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Kittitas County,WA
<br /> § 17A.07.010 CRITICAL AREAS § 17A.07.020
<br /> CHAPTER 17A.07
<br /> WETLANDS
<br /> § 17A.07.010. Purpose and intent.
<br /> The purpose of this Chapter is to maintain the biological and physical functions and values of wetlands with
<br /> respect to groundwater recharge and discharge,water quality,stormwater and floodwater retention, storage
<br /> and conveyance, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas,recreation, and education.
<br /> (Ord. 2021-016,2021)
<br /> § 17A.07.020. Designation, mapping,delineation, and categorization.
<br /> 1. Designation. Wetlands are those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a
<br /> frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a
<br /> prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally
<br /> include, but are not limited to, swamps, marshes, bogs, ponds, and similar areas. Wetlands do not
<br /> include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from non-wetland sites, including, but not
<br /> limited to, irrigation and drainage ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities,wastewater
<br /> treatment facilities,farm ponds,and landscape amenities,or those wetlands created after July 1, 1990,
<br /> that were unintentionally created as a result of the construction of a road,street,or highway.Wetlands
<br /> may include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from non-wetland areas to mitigate the
<br /> conversion of wetlands.
<br /> 2. Mapping. The approximate location and extent of wetlands are shown on maps maintained by the
<br /> County, most current National Wetland Inventory (NWI), and other best available science sources.
<br /> The County shall update the maps periodically as new wetland areas are identified and as new wetland
<br /> information becomes available.- These maps are useful as a guide for project applicants and/or
<br /> property owners but do not provide a conclusive or definitive indication of wetland presence or extent.
<br /> Other wetlands may exist that do not appear on the maps, and some wetland areas that appear on the
<br /> maps may not meet all of the wetland designation criteria. The Gattflt-y shall update the maps
<br /> heally as new wedand areas are iden�ified and as new wetland infemi4ion beeames available.
<br /> These maps will not be considered a regulatory standard or substitute for site-specific assessments.
<br /> The presence of critical areas on a parcel triggers the requirements of this chapter, regardless of
<br /> whether or not a critical area or buffer is depicted on an official map,
<br /> 3. Delineation. The County shallmay require the applicant to identify the location or presence of any
<br /> wetlands within two hundred fifty(250)feet of a proposed development. Wetlands shall be identified
<br /> and delineated by a qualified wetland professional in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of
<br /> Engineers' (Corps) manual (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1987) and the applicable Regional
<br /> Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region (U.S. Army
<br /> Corps of Engineers,2008)current or as amendedthe approved fedefal wetland delineation manual aad
<br /> .,,.,.':,.able regional supplements. This professional shall field stake, flag or otherwise mark the
<br /> wetland boundary to aid the County in reviewing the development proposal. The County may require
<br /> the on-site wetland boundary to be surveyed by a professional land surveyor. Wetlands that occur
<br /> outside of or extend beyond the boundaries of the development site,onto adjoining properties, do not
<br /> need to be flagged or formally delineated but their general location must be determined and disclosed
<br /> in order to assess wetland buffer impacts.
<br /> 4. Categorization.Wetlands shall be categorized by a qualified wetland professional in accordance with
<br /> the current version of the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Eastern Washington and the
<br /> appropriate rating forms approved by the Washington State Department of Ecology. These categories
<br /> are generally defined as follows
<br /> a. Category I wetlands are those that represent a unique or rare wetland type, are more sensitive to
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