HOOVEN&BOG&&Past,&Present,&and&Future&

An&Important&Win&for&Rare&Habitat&Conserva:on&Sarah&Spear&Cooke&

Hooven&Bog&Loca:on&Map&•  Hooven&Bog:&a&category&1&wetland&

•  Located&in&southeast&Snohomish&County&near&Woodinville&

•  One&of&the&headwaters&of&Bear&Creek&&

•  WRIA&8&

Project&Site&

Hooven&in&the&landscape&

Hooven&Bog&Site&Map&

Bog&

•  37.61&acres&•  Over&24&plus&acres&of&bog/fen&

County&land&purchase&

Future&Interpre:ve&center&

Fen&

&&•  Hooven&bog&is&part&

of&a&wildlife&/wetland&corridor&in&the&region&including&DNR&forested&wetlands&and&Crystal&Lake/Bog.&This&con:nues&to&the&Cascade&foothills.&

•  It&is&a&Headwater&for&the&Big&Bear&Creek&System&that&drains&east&through&Crystal&Lake,&Daniels&Creek,&CoUage&Lake&to&Bear&Creek.&

Ecology&in&the&Landscape&

Past&

Natural&History&

Why&is&Hooven&Bog&“Special”&

•  Hooven&Bog&is&a&Category&1&bog/fen&wetland&AND&it&has&an&inXtact&mature&forest&on&greater&than&½&it’s&&periphery.&&This&is&EXTREMELY&rare&in&the&PNW.&

•  Hooven&Bog&has&three&+&DIFFERENT&bog&plant&communi:es.&Typically&bogs&have&only&1X2.&

•  Hooven&has&an&ETS&listed&rare&plant&Utricularia)intermedia.)

•  Hoven&is&a&headwaters&to&a&very&important&stream&system&Big&Bear&Creek.&

The)plants/plant)communi5es)found)at)Hooven)are)rare)and)of)Statewide)importance)even)for)a)bog!&

Wetland&Defini:ons&salient&to&Hooven&  Bog:&A&special&category&of&wetlands&in&which&the&rate&of&

accumula:on&of&organic&maUer&exceeds&the&rate&of&decomposi:on.&Specifically&for&Hooven,&it&iden:fies&a&highly&acidic&wetland&dominated&by&a&dense&growth&of&sphagnum&moss,&underlain&by&sphagnum&peat&rather&than&mineral&soils.&This&is&the&most&rare&of&wetland&types&we&have&in&the&PNW,&and&Hooven&is&rare&even&for&a&bog.&

  Fen:&The&term&"fen"&refers&to&wetlands&that&also&&&&&&accumulate&organic&material&in&the&form&of&peat,&but&are&&&&&&less&acidic&(more&neutral&pH)&and&are&not&dominated&by&&&&&&

Sphagnum&moss,&rather&they&are&dominated&by&sedges,&rushes,&grasses,&and&different&nonXacid&producing&mosses.&

&&&&&&

Bogs&form&in&specific&environmental&situa>ons:&

•  precipita:on&exceeds&evapora:on&•  drainage&is&poor&(plateaus,&drainage&divides)&•  poor&soils,&usually&glaciated&•  o@en&form&in&keBle&holes&(compacted&gravel&lined&depressions)&le@&&

&&&&&by&melted&glacial&ice&•  cool&temperatures&

How&do&bogs/fens&form?&

Hooven&contains&both&bog&and&fen&components&&&

Hooven&Bog&Study&Riggs 1958 study of Bog stratigraphy

Hooven&Bog&Drainage&

Impacts&

Development&Impacts&over&:me&•  1974X5.&Property&Purchased&in&1974&by&developer&•  Original&road&fill&in&wetland&done&as&a&corrugated&road&&(wood&logs&with&gravel&fill&in&between)&•  Mid&1976:&&The&road&crossing&Hooven&Bog&is&no&longer&useable&(higher&water&levels&caused&by&

beaver&ac:vity).&•  2000’s.&&Southern&uplands&forested&understory&is&widely&damaged&due&to&earthmoving&

equipment&in&the&NGPA&buffer&areas&of&the&bog.&Over&and&over&and&over&•  2007&(September).&&Applica:ons&submiUed&for&building&5&houses&on&the&southern&uplands&

and&removing&the&mature&forest&buffer&to&the&bog.&•  2009&(June).&&Illegal&fill&placed&along&the&roadway&and&along&the&southern&border&of&the&

property&in&the&forested&buffer.&&Major&damage&to&Wetland&due&to&crushed&concrete&physical&and&chemical&changes&to&the&water.&Excavated&a&ditch&on&either&side&of&road.&

