ORD 15-001ORDINANCE NO. 15-001
AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 16.53 of the Camas Municipal
Code.
The Council of the City of Camas do ordain as follows:
Section I
Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.020 is hereby amended to provide as follows:
16.53.020 Rating system.
A Designating Wetlands. Wetlands are those areas, designated in accordance with the
approved federal wetland delineation manual and applicable regional supplements, that are
inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to
support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation
adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. All areas within the city of Camas meeting the
wetland designation criteria in the approved federal wetland delineation manual and
applicable regional supplements, regardless of any formal identification, are hereby
designated critical areas and are subject to the provisions of this title.
B. Wetland Rating System. Wetlands shall be rated according to the Washington State
Department of Ecology (Ecology) wetland rating system found in Washington State Wetland
Rating System for Western Washington-2014 Update (Revised, Ecology Publication #14-
06-029, October 2014) or most current edition. The rating system document contains the
definitions and methods for determining if the criteria below are met:
1. Wetland Rating Categories.
a. Category I. Category I wetlands are those that meet one or more of the following
criteria:
i. Wetlands that are identified by scientists of the Washington Natural Heritage
Program, Department of Natural Resources(DNR) as wetlands with high
conservation value;
ii. Bogs;
iii. Mature and old growth forested wetlands larger than one acre;
iv. Wetlands that perform many functions well, as indicated by scoring twenty-
three points or more in the rating system.
Category I wetlands represent a unique or rare wetland type, are more sensitive to
disturbance than most wetlands, are relatively undisturbed and contain some ecological
attributes that are impossible to replace within a human lifetime, or provide a very high level
of functions.
b. Category II. Category II wetlands are those with a moderately high level of function,
as indicated by scoring between twenty and twenty-two points in the Ecology rating system.
Category II wetlands are difficult, though not impossible, to replace, and provide high levels of
some functions. These wetlands occur more commonly than Category I wetlands, but they
still need a relatively high level of protection.
Ordinance No. 15-001 Page-2
c. Category Ill. Category Ill wetlands are those with a moderate level of functions, as
indicated by scoring between sixteen and nineteen points in the Ecology rating system.
Generally, wetlands in this category have been disturbed in some way and are often less
diverse or more isolated from other natural resources in the landscape than Category II
wetlands.
d. Category IV. Category IV wetlands have the lowest levels of functions and are often
heavily disturbed. They are characterized by a score of fewer than sixteen points in the rating
system. These are wetlands that should be replaceable, and in some cases may be
improved. However, experience has shown that replacement cannot be guaranteed in any
specific case. These wetlands may provide some important functions, and should be
protected to some degree.
2. Date of Wetland Rating. Wetland rating categories shall be applied as the wetland
exists on the date of adoption of the rating system by the local government, as the wetland
naturally changes thereafter, or as the wetland changes in accordance with permitted
activities. Wetland rating categories shall not change due to illegal modifications.
Section II
Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.030(D)(1), (D)(2)(f), and (D)(2)(h) are hereby amended to
provide as follows:
16.53.030 Critical area report-Additional requirements for wetlands.
D. Wetland Delineation.
1. Methodology. The location of a wetland and its boundary shall be determined through
the performance of a field investigation utilizing the methodology contained in the approved
federal wetland delineation manual and applicable regional supplements. If a wetland is
located off-site and is inaccessible, the best available information shall be used to determine
the wetland boundary and category.
2. Information Requirements. Wetland boundaries shall be staked and flagged in the
field and a delineation report shall be submitted to the department. The report shall include
the following information:
f. Discussion of methods and results with special emphasis on technique used from the
approved federal wetland delineation manual and applicable regional supplements;
h. All completed field data sheets per the approved federal wetland delineation manual
and applicable regional supplements, numbered to correspond to each sample site.
Section Ill
Table 16.53.040-2-Buffers Required to Protect Habitat Functions in Category I and II Wetlands,
set forth in Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.040-Standards, is hereby amended to provide as
follows:
Ordinance No. 15-001 Page-3
Table 16.53.040-2 Buffers Required to Protect Habitat Functions in Category I and II Wetlands
Habitat Score in the Rating Low Intensity Use I Moderate Intensity I High Intensity Use
Form Use
3-4 points See Table 16:53.040-.1 SeEiJat>le 16;53. 040•1 ' SeeTable .. 16:53.040-1
5 70ft. I 1o5ft. I 140ft .
6 90 ••• . 135 '·180 .· . .
7 110 I 165 I 220
8 130 · .. . 195 .. ·.· . 260 ·. ·· .
9 150 I 225 I 3oo
Section IV
Table 16.53.040-3-Buffers Required to Protect Habitat Functions in Category Ill Wetlands, set
forth in Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.040-Standards, is hereby amended to provide as follows:
Table 16.53.040-3 Buffers Required to Protect Habitat Functions in Category Ill Wetlands
Habitat Score in the Rating Low Intensity Use Moderate Intensity High Intensity Use
Form Use
34 points . See Tab I!'! 16.53.Q49• See Table 16:53.049-1 se.e,Japle.16. 5~.040.-
.... . . i ,.r·· .. , ...... ·.• .. ".· <<' ..... ·· ...... · .......•........ · 1 .. · .. • 5 60ft. 90ft. 120ft.
6 ...... . · ... < .. ......•... •65'" ·. ·:: .... ; •. • ... ' 100· •· ..... , ...... :.·· ...... 1313 • .. .. •..... ·.·., .
7 75 110 150
sy· . ·• ... · ... 13b' ';; • •···· ·.• .. 19.5 .· ... · .... :260' ·• .. . <. ·'
9 150 225 300
Section V
Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.040(B)(4)(b)(ii)-Standards, is hereby amended to provide
as follows;
4. Adjusted Buffer Width.
b. Functionally Isolated Buffer Areas. Areas which are functionally separated from a
wetland and do not protect the wetland from adverse impacts shall be treated as follows;
ii. Distinct portions of wetlands with reduced habitat functions that are
components of wetlands with an overall habitat rating score greater than five points
shall not be subject to the habitat function buffers designated in Tables 16.53.040-2
and 16.53 040-3 if all of the following criteria are met:
Section VI
Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.050(C)(3)-Wetland Permits (first paragraph), is hereby
Ordinance No. 15-001 Page-4
amended to provide as follows:
3. Stormwater Facilities. Stormwater facilities are only allowed in buffers of wetlands
with low habitat function (three or four points on the habitat section of the rating system
form); provided, the facilities shall be built on the outer edge of the buffer and not degrade
the existing buffer function , and are designed to blend with the natural landscape. Unless
determined otherwise by the responsible official , the following activities shall be
considered to degrade a wetland buffer when they are associated with the construction of
a stormwater facility:
Section VII
Table 16.53.050-2-Wetland Preservation Ratios for Categories I and II Wetlands (In Area), as
set forth in Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.050(D)(4)(b)(v), is hereby amended to provide as
follows:
Table 16.53.050-2 Wetland Preservation Ratios for Categories I and II Wetlands (In Area)
Habitat Function of
Wetland to be
Replaced
Low (3-4 points)
Moderate (5 -7 points)
High (8 -9 points)
In Addit ion to Standard Mitigation
Full and Reduced and/or
Function ing Buffer Degraded Buffer
10:1 14 :1
13:1 17 :1
16:1 20 :1
Section VIII
As the Only Means of Mitigation
Full and Reduced and/or
Functioning Buffer Degraded Buffer
20:1 30 :1
30 :1 40 :1
40:1 50 :1
Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.050(D)(5) is hereby amended to provide as follows:
5. Alternate Wetland Mitigation.
a. