Application – Page 1

CONSERVATION FUTURES TAX LEVY (CFT)

APPLICATION FOR 2020 FUNDS

Project Name: Lower Soos Creek Protection Applicant Jurisdiction: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks If applicable, Open Space System Name: Hatchery Natural Area Proposed Project Acreage: 81.2 CFT Funding Request: $950,000 Total Project Acreage: KC PL Funding Request: $950,000 Type of Acquisition(s): ☒Fee Title ☐Conservation Easement ☐Other:King County Council District in which project is located: 7

CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Name: Josh Kahan Phone: (206) 477-4721 Title: Green/White River Basin Steward Email: josh.kahan@kingcounty.gov Address: 201 S. Jackson St. Suite 600, Seattle Date: March 6, 2019

SECTION 1. PROJECT SUMMARY The lower three miles of Soos Creek is a very important tributary in the Green/Duwamish River Watershed because it provides spawning and rearing habitat for both Chinook and steelhead salmon. Soos Creek is one of the two largest tributaries in the Green/Duwamish River Watershed, the other being Newaukum Creek. Soos Creek provides the highest volume of water of any tributary to the river. Also, the lower mile of the stream provides overwintering habitat and resting opportunities for salmon during high flow periods of the Green River; Soos Creek has relatively slow velocities during flood events compared to the river. Much of the lower three miles of Soos Creek is associated with a large palustrine wetland, which also includes a large beaver colony in the lower mile o stream. Soosette Creek enters Soos Creek in this reach and contains a remarkably intact ravine in an area with significant development pressure.

SECTION 2. OPEN SPACE RESOURCES ☒ A. Wildlife habitat or rare plant reserve ☒ F. Urban passive-use natural area/greenbelt☒ B. Salmon habitat and aquatic resources ☒ G. Park/open space or natural corridor addition☒ C. Scenic resources ☒ H. Passive recreation opportunity/unmet needs☒ D. Community separator ☐ I. Equity/opportunity area projects that seek to redress☐ E. Historic/cultural resources historic disparities in access to open space

Wildlife Habitat/Plants Lower Soos Creek provides varied habitat types (palustrine wetlands, streams, floodplain, steep slopes, ravines, riparian zones, forested uplands) for many species of fish and wildlife including Chinook salmon and steelhead, bald eagle, great blue heron, pileated woodpecker, big brown bat, fisher, mink, Western toad, and Van Dyke’s salamander. Other wildlife in this area include cougar, black bear, bobcat, and red fox. Bird species include turkey vulture, wood duck, western screech-owl, barn owl, and goldfinch.

Salmon Habitat/Aquatic Resources Protection and restoration of refuge habitat such as tributaries is a primary goal of the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan (2005) for the Middle Green River sub-basin. The Plan states, “refugia are areas within a watershed that provide persistent habitat conditions that support the population during environmental perturbations.” The Soos Creek parcel protects refuge habitat. Another plan goal is to protect and restore spawning and rearing habitat in Lower Soos Creek, one of the few areas in the watershed that would assist in maintaining spatial structure in salmonid populations because of the diversity of landscapes.

Updated 5/1/2019

Application – Page 2

Scenic Resources These parcels provide excellent scenic opportunities for visitors, including extensive forests, steep slopes, a beautiful ravine, streams, and wetlands. Developing these parcels would compromise the scenic value of the existing natural areas.

Community Separator The project area is within five miles of the cities of Auburn, Black Diamond, Kent, Covington, and the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation. If acquired, these parcels would increase the community separator function currently being provided by the natural areas. Preserving these lands would help protect these communities from residential sprawl by increasing the linkage of public land along lower Soos Creek and the Green River.

Park/Open Space or Natural Corridor Addition Preserving this reach would complement the protection efforts along Lower Soos Creek which includes Hatchery Natural Area and Green River natural areas (Auburn Narrows, Porter Levee). These public lands provide ecological connectivity important for fish and wildlife migration. Uplands in these protected areas will likely become low-elevation old-growth forests over time.

