Ranch On Swauk BOCC Packet 9-17-24

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cTn, f• State of Washington DEPARTMENT OFFISH AND WILDLIFE South Central Region • Region 3 • 1701 South 24t' Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902.-572t'� Telephone: (509) 575-2740 . Fax: (509) 575-2474 July 22, 2024 Jamey Ayling Kittitas County Community Development Services 411 N. Ruby Street, Suite 2 Ellensburg, WA 98926 SUBJECT: WDFW COMMENTS ON DV-24-00001 Dear Mr. Ayling, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on DV-24-00001 concerning the request for a development agreement for 30 years from the approval date for Swauk Creek Planned Unit Development (z-06-27). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has reviewed the application and supporting documents. Our comments are regarding the project's impact on priority fish and wildlife habitats, particularly the riparian habitat of Swauk Creek and its associated floodplain. Specifically, our comments are to ensure that if the application is approved that the development will not result in loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCA) under Kittitas County Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). The Master Site Plan, submitted as part of the review, shows recreational elements potentially in both the riparian area and floodplain. These elements may contain some passive recreation, but various infrastructure elements are listed, including campgrounds, event centers, parking, equestrian boarding, employee housing, and shop facilities. These activities are likely to have impacts to the riparian area and floodplain of Swauk Creek through either vegetation removal and/or prevention of future riparian and floodplain vegetation recruitment. Swauk Creek is a critical stream to various fish and wildlife species and is one of the primary streams identified in the Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan (YBFWRB 2009). Streamside recreation and increased development in the riparian area and floodplain are both called out under limiting factors in the plan. While the original site plan was authorized under a previous Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), those previous standards do not meet the current standards of Best Available Science, nor are consistent with the current CAO and SMP. Under the current CAO, Swauk Creek is a fish -bearing stream within the Cascade Ecoregion and within the jurisdiction of the Kittitas County SMP. The Riparian Management Zone (RM[Z) is defined here under Kittitas County Critical Areas Code as 150 foot. WDFW requests that if the development agreement is extended, as is proposed, that all development activities within the SMP and CAO riparian areas and floodplains be held to the current CAO and SMP standards. Both the CAO and SMP standards are to ensure no net loss of