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Kittitas County, WA <br />§ 17A.07.020 CRITICAL AREAS § 17A.07.030 <br />Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/KI6857 on 2025-05-15 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />i. Alkali wetlands; <br />ii. Wetlands with high conservation value that are identified by scientists of the Washington <br />Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program; <br />iii. Bogs and calcareous fens; <br />iv. Mature and old-growth forested wetlands over 1/4 acre with slow-growing trees; <br />v. Forests with stands of aspen; and <br />vi. Wetlands scoring between twenty-two and twenty-seven (22-27) points in the Eastern <br />Washington Rating System. <br />b. Category II wetlands are difficult, though not impossible, to replace, and provide high levels of <br />some functions. These wetlands occur more commonly than Category I wetlands, but still need <br />a relatively high level of protection. Category II wetlands include: <br />i. Forested wetlands in the floodplains of rivers; <br />ii. Mature and old-growth forested wetlands over 1/4 acre with fast-growing trees; <br />iii. Vernal pools; and <br />iv. Wetlands scoring between nineteen and twenty-one (19-21) points in the Eastern <br />Washington Rating System. <br />c. Category III wetlands have a moderate level of functions and score between sixteen and eighteen <br />(16-18) points in the Eastern Washington Rating System. These wetlands can be often adequately <br />replaced with a well-planned mitigation project. Category III wetlands generally have been <br />disturbed in some ways, and are often less diverse or more isolated from other natural resources <br />in the landscape than Category II wetlands. <br />d. Category IV wetlands have the lowest level of functions and are often heavily disturbed. They <br />score fewer than sixteen (16) points in the Eastern Washington Rating System. These are <br />wetlands that can usually be replaced, and in some cases improved. However, experience has <br />shown that replacement cannot be guaranteed in any specific case. These wetlands may provide <br />some important functions and also need to be protected. <br />(Ord. 2021-016, 2021) <br /> <br />§ 17A.07.030. Buffers. <br />1. Purpose. Buffers shall be established and maintained to protect the functions and values of regulated <br />wetlands. <br />2. Measurement. Wetland buffers shall be measured horizontally in all directions from the outer edge of <br />wetland boundary as established in the field. Building setbacks (KCC § 17A.01.090.4) are in addition <br />to wetland buffers and are measured outward from the edge of the wetland buffer boundary. <br />3. Buffer condition. Wetland buffers shall be maintained in a predominantly well-vegetated and <br />undisturbed condition to ensure that they perform their intended function of protecting the wetland. <br />Tree removal is prohibited in wetlands and wetland buffers other than in accordance with KCC <br />§ 17A.01.050.3.h.