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<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 a <br />critical areas report to describe the impacts. In determining whether a critical areas report is <br />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 buffer <br />shown in the Table at KCC 17B.05.020K-1 width up to a maximum of two times the standard <br />width where the standard buffer is inadequate to prevent significant adverse environmental <br />impacts or address hazards associated with the site or the proposed development activity. To <br />assess whether a buffer increase is needed to project aquatic habitat conservation area <br />functions and values, the Administrator shall consider: <br />a. The historical and current susceptibility to severe erosion, channel instability, or aggrading; <br />b. The presence of multiple channels or islands; <br />c. The land adjacent to the ordinary high water mark and extending throughout the standard <br />habitat buffer is steeply sloped (greater than forty percent (40%) slope) and there are no <br />designated landslide hazards within the area of shoreline jurisdiction, such that an <br />increased buffer may be required to protect ecological functions; and <br />d. The adequacy of the standard width to prevent habitat degradation and protect the <br />structure and functions of the habitat area. <br />6. Buffer for aquatic habitat conservation area mitigation sites: Any aquatic habitat conservation <br />area that is created, restored, or enhanced as compensation for approved alterations shall be <br />the same as the buffer required for the category of the created, restored, or enhanced aquatic <br />habitat conservation area. <br />7. Buffer averaging: The Administrator may allow averaging of the aquatic habitat buffer widths in <br />the Table at KCC 17B.05.020K-1 when necessary to accommodate a single-family residence or <br />residential subdivision of four (4) or fewer lots. With buffer averaging, the buffer width is <br />reduced in one location and increased in another location to maintain the same overall buffer <br />area. Proposals for buffer averaging shall not require a shoreline variance or compensatory <br />mitigation if the following conditions are met: <br />a. The buffer has not been averaged or reduced by any prior actions administered by Kittitas <br />County; <br />b. No feasible site design could be accomplished without buffer averaging; <br />c. An approved critical area report demonstrates that the buffer averaging will not reduce <br />stream or habitat functions or adversely affect salmon habitat;