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Kittitas County, WA <br />$ r7A.07.020 <br />i. <br />ii. <br />b. <br />CRITICALAREAS $ 17A.07.030 <br />Alkali wetlands; <br />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 ll4 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 />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 ll4 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 />(16-1S) points inthe Eastem 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.202l-016,2021) <br />S 17A.07.030. Buffers. <br />l. 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 $ 1 7A.0 I .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.0r.0s0.3.h. <br />Downloaded from h@s://ecode360.com/Kl6857 on 2025-05-15