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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.