Resolution 3572 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ravines 5. Because many of the ravine areas in Everett are difficult to access and hazardous for building, they remain undeveloped. These ravines are a complex combination of steep slopes, geologically hazardous formations, stream systems, springs, and forests which provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, open space, and aesthetic benefits. The City should protect these ravine areas for each of the important functions they provide. Habitat Areas 6. Because the ravine and steep slope areas provide valuable habitat for wildlife, the City should preserve these habitat areas and create corridors which connect them with other habitat areas such as streams, shorelines, wetlands and forest areas. Clearing 7 . Because land modification which is commenced without any specific development proposal in mind can result in greater modification than necessary for development purposes, expose areas to erosion over a greater period of time, and reduce habitat areas, the City should allow clearing, grading and land alteration only for approved development proposals. Water Resources. A. Discussion. Everett and its designated urban growth area contain a multitude and variety of natural and man modified aquatic resources. These include the Puget Sound, Port Gardner Bay, the Snohomish River and portions of its floodplain and delta, lakes, streams, wetlands, springs, and aquifers. Each of these features has its own hydrological functions as well as other important and sometimes competing functions, such as economic, agricultural, recreational , wildlife and fisheries habitat, open space and aesthetic functions. Everett's surface waters and groundwater aquifers are not used as a source of domestic drinking water (Everett's water supply is surface water piped in from the Sultan basin in the Cascade Mountains) . Many of the natural water resources in Everett have been eliminated or modified over time by urban development. In all areas, the water quality of these features has been degraded by pollutants and development activities. Some efforts have been initiated to improve the quality of degraded waters, such as sewage treatment, storm water containment and treatment, and cleanup operations. Anticipated growth and development in the Everett area pose continued threats. All of the stream systems in Everett have been modified by development. Most streams which once supported fisheries have become largely devoid of salmonids as a result of human activities that have permanently paved, built upon, culverted, filled or relocated significant portions of many streams, and their associated wetlands and riparian environments. In this urbanized environment, streams and wetlands still provide many of the same functions that they provided in their natural state. These important functions include fish and wildlife habitat, 6