Site analysis:
Restrictions/regulations:
The main relevant restriction on this project involves the placement of
any future buildings. Because of the drain field, already installed, and
its location between the current Caretaker's residence and the future
Caretaker's residence, the location of a possible future environmental
learning center is restricted. In this case, however, it was decided during
the master planning of this project that the location near the current
caretaker's residence is the most desirable location anyway, because of
current buildable space and that any other location would be too invasive.
The typical restrictions exist with relation to lakes, wetlands, and streams.
Traditionally streams with mean annual flow of twenty cubic feet per second
are considered, but the integrity of the waters of Cranberry Lake can
be benefited by following buffers and water quality restrictions whether
or not it qualifies legally. Buffers on streams (there is one existing
on site, running from the eastern part of the lake), lakeshores, and wetlands
should be followed for any future harvesting. There is also a Shoreline
Management Plan for Thurston County. This can be referenced for guidelines.
Also of concern is the six-year moratorium on building and logging following
the harvesting of wind-thrown trees. However, because of the timeline
of some things contained in the project, it would be realistic to say
that they are outside those six years.
History:
The original inhabitants of the southern Puget Sound region were the Squaxin
Island Tribe, who were one of seven tribes living in the region. The reservation
currently exists on Squaxin Island, directly east of Shelton.
Further information about their history and contemporary culture can be
seen at the Squaxin Island Museum Library and Research Center, on the
Island, as well as a permanent exhibit of art and artifacts at the Washington
State Capital Museum in Olympia. The Nisqually, Squaxin Is., Chehalis,
Shoalwater Bay and Skykomish and Port Gamble S'Klalam tribes are found
in the Southern Puget Sound area, with a population of 7,500.
Exploration of the region by Europeans began in the late 1700's, exploring the Puget Sound waters.
The first white settlers moved to Skokomish Valley in the
1850's.
Mason County was established in the 1850's, named after Charles H, Mason,
the first Washington State secretary.
Industry and Occupations:
Forestry was the first industry to develop, with logging camps and sawmills
scattered throughout Mason County.
Currently, forested lands represent 47% of Mason County total land area.
Railroad logging was common, with a network of tracks running through
the trees, connecting logging camps deep in the forest with Puget Sound.
By 1887, three railroads were moving timber just within Mason County.
Today Simpson Lumber still owns the last working logging railroad in the
US, hauling logs through downtown Shelton, toward the waterfront.
Farming, fishing and the oyster industry were also beginning.
Currently, commercial fisheries include salmon and bottom fish. A trout
hatchery and several salmon hatcheries in the county enhance sport and
commercial fishing.
Seed culture is used on beaches to produce shellfish. Many types of shellfish
are harvested - Pacific Oyster, Olympia Oyster, Manila Clam, Littleneck
Clam, mussels, and the Geoduck.
By the 1880's, the city of Shelton had grown into a busy
city because of these industries.
Shelton currently has a population of 7,700 people and is the county's
largest and only incorporated city.
School District:
Shelton School District has 4,000 students in 6 schools.
There are three elementary schools, one middle school, one comprehensive
High School, and one alternative High School
Forestry:
Larry Mason and Kevin Cedar from Rural Technology a division of the University
of Washington's College of Forest Resources presented to us information
they had gathered in regard to the Forest stands surrounding Cranberry
Lake. Through GIS information and Landscape Management Systems (LMS) a
program developed by the College of Forest Resources, they helped the
class visualize and understand the current management practices used on
the site.
Soil Key for Kenny's Lands
Alderwood gravelly sandy loam
5-15% slope
" Very dark brown at the surface (1-2") grading
to a grayish-brown, highly organic mineral soil.
" Friable, medium acidity, gravelly sandy loam (8-13" deep).
" Week granular structure.
" Layer of very pale brown, firm textured gravelly sandy loam beneath
dark brown horizon.
" Cemented till of light gray gravelly sandy loam (24-32" deep).
This layer is impermeable to roots and very slowly permeable to water.
Because of this a thin mat of roots lies just above the till.
" Lack of subsoil moisture damages crops in summer.
" Because of the lack of water, only short-season early maturing
crops (e.g. hay, small grains, fruits, nuts, grapes, and berries) are
successfully grown in Alderwood soil.
" Shallowness of the compact till inhibits growth of older trees.
" Soil suited for production of Christmas Trees.
