................................................................................................................................ 6

Ueland Tree Farm Conservation Easements and nearby Parcels .............................................................................. 6

Invasive Species Activities ............................................................................................................................................. 7

Boundary Activities ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

Species Identification Activities ..................................................................................................................................... 7

Photopoints and Cameras ............................................................................................................................................. 8

Other Management Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Photos .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

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SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Our team of 5 met at the parking lot at 9 am. The first objective was to install two cameras and several

photopoints in the Hidden Valley area. We also visited the old fireplace and oil tank and Wes identified a high line

haul technique using search and rescue people that could get the tank across Wildcat Creek so it can be disposed

of properly. Second, we walked the Big Tree Trail to install the final camera and several other photopoints. The

crew also covered the foot trail around both sides of Big Tree with branches, moss, and brush to obscure it. This

was about 3 ft high around both sides of the tree. After returning to the parking lot around 1:30 pm, we drove

through the Leber Lane gate into the Ueland Tree Farm. We first visited the western conservation easements and

installed a photopoint and a temporary sign indicating open space status. Ueland Tree Farm has already installed a

good sign at this location near the boundaries of our properties. Next we visited the eastern conservation

easement. Ueland Tree Farm has installed a sign indicating the open space status of the easement. We monitored

vegetation conditions, checked the culvert, and walked to the Foundation parcel purchased in 2012. This site still

needs a more permanent sign, as does the middle parcel.

Figure 1. December 13, 2014 monitoring path

500 ft

Kitsap Cabin parking lot

Big Tree1

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PARTY MEMBERS

Mindy Roberts (Mountaineers Foundation), Eugene Radcliff (Mountaineers Foundation), Jeff Wirtz (friend of

Mindy, environmental scientist), Wes Cooper (Nicole’s husband, Seattle Search and Rescue member), Jim Gates

(friend of Mindy, construction project manager). All were skilled at bushwhacking through heavy vegetation.

GENERAL CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT

We assessed three separate regions of the Preserve: Hidden Valley, Big Tree trail, and southern parcels near

Ueland Tree Farm, including UTF conservation easements.

HIDDEN VALLEY AND BIG TREE TRAIL

We found some recent trash – metal cans – that could indicate visitors in Hidden Valley. No change to Paschall

house or other buildings in the valley. We checked the side of the Paschall house near Wildcat Creek and did not

see anything obvious moved among the artifacts in the unsecured area.

We visited the old fireplace and oil tank area of Hidden Valley. Several new branches have dropped in the

previously cleared path. Wes Cooper is active with a mountain rescue unit. He identified a haul line system that

could be used to move the tank across the creek. The exercise would be a good skills practice for a mountain

rescue unit. He will follow up on this with Eugene Radcliff. Eugene has a background in hazardous waste testing

and clean up and will arrange for testing of the soil, tank cleaning, and tank disposal and recycling. The tunnel

between the fireplace and Big Tree trail is still open and somewhat obvious.

A large tree is down along the path that requires visitors to climb over it or around it. This has been there for at

least two months.

At the Big Tree (Photo 21), we piled large branches, moss, leaves, and other forest debris along both sides of the

Big Tree to obscure the forming trail and to discourage further exploration. A faint trail on the flood plain below

Big Tree leading to Lost Creek was also naturalized.

UELAND TREE FARM CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND NEARBY PARCELS

The Leber Lane entrance has new signage with the updated property boundaries (Photo 23). We found the gate

unlocked on the way in, locked it behind us, then found it locked on the way out.

We visited the western conservation easement, accessing the road network through the Leber Lane gate on the

Ueland Tree Farm. The road remains brushed to the Foundation property boundary. The old road is still passable

on foot heading north on the ridge between the two gullies. We established photopoint MF9.

We did not identify any new trails or other signs of human access. We posted a temporary laminated sign

indicating the open space status along the trail north from the end of the drivable road. The Ueland Tree Farm had

already installed a more permanent sign very close and just on the Foundation side of the property boundary

(Photos 4 and 5). The pink and blue flagging that was used by Contour to survey the boundary in 2012 is becoming

more faint. The previously hacked boundary line is also becoming more faint and likely needs brushing to maintain

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a distinct boundary. We were able to locate the old metal tags marking the conservation easement boundaries

that are now within the Foundation’s property.

We drove back to the eastern conservation easement (Photo 3) then walked the final loop on the old logging road.

The scotch broom stands in the old road bed remain. This region also has extensive stands of holly with diameters

of 6 to 8 inches (47.58307, -122.72674), some of which may be on Ueland land. We removed several small stands

of holly but were not able to effectively eradicate the larger trees. We established photopoint MF10. We did not

locate the parcel boundary. This region will be pre-commercially thinned by Ueland in spring 2015; we should

verify boundaries with them prior to that.

This region also has extensive stands of young forest that could be a risk for fire or disease. We did not have time

to identify the boundary of this young area that could need thinning, but this activity should occur.

On the return, we stopped to inspect the culvert in the eastern conservation area (parcel 2309805). Both the

upstream and downstream sides were free of debris and accumulation (Photo 14).

We reoccupied a photo location along the road (Photo 15). We conducted only a windshield survey from the

vehicle but did not identify any particular changes to the vegetation in this area (Photo 3).

Annual monitoring of the conservation areas in the Ueland Tree Farm is required by agreement. Attachment 1

includes the December 2014 monitoring forms.

