Wetland Assessment with photos 7 July 2020
Mr. Brian Hayward
21 Stoddard Street
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Dear Mr. Hayward:
RE: Wetland Assessment, 5 Palmer Drive, Queensbury, NY
Construction of a new single-family residence is proposed on the above referenced parcel
(Attachment 1). As a wetland biologist, I was retained to search the parcel for the
presence of wetlands because review by the Town of Queensbury indicated federal
wetlands my be present. The onsite wetland assessment was conducted on 7 July 2020.
The narrow, rectangular-shaped parcel contains an existing camp, and is oriented in an
east-west direction abutting the Hudson River. Palmer Drive bisects the western portion
of the parcel. The eastern parcel boundary is marked by a dilapidated fence. The land is
generally flat at an approximate elevation of 300 feet. Across Palmer Drive to the west,
the site slopes down approximately 20 feet to the Hudson River. Except for a large red
oak (Quercus rubra), all trees are cleared from the parcel.
Although the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI, Attachment 2) indicates a forested
wetland on the eastern portion of the parcel, no portion of the parcel exhibits wetland
characteristics. This isn't uncommon, as the NWI only indicates general wetland
locations mapped remotely based on aerial photography, topography, soil mapping. NWI-
mapped wetlands have not been verified on the ground.
The forest east of the parcel was searched to identify the western extent of the NWI-
mapped wetland. The westernmost edge of the wetland was located at 43.2707 -73.6784,
approximately 300 feet east of the subject parcel (Attachment 1). The wetland is
dominated by interrupted (Osmunda claytoniana) and sensitive (Onoclea sensibilis)ferns
and, although dry at the time, exhibited evidence of regular water inundation (black soil
surface and water-stained leaves).
The land between the parcel and the nearest wetland is dry upland containing upland
herbaceous plants including Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), hayscented
fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), and honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.), as well as upland trees
including sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and white pine (Pinus strobus). No hydrology
was observed in the upland area, and soils are bright and sandy (not indicative of
wetlands). A data point (Attachment 3) was collected in this area at 43.2708, -73.6795,
approximately ten feet east of the subject parcel (Attachment 1). Captioned sight
photographs are provided as Attachment 4.
In summary, the parcel at 5 Palmer Drive contains no wetlands. The nearest wetland
lies approximately 300 feet east of the parcel.
My contact information is provided below, should there be any questions.
Sincerely��
1whig•fud
Nicholas Basile
518-727-5314
nicholasbasile@gmail.com
Attachments:
1 — Site Map
2 — NWI Map
3 — Upland Datasheet
4 — Site Photographs
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WETLAND DETERMINATION DATA FORM - Northcentral and Northeast Region
Project/Site: 5 Palmer Drive City/County: Queensbury/Warren Sampling Date: 7/72020
Applicant/Owner: Brian Hayward State: NY Sampling Point: UP1
Investigator(s): Nicholas Basile Section,Township, Range:
Landform(hillside,terrace,etc.): Local relief(concave,convex,none): none Slope%: >2
Subregion(LRR or MLRA): LRR R,MLRA 144E Lat: 43.2708 Long: -73.6795 Datum:
Soil Map Unit Name: AgA NWI classification: none
Are climatic/hydrologic conditions on the site typical for this time of year? Yes x No (If no,explain in Remarks.)
Are Vegetation ,Soil ,or Hydrology significantly disturbed? Are"Normal Circumstances"present? Yes x No
Are Vegetation ,Soil ,or Hydrology naturally problematic? (If needed,explain any answers in Remarks.)
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS-Attach site map showing sampling point locations,transects, important features, etc.
Hydrophytic Vegetation Present? Yes No X Is the Sampled Area
Hydric Soil Present? Yes No X within a Wetland? Yes No X
Wetland Hydrology Present? Yes No X If yes,optional Wetland Site ID:
Remarks: (Explain alternative procedures here or in a separate report.)
HYDROLOGY
Wetland Hydrology Indicators: Secondary Indicators(minimum of two required)
Primary Indicators(minimum of one is required;check all that apply) _Surface Soil Cracks(B6)
Surface Water(Al) _Water-Stained Leaves(B9) _Drainage Patterns(B10)
_High Water Table(A2) _Aquatic Fauna(B13) _Moss Trim Lines(B16)
Saturation(A3) _Marl Deposits(B15) _Dry-Season Water Table(C2)
Water Marks(B1) _Hydrogen Sulfide Odor(Cl) _Crayfish Burrows(C8)
_Sediment Deposits(B2) _Oxidized Rhizospheres on Living Roots(C3) _Saturation Visible on Aerial Imagery(C9)
Drift Deposits(B3) —Presence of Reduced Iron(C4) —Stunted or Stressed Plants(D1)
_Algal Mat or Crust(B4) _Recent Iron Reduction in Tilled Soils(C6) _Geomorphic Position(D2)
Iron Deposits(B5) _Thin Muck Surface(C7) _ShallowAquitard(D3)
Inundation Visible on Aerial Imagery(B7)_Other(Explain in Remarks) —Microtopographic Relief(D4)
Sparsely Vegetated Concave Surface(B8) _FAC-Neutral Test(D5)
Field Observations:
Surface Water Present? Yes No Depth(inches):
Water Table Present? Yes No Depth(inches):
Saturation Present? Yes No Depth(inches): Wetland Hydrology Present? Yes No X
(includes capillary fringe)
Describe Recorded Data(stream gauge, monitoring well,aerial photos, previous inspections), if available:
Remarks:
No hydrology observed.
