Ord-2021-006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program ecological functions to function effectively, buffers must be well-vegetated. As a result, the Program promotes vegetation conservation including restrictions on clearing and grading, vegetation restoration and enhancement, and the control of invasive weeds and non-native species. Unless othenruise stated, buffer and vegetation conservation regulations of this Program do not apply to those activities covered under the Washington State Forest Practices Act, except for conversion of forest uses to other uses and those other forest practice activities over which local governments have authority. As with all master program provisions, buffer and vegetation conservation provisions apply even to those shoreline uses and developments that are exempt from the requirement to obtain a shoreline permit. Like other master program provisions, buffer and vegetation conservation standards do not apply retroactively to legally established existing uses and structures, such as existing agricultural activities. A. Policies 1. Conserve native shoreline vegetation to maintain shoreline ecological functions and processes and mitigate the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of shoreline use and development, wherever feasible. Disturbance of native plant communities should be avoided. Disturbed areas should be re-vegetated with native plant species appropriate to the soil and hydrologic conditions. 2. Protect the ecological and aesthetic qualities of the shoreline environment and minimize risks associated with flooding, erosion, channel migration, landslides, and other natural events and processes by separating and setting back new shoreline uses and developments from the edge of the water. Vegetated buffers should be maintained between shoreline waters and the adjoining land uses. 3. Encourage noxious and invasive weed management and control. Control of such species should be done in a manner that retains on-site native vegetation, provides for erosion control, and protects water quality. B.Reorrlati ons-shoreline buffers 1. New uses and developments shall be located landward of the shoreline buffers shown in Table 5.5-1 in accordance with the shoreline environment designation, unless this Program specifically allows the use/development within the shoreline buffer. Shoreline buffers shall be measured in all directions from the OHWM. Uses/development may also be subject to additional buffers prescribed in Section 5.2 of this Program due to presence of critical areas. ln such cases, the landward- most buffer shall apply. Chapter 5 March 7,2016 95