INVASIVE SPECIES ACTIVITIES

Hidden Valley still has expanses of invasive species (Photos 16 and 19). These should be controlled. We found small

invasive species (holly and ivy) along the trail to Hidden Valley that were pulled by hand and carried back to the

parking lot for disposal. We removed 3” holly tree previously identified in parcel 2339224 (Photo 10) and identified

numerous large holly trees in parcels 2309797 and 2309805 (UTF) (near 47.58197, -122.72659). We did not

definitively identify the boundary between the two parcels, and the holly appears to span both. We also need to

develop a plan to control the scotch broom; it does not appear to be spreading into the forest area. In December

2014, Eugene and Mindy removed a girdle of old-growth ivy vines up to 5” in diameter up the red alders at the

fireplace site. The ivy does not seem to be dying and should be checked. This area should be cleared of ivy before

continuing actions in Hidden Valley since it is upstream.

BOUNDARY ACTIVITIES

We can still identify the 2012 survey markers but need to improve the brushing of the boundary and flag the

locations again.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION ACTIVITIES

Mindy continued identifying species using iNaturalist app (Photos 16 through 20 and 24).

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PHOTOPOINTS AND CAMERAS

Hidden Valley and Big Tree trail – In Hidden Valley, Eugene established two camera locations. The first, Huey, faces

the old trail between Hidden Valley and Forest Theater (Photo 1). The second faces downstream on Wildcat Creek,

across from the Suquamish Tribe’s smolt trap location (Photo 2). The location of camera Louie was near the Big

Tree but we did not get latitude and longitude of the specific location.

Eugene also established seven photopoints (MF2 through MF8) in Hidden Valley and along the Big Tree trail. The

green metal fence post was pounded in with an orange cap about 4 ft above ground level. Pink flagging with MF#

was hung from nearby vegetation about 6 ft above ground level. A second shorter green metal post was pounded

in south from the orange cap to establish the direction of site for photos. We took photos at each photopoint to

compare conditions over time.

Ueland tree Farm and Nearby Parcels – We did not place any triggered cameras in this section. We did note that

additional cameras could be used in this area both to track wildlife and also human usage of this region. We

established two photopoints (MF9 anf MF10) in Preserve parcels adjacent to access points from the Ueland Tree

Farm (Photos 6 and 7) and took initial photos at both (Photos 8, 8, 11, and 12).

Camera Parcel Lat/Long Description

Huey 1120765 47.58736, -122.73318 5” tree uphill of trail

Dewey 1120765 47.58749, -122.73468 24” red alder on right bank of Wildcat Creek, downstream of Hidden Valley bridge

Louie 1134659 *near* 47.58585, -122.73973

8” tree uphill from Big Tree pointed at Big Tree

Photopoint Parcel No. Lat/long Description

MF2 1120765 47.58778, -122.73441

Hidden Valley east of Paschall house at downed apple tree; same as TESC437 plot 6

MF3 1120765 47.58819, -122.73490

Hidden Valley northwest of Paschall house in clearing

MF4 1120765 47.58742, -122.73508

Hidden Valley near old fireplace and oil tank

MF5 1120765 47.58743, -122.73491

Hidden Valley near Lost Creek in clearing

MF6 1134659 47.58686, -122.73792

Lost Creek valley along Big Tree trail

MF7 1134659 47.58711, -122.73866

Lost Creek valley northwest of Big Tree trail

MF8 1134659 47.58728, -122.73630

Hillslope between Lost Creek and Wildcat Creek valleys

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MF9 2339224 47.58195, -122.74373

Plateau and old logging road above two gullies. Drive to end of road and walk along the old road/path.

MF10 2309797 47.58408, -122.72829

Along old logging road in young forest.

OTHER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

None.

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PHOTOS

Photo 1 - Camera Huey located uphill of the old trail between Hidden Valley and Forest Theater (parcel 1120765).

Photo 2 – Camera Louie located on right bank of Wildcat Creek, downstream of the Paschall house and bridge

(parcel 1120765).

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Photo 3 – Road within eastern conservation easement

Photo 4 – Open Space sign installed by Ueland Tree Farm at western conservation easement.

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Photo 5 – Close up of open space installed by Ueland Tree Farm.

Photo 6 – Installing photopoint MF9 in parcel 2339224.

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Photo 7 – Identifying photopoint MF9 at parcel 2339224

Photo 8 – Photopoint MF9 looking south (December 13, 2014).

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Photo 9 – Photopoint MF9 looking north (December 13, 2014).

Photo 10 – Removing holly tree at parcel 2339224.

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Photo 11 – Photopoint MF10 looking south (December 13, 2014).

Photo 12 – Photopoint MF10 looking north (December 13, 2014).

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Photo 13 – Temporary open space signs installed at parcel 2309797.

Photo 14 – Culvert under road in parcel 2309805 (Ueland Tree Farm) eastern conservation easement. Left is

downstream side, right is upstream side.

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Photo 15 – Eastern conservation easement (parcel 2309847) with road and surrounding vegetation near 47.57744,

-122.72928).

Photo 16 – Ivy, vinca, juniper, scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, and bamboo in Hidden Valley (invasive).

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Photo 17 – Unusual tree species in Hidden Valley – sequoia?

Photo 18 – Chum salmon carcass.

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Photo 19 – Herb Robert (invasive)

Photo 20 – Cascara (native)

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Photo 21 – Big Tree with piles of branches, leaves, and brush to obscure trail to the right and left sides.

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Photo 22 – Big Tree

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Photo 23 – Entering Ueland Tree Farm from Leber Lane. Updated map has new property boundaries. We found the

gate unlocked on the way in but locked on the way out.

Photo 24 – Bear scat with berries.