Passive Recreation Opportunity Preserving these parcels adds more passive recreational opportunities for south King County residents to hike, fish, and bird watch. Residents in the fast-growing communities of Auburn, Kent, Covington, and Black Diamond would benefit from additional permanently protected passive recreational opportunities in south King County.

SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL FACTORS ☒ A. Educational/interpretive opportunity ☒ B. Threat of loss of open space resources ☒ C. Feasibility: Ownership complexity/willing seller(s)/community support ☒ D. Describe any public or private partnerships that will enhance this project ☒ E. Is the property identified in an adopted park, open space, comprehensive, or community plan? ☒ F. Transferable Development Rights (TDR) participation

Educational/interpretive opportunity Preserving these parcels would provide educational and interpretive opportunities. The properties contain upland, steep slope, and riparian habitat, the benefits of which could be described in educational signage along trails. Signage could highlight reasons why this area is important to fish, wildlife, and water quality, along with fish and wildlife habitat restoration efforts. Threat of loss of open space resources Residential development is permitted in this area. The parcels are accessible by maintained county roads, and water and electricity can be easily accessed. The properties provide beautiful settings for homes. Protection would prevent undesirable management issues associated with residential development (tree clearing, livestock grazing, pets, noise, light, off-road vehicle use, etc.). Ownership complexity/willing seller/ownership interest King County DNRP has contacted all of the prioritized parcel owners. All are willing to negotiate an acquisition. Partnerships This acquisition effort is supported by the Green River Coalition and Friends of Soos Creek. Is property identified in adopted park, open space, comprehensive, or community plan? Support for acquiring land along Soos Creek is expressed in the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan (2006). Soos Creek is designated as a Wildlife Corridor in the KC Comp. Plan (2012). King County exemplified the importance of Soos Creek for fish and wildlife habitat via a report titled: Soos Creek Regional Park and Trail Site Management Guidelines (2013). The Washington Department of Ecology recently completed a TMDL for Soos Creek, highlighting the need to improve water quality (2017).

Application – Page 3

Transferable Development Rights (TDR) participation Target properties have nine TDRs. The King County TDR Bank funds could support the purchase of theses development rights thereby reducing the cost of the purchase for CFT and Parks Levy.

SECTION 4. PARCEL DETAILS A. Provide information about the parcels that are current and future funding targets.

i. Current Funding Targets - parcels to be acquired with requested funding, shown in red on maps.

Parcel Number Ac. Zon.

Assessor’s Appraised Land Value

Assessor’s Appraised Impro Val.

Estimated Cost to Purchase

Property Interest Sought

1521059006 25.2 RA-5 $655,000 (recent sale price) $336,000 $900,000 Fee 0921059037 2.7 RA-5 $53,000 $0 $100,000 Fee 1621059002 6.4 RA-5 $67,000 $0 $115,000 Fee 1021059081 20 RA-5 Unknown, PBRS $0 $210,000 Fee 1021059069 4.9 RA-5 $23,000 $0 $50,000 Fee 1021059073 9.6 RA-5 $95,000 $0 $160,000 Fee 1121059073 5.5 RA-5 $151,000 $0 $230,000 Fee 1121059026 2.5 RA-5 $124,000 $0 $175,000 Fee 1121059027 3.3 RA-5 $308,000 $0 $350,000 Fee 1121059014 1.0 RA-5 $1,000 $0 $10,000 Fee 1021059062 2.0 RA-5 Appraised at $30K (currently

under negotiations) $0 $50,000 Fee

83.2 $2,350,000 ii. Future Funding Targets - parcels shown in yellow on your maps. Please list the parcel numbers here:

Parcels shown in yellow on attached map (Phase 2 Acquisitions): 1621059001, 1521059066, 1021059008, 1021059049, 1021059042, 1021059037. B. How did you estimate the cost to purchase parcels? (e.g., appraisal, estimate from assessor’s values). Assessed values along with recent sales of property that are nearby with similar attributes.

C. Are any parcels enrolled in Current Use Taxation program? Yes, parcel 1021059081 is enrolled in the PBRS program.

SECTION 5. PROPERTY USE, STEWARDSHIP, AND MAINTENANCE A. What is the intended future use of the property (e.g., passive recreation, habitat restoration, timber

management, agricultural production)? Will this land be available for public use? Habitat protection, future habitat restoration, passive recreation. Yes, this land will be available for public use.

