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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: June 28, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Floodplain Development Permits Fees for Fish <br />Habitat Restoration Projects <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to prepare enabling documents to waive Floodplain <br />Development Permit Fees for Fish Habitat Restoration Projects. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• In 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took action that <br />affected floodplain development permitting for fish habitat restoration projects, <br />increasing floodplain development permitting costs for restoration projects. <br />• These habitat restoration projects are critical for fish recovery. Fish recovery is a <br />key objective of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. <br />• Staff supports waiving Floodplain Development Permit fees for fish habitat <br />restoration projects. <br />• The Board of County Commissioners must approve permit fee waivers. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) repealed their previous <br />Policy on Fish Enhancement Structures in the Floodway. They also noticed Washington <br />State and Washington State communities that projects that qualify for the Fish Habitat <br />Enhancement Projects streamlined permitting process must still meet National Flood <br />Insurance Program requirements. Staff recommends waiving floodplain development <br />permitting fees to help address increased permitting costs for fish habitat restoration <br />projects. <br />Staff recommends defining a fish habitat. restoration project as "a project primarily <br />designed to improve fish and habitat or remove or reduce impediments to migration of <br />fish by accomplishing one or more of the following tasks: <br />1. Elimination of human -made fish passage barriers; or <br />2. Restoration of an eroded or unstable stream bank employing the principle of <br />bioengineering, including limited use of rock as a stabilization only at the toe of <br />the bank, and with primary emphasis on using native vegetation to control the <br />erosive forces of flowing water; or <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />