16.55.280 Wetland ratings.
Wetlands shall be rated according to the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Western Washington – 2014 Update (Ecology Publication No. 14-06-029, October 2014), and as revised. The wetland categories determined by the rating are as follows:
A. Category I. Category I wetlands are:
1. Relatively undisturbed estuarine wetlands larger than one acre;
2. Wetlands that are, or may be in the future, identified by scientists of the Washington Natural Heritage Program/Department of Natural Resources as wetlands of high conservation value;
3. Bogs;
4. Mature forested wetlands larger than one acre;
5. Wetlands in coastal lagoons; and
6. Wetlands that perform many functions well and score 23 points or more in the wetland rating. These wetlands are those that represent a unique or rare wetland type, are more sensitive to disturbance than most wetlands, or are relatively undisturbed and contain ecological attributes that are impossible to replace within one human lifetime.
B. Category II. Category II wetlands are:
1. Bogs between one-tenth acre (4,356 square feet) and one-fourth acre (10,890 square feet) in size;
2. Wetlands with a moderately high level of functions and score 20 to 22 points in the wetland rating.
3. Estuarine wetlands smaller than one acre or disturbed estuarine wetlands larger than one acre.
C. Category III. Category III wetlands are:
1. Bogs less than one-tenth acre (4,356 square feet) in size;
2. Wetlands with a moderate level of functions and score between 16 to 19 points in the wetland rating.
D. Category IV. Category IV wetlands are:
1. Wetlands with a low level of functions, scoring less than 16 points in the wetland rating.
E. Date of Wetland Rating. The wetland rating categories in this section shall be applied to wetland studies including but not limited to delineations, on or after the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter. The wetland rating shall be valid for five years unless the state rating system changes or the wetland and/or the wetland buffer have been altered since the rating. [Ord. 2016-02-005 § 19; Ord. 2005-11-092].