Ordinance 3457-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

regardless of any formal identification, are hereby designated critical areas and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that wetlands in shoreline jurisdiction are regulated by the shoreline master program, rather than this chapter. B. The approximate location and extent of known or suspected wetlands are shown on the city's critical area maps. These maps shall be used as a guide for the city, applicants and/or property owners, and may be updated as new wetlands are identified. It is the actual presence of wetlands on a property that triggers the requirements of this chapter. The exact location of a wetland boundary shall be determined through field investigation by a qualified professional applying the Washington state Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual methods and procedures. C. Wetlands shall be rated and regulated according to the categories defined by the Washington State Department of Ecology Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington, Revised (Ecology Publication No. 04-06-025). Wetlands, as defined by this chapter, shall be classified as category I, category II, category III, or category IV. Category I wetlands are those that: (a) represent a unique or rare wetland type; or (b) are more sensitive to disturbance than most wetlands; or (c) are relatively undisturbed and contain ecological attributes that are impossible to replace within a human lifetime; or (d) provide a very high level of function. All wetlands that meet one or more of the following criteria shall be considered category I wetlands: a. Wetlands that are designated as Natural Heritage Wetlands by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources; b. Bogs; c. Mature forested wetlands larger than one acre; d. Wetlands that perform a very high level of function as evidenced by a score of seventy points or more on the Wetland Rating Form—Western Washington. 2. Category II wetlands are ecologically important and provide a high level of function. They are difficult but not impossible to replace. Wetlands that meet the following criteria shall be considered category II wetlands: a. Wetlands that do not meet the criteria of category I wetlands; b. A wetland identified by the state Department of Natural Resources as containing "sensitive" plant species; c. Wetlands with high functions and values as indicated by a score of fifty-one to sixty- nine points on the Wetland Rating System Form—Western Washington. 3. Category III wetlands provide a moderate level of functions. They are typically more disturbed, smaller, and/or more isolated in the landscape than category I or II wetlands. Wetlands that meet the following criteria shall be considered category III wetlands: a. Wetlands that score thirty to fifty points on the Wetland Rating Form—Western Washington. 4. Category IV wetlands provide the lowest level of function and are often heavily disturbed, but still provide important functions. Category IV wetlands include: a. All wetlands that score less than thirty points on the Wetland Rating Form—Western Washington. 5