•  2010:&&Ongoing&removal&by&Developer&of&illegal&fill&under&threat&of&fines&by&DOE&and&ACOE.&&Fill&removal&incomplete&but&accepted&by&DOE&and&ACOE&by&December&2010.&Concrete&con:nues&to&leach&to&this&day.&

•  May&2012:&&Illegal&Bulldozer&ac:vity&in&upland&forest&NGPA&areas.&County&comes&out&amer&ac:vity&is&done&and&des&NOT&require&them&to&remove&fill&or&fix&illegal&roads.&

•  2013.&pasture&property&road&put&in&and&new&culverts&placed&that&flow&to&ditches&along&road&and&into&the&the&&edge&of&Hooven.&More&trees&removed&illegally.&

Development&Plan&Approved&by&the&County&within&the&Mature&Forest&Tract&

Impacts&From&Past&Human&Ac:vity&

Threat&to&Species&or&Communi>es&

&&

Removal&of&upland&mature&forest&for&>mber&was&an&imminent&threat&un>l&the&sale.&

New&road&placed&over&wetland&and&buffer&cause&Point&Source&Pollu:on&and&drainage&adds&sediment&to&wetland,&killing&plants.&&

Disturbing&the&mature&forest&community&for&development&inves:ga:ons&compacted&the&soil&and&removed&understory&plants&and&allowed&weeds&to&spread.&

Filling&the&road&with&recycled&concrete&rubble&changed&the&chemistry&of&the&bog&and&na:ve&wetland&plants&are&being&replaced&by&invasive&species&&

&&

Direct/Indirect&Impacts&to&Hooven&and&Buffer&

Hooven&BogX&Impacts&

•  binding&of&ca:ons&by&sphagnum&moss&•  buffering&system&impact,&change&from&organic&acids&to&bicarbonate&

•  increase&D.O.&(dissolved&Oxygen)&•  increase&bacteria,&decomposi:on&rates&more&water&level&fluctua:on,&higher&winter&water&level&in&some&systems&

•  higher&nutrientsXfavor&more&typical&&invasive&emergents&

Surface&runoff,&concrete,&&&bogsX&What&happens&

Why&are&all&these&Impacts&Important?&

Peat&Bogs&CANNOT&be&recreated&by&humans&or&restored&once&they&have&been&destroyed.&&&

•  Growth&rate&is&SLOW&&•  Impacted&easily&in&urban/suburban&environments&&•  One&of&very&few&preserved,&peat&bogs&remaining&in&Snohomish&County.&

•  Important&for&flood&preven:on/reten:on,&biofiltra:on,&temperature&regula:on,&and&animal&habitat.&

Present&

Lawsuits&against&the&County&Become&a&Problem&

•  2007.&Road&built&to&connect&outside&world&with&2&parcels.&&Legal?&•  PreT2009.&Original&Building&Permit&submiUed.&•  September&to&November&2009:&&Original&building&applica:ons&expire&and&then&

reinstated&by&PDS&2&months&later.&•  &June&2011.&Lawsuit&against&SnoCo&by&developer&is&seUled&with&resultant&extension&

of&original&building&permit&applica:ons&again.&•  May&9,&2012.&&Building&permit&applica:ons&again&expired&but&not&extended.&•  November&2012.&Appeal&before&Hearing&Examiner&of&grading&permit&for&removal&of&

illegal&fill&in&2009.&&Hearing&Examiner&decision&that&the&grading&permit&could&not&be&issued&under&evalua:on&of&the&2007&CAR.&

•  April&to&November&2013.&&Superior&Court&Order&for&Par:al&Summary&Judgement&issued&affirming&Hearing&Examiner&decision&about&ves:ng&of&the&grading&permit.&&Superior&Court&later&rescinded&this&decision.&&Superior&Court&Hearing&in&July&with&Court&Order&issued&in&November&reversing&the&Hearing&Examiner&Decisions.&

