Kittitas SWMP Update_Approved_(2020-07-09)

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2020 Solid Waste and Moderate Risk Waste Management Plan Update AX0304191054PDX 2-1 2. Description of the Planning Area 2.1 General Description Situated near the geographic center of Washington State, Kittitas County encompasses a wide range of environments in its 2,333 square miles. It extends from the crest of the Cascade Mountains in the west, to the Columbia River in the east. Chelan County borders Kittitas County to the north and Yakima County lies across the southern border. The major highways within the County are Interstate 90, which crosses from Snoqualmie Pass to Vantage; Interstate 82, which connects Interstate 90 at Ellensburg with the City of Yakima and the Tri-Cities area to the south; and U.S. 97, which runs north through Ellensburg, into Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties. An understanding of the environmental, land use, and demographic features of Kittitas County assists in providing baseline information regarding existing and potential future solid waste handling needs. This chapter provides information on the County including geology, climate, land use, industry and employment, and population. 2.2 Geology The geology of Kittitas County typically is complex, consisting of a variety of rocks and sediments. Volcanic and old marine sedimentary rocks occur mostly in western portions of the County. The eastern half is chiefly composed of younger sedimentary units and basalt flows. Valleys have deep glacial and alluvial deposits, with some areas of wind deposited soils. Depth to ground water is widely variable, reflecting the complexity of the geologic formations in Kittitas County. 2.3 Climate Kittitas County, like the rest of Washington State, has a wet winter season and a dry summer season. Approximately one-half of the total precipitation measured within the County falls between November and January. In the lowlands of the County, less than 1 inch of rain generally falls between May and September. Temperatures are cool in the winter and warm in the summer, with wide ranges in daily temperatures as well as summer heat waves and winter cold spells. Continental air masses cause Countywide cold spells with below zero temperatures almost every year. The generally dry air results in clear skies during much of the year. 2.4 Land Use Kittitas County is largely rural in nature. Urban development is located primarily in Ellensburg, and to a lesser degree in the towns of Cle Elum, Roslyn, South Cle Elum, and Kittitas. In Ellensburg, commercial development is found in the central business district and near I-90 along Canyon Road. Central Washington University, which has an enrollment of about 11,000 students, is in Ellensburg on a 350-acre campus. Industrial activities tend to be located along the Burlington Northern Railroad, I-90, and in the airport industrial park. A military reservation used for training purposes covers a 155 square mile area in the southeast corner. Under current zoning, densities range from one unit per 6,000 square feet to one unit per 80 acres. Specifically, the Suburban zone allows a density of one unit per acre, while the Rural-3, Agricultural-3, Rural- 5, Agricultural- 5, Agricultural-20, and Forest and Range Zones allow for a density range of one unit per 6,000 square feet to 20 acres. The lowest density in the county is in the Commercial Forest Zone where the assigned density is one unit per 80 acres. Table 2-1 summarizes the County’s zoning by acre as of September 2018. i) . I ,