Greetings Cedar Ridge Estates residents! Our community is blessed with beautiful, scenic views and natural features that not only enhance our aesthetic appeal, but also significantly contribute to the well-being of our local ecology. One such natural feature that often goes underappreciated is the vibrant wetlands within our community.
These wetlands are crucial to preserving biodiversity, providing habitat for wildlife, and maintaining the overall health of our ecosystem. In this post, we'll delve into understanding our local wetlands and discuss some of the practical ways we can participate in their preservation.
What are Wetlands and Why are they Important?
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or keeps it saturated for either a part or all of the year. They might include swamps, marshes, and bogs, and they're often teeming with both plant and animal life. According to a resource provided by Skagit County, wetlands serve a variety of important functions.
- They absorb and store floodwaters, protecting our homes and property from water damage.
- Wetlands filter pollutants out of the water that flows through them, helping to keep our local waterways clean.
- They provide essential habitat for many species of plants and animals, some of which are endangered or threatened.
Cedar Ridge Estates Wetlands
The Skagit County wetland and hydric soil map has identified and mapped several wetlands within the Cedar Ridge Estates community. These wetlands have been inventoried and include Sixteen Lake, Bulson Creek, and Carpenter Creek. The wetlands in Cedar Ridge Estates are classified as emergent, forested and scrub-shrub palustrine wetlands (USFWS 1996). Bulson Creek and Carpenter Creek are mapped by the WDNR as a Type-F fish bearing stream and upper Bulson Creek east of Cedar Ridge Estates is mapped as Type-N non-fish bearing stream (WDNR, 2021a). Bulson creek flows west into Carpenter Creek then enters the Puget Sound (WDNR 2021a.).
Bulson Creek Falls
Protecting Trees within the Wetlands
Trees play an integral role within wetland ecosystems. They provide shade, habitats for wildlife, and help to stabilize the soil with their root systems. Therefore, protecting these vital components of our wetlands is crucial. Here are some ways we can help:
- Avoid unnecessary tree removal: If you are considering landscaping changes, you must contact the Skagit County Critical Areas staff to avoid unintentionally damaging the wetland ecosystem.
- Plant native trees: If you'd like to enhance the greenery around your home, consider planting tree species native to our area. They require less maintenance and provide the most benefits to our local ecosystems.
- Participate in local reforestation efforts: Community-driven initiatives can have a significant impact on maintaining our local wetlands. Homeowners and the HOA can earn money by preserving existing trees and planting new ones, creating an ongoing income source while offsetting carbon output by partnering with NCX. Join in tree planting days or donate to local conservation groups that protect and restore our wetlands. Plant Amnesty is a great, local resource that provides education, resources and advocacy for our natural ecosytem.
Protected Trees Within Cedar Ridge Estates Wetlands
Dominant tree species in Cedar Ridge Estates include the Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), Western Red Cedar (Thuja pilcata) and Grand Fir (Abies grandis). Upland shrubs, Vine Maple (Acer circinatum), Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), and Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiforims) are also present in Cedar Ridge Estates wetlands.
All wetlands in Cedar Ridge Estates also have protected buffers surrounding them. These wetlands provide moderate levels of hydrologic, water quality, and habitat function. Wetlands and their buffers are protected under state, federal,
and local (Skagit County) regulations. Skagit county regulations require that the native vegetation, including Red Alders (Alnus rubra), Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), Grand Fir (Abies grandis) and Western Red Cedar (Thuja pilcata), be preserved in the wetlands and buffer areas to protect the ecological functions that the wetlands provide.
Important habitat functions that are provided by the delineated wetlands and their buffer include:
- Large downed woody debris that provide refugia and prey recruitment;
- Shrubs and emergent vegetation for bird nesting and refugia;
- Breeding areas, escape, refugia, and food production for a variety of species (Hruby 2014).
Important hydrologic and water quality functions provided by the delineated wetlands include:
- Slowing the flow of surface water during large storm events, reducing flooding and erosion;
- Water storage, which helps prevent flooding.
Protecting Wildlife in the Wetlands
In addition to trees, the wetlands in Cedar Ridge Estates are teeming with wildlife. Birds, amphibians, insects, and various other creatures find a home in these habitats. Here are some tips on protecting our local wildlife:
- Minimize disturbance: Keep a respectful distance from wild animals and their habitats. Avoiding loud noises, bright lights, and littering helps prevent stress and potential harm to these creatures.
- Promote habitat conservation: Advocate for the preservation and restoration of wetlands in our community. The more intact their habitat, the better chances our local wildlife has to thrive.
- Educate yourself and others: Learn about the types of wildlife that live in our local wetlands and share that knowledge with your neighbors. The more we understand about these creatures and their needs, the better we can protect them.
Priority Habit Habitat and Species in Cedar Ridge Estates
WDFW manages state Priority Habitat Species (PHS) and documents the following PHS to have the potential to occur in Cedar Ridge Estates (WDFW 2021a).
- Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus
- Little Brown Bat | Myotis lucifugus
- Yuma myotis | Myotis yumanensis
Common Wildlife and Habitat Features of Cedar Ridge Estates Wetlands
A variety of songbirds live in Cedar Ridge Estates wetlands, including Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) and red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). Wildlife that live within the area include black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus), American black bear (Ursus americanus) a variety of shrews, chipmunks, mice, voles, owls, raptors, falcons, and songbirds. All wetlands are likely to provide habitat for invertebrates: insects, spiders, and freshwater gastropod mollusks. Habitat features within and near the delineated wetlands include areas suitable for amphibian egg-laying. Downed large woody debris are habitat features that are likely present in the nearby forested areas.
By respecting our wetlands and the life they support, we contribute to the health and beauty of Cedar Ridge Estates and the broader ecological community. Let's work together to preserve and protect these invaluable resources. After all, our actions today will determine the legacy we leave for future generations.
Learn More:
Wetlands, A Skagit County Critical Areas Ordinance Fact Sheet