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a. Cateoory I wetlands are those that represent a unioue or rare wetland tyoe. are more <br />sensitive to disturbance than most wetlands, are relativelv undisturbed and contain <br />ecolooical attributes that are impossible to reolace within a human lifetime or provide <br />a hioh levelof functions. Cateqory lwetlands include:i. Alkaliwetlands: <br />ii. Wetlands with hiqh conservation value that are identified by scientists of the <br />Washinoton Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritaqe Proqram: <br />iii. Boqs and calcareous fens: <br />iv. Mature and old-growth forested wetlands over % acre with slow-orowinq <br />trees: <br />v. Forests with stands of aspen: and <br />vi. Wetlands scorinq between twentv-two and twentv-seven (22-27) points in the <br />Eastern Washinoton Ratinq Svstem. <br />b. Cateqorv llwetlands are difficult. thouoh not impossible. to replace. and provide hiqh <br />levels of some functions. These wetlands occur more commonlv than Cateqorv I <br />wetlands. but still need a relatively high level of protection. Category ll wetlands <br />include:i. Forested wetlands in the floodplains of rivers:ii. Mature and old-qrowth forested wetlands over % acre with fast-growinq trees: <br />iii. Vernal pools; and <br />iv. Wetlands scorinq between nineteen and twentv-one (19-21) points in the <br />Eastern Washinqton Ratinq Svstem. <br />c. Cateqory lll wetlands have a moderate level of functions and score between sixteen <br />and eiqhteen (16-18) points in the Eastern Washinoton Ratinq Svstem. These <br />wetlands can be often adequately reolaced with a well-planned mitioation <br />project. Cateoorv lllwetlands qenerally have been disturbed in some ways. and are <br />often less diverse or more isolated from other natural resources in the landscape <br />than Cateoorv ll wetlands. <br />d. Category lV wetlands have the lowest level of functions and are often heavily <br />disturbed. Thev score fewer than sixteen (16) points in the Eastern Washinqton <br />s that can us be re aced and in some <br />improved. However. experience has shown that replacement cannot be quaranteed <br />in anv specific case. These wetlands mav provide some important functions and also <br />need to be protected. <br />17A.07.030 Buffers <br />1. Purpose. Buffers shall be established and maintained to protect the functions and values of <br />requlated wetlands. <br />2. Measurement. Wetland buffers shall be red horizontallv in all directions from the <br />outer edqe of wetland boundarv as established in the field. Buildinq setbacks (KCC <br />174.01 .090.4) are in addition to wetland buffers and are measured outward from the edqe of <br />the wetland buffer boundarv.3. Buffer Condition. Wetland buffers shall be maintained in a predominantlv well-veqetated <br />and undisturbed condition to ensure that thev perform their intended function of protecting <br />the wetland. Tree removal is prohibited in wetlands and wetland buffers other than in <br />accordance with KCC 1 7A.01 .050.3.h.4. Standard Buffer Widths. The width of the standard buffer does not include the buildinq <br />setback (KCC 174.01.090.4) and shall be based on the wetland cateoorv and the intensiV of <br />the proposed land use adiacent to the buffer as indicated in Table KCC 17A.07.030. <br />58