•  February&2014:&&Hearing&on&a&Mo:on&for&Discre:onary&Review&of&Superior&Court&Decision&before&the&Appellate&Court&Commissioner.&Decision&Pending&

•  June&2014.&Land&Purchased&ending&the&legal&BaUle&

Success!&&The&County&buys&Hooven&

Importance&of&Acquisi>on&to&Protec>on&and&Recovery&

Had&the&previous&owners&con:nued&to&own&the&land:&•  The&upland&mature&forest&would&have&been&logged.&•  The&concrete&rubble&would&have&con:nued&to&leach&CaCO3&

changing&the&bog&chemistry&and&who&knows?&&Possibly&killing&the&bog&in&the&notXtoo&distant&future.&

•  New&roads&would&have&con:nued&to&be&built&and&discharge&pointTsource&pollu>on&causing&other&water&quality&problems&

•  The&invasive&iris&would&con>nue&to&spread.&Likely&beyond&the&ability&to&ever&control&it&and&thus&degrading&the&bog&

•  With&changes&in&regula:ons&the&possibility&of&developing&the&southern&buffer&would&have&always&remained.&

&

Species&and&Communi>es&with&Special&Status&

Uniqueness&&&Significance&

&&

Ecological&and&Biological&Characteris:cs&

Ecological&and&Biological&Characteris:cs&

•  BogX&at&least&3+&recognized&communi:es&•  FenX&peripheral&plant&communi:es&that&are&NOT&dominated&by&Sphagnum&peat&

•  Shrub&communi:es&•  Emergent&communi:es&•  Forested&communi:es&

Hooven contains many types of wetland plant communities:

&Fish&and&Wildlife&species&and&or&communi>es&& Beaver,&River&

oBer,&redTlegged&frogs,&Heron,&Redwing&blackbirds,&redTtailed&hawk,&kingfisher,&osprey,&teal,&and&12&other&bird&species!&

Ecological&and&Biological&Characteris:cs&

&

Quality of Habitat

PresentT&Wetland&

•  Rare&Hippuris&emergent&community&to&the&north&•  Scrubshrub&community&around&periphery&mostly&intact&except&for&weeds&

•  Iris&invasion&in&emergent&wetlands&and&star:ng&to&encroach&on&fen&

•  Other&emergent&communi:es&around&periphery&•  Western&bog&edge&has&been&filled&for&a&road.&&Historically&it&was&a&“corduroy”&road&but&previous&owner&filled&the&road&with&concrete&rubble&and&expanded&the&footprint&to&18+&feet.&

Condi>on&of&the&Wetland&today&includes:&(other&than&the&bog)&

Hooven

&Bog&

Rarity&Rare&plant&communi>es:&The&Natural&Heritage&Program&rated&Hooven&Bog&with&both&a&state&and&interna>onal&conserva>on&ranking.&&•  Three&documented&(but&likely&more)&rare&vegeta:on&

communi:es&in&the&bog&complex.&& Ledum&groenlandicum&–&Kalmia&microphylla&/&Sphagnum&spp.&Shrubland&

 Kalmia&microphylla&–&Vaccinium&oxycoccos&/&Sphagnum&spp.&DwarfXshrubland&

 Pinus&contorta&var.&contorta&/&Ledum&groenlandicum&/&Sphagnum&spp.&Woodland&

•  More&plant&communi:es&in&the&fen&and&associated&emergent,&shrub&and&aqua:c&bed&habitats.&

•  Undocumented&popula:on&of&mare’s&tale&(Hippuris&vulgaris)&Rare&plants:&•  Utricularia&intermedia&&

2.&Species&&&Communi>es&with&Special&Status&

Very&few&bogs&contain&this&much&diversity.&&

Bog&Communi:es&

Ledum/Kalmia,&Pinus&contorta,&reindeer&lichen&

Bog&Communi:es&

Pinus&mon:cola,&Tsuga&heterophylla,&ledum/Kalmia&

Bog&Communi:es&

Ledum/Kalmia/Cladina/&Drosera/&Rhynospora/vaccimium/sphagnum&

Hooven

&Bog&

Wa DNR Natural Heritage Preliminary Study found : Element&Type&

Element&&

Global&Conservatn&Status&Rank*&

&

State&Conservatn&

Status&Rank*&

&

Ecological&Integrity&Rank**&

Comments&&

Rare&Plant& Utricularia&intermedia& G5& S2&(State&

Sensi:ve)&

n/a& This&species&is&along&bog&mat&margin.&This&is&a&newly&loca:on&for&this&plant&in&Wa.&There&are&11&other&known&occurrences&in&the&State.&

