|
iEVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
<br /> LAND USE ELEMENT
<br /> b1.15.5 Ravines. Because many of the ravine water supply is surface water piped in from
<br /> areas in Everett are difficult to access and the Sultan basin in the Cascade Mountains).
<br /> I hazardous for building, they remain un- Many of the natural water-resources in Everett
<br /> developed. These ravines area a complex have been eliminated or modified over time by
<br /> combination of steep slopes, geologically urban development. In all areas, the water
<br /> I hazardous formations, stream systems, quality of these features has been degraded by
<br /> springs, and forests which provide valuable pollutants and development activities. Some
<br /> habitat for fish and wildlife, open space, and efforts have been initiated to improve the
<br /> I aesthetic benefits. The City should protect quality of degraded waters, such as sewage
<br /> these ravine areas for each of the important treatment, storm water containment and
<br /> I functions they provide. treatment, and cleanup operations.
<br /> Anticipated growth and development in the
<br /> 1.15.6 Habitat areas. Because the ravine and Everett area pose continued threats.
<br /> I steep slope areas provide valuable habitat for
<br /> wildlife, the City should preserve these habitat All of the stream systems in Everett have been
<br /> areas and create corridors which connect them modified by development. Most streams
<br /> I with other habitat areas such as streams, which once supported fisheries have become
<br /> shorelines, wetlands and forest areas. largely devoid of salmonids as a result of
<br /> human activities that have permanently paved,
<br /> I 1.15.7 Clearing. Because land modification built upon, culverted, filled or relocated
<br /> which is commenced without any specific significant portions of many streams, and their
<br /> development proposal in mind can result in associated wetlands and riparian environ-
<br /> 111)
<br /> greater modification than necessary for ments. In this urbanized environment, streams
<br /> development purposes, expose areas to and wetlands still provide many of the same
<br /> erosion over a greater period of time, and functions that they provided in their natural
<br /> I reduce habitat areas, the city should allow state. These important functions include fish
<br /> clearing, grading and land alteration on sites and wildlife habitat, flood control, sediment
<br /> containing or abutting environmentally sen- and pollution control, stormwater detention
<br /> II sitive areas only for approved development and conveyance, ground water recharge, open
<br /> proposals. space and recreation. Stream and wetland
<br /> buffers provide flood control, pollution
<br /> Water Resources, Discussion. Everett and filtering, sediment and erosion control, a
<br /> its designated urban growth area contain a diverse habitat for wildlife, shading and
<br /> I multitude and variety of natural and man protection of fish habitat, open space, and
<br /> modified aquatic resources. These include the aesthetic benefits.
<br /> Puget Sound, Port Gardner Bay, the Sno-
<br /> I homish River and portions of its floodplain While most of Everett's land areas are
<br /> and delta, lakes, streams, wetlands, springs, designated for urban growth, and while new
<br /> and aquifers. Each of these features has its development as well as redevelopment is
<br /> I own hyd-ological functions as well as other encouraged by adopted land use policies, it is
<br /> important and sometimes competing functions, critical that the future growth and
<br /> such as economic, agricultural, recreational, development occur in a manner which is
<br /> lewildlife and fisheries habitat, open space and sensitive to the water resources of the City.
<br /> aesthetic functions. Everett's surface waters Many of the remaining undeveloped properties
<br /> and ground water aquifers are not used as a in Everett contain streams and wetlands.
<br /> isource of domestic drinking water (Everett's Many of the shoreline areas of the Snohomish
<br /> I LU-53
<br />
|