SEPA checklist guidance, Section B: Plants

4. Plants

a. Check the types of vegetation found on the site:

Please list and further describe the types of vegetation at the site including:

• Deciduous trees, including hardwoods and flowering trees such as alder, maple, and cottonwoods
• Evergreen trees such as firs, cedars, pines, and other shrubs
• Orchards, vineyards or other permanent crops
• Grass. weeds, and other cleared-land vegetation
• Pasture, agricultural crops, or gardens
• Wet soil plants such as cattail, buttercup, bulrush, and skunk cabbage
• Water plants such as water lily, eelgrass, and milfoil

 Information and assistance about local vegetation is also available from your county conservation district.
 
b. What kind and amount of vegetation will be removed or altered?

Describe the total area of land clearing involved with all aspects of the proposal. This includes listing the total area or amount of vegetation to be removed, in acres or square footage. If selective removal or alteration of a relatively small number of individual trees or other plant(s) is planned, please list number of plants. If harvesting timber, include information on board feet as well as total acreage involved. Describe measures to ensure plant material or soils brought in or leaving the site are free of invasive plants, pests, and diseases.

c. List threatened or endangered species known to the on or near the site:

The Washington Department of Natural Resources publishes an Online Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Washington to help identify rare plant species in our state.

d. Proposed landscaping, use of native plants, or other measures to preserve or enhance vegetation on the site, if any:

If land disturbance planned, provide a summary about the re-vegetation plan. This can include avoiding or minimizing disturbance, new plantings, removing invasive species, and reseeding. Protection, replacement, or enhancement of critical or otherwise valuable habitat and plant species is particularly important. Provide a reference and summarize applicable local development regulations, including how proposal with complies with these requirements.

e. List all noxious weeds and invasive species

Describe if plant species present on site or used in the project are listed as noxious or invasive.

Washington’s noxious weed laws establish all property owners’ responsibility for helping to prevent the spread and the control of noxious weeds. The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board maintains the state’s noxious weed list and is organized into three classes of noxious weeds:

• Class A - Class A Noxious Weeds are non-native species whose distribution in Washington State is still limited. Eradication of infestations is required.
• Class B - Class B noxious weeds are nonnative species whose distribution is limited to portions of Washington State, but may be widespread in other parts. Control is required for state designated or county selected species.
• Class C - Class C noxious weeds are either already widespread in Washington or are of special interest to the agricultural industry. Control is required for county selected species.

Additional Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Species Resources

• Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board
• Find Your County Noxious Weed Control Board
• Washington’s Noxious Weed Laws
• Washington State Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantines
• Washington State Department of Agriculture prohibited plants list

Additional Resources

• Invasive Species Council
• Urban Forestry and Street Trees (Municipal Research Service Center)
• Certified Weed Free Hay and Mulch