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A hazardous waste spill, or other human contamination, can have a serious impact on an <br />aquifer, possibly rendering it unusable for yeat's. <br />The primary water sources for the City of Cle Elum [ as well as South Cle Elum and <br />Suncadia] are the Yakima and Cle Elmn Rivers. Intakes are located below Lake Cle Elum <br />near the Bullfrog Road Bridge on 1he Cle Elum River, and on the Yakima River near the <br />intersection of South Cle Elum Way and the river. Shallow groundwater in Cle Elum area <br />renders the Yakima River intake suscepb.ble to contamination due to the relatively high <br />permeability of the Alluviwn soil layer and a generally shallow depth to groundwater. <br />The Cle Elum River intake is susceptible to contamination resulting from the increased <br />development pressure for "lakefront" lots in the rural county. The predominant majority <br />of the homes permitted by Kittitas County are on individual septic systems in close <br />proximity to the ordinary high water mmk of the lake. <br />The City has requested that Kittitas County establish land use intensity and proximity <br />limitations to protect critical municipal water intake supplies. Best management practices <br />along with hazardous material plans, appropriate land use zoning and density, and the <br />analysis of future impacts should be considered by the CO\Ulty to protect aquifers and <br />municipal water somces. The protection of aquifer recharge areas and municipal intakes <br />is regulated within the City if Cle Elum under Ordinance No. 1039, Section 18.01.120- <br />140, the 2004 Eastern Washington Stonnwater Management Manual, Best Management <br />Practices, and SEP A. <br />Wed.ands and Floodplains <br />Wetlands are transitional areas between upland and aquatic environments where water is <br />present long enough to form distinct soils where specialized plant communities can grow. <br />Wetlands include marshy areas along shorelines, and inland swamps. Wetlands are <br />typified by three physical characteristics; Hydric soils, hydrology, and hydrophilic plants. <br />The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) map prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service indicated that Cle Elum has a number of wetlands. Wetlands will be defined <br />using RCW 36.70A.030(20} and delineated using the Washington State Department of <br />Ecology Wetland Delineation Manual pursuant to RCW 36.70A.175. <br />Cle Elum has several known areas designated by FEMA as Floodplain or Floodway. <br />Floodplains and floodways are areas recognized to have the greatest risk of damage to <br />property and to the loss ofhwnan life. State law prohibits pennanent structures from <br />beiDg constructed in the Floodway or 1o have zero rise (no displacement of floodwaters). <br />Only seasonal uses or water dependent structures (such as bridges) should be allowed to <br />be constructed in these areas. <br />The protection of wetlands and floodplains occurs through the City's Development <br />Regulations for critiw areas [Ordinance No. 1039, Section 18.01 .290-300; and <br />18.01.430w500; respectively], and SEPA. <br />Blstorltal and Cultural Preservadoo <br />City of Cle Elum-Lend Use Plan 23