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Chapter 17A.07 WETLANDS Sections: 17A.07.010 Puroose and lntent 17A.07.020 Desiqnation. Mappinq. Delineation. and Cateoorization 17A.07.030 Buffers 174.07.040 GeneralProtectionStandards 17A.07.050 PermittedAlterationsand Development 174.07.060 Reportinq 17A.07.070 MitiqationRequirements 17A.07.010 Purpose and lntent The purpose of this Chapter is to maintain the bioloqical and physical functions and values of wetlands with respect to qroundwater recharqe and discharoe. water quality. stormwater and floodwater retention. storage and conveyance, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. recreation, and education. 174.07.020 Desiqnation, Mappinq, Delineation, and Gateqorization 1. Desiqnation. Wetlands are those areas that are inundated or saturated bv surface or qroundwater at a frequencv and duration sufficient to support. and that under normal circumstances do support. a prevalence of veqetation tvpicallv adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands qenerallv include. but are not limited to. swamps. marshes. boqs, ponds. and similar areas. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionallv created from non-wetland sites, includinq. but not limited to. irriqation and drainaqe ditches. qrass-lined swales. canals. detention facilities. wastewater treatment facilities. farm ponds. and landscape amenities. or those wetlands created after July 1 . 1990. that were unintentionally created as a result of the construction of a road. street. or hiqhwav. Wetlands mav include those artificialwetlands intentionallv created from non-wetland areas to mitiqate the conversion of wetlands.2. Mappinq. The approximate location and extent of wetlands are shown on maps maintained by the County, most current National Wetland lnventory (NWl), and other best available science sources. These maps are useful as a quide for proiect applicants and/or propertv owners but do not provide a conclusive or definitive indication of wetland presence or extent. Other wetlands mav exist that do not appear on the maps. and some wetland areas that appear on the maps may not meet all of the wetland desiqnation criteria. The County shall update the maps periodicallv as new wetland areas are identified and as new wetland information becomes available. 3. Delineation. The County may require the applicant to identify the location or presence of any wetlands within two hundred fifty (250) feet of a proposed development. Wetlands shall be identified and delineated bv a qualified wetland professional in accordance with the approved federalwetland delineation manual and applicable reqional supplements. This professional shall field stake. flao or otherwise mark the wetland boundarv to aid the Countv in reviewinq the development proposal. The Countv mav require the on-site wetland boundarv to be surveyed by a professional land survevor. Wetlands that occur outside of or extend bevond the boundaries of the development site. onto adioininq properties. do not need to be flaqqed or formally delineated but their qeneral location must be determined and disclosed in order to assess wetland buffer impacts.4. Gateqorization. Wetlands shall be cateqorized bv a qualified wetland professional in accordance with the current version of the Washinqton State Wetland Ratinq Svstem for Eastern Washinqton and the approoriate ratino forms approved by the Washington State Department of Ecoloqv. These cateoories are qenerally defined as follows: 57