§ 24.30.030. Wetland categories.

A.

Category I. Category I wetlands include wetlands that are rare, particularly sensitive to disturbance, relatively undisturbed (as described in Ecology's Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington) with ecological attributes that are impossible to replace within a human lifetime, or provide a high level of functions. They include:

1.

Estuarine wetlands larger than one acre that are relatively undisturbed, as described in Ecology's Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington (e.g., no diking, ditching, filling, cultivation, grazing, and less than ten percent vegetative cover by non-native plant species);

2.

Wetland of High Conservation Value designated by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Natural Heritage Program due to their high quality and relatively undisturbed condition (as described in Ecology's Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington), or because they support plants listed by the DNR Natural Heritage Program as threatened or endangered;

3.

All bogs;

4.

Mature and old growth forested wetlands larger than one acre;

5.

Wetlands in coastal lagoons; and

6.

Wetlands with a total score for functions of twenty-three or more points under Ecology's Wetland Rating System for Western Washington.

B.

Category II. Category II wetlands provide high levels of some functions and are difficult, though not impossible, to replace. They include:

1.

Estuarine wetlands smaller than one acre and estuarine wetlands larger than one acre that are altered to a greater extent than specified in Section 24.30.030A.1;

2.

Wetlands identified by the DNR Natural Heritage Program as containing "sensitive" plant species; and

3.

Wetlands with functions scoring between twenty and twenty-two points under Ecology's Wetland Rating System for Western Washington.

C.

Category III. Category III wetlands have functions scoring between sixteen and nineteen points under Ecology's Wetland Rating System for Western Washington. Typically, they have been disturbed and contain less diverse wildlife habitat or are more isolated from other habitat than Category II wetlands.

D.

Category IV. Category IV wetlands have levels of functions scoring between nine and fifteen points under Ecology's Wetland Rating System for Western Washington. Typically, they are extensively altered.

(Ord. No. 14773, § 3(Att. B), 7-24-2012; Ord. No. 15291, § 1(Att. A), 5-10-2016)