US Army Corps of Engineers Northcentral and Northeast Region—Version 2.0
VEGETATION-Use scientific names of plants. Sampling Point: UP1
Absolute Dominant Indicator
Tree Stratum (Plot size: 30 ) %Cover Species? Status Dominance Test worksheet:
1. Acer sacchanim 60 Yes FACU Number of Dominant Species
2. Pinus strobus 15 Yes FACU That Are OBL,FACW,or FAC: (A)
3.
Total Number of Dominant
4. Species Across All Strata: (B)
5. Percent of Dominant Species
6. That Are OBL, FACW,or FAC: (A/B)
7. Prevalence Index worksheet:
75 =Total Cover Total%Cover of: Multiply by:
Sapling/Shrub Stratum (Plot size: ) OBL species x 1 =
1. FACW species x 2=
2. FAC species x 3=
3. FACU species x 4=
4. UPL species x 5=
5. Column Totals: (A) (B)
6. Prevalence Index =B/A=
7. Hydrophytic Vegetation Indicators:
=Total Cover 1 -Rapid Test for Hydrophytic Vegetation
Herb Stratum (Plot size: 5 ) 2-Dominance Test is>50%
1. Parthenocissus quinquefolia 30 Yes FACU 3-Prevalence Index is 53.0'
2. Dennstaedtia punctilobula 10 Yes UPL 4-Morphological Adaptations'(Provide supporting
3. Lonicera 5 No FACU data in Remarks or on a separate sheet)
4. Problematic Hydrophytic Vegetation'(Explain)
5. 'Indicators of hydric soil and wetland hydrology must
6. be present,unless disturbed or problematic.
7. Definitions of Vegetation Strata:
8. Tree-Woody plants 3 in.(7.6 cm)or more in
9. diameter at breast height(DBH),regardless of height.
10. Sapling/shrub-Woody plants less than 3 in.DBH
11. and greater than or equal to 3.28 ft(1 m)tall.
12. Herb-All herbaceous(non-woody)plants,regardless
45 =Total Cover of size,and woody plants less than 3.28 ft tall.
Woody Vine Stratum (Plot size: ) Woody vines-All woody vines greater than 3.28 ft in
1. height.
2.
Hydrophytic
3. Vegetation
4. Present? Yes No X
=Total Cover
Remarks: (Include photo numbers here or on a separate sheet.)
US Army Corps of Engineers Northcentral and Northeast Region-Version 2.0
SOIL Sampling Point UP1
Profile Description: (Describe to the depth needed to document the indicator or confirm the absence of indicators.)
Depth Matrix Redox Features
(inches) Color(moist) % Color(moist) % Type' Loc2 Texture Remarks
0-2 10YR 4/3 100 Sandy
2-25 10YR 5/4 100 Sandy
'Type: C=Concentration, D=Depletion, RM=Reduced Matrix, MS=Masked Sand Grains. 2Location: PL=Pore Lining,M=Matrix.
Hydric Soil Indicators: Indicators for Problematic Hydric Soils3:
Histosol(Al) _Polyvalue Below Surface(S8)(LRR R, _2 cm Muck(A10)(LRR K,L,MLRA 149B)
Histic Epipedon(A2) MLRA 149B) _Coast Prairie Redox(A16)(LRR K,L,R)
Black Histic(A3) _Thin Dark Surface(S9)(LRR R,MLRA 149B) _5 cm Mucky Peat or Peat(S3)(LRR K,L,R)
Hydrogen Sulfide(A4) _High Chroma Sands(S11)(LRR K,L) _Polyvalue Below Surface(S8)(LRR K,L)
_Stratified Layers(A5) _Loamy Mucky Mineral(F1)(LRR K,L) _Thin Dark Surface(S9)(LRR K,L)
Depleted Below Dark Surface(A11) _Loamy Gleyed Matrix(F2) _Iron-Manganese Masses(F12)(LRR K,L,R)
_Thick Dark Surface(Al2) _Depleted Matrix(F3) _Piedmont Floodplain Soils(F19)(MLRA 149B)
_Sandy Mucky Mineral(S1) _Redox Dark Surface(F6) _Mesic Spodic(TA6)(MLRA 144A,145,149B)
Sandy Gleyed Matrix(S4) _Depleted Dark Surface(F7) _Red Parent Material(F21)
Sandy Redox(S5) _Redox Depressions(F8) _Very Shallow Dark Surface(F22)
_Stripped Matrix(S6) _Marl(F10)(LRR K,L) _Other(Explain in Remarks)
Dark Surface(S7)
3lndicators of hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology must be present,unless disturbed or problematic.
Restrictive Layer(if observed):
Type:
Depth(inches): Hydric Soil Present? Yes No X
Remarks:
This data form is revised from Northcentral and Northeast Regional Supplement Version 2.0 to include the NRCS Field Indicators of Hydric Soils,
Version 7.0,2015 Errata.(http://www.nres.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nres142p2_051293.docx)
US Army Corps of Engineers Northcentral and Northeast Region—Version 2.0
Photo Documentation
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Photo Documentation
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Brian Hayward 5 Palmer Drive Queensbury, NY 20001
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Photo Documentation
Client: Site Name: Site Location: Project#:
Brian Hayward 5 Palmer Drive Queensbury, NY 20001
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Photo Documentation
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