Rare/Highquality&

Plant&Community&

Ledum&Groenlandicum&&

Kalmia&microphylla&/&Sphagnum&spp.&

Shrubland&

G4& S3& B& &The&type&has&18&known&occurrences&in&the&State.&This&is&a&new&occurrence.&This&community&occupies&much&of&the&bog&‘mat’&and&mixes&with&the&bog&woodland&(see&below).&

Rare/Highquality&Plant&Community&

Kalmia&microphylla&–&Vaccinium&oxycoccos&/&Sphagnum&spp.&DwarfXshrubland&

GNR&(not&ranked&yet)&

SNR&(not&ranked&but&likely&a&S1&or&

S2)&

B&&

There&are&10&other&known&occurrences&of&this&plant&community&type&in&the&State.&This&is&a&new&occurrence.&This&is&an&early&seral&plant&community&found&near&the&small&pond&found&on&the&bog&mat&

Rare/Highquality&Plant&Community&

Pinus&contorta&var.&contorta&/&Ledum&groenlandicum&/&Sphagnum&spp.&Woodland&

G3& S2& B& There&are&11&other&known&occurrences&of&this&plant&community&type&in&the&State.&This&is&a&new&occurrence.&It&is&a&lateXsuccessional&bog&plant&community.&

*For&informa>on&about&the&ranks&in&the&table&above&please&see:&hBp://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/lists/stat_rank.html&;&G5&is&a&globally&common&&element&whereas&a&G1&would&be&a&very&rare&or&globally&imperiled&element.&S&=&the&same&rank&concepts&but&constrained&to&Washington.&Thus&G5&S2&for&Utricularia&intermedia&indicates&that&this&species&is&rare&or&vulnerable&in&Washington&but&is&quite&common&throughout&its&global&range.&**&The&Ecological&Integrity&Rank&(EIA)&is&a&rapid&assessment&of&the&ecological&condi>on&or&quality&of&a&plant&community.&A&=Excellent,&B=Good,&&C=Fair,&and&D=Poor&integrity.&

Plants&

Bog&mat&and&margin&Trees&•  Pinus)contorta)var)contorta&•  Pinus)mon5cola&•  Betula)papyrifera&•  Rhamnus)purshiana)(seedling)&•  Thuja)plicata&•  Rusga)heterophylla&•  &&Shrubs&•  Gaultheria)shallon&•  Kalmia)microphylla)ssp.)Occidentalis&•  Lonicera)involucrate&•  Rhodendron)groenlandicum&•  Rubus)spectabilis&•  Vaccinium))oxycoccos)var.)intermedius&•  Vaccinium)corymbosum&•  Rubus)ursinus&•  Spriea)douglasii&•  Sorbus)sp)(seedling)&

Mosses&and&ferns&•  Athyrium)felixLfemina&•  Sphagnum)(magellanicum,)compactum,)papillosum,)

angus5folium,)girgensohnii,)fuscum,)capillifolium)var.)tenellum))are&my&guesses&but&I&don’t&own&a&compound&microscope&so&I&may&only&be&able&to&verify&a&few&

•  Pleurozium)schreberi&•  Climacium)dendroides&

&Lichen&•  Cladina)rangiferina&&Herbs&•  Menyanthes)trifoliata)var.)trifoliata&•  Brasenia)schreberi&•  Drosera)rotundifolia)var.)rotundifolia&•  Galium)trifidum&•  Hippuri)vulgaris&•  Hypericum)anagalloides&•  Iris)pseudacorus&•  Lemna)minor&•  Epilobium)angus5folium&•  Ludwigia)palustris&•  Lycopus)uniflorus&•  Nuphar)luteum)ssp.)Polysepalum&•  Oenanthe)sarmentosa&•  Polygonum)spp.)(Possibly))hydropiper&•  Poten5lla)palustris&•  Sparganium)emersum)ssp.)Emersum&•  Trientalis)arc5ca&•  Typha)la5folia&•  Utricularia)minor&•  Utricularia)vulgaris&•  Utricularia)intermedia&•  Veronica)scutellata&•  Juncus)effuses&•  Juncus)supiniformis)?&&•  Rhynchosora)alba&•  Eriophorum)chamissonis&•  Scirpus)atrocinctus)&•  Carex)canescens&•  Carex)cusickii&