B. How will the property be stewarded and maintained, and using what funding? Does the property lend itself to volunteer stewardship opportunities or community participation? When acquired maintenance and stewardship will be done by the KC Parks Division. The existing natural areas are currently managed for resource protection; the addition of these parcels to the KC natural area system would not change this management objectives. Baseline monitoring will be conducted immediately after property acquisition and include a site inventory. This information will provide a foundation for a site management plan, which will guide long-term monitoring, maintenance, restoration, and overall management. Monitoring and maintenance will be accomplished primarily through paid staff and contract crews. Adaptive management will be implemented to respond to other challenges observed through monitoring. These parcels have the potential to become illegal dumping areas. Signage would be placed at the site and regular park inspections would be conducted to discourage misuse. KC staff works closely with the KC Sheriff’s

Application – Page 4

Department to ensure enforcement of Park’s system codes. The Green River Coalition, a community group active in local acquisition/restoration efforts, intends to continue to participate in stewardship efforts.

C. What are the biggest challenges you anticipate in managing this site? Maintaining restoration efforts which can take as long as 10 years or more.

D. Will you purchase and demolish any structures on the target parcel(s)? Explain why this is necessary. No structures would be acquired as part of this acquisition proposal.

E. Do you intend to reserve any part of the site for non-CFT-eligible activities, such as more intensive recreation, retaining a structure on a fee purchase? No

SECTION 6. PROJECT BUDGET

FUNDING REQUEST

REQUESTED AMOUNT CFT Funding Request $975,000 KC Parks Levy (PL) Request (for county projects only) $975,000 Total Funding Request $1,950,000

TOTAL CFT PROJECT COSTS

PROJECT COSTS ESTIMATED DOLLAR AMOUNT OR RANGE Total property interest value $1,875,000 Title and appraisal work $15,000 Closing, fees, taxes $10,000 Relocation costs $0 Hazardous waste reports $10,000 Directly related staff, administration and legal costs $40,000 Total Estimated Project Costs $1,950,000

FUNDING/MATCH TABLE

Please document the sources of match that you have secured, or intend to seek, towards the parcels that are the current funding targets. If you don’t yet have match secured, please note how you plan to obtain it.

CFT FUNDING Date Funding Secured Amount CFT Funding Request N/A $975,000 Past CFT Funding Available Funds remaining from past awards to be used on current targets

Unknown; we’re currently in negotiations with 2 landowners.

MATCH FUNDING SECURED Sources/Status:

Date Funding Secured Dollar Amount

CFT and PL ($200K each) 2018 $400,000 MATCH FUNDING STILL SOUGHT Sources/ Plan to obtain match?:

Date Funding Anticipated Dollar Amount

Parks Levy - 2020 December 1, 2019 $975,000 SECTION 7. BOND FUNDING POTENTIAL (SPECIAL SECTION FOR 2019) Projects applying in 2019 may be able to qualify for bond-backed Conservation Futures funds, in addition to annual awards. Criteria A through D below are factors that may make projects most competitive for bond funding. ☒ A. Acquisition can occur in late 2019 or soon thereafter

Application – Page 5

☒ B. Transaction is highly likely to be successful ☒ C. Match is secured: ($500K) ☒ D. Property acquired in fee will not be leased/sold for private benefit (i.e. leased to private party, surplus

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Auburn Narrows Natural Area

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Porter Levee Natural Area

State Park - Auburn Narrows

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Lower Soos Creek Sites

The use of the information in this map is subject to the terms and conditionsfound at:www.kingcounty.gov/services/gis/Maps/terms-of-use.aspx. Your accessand use is conditioned on your acceptance of these terms and conditionsDepartment of

Natural Resources and ParksWater and Land Resources Division

May 1, 2019

Parcel Under Negotiationk Photo Year 2017

Target Acquisition ParcelPublic Land, Conservation Easementor NGPE

Initial Negotiation Parcel