Everett gravelly sandy loam
0-5% slope
" Excessively drained, pale-brown gravelly soil
" Occurring as an outwash channel between ridges of Alderwood soil.
" Mainly drought resistant vegetation (e.g. Madrone, Manzanita, and
Kinnikinnick).
" Loose gravel and sandy subsoil and substratum offer little resistance
to downward movement of water.
" Surface soil also has low water holding capacity. It is loose,
single-grained, pale brown, gravelly sandy loam (6-8" thick).
" Surface layer is generally 2-3" thicker than in places with
steeper slopes.
" Dark grayish-brown surface layer of needles, leaves, twigs, cones,
moss, and roots.
" Subsoil is similar to surface soil, but more yellow in color and
possibly containing more sand.
" The substratum consists of poorly assorted, predominately yellowish-brown
sand, gravel, and cobbly, which is extremely loose and porous.
" The upper layers of these soils contain anywhere from 30-50% gravel.
The substratum may hold up to 80% gravel.
" This soil is not suitable for crops. It is best used for trees
and brush. It is one of the better areas for growing Douglas firs to be
cut for Christmas trees.
Grove gravelly loam
0-5% slope
" Excessively drained, reddish-brown gravely soil.
" Occupies large glacial outwash plains.
" Soils have developed from Vashon glacial drift, modifies local
basaltic rock, and mixed material from the Olympic Mountain glaciers.
" Vegetated mostly by coniferous forest, with an understory of lower
growing mosses, kinnickinnick and snowberry. The understory may also include
huckleberry, salal, Oregon grape, and drought-resistant manzanita.
" Surface layer of needles, leaves, twigs, roots, and moss grading
to moderately decomposed dark grayish brown soil(1-2").
" Friable, single grained, reddish-brown surface soil (6" thick)
" The next 12-14" is more gravelly, and granules are coated
with a reddish-brown material.
" Light brown subsoil, which is loose, single grained, and contains
no shot.
" Substratum of gravel stained with reddish-brown and black material.
The upper 24 inches of the substratum is weakly cemented in some places.
" Parent material is local igneous rock and mixed glacial material.
" Medium acidity (less so with depth).
" Best suited for forests. Areas are manages for Christmas tree production.
McMurray Peat
0-2% slope
" Composed of partly decomposed remains of evergreen
and deciduous trees and of various shrubs that have accumulated.
" Found in swampy basins, depressions, and low intermittent lakes.
" Saturated soils.
" Most fertile peat for crops (which may only be grown if soil is
drained).
" Coarse woody, dark brown peat containing fragments of decaying
wood (upper 8-16").
" The next layer is less decomposed and consists of brown, fibrous,
sedimentary peat.
" Peat rests of saturated substratum of partly compact sand and gravel
mixed with silt, clay and colloidal peat.
" Generally occurs in small, isolated areas.
McMurray Peat - shallow over gravel
0-2% slope
" This soil differs from the McMurray peat in the thickness
of the peat over the underlying gravel. This peat's thickness is less
than 24".
" Not suitable for farming, due to shallowness of the peat.
Mukilteo Peat
0-2% slope
" This peat consists of partly decomposed sedges, spirea,
twigs, and roots.
" Occasionally, these soils will have a cover of deciduous trees,
brush, and shrubs in place of spirea.
" This peat comprises the largest area of upland bogs in the county.
" Surface layer consists of leaves, twigs, and small roots (1-2"
thick).
" Upper 10-12" of peat is a granular, fibrous dark brown mixture
of partly decomposed roots, twigs, and fibrous sedges.
" The next layer is more fibrous and less decomposed. It consists
of gibrous sedge peat, sedimentary peat, and/or mucky mineral soil.
" The next layer is made up of compact glacial till and lies at ferrying
depths below 3 feet.
" Strongly acidic soil.
" Saturated throughout the year.
" Only good for cultivation of crops when the soil is drained.
Orcas Peat
0-2% slope
" Consists mainly of sphagnum moss.
" Contains rare vegetation (e.g. sundew plants, wild cranberry).
" Very acid conditions.
" Sphagnum moss is mixed with Labrador-tea or ledum and a few scattered
lodgepole pines.
" The upper 12-16" is composed of raw, fibrous and spongy, yellowish-brown
sphagnum moss. Peat below the moss is lighter in color.
" Substratum consists of gravelly till (3-20' deep)
" Unfit for agricultural use because of moisture and acidity.
" Can be harvested for packing and mulch material.