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<br />Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners Shoreline Master Program Adopting Ordinance <br />Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program Exhibit D | March 2016 | Page 269 of 339 <br /> <br />2. Mapping: The approximate location and extent of aquatic habitat conservation areas are <br />shown on the County’s critical area maps. These maps are to be used as a guide and do not <br />provide definitive information about aquatic habitat conservation area size or presence. <br />Other aquatic habitat conservation areas may exist that do not appear on the maps. The <br />County shall update the maps as new aquatic habitat conservation areas are identified and <br />as new information becomes available. <br /> <br />17B.05.020K Aquatic habitat conservation areas – buffers. <br />1. Buffer widths: Buffers shall be established and maintained to protect regulated aquatic <br />habitat conservation areas as shown in the Table at KCC 17B.05.020K-1 below. These <br />stream buffers shall be measured in all directions from the OHWM as identified in the field. <br />The buffer widths for Type S Waters are shown in the Table at KCC 17B.05.050-1. <br />Shoreline buffers and vegetation conservation. Buffers shall not be altered except as <br />authorized by this Program. These standard buffer widths are presumed to be adequate to <br />protect aquatic habitat conservation area functions and values provided that the buffer <br />contains relatively intact native vegetation at the time of the proposed use or development. <br />Where the use is being intensified adjacent to a degraded buffer area that is not well <br />vegetated, the Administrator may require the degraded area to be revegetated to maintain <br />aquatic habitat conservation area functions and values. <br />17B.05.020K-1. Aquatic Habitat Conservation Area Buffers <br /> for Type F, Np, and Ns Waters <br />Aquatic Habitat <br />Conservation Area Standard Buffer Width <br />Type F Waters 100 feet <br />Type Np Waters 50 feet <br />Type Ns Waters 30 feet <br /> <br />2. Buffer condition: Aquatic habitat conservation area buffers shall be maintained in a <br />predominantly well-vegetated and undisturbed condition. Alterations that are not associated <br />with an allowed use or development shall be prohibited. <br />3. Multiple buffers: In the event that buffers for any aquatic habitat conservation areas or other <br />critical areas are contiguous or overlapping, the landward-most edge of all such buffers shall <br />apply. <br />4. Interrupted buffers: When an aquatic habitat conservation area buffer contains an existing <br />legally established public or private road the Administrator may allow a use and/or <br />development on the landward side of the road provided that the use and/or development will <br />not have a detrimental impact to the habitat area. The applicant may be required to provide <br />a critical areas report to describe the impacts. In determining whether a critical areas report <br />is necessary, the County shall consider the hydrologic, geologic, and/or biological habitat <br />connection potential and the extent and permanence of the buffer interruption. <br />5. Increased buffers: The Administrator shall increase the aquatic habitat conservation area <br />buffer shown in the Table at KCC 17B.05.020K-1 width up to a maximum of two times the <br />standard width where the standard buffer is inadequate to prevent significant adverse <br />environmental impacts or address hazards associated with the site or the proposed <br />development activity. To assess whether a buffer increase is needed to project aquatic <br />habitat conservation area functions and values, the Administrator shall consider: <br />a. The historical and current susceptibility to severe erosion, channel instability, or <br />aggrading; <br />b. The presence of multiple channels or islands;