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Kittitas County,WA <br /> § 17A.07.070 KITTITAS COUNTY CODE § 17A.07.070 <br /> 'Natural heritage sites,alkali wetlands,and bogs are considered irreplaceable wetlands because they <br /> perform special functions that cannot be replaced through compensatory mitigation. Impact to such <br /> wetlands would therefore result in a net loss of some functions no matter what kind of mitigation is <br /> provided. <br /> 2 Provides gains in a whole suite of functions both at the site and sub-basin scale. Rehabilitation <br /> actions often focus on restoring environmental processes that have been disturbed or altered by <br /> previous and/or ongoing human activity. <br /> 3 Actions which provide gains in only a few functions. Enhancement action often focuses on <br /> structural or superficial improvements to a site and generally does not address larger scale <br /> environmental processes <br /> 4 Compensatory mitigation for vernal pool impacts must be seasonally ponded wetland area(s). <br /> 7. Increased replacement ratios. The Director may increase the wetland mitigation ratios stated in Table <br /> KCC 17A.07.070.6 under the following circumstances: <br /> a. Uncertainty exists as to the probable success of the proposed restoration or creation; <br /> b. A significant period of time will elapse between impact and replication of wetland functions; <br /> C. Proposed mitigation will result in a lower category wetland or reduced functions relative to the <br /> wetland being impacts; or <br /> d. The impact was an unauthorized impact. <br /> 8. Alternative mitigation ratios.The Director may approve different mitigation ratios when the applicant <br /> proposes a combination of wetland creation,restoration,rehabilitation,and/or enhancement,provided <br /> that federal and state resource agencies approve the mitigation plan and the plan achieves no net loss <br /> of wetland functions and values. <br /> 9. Mitigation ratios for wetland buffer impacts. To mitigate impacts to functions and values of wetland <br /> buffers,a minimum buffer ratio of 1:1 (alteration area:mitigation area)is required.This ratio assumes <br /> that creation/restoration of a wetland buffer with appropriate native vegetation is sufficient to <br /> compensate for the wetland buffer functions and values affected by alteration of an existing wetland <br /> buffer. If enhancement of an existing wetland buffer is proposed as mitigation, a higher mitigation <br /> ratio may be required.For any proposed wetland buffer alterations or development,the applicant must <br /> show that the functions and values of the altered wetland buffer will be fully replaced by the proposed <br /> mitigation.The Director may increase the buffer mitigation ratios under the following circumstances: <br /> a. The replacement ratio needed to recover the lost functions and values of buffer area is greater <br /> than 1:1 based upon the existing type of vegetative cover of either the impact site or the proposed <br /> mitigation site. <br /> b. Uncertainty exists as to the probable success of the proposed restoration or creation; <br /> C. A significant period of time will elapse between impact and replication of wetland functions; <br /> d. The impact was an unauthorized impact. <br /> 10. Mitigation plans. Compensatory wetland mitigation plan shall be consistent with "Guidance on <br /> Wetland Mitigation in Washington State Part 2: Developing Mitigation Plans" (Ecology Publication <br /> Downloaded from https:Hecode360.com/KI6857 on 2025-05-15 <br />