Preliminary&list&includes&57+&species&just&on&the&bog.&&Including&the&fen&and&other&areas&the&wetland&has&over&150&species.&The&buffer&45+&&species.&This&amount&of&species&richness&is&very&rare&

2.&Species&and&Communi>es&with&Special&Status&

Common&Bog&Species&&&

•  Labrador&tea&

"  Sphagnum mosses

"   Bog laurel

Common&Bog&Species&&&

•  Coast&&&&&&pine&

"  Hemlock

"  Reindeer lichens

Wetland&Communi:es&

Mare’s&Tail&

Emergent&sedges,&brasenia,&utricularia,&ludwigia….&

Rush&and&sedge&and&herbaceous&

Fen&Communi:es&

Labrador&tea&and&bog&laurel&fen&&

Blueberry/birch&&fen&(Vaccinium&corymbosum)&&

Invasive&weeds&Yellow&Flag&Iris,&Reed&Canarygrass,&&

Marsh&Cinquefoil,&Beggar’s&:ck,&Purple&loosestrife&

Quality&of&HabitatX&Mature&Forest&

Condi>on&of&&the&Present&Upland&•  Mature&Forest&NE&&&East&edge&on&DNR&land.&Rela:vely&unXdisturbed&except&for&a&few&trees&removed&recently&

•  Mature&Forest&along&South&edge.&±&disturbed&due&to&clearing&and&grading&and&digging&perk&pits.&

•  Mown&pasture&to&West.&Disturbed.&

•  Sculpted&lawns&right&to&water’s&edge&along&north.&Disturbed.&

&

Wetland&Disturbed&Areas&

&"  Concrete&&&&&&rubble&in&road&bed&will&be&removedX&in&the&next&year&

&"  Road&across&west&lobe&&&&&&(May&be&removed&with&:me)&

Iris&Removal&X&2013&

On&the&ground&review&by&road&

Iris&RemovalX&June&2014&

Future&

Where&do&we&go&from&here?T&The&Immediate&needs&  Stop&and&treat&the&Point&Source&discharge&delivering&

sediment&from&the&new&road&on&the&parcel&to&the&southwest.&  Remove&concrete&rubble&along&the&bog&road&but&s:ll&maintain&

a&path&for&community&to&enjoy.&  Remove&the&weeds,&especially&yellow&flag&iris.&  Develop&a&systema:c&Restora>on&plan&that&includes&both&the&

wetland&and&upland&areas.&

&

Hooven&BogXFuture&

Maintaining&this&rare&habitat&and&the&community&diversity&for&future&genera>ons&

Hooven&BogXFuture&Immediate&NeedsT&Work&on&neighbors&to&be&good&stewards&by&restoring&the&buffer&on&their&proper>es.&

Through&educa>on&of&the&neighbors&help&them:& To&understand&why&they&should&not&use&fer:lizers,&

herbicides,&and&pes:cides&on&their&proper:es.& Replant&the&near&shore&buffer&or&their&lots&with&na:ve&

plants&that&will&buffer&the&water’s&edge.& To&limit&their&ac:vi:es&in&the&bog&to&passive&ones.&&No&

kayaking,&no&fishing,&and&no&waking&on&the&bog&mat.&

Hooven&BogXFuture&

AND&Assemble&a&Stewardship&CommiUee&that&meets&regularly&to&develop&a&Master&Plan&for&Hooven&Bog&CommiUee&could&consist&of&County&and&Stakeholders&in&the&community&including:&Neighbors,&Washington&Na:ve&Plant&Society,&Pilchuck&Audubon,&SnoXKing&Watershed&Council&and&???&

Where&do&we&go&from&here?T&2014&

County&Surface&Water&Management&(SWM)&staff&have&already&done&an&assessment&on&the&drainage&to&stop&Point&Source&

discharges&into&Hooven&

Drainage&point&from&the&ditch&along&the&south&side&of&the&gravel&road&discharge&to&well&vegetated&areas,&so&nutrients&are&likely&not&an&issue.&&The&excep:on&might&be&the&drainage&that&follows&the&north&South&road.&&It&would&be&recommended&to&redirect&the&culvert&into&the&wooded&loca:on&to&the&east&of&the&northXsouth&road.&

