17.10.051 Wetland report – Requirements.
A. Critical areas report requirements for wetlands may be met in “stages” or through multiple reports. The typical sequence of potentially required reports that may in part or in combination fulfill the requirements of this section include:
1. Wetland reconnaissance report documenting the existence and general location of wetlands in the vicinity of a project area;
2. Wetland delineation report documenting the extent and boundary of a jurisdictional wetland per RCW 36.70A.175; and
3. Wetland mitigation report documenting potential wetland impacts and mitigation measures designed to retain or increase the functions and values of a wetland.
B. A wetland critical areas report may include one or more of the above three report types, depending on the information required by the director and the extent of potential wetland impacts. The director maintains the authority and discretion to determine which report(s) alone or combined are sufficient to meet the requirements outlined below and to waive report requirements based upon site conditions and the potential for project impacts.
C. Preparation by a Qualified Professional. A critical area report for wetlands shall be prepared by a qualified professional who is a certified professional wetland scientist or a noncertified professional wetland scientist with a minimum of five years of experience in the field of wetland science and with experience preparing wetland reports.
D. Area Addressed in Critical Area Report. The following areas shall be addressed in a critical area report for wetlands:
1. The project area of the proposed activity;
2. All wetlands and recommended buffers within 200 feet of the project area; and
3. All shoreline areas, water features, floodplains, and other critical areas, and related buffers within 200 feet of the project area. The location and extent of wetlands and other critical areas existing outside of the project area or subject parcel boundary may be shown in approximation as practical and necessary to provide an assessment of potential project effects.
E. Wetland Analysis. In addition to the minimum required contents of LMC 17.10.040, Submittal requirements, a critical areas report for wetlands shall contain an analysis of the wetlands, including the following site and proposal-related information at a minimum:
1. A written assessment and accompanying maps of the wetlands and buffers within the project area as well as a 200 foot area surrounding the project area, including the following information at a minimum:
a. Wetland delineation and required buffers; and
b. Existing wetland acreage; and
c. Wetland category; and
d. Vegetative, faunal, and hydrologic characteristics; and
e. Soil and substrate conditions; and
f. A discussion of the water sources supplying the wetland and documentation of hydrologic regime (locations and discussion of contributing upstream water sources both within the project area and outside of the project area, discussion of downstream features that could be impacted by changes to wetland hydrologic regime, locations of inlet and outlet features, water depths throughout the wetland, evidence of water depths throughout the year: drift lines, algal layers, moss lines, and sediment deposits, and evidence of recharge or discharge); and
g. A description of the proposed stormwater management plan for the development and consideration of impacts to drainage alterations.
The location, extent and analyses of wetlands not contiguous with the subject parcel existing outside of the immediate project area may be described in approximation as practical and necessary to provide an assessment of potential project effects and hydrologic/ecological connectivity to on-site wetlands and other critical areas.
2. A discussion of measures, including avoidance, minimization, and mitigation, proposed to preserve existing wetlands and restore any wetlands that were degraded prior to the current proposed land use activity.
3. A habitat and native vegetation conservation strategy that addresses methods to protect and enhance on-site habitat and wetland functions.
4. Functional evaluation for the wetland and adjacent buffer using a local or state agency staff-recognized method and including the reference of the method and all data sheets.
5. Proposed mitigation, if needed, including a written assessment and accompanying scale maps/drawings of the impacts and mitigation site and adjacent areas consistent with LMC 17.10.055. (Ord. 3193 § 2, 2016)