BOCC Exhibits A-E ECY Approved SMP-Code Amendments

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Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program Chapter 5 61 March 7, 2016 Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners Shoreline Master Program Adopting Ordinance Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program Exhibit A | March 2016 | Page 61 of 339 i. Alkali wetlands; ii. Wetlands that are identified by scientists of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program as high quality, relatively undisturbed wetlands, or wetlands that support state threatened or endangered plant species; iii. Bogs and calcareous fens; iv. Mature and old-growth forested wetlands over a ¼ acre in size with slow growing trees; v. Forest wetlands with stands of Aspen; vi. Wetland scoring between twenty-two and twenty-seven (22-27) points or more (out of twenty seven (27)) in the Eastern Washington Wetland Rating System. b. Category II wetlands: Category II wetlands are difficult, though not impossible, to replace, and provide high levels of some functions. These wetlands occur more commonly than Category I wetlands, but still need a relatively high level of protection. Category II wetlands include: i. Forested wetlands in the floodplains of rivers; ii. Mature and old-growth forested wetlands with native fast growing trees; iii. Vernal pools; iv. Wetlands scoring between nineteen and twenty one (19-21) points (out of twenty seven (27)) in the Eastern Washington Wetland Rating System. c. Category III wetlands score between sixteen and eighteen (16-18) points (out of twenty-seven (27)) in the Eastern Washington Wetland Rating System and can oftern be adequately replaced with a well-planned mitigation project. Wetlands scoring between 16-18 points generally have been disturbed in some ways, and are often smaller, less diverse and/or more isolated from other natural resources in the landscape than Category II wetlands. d. Category IV wetlands have the lowest levels of functions, scoring less than sixteen (16) points in the Eastern Washington Wetland Rating System, and are often heavily disturbed. These are wetlands that should be able to be replaced, and in some cases improved. These wetlands may provide some important functions, and also need to be protected. G. Regulations—wetland buffers 1. Buffer widths: Buffers shall be established and maintained to protect all regulated wetlands. Standard minimum buffer for wetlands are listed in Table 5.2-1. The buffer shall not be altered except as authorized by this Program; provided, that such alterations meet all other standards for the protection of regulated wetlands. Buffers are measured horizontally in all directions from the regulated wetland edge as marked in the field.