19.70.350 Critical area report additional requirements

19.70.350 Critical area report additional requirements.

A. Additional Report Contents for FWHCAs. In addition to the minimum report contents required per AMC 19.70.115, Critical area report, FWHCA reports must also include:

1. Documentation of any fieldwork performed on the site, including field data sheets for delineations, water typing and other habitat conservation area classification, baseline hydrologic data, site photos, etc.;

2. A description of the methodologies used to conduct the delineations, classifications, or impact analyses, including references;

3. A discussion of the potential impacts to the critical area or buffer associated with the proposed development including an assessment of cumulative impacts.

B. Habitat Assessment/Management Plan. A habitat assessment/management plan is an investigation of the project area to evaluate the potential presence or absence of designated critical fish or wildlife species or habitat. A critical area report for a fish and wildlife habitat conservation area must contain an assessment of habitats including the following site- and proposal-related information at a minimum:

1. Detailed description of vegetation on and adjacent to the project area and its associated buffer;

2. Identification of any species of local importance, priority species, or endangered, threatened, sensitive, or candidate species that have a primary association with habitat on or adjacent to the project area, and assessment of potential project impacts to the use of the site by the species;

3. A discussion of any federal, state, or local special management recommendations, including Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife habitat management recommendations, that have been developed for species or habitats located on or adjacent to the project area;

4. A detailed discussion of the direct and indirect potential impacts on habitat by the project, including potential impacts to water quality;

5. A discussion of measures, including avoidance, minimization, and mitigation, proposed to preserve existing habitats and restore any habitat that was degraded prior to the current proposed land use activity and to be conducted in accordance with AMC 19.70.125, Mitigation requirements;

6. A discussion of ongoing management practices that will protect habitat after the project site has been developed, including proposed monitoring and maintenance programs.

C. Additional Technical Information Requirements for RMZs. If no project impacts are anticipated and standard riparian management zone widths are retained, a RMZ delineation report, general critical area report or other reports, alone or in combination, may be submitted as consistent with the specific requirements of this section. In addition to the general critical area report requirements for fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas provided in subsections (A) through (D) of this section, technical information on RMZs must include the following information at a minimum:

1. A written assessment and accompanying maps of the stream and associated hydrologic features on and off site within 300 feet of the project area, including the following information at a minimum:

a. RMZ survey showing the field delineated ordinary high water mark(s);

b. Standard RMZ boundary as determined by AMC 19.70.330, Specific standards for riparian management zones;

c. Vegetative, faunal, and hydrologic characteristics;

d. Soil and substrate conditions; and

e. Topographic elevations at two-foot contours;

2. A detailed description and functional assessment of the watercourse channel and riparian management zone under existing conditions pertaining to the protection of the RMZ functions, fish habitat and, in particular, potential anadromous fisheries;

3. A habitat and native vegetation conservation strategy that addresses methods to protect and enhance on-site habitat and RMZ functions;

4. Proposed RMZ enhancement, if needed, including a written assessment and accompanying maps and planting plans for RMZ areas to be enhanced, including the following information at a minimum:

a. A description of existing RMZ conditions;

b. A description of proposed RMZ conditions and how proposed conditions will increase RMZ functions in terms of RMZ and fish habitat protection;

c. Performance standards for measuring enhancement success through a monitoring period of at least five years;

d. Provisions for monitoring and submission of monitoring reports documenting RMZ conditions, as compared to performance standards, for enhancement success; and

e. A discussion of ongoing management practices that will protect RMZ functions and habitat value through maintenance of vegetation density within the RMZ.

1. The report must identify the heron management area (HMA). An HMA consists of the nesting colony, year-round and seasonal buffer, foraging habitat and, when present, a prenesting congregation area.

2. All survey activity such as nest tree identification and flagging should occur in the nonbreeding season (mid-September to mid-February), and preferably right after breeding season ends.

3. Identify the nesting colony’s boundary. To do this, flag all nest trees at the colony’s outer perimeter. Mark each of these trees on a map. If a nest tree’s canopy overlaps the canopy of an adjacent tree, flag the adjacent tree and consider this to be a nest tree. The outermost nest trees will be used to map the nesting colony boundary.

4. Map outer perimeter of the 197-foot year-round buffer. Using the buffer radius, draw a circle around each peripheral nest tree.

5. Map seasonal buffer if any unusually loud activities will occur during breeding season (February through September). Measure the seasonal buffer starting at the outer edge of the year-round buffer.

6. Locate potential foraging habitat by mapping all waterbodies within a one-and-nine-tenths mile radius of the colony. The perimeter and shallow portions are especially important for foraging.

E. Additional FWHCA Information. When appropriate, due to the type of habitat or species present, or the project area conditions, the decision-maker may also require the critical area report to include:

1. A request for consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), local Native American tribes or other appropriate agency;

2. Copies of the joint aquatic resource permit application (JARPA) and related approvals, such as a hydraulic project approval (HPA) from the WDFW, when applicable to the project; and

3. Detailed surface and subsurface hydrologic features both on and adjacent to the site. (Ord. 4025 § 2 (Att. A), 2022; Ord. 3064 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)