Comments_Combined_KimleyHorn - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Page 2 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCAs) including wildlife connectivity corridors and shrubsteppe habitat are in these areas. We recommend directing growth towards the Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) and reducing population growth in unincorporated areas of the county. Continued sprawl is likely to undermine the value of these lands to various wildlife species. The county should consider additional policies to limit population growth in unincorporated and rural areas. The county should take additional measures to meet GMA planning goal 2 that directs plans to reduce sprawl by reducing the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped lands and encouraged growth in urban or incorporated areas. 2.3.10. Natural Environment NE-G5, P26. WDFW Priority Habitat and Species (PHS) should be added to this list. Also recommend changing the word"evaluate"to "promote". Section 3. Rural and Resource Lands. 3.3.7 Rural Recreation. RR-G12. While WDFW understands and appreciates the need for balanced recreation, high-impact recreational development should be discouraged in areas of overlap with mapped corridors of wildlife connectivity. Please add this under RR-G12. Commercial Agriculture Land Incentives. RR-G19-P103. These naturally occurring ponds and springs have high wildlife use and are often critically important in areas of limited water such as the dry areas zoned for commercial agriculture. Please clarify that these stock water uses will not preclude or diminish access by wildlife at these naturally occurring sites. Section 5. Transportation T-G1, P9. WDFW has its climate resiliency guidance on culverts. Suggest integration into this element: hM2s://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/habitat-recovery/fish-passage/climate-change to consider the impacts of climate hazards. T-G6, P23. Wildlife. Consider tweaking the existing goal to add enhance wildlife connectivity (right now only says minimize impacts). Under P23, add existing roadways (right now it just says new roadways),but when we retrofit or rebuild roads, we should also look at connectivity options. Section 7. Utilities. U-G7, P21. WDFW recently completed its guidance on solar and wind, including where we recommend avoidance and mitigation strategies, BMPs and studies. We recommend that the WDFW guidelines are required for environmental review of any new wind and solar. hqps://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02662 Section 9. Parks and Recreation RPO-GI, P4. We appreciate the inclusion of these significant corridors. We would like to discuss ways that we can incorporate wildlife connectivity corridors identified in WAHCAP and designate those into open space plans. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/habitat- recovery/connectivity/action-plan