Cho Restoration and 3-Year Monitoring Plan for Wetland and Critical Habitat Area Violations; Elma, WA: February 2018-2023

Washington Department of Ecology (WECY) and Grays Harbor County found two separate violations on the Cho property, an approximately 45-acre parcel in Elma, WA. The violations resulted from unpermitted disturbances to the landscape consisting of a 560ft² shallowly excavated area within a wetland that had been filled with gravel, an unpermitted plastic culvert, and a cleared and graded trail running from an existing gravel pad through a wetland. Both violations physically infringed on the existing wetlands and were within the wetland critical area buffer. MSA was hired to characterize the ecology of the area, document the unpermitted disturbances, and design a restoration plan in response to WECY’s letter of voluntary compliance to Ms. Cho. The restoration included the removal of the plastic culvert and non-native gravel fill, re-grading the drainage, adding native soil and woody debris, and installing native plants. Restoration goals included enhancing the wetland functions on the property and rehabilitating the critical area habitat and buffer to pre-disturbance conditions. MSA also wrote the As-Built and Monitoring plan for this project, as well as conducted the three years of required post-restoration monitoring.