SWM&staff&have&already&done&an&assessment&on&the&chemistry&to&help&track&issues&with&the&concrete&

rubble&Measured&pH&and&Conduc>vity&at&Selected&Sites&&

  Replant&areas&where&weeds&encroached&in&the&wetland&once&the&concrete&has&been&removed.&Following&the&restora>on&plan:&

•  Replant&na:ve&shrubs&and&herbs&in&the&wetland&along&both&sides&of&the&road&all&the&way&to&the&bog&mat.&

•  Track&that&no&species&become&invasive&once&the&concrete&rubble&is&removed&and&con:nue&maintenance&to&limit&any&future&spread.&&

Manageability&and&Viability&Tasks&for&2015&

Restoring&the&fen&and&bog&edge&por>ons&to&preTimpact&condi>ons&&

  Replant&the&upland&buffer&areas&cleared&by&previous&landowner&on&the&30Tacre&parcel&in&the&uplands.&&Following&the&restora>on&plan:&

•  Fill&in&the&road&along&the&southern&edge&of&the&parcel&and&replant.&

•  Fill&in&the&perk&pits&and&replant.&•  Replant&the&trees&that&were&removed.&•  Replant&the&understory&disturbed&during&the&

development&explora:on&phase&of&the&project.&•  Con:nue&weed&removal&on&a&regular&basis&

Hooven&BogXFuture&Upland&goals&for&2015&

Restoring&the&mature&forest&to&preTimpact&condi>ons&&

  Con>nue&mapping,&taking&censuses&of&plants&and&animals&and&have&the&oversight&commiBee&con>nue&a&systema>c&restora>on&under&a&site&Management&Plan.&&&

Manageability&and&Viability&

wildlife&surveys&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Removal&of&invasive&plants&&&&&&&&&&&&Educa:on&and&research&

Ongoing&Stewardship&

Current&iris&removal&plan&

 Obtain&grants&to&help&the&County&fund&restora>on&and&educa>on&ac>vi>es&at&Hooven.&&

Hooven&BogXFuture&

•  Develop&Goals&for&Hooven&Bog&that&will&carry&forward&the&Restora>on&and&con>nued&survival&of&the&bog&for&genera>ons&to&come.&

•  Obtain&Grants&to&fund&restora>on&and&educa>on&ac>vi>es&at&the&bog.&

•  Replant&areas&cleared&by&previous&landowner&on&the&30Tacre&parcel&in&the&uplands.&

•  Replant&areas&where&weeds&encroached&in&the&wetland.&•  Work&on&neighbors&to&be&good&stewards&by&restoring&the&

buffer&on&their&proper>es.&

Ongoing&stewardship&

Hooven&BogXFuture&Obtain&Grants&to&fund&restora>on&and&educa>on&ac>vi>es&at&the&bog.&Restora>onT&Con>nued&restora>on&through&weeding,&filling&perk&pits,&and&replan>ng&the&disturbed&understory&of&the&&parcel&to&the&south&and&replan>ng&the&buffer&on&the&parcel&to&the&southwest.&&Con>nued&MaintenanceT&weeding&will&need&to&con>nue&for&many&years&both&in&the&wetland&and&in&the&buffers.&

Public&Use&

&

&

Passive&recrea:on&only&(bird&and&scenery&observing&from&overlook&from&the&property&to&the&west&&

Road&will&be&converted&to&a&path&for&&walking.&

Educa:on&&&Research/&Volunteers&&&&Stewardship.&

Educa>onal&Opportuni>es&•  Educa:on&through&signage&and&involving&local&schools&including&UW&Bothell&students.&

•  Learning&and&understanding&the&dynamics&of&wetland/bog&system&on&the&ecology&and&the&environment.&

•  Understand&why&they&should&not&use&fer:lizers,&herbicides,&and&pes:cides&on&their&proper:es.&

•  Impacts&from&development&in&and&around&sensi:ve&areas.&

Hooven&BogXFuture&

Hooven&Bog&now&has&a&Future&&thanks&to&the&County&Purchase&!&