Landscape Consultations with Sound Native Plants

Sound Native Plants no longer provides wetland reconnaissance, delineation and functional assessments.

We continue to provide wetland mitigation planning, design and monitoring.  Our mitigation plans have an outstanding reputation in the south Sound area for their thoroughness and reliability. We’ve been getting our hands dirty for a long time, installing mitigation projects with our own crews, watching and maintaining them. We have learned what works through hard experience.

Sound Native Plants works extensively on shoreline issues including identification of high water lines, determination of building setbacks, shoreline stabilization and erosion control, riparian habitat restoration, and bulkhead alternatives for lake and marine shores. We handle shoreline permits and hydraulic project approvals (HPA), and offer complete mitigation design and monitoring services. We design “soft” solutions to stabilize shorelines using bioengineering techniques in situations where bulkheads are not permitted.

Sound Native Plants offers slope stabilization designs that specialize in using vegetation and soft materials instead of concrete and rebar. Vegetated slope stabilization (also known as “bioengineering”) has been used in Europe for decades and has steadily been gaining widespread acceptance in the United States. Bioengineering integrates quick-rooting plant materials with soil stabilization products made from soft materials such as coconut fiber. The resulting slopes are stabilized and vegetated at a fraction of the cost of traditional retaining walls, crib walls or gabions.

Bioengineered slopes have the added benefit of providing habitat for birds and wildlife. Many local jurisdictions are increasingly requiring bioengineering to stabilize slopes in sensitive environments such as along streams and wetlands.

Sound Native Plants has worked with south Sound streams for more than 15 years. Our services include planning and managing stream relocations, fish habitat enhancements, bank stabilization, and riparian habitat improvements. We address all the permit requirements including HPA, shoreline, wetland, endangered species act, and all related construction permits. We design streambank projects that stabilize eroding banks and improve fish habitat simultaneously, using bioengineering techniques.

Many jurisdictions around Puget Sound require special protection for state-listed priority habitats and species. Oak woodlands and prairies are examples of priority habitats that receive special protection in south Sound counties.

Sound Native Plants offers consulting services for these special sites, including:

• Rare plant surveys
• Vegetation inventories
• Habitat management plans
• Oak woodland assessment and mitigation planning
• Prairie restoration planning

Sound Native Plants has extensive experience with western Washington plant communities. We are familiar with the wetlands, prairies, and forests of this region. We are also well versed in invasive plants, noxious weeds and newer invaders.

Our services include:

• Designing monitoring plans for mitigation projects
• Monitoring mitigation projects for permit compliance and performance bond requirements
• Mapping and monitoring invasive and noxious weed populations
• Performing comprehensive vegetation surveys
• Performing rare plant surveys

Sound Native Plants collaborates with Pacific Rim Soil and Water, Inc. to offer site assessment and low impact development (LID) recommendations for new development. Pacific Rim Soil and Water provides soils assessment and Sound Native Plants inventories existing vegetation and hydrologic features. Acting as a team, we identify appropriate sites and develop plans for LID measures such as rain gardens, bioretention ponds and conservation areas.

Rain gardens / Bioretention swales

Rain gardens (aka bioretention swales) use existing or supplemented soil and native vegetation in natural depressions to infiltrate stormwater runoff from surrounding areas. Rain gardens reduce runoff by intercepting, evaporating and infiltrating rainfall, which diminishes erosion and improves water quality. Beautiful and functional, rain gardens can buffer noise, enhance privacy, provide urban wildlife habitat, and add aesthetic value to the landscape. Rain gardens are inexpensive to install and require little maintenance.

Depending on site conditions, rain gardens may be retrofitted in existing developments to augment existing stormwater facilities, help reduce flooding and improve water quality. Soil amendments and excavation may be necessary.

Bioretention ponds

By using native vegetation and soil amendments, bioretention ponds often out-perform traditional stormwater detention systems. Native vegetation reduces stormwater runoff through interception and evaporation. Roots stabilize soil, decrease erosion, absorb soil moisture, improve soil aeration and enhance rainfall infiltration. Stems filter out sediments, and plant tissues immobilize heavy metals and break down organic pollutants, improving water quality. Native vegetation nourishes soil organisms that aid decomposition and improve soil characteristics.

Vegetated/Green roofs

Green roofs are roofs planted with vegetation to reduce runoff. Green roofs that are 6″ or less in depth employ lightweight soil mix, a drain layer and native herbaceous plants adapted to harsh conditions. Sound Native Plants provides planting plans for green roofs; we can also supply the plants and install and maintain them. Appropriate species include sedums, strawberries and various grasses, because of their shallow root systems and drought-tolerance. The roofs themselves should be designed by a licensed engineer or architect and constructed by a licensed contractor.

Sound Native Plants has established a reputation as a leading authority on native plant horticulture in western Washington. We have provided training and served on advisory boards and standing committees addressing native plant horticulture issues for many organizations and agencies from the Washington Department of Transportation to the Society of Wetland Scientists.

Sound Native Plants consults on horticultural topics including:

• Plant material specifications
• Planting techniques
• Species selection
• Temporary irrigation system design
• Native plant nursery design
• Wildlife habitat landscaping