More Wetland Responses. We have received some more responses to the questions posed by an Illahee resident asking "why wetlands are so important" and are passing them on.
Wetland Info on Clear Creek Trail. "One of the displays on the Clear Creek Trail answers some of the questions posed by the person who witnessed the destruction of wetlands in Minnesota. We recommend he/she/they take the wetland tour hike on the north part of the trail and read about why wetlands are important and why they are supposed to be protected (hint Kitsap County)."
The Wetland Question Needs More Answers. The question "What is wrong with digging out a wetland area if it provides another building site" needs more answers.
The development of the property on Third Avenue between the streets called East and Sunset has not only destroyed vital sensitive wetlands but may have done so many other things to the property that the public is not aware of yet, and there-by caused issues to begin to exist on neighboring properties that have never existed before.
It seems that many people have figured out that those living North and East of this development are going to be suffering the consequences as well if they haven't already.
The area immediately adjacent and to the East of the property will be receiving more water now from the pumping and/or run off of the newly developed land. Interestingly on that adjacent property, the owners had to move their house South because of the prior standing water. This developer's rerouting of water could cause flooding in areas that usually don't flood and greater flooding issues in the areas that usually do flood. Does that make any sense?
This area has been known as the head waters for Gilberton Creek which is according to the Kitsap County Officials who are working to set a new culvert in the washed-out area less than three quarters of a mile north of Third Ave, considered a salmon regulated creek. Any thoughts on what this development will do towards keeping the creek viable?
What about the future residences of this property? Could there be any problems for them since this soil and area is poorly suited to dwellings because of the seasonal high water table. Did the developers find out what sustains the wetlands in this area? How will this development affect Perry Avenue Water?
Some of the benefits of Wetlands would be that they preserve the quality of water that seeps into aquifers; they protect surrounding land from rain storms and flooding; and facilitate fishery's goals. If the county government allows a the destruction of a wetlands by a developer and ultimately gets sued because of that action who's taxes pays off the claim? * see (Yamagiwa v. City of Half Moon Bay, 523 F. Supp. 2d 1036 (N.D. Cal. 2007).)
At least, this answer should open up a discussion on the subject.
And the Last Response. The United States is losing wetlands at an astounding rate. What is happening on third street is what's called a 'take' . What does that mean. A developer can fill in and develop a wetland as long as that amount of wetland taken is replaced somewhere else. The developer is responsible for mitigating or paying for replacing the wetland somewhere else. How do they do this? When a site is picked/designated for constructing a 'created wetland' the soils need to be almost completely excavated. Generally speaking the new soil/mediums used are layered in such a fashion as to allow a recreation of the hydrology that you would normally see in a natural wetland. In addition adjacent parcels as they are being developed will have excess water directed to the created wetland.
What is wrong with this. Plenty! This wetland was created over time by the natural process happening within the area. Excess water naturally flowed to this area and was conveyed as efficiently as possible to the sound. This natural occurrence became a problem when someone wanted that area to build a house. So extensive, manmade measures are undertaken (filling, grading) to make the area sound for a dwelling to be put in place.
Created wetlands have been engineered into a suitable place so humans can use natural areas to build their homes. Created wetlands are built to take the place and perform as a natural wetland would. These wetlands do not completely provide the same results as a naturally created wetland. For instance: During the raising of a natural wetland micro habitats of animal, insect and other biological populations are lost. Many times these 'micro populations' are found in small, but broken population areas throughout an ecological region. If one area is lost it puts a strain on other populations. Sometimes there may be just the single population now lost through habitat destruction. It is unknown to this writer what populations were present in that wetland before the drain and fill occurred. Our community has lost a natural system, and this is sad for all of us. Now a house is in a wetland whereas before a functioning habitat replete with plants, animals, hydrology (water movement) and other natural systems were present and functioning . We as a community have lost something unique and important. We have many houses, but so few wetlands.
Wetlands and forested areas bring diversity to an area in the form of the simple beauty of what these wild spaces afford to us as humans. These areas lower the mean air temperature by at least 10 degrees. The thrill of seeing a Pilliated woodpecker, Trillium or other nature bearing creature brings joy, lowers stress and gives us a feeling we are part of, not apart from the natural world around us. These externalities are intrinsic and valuable and cannot be replaced.
I've tried to give you a wide brush of information in a short space. I hope to have been concise and answer you question as to the importance of wetlands.
Sandra Jacobson
Illahee
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