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outstanding actual or potential habitat for those species, or has unusual nesting or resting sites <br /> such as heron rookeries or raptor nesting or lookout trees; <br /> 4. The land adjacent to the stream and its associated buffer is classified as a geologically hazardous <br /> or unstable area; <br /> 5. Increased buffer width is necessary to effectively include the riparian corridor of the stream. <br /> C. Standard Stream Buffer Width Reduction with Enhancement.The planning director may, using the <br /> review process as described in EMC Title 15, Local Project Review Procedures, reduce the standard <br /> stream buffer width only when there has previously been substantial legal alteration of the stream <br /> and/or buffer on the subject lot or adjoining lots resulting in the existing buffer being unvegetated, <br /> sparsely vegetated, or vegetated with nonnative invasive species and when buffer enhancement is <br /> provided per the following criteria.Where buffer reduction with enhancement is permitted by this <br /> chapter, it shall be limited to portions of buffers that have minimal functions due to prior legal <br /> alteration. <br /> 1. The planning director shall only allow a buffer width reduction when the proposal includes a <br /> critical areastream and buffer enhancement plan that improves the functions of the buffer and <br /> the critical area,tream.An enhanced buffer shall not result in more than a fifty percent reduction <br /> in e staRelard buffer width for buffers that are unvegetated,sparsely vegetated,or vegetated <br /> 2. A mitigation/enhancement plan shall be prepared per in accordance with Section 37.180.E of this <br /> chapter. •- . . - •- -- . - - • - . . ' - - . •- • - •- - - - <br /> 3. If a limited portion of the buffer has been previously legally altered and meets the criteria in this <br /> section, a buffer width reduction may be approved for that portion of the required buffer only. <br /> 4. The following criteria shall be used to determine when a required buffer is degraded and <br /> substantial legal alterations are present: <br /> a. The required buffer area has been graded or substantially altered and has not been <br /> substantially revegetated (i.e.,the buffer is covered with gravel, impervious surface, mowed <br /> lawn, or is vegetated with primarily invasive species such as reed canary grass, Himalayan <br /> blackberry, purple loosestrife, or other nonnative invasive species covering more than <br /> seventy-five percent of the buffer area). <br /> b. Substantial clearing of the buffer was authorized and substantial revegetation with native <br /> species has not occurred. <br /> c. A buffer that has been logged in the past but that has been revegetated with an overstory of <br /> willow, cottonwood, alder,evergreen,or mixed evergreen/deciduous overstory, and an <br /> understory shrub layer of noninvasive species does not constitute substantial alteration. <br /> D. Riparian Wetland.Any stream adjoined by a riparian wetland shall have the buffer which applies to <br /> the wetland, unless the stream buffer requirement is more protective, in which case the stream <br /> buffer requirement shall apply. <br /> E. Lake buffers. Lakes have the following buffers of native vegetation: <br /> a. Lakes used by salmonids:one hundred feet; <br /> b. Lakes with no salmonid use:fifty feet. <br /> EMC Title 19.37 (Critical Areas) Page 47 <br />