PublicHearing_StaffReport_2026_V3.0

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Page 4 Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WSRRI) In 2024, WA developed WSRRI-the Washington Shrubsteppe Resiliency and Restoration Initiative. One of the habitat protection goals states to work with local planning departments to encourage the inclusion of habitat protection and restoration into land -use plans. While shrubsteppe is already considered a critical area under PHS, WDFW would like to explore additional conservation measures for areas that WSRRI has designated as high priority conservation areas. We recommend that the plan be included in this section. Another habitat protection goal under WSRRI is to protect high quality shrubsteppe areas from high intensity fire. We recommend that WSRRI be mentioned in the hazard management plan under rangeland fire protection. https://wdfw.wa.goy/publications/02489 Appendix B. Snoqualmie Pass Subarea Plan This subarea contains a statewide wildlife connectivity core of significance as identified in WAHCAP (named Cascade Crest) and the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East (the largest wildlife crossing project to date in Washington) project runs through the plan area. Please update the natural feature sections within the plan to acknowledge these wildlife connectivity areas of significance. The document refers to Plum Creek lands in several places. These lands were purchased by The Nature Conservancy. Please update the text to reflect current ownership. Section 6.1.3 Item 14 discusses future improvements to I-90. The Snoqualmie Pass East project is completed for the first 7.5 miles and through the subarea plan area. Please update the document to reflect this. Appendix D. Easton Subarea Plan Wildlife Connectivity: 1. WAHCAP maps both I-90 Easton segment and the surrounding natural resource lands as having high wildlife habitat connectivity value. The sub -area plan should recognize that. Recommend including this acknowledgment under the Land Use setting. 2. Recommend including under the Goals and Policies for Transportation a statement that wildlife connectivity is a supported goal for highway projects. 3. Recommend including under the Goals and Policies for Land Use a statement that zoned areas in the forest and range and Rural 5 zoned lands are valued for wildlife connectivity and more intensive development in these lands should be discouraged. While floodplain along the Yakima River is acknowledged as one of two primary natural hazards, there are no goals and policies in Section 6.4 that address ways to lessen the flood risk and preserve the natural floodplain of the Yakima River. Further development in the floodplain, particularly the areas of frequent flooding near the Yakima River, prevents river restoration in this reach. Development often requires loss of riparian habitat and hardening of the riverbanks to prevent natural river processes. We recommend, including under the Goals and Policies, Section 6.4, that solutions to parcels in these frequently flooded areas should be explored, including working with the Kittitas Flood Control Zone District. These solutions should be beneficial to natural river processes and to make the Yakima River more resilient.