GJN4218 Henderson Land Services Contract

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' Steve Gallup, Project Manager ~ GREENHILL TRIBUTARY WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT MONITORING SERVICES " January 13, 2004 Page 2 Per the City's request, HI,S' proposes to establish a permanent monitoring baseline which extends the length of the approximately 4,600-lineal foot Greenhill Tributary project along the top of the riparian embankment. From this baseline, a total of 20 randomly-selected lateral (perpendicular) transects would be randomly established each year (approximately 5 transects per quarter-length of project). At each randomly-selected lateral monitoring ransect, HI.S ecologists will; 1. estimate percent cover of trees and shrubs by collecting line intercept data in order to verify the City's permit compliance for vegetative establishment of native (planted and recruited) species, and 2. randomly select 2meter-square (m2) plots (0.5-meter by 2.0 meter, oriented lengthwise along the lateral transect) and visually estimate percent cover. of invasive and/or non-native species. Similarity, HLS ecologists will establish 20 permanent lateral transects from the monitoring baseline. In order to verify the City's permit compliance for plant survival, all living trees and shrubs (planted and recruited) will be counted. HI.,S' mZ plots are located on the ground by placing 2" by Z" painted and numbered stakes in order to locate the same vegetation plat for comparison of viability, coverage, speciation, etc. through time. HLS ecologists will compare and contrast plant survival estimates between monitoring years for each transect as well as for the Greenhill Tributary project overall in order to assure the City and the reviewing resource agencies that specific plant survival criteria for each year are being met as well as indicating trends in plant vitality, vigor, and natural recruitment. To verify that correct site hydrology has been achieved for the enhancedriparian/wetland plant community along the Greenhill Tributary project, in late-March through mid-April of 2004, HLS ecologists will randomly dig subsurface hydrology pits (to a minimum depth of 18 inches) in each quarter-length of project (4) to record the wetland hydrology boundary, one pit on the created wetland bench, and 3 pits on the upper slope (far a total of 8 pits) to ensure that subsurface soil saturation exists within 12-inches of the surface for a minimum of 12.5% of the growing season. 13I..S will also establish 4 permanent photo points (again located by 2" by 2" painted and numbered wooden stakes) for visual comparison(s) of the FAC-0BL herbaceous community along the toe of the embankment and the FAC-FACU-UPL riparian community. In Monitoring Years 1 through 3, HLS ecologists will ghoto document these communities seasonally (4 events) at the established permanent photo points. HLS ecologists will note their visual observations combined with selected photographs from these photo points in a brief (2-3 page) monitoring memorandum to the City after each seasonal visit during these initial monitoring years. In Monitoring Years 4 and 5, HLS ecologists will photo document these communities in the late spring to visually monitor vegetative condition and surface hydrology. By December 1~ of each monitoring year, HLS will submit a DRAFT Annual Monitoring Report to the City for internal review prior to release (upon client permission) to ACOE representatives by December 31~`. Remedial Action Contineencv Plan. January 2004 Additionally, ACOE 2003-00338 requires that the City provide the ACOE with a Contingency Plan for remedial actions should the Greenhill Tributary mitigation not meet the conditions and vegetative coverages as specified. HLS proposes to develop with the City a simple Contingency Plan for submittal to the ACOE. Additionally, on a time and materials (TBtM) basis HLS field ecologists can provide the City with necessary remedial field efforts as determined through HI.S' field monitoring efforts.