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<br /> <br />57 <br /> <br />Chapter 17A.07 <br />WETLANDS <br /> <br />Sections: <br />17A.07.010 Purpose and Intent <br />17A.07.020 Designation, Mapping, Delineation, and Categorization <br />17A.07.030 Buffers <br />17A.07.040 General Protection Standards <br />17A.07.050 Permitted Alterations and Development <br />17A.07.060 Reporting <br />17A.07.070 Mitigation Requirements <br /> <br /> <br />17A.07.010 Purpose and Intent <br />The purpose of this Chapter is to maintain the biological and physical functions and values of <br />wetlands with respect to groundwater recharge and discharge, water quality, stormwater and <br />floodwater retention, storage and conveyance, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, <br />recreation, and education. <br /> <br />17A.07.020 Designation, Mapping, Delineation, and Categorization <br />1. Designation. Wetlands are those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or <br />groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal <br />circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated <br />soil conditions. Wetlands generally include, but are not limited to, swamps, marshes, bogs, <br />ponds, and similar areas. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally <br />created from non-wetland sites, including, but not limited to, irrigation and drainage ditches, <br />grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, farm ponds, <br />and landscape amenities, or those wetlands created after July 1, 1990, that were <br />unintentionally created as a result of the construction of a road, street, or highway. Wetlands <br />may include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from non-wetland areas to mitigate <br />the conversion of wetlands. <br />2. Mapping. The approximate location and extent of wetlands are shown on maps maintained <br />by the County, most current National Wetland Inventory (NWI), and other best available <br />science sources. These maps are useful as a guide for project applicants and/or property <br />owners but do not provide a conclusive or definitive indication of wetland presence or extent. <br />Other wetlands may exist that do not appear on the maps, and some wetland areas that <br />appear on the maps may not meet all of the wetland designation criteria. The County shall <br />update the maps periodically as new wetland areas are identified and as new wetland <br />information becomes available. <br />3. Delineation. The County may require the applicant to identify the location or presence of any <br />wetlands within two hundred fifty (250) feet of a proposed development. Wetlands shall be <br />identified and delineated by a qualified wetland professional in accordance with the approved <br />federal wetland delineation manual and applicable regional supplements. This professional <br />shall field stake, flag or otherwise mark the wetland boundary to aid the County in reviewing <br />the development proposal. The County may require the on-site wetland boundary to be <br />surveyed by a professional land surveyor. Wetlands that occur outside of or extend beyond <br />the boundaries of the development site, onto adjoining properties, do not need to be flagged <br />or formally delineated but their general location must be determined and disclosed in order to <br />assess wetland buffer impacts. <br />4. Categorization. Wetlands shall be categorized by a qualified wetland professional in <br />accordance with the current version of the Washington State Wetland Rating System for <br />Eastern Washington and the appropriate rating forms approved by the Washington State <br />Department of Ecology. These categories are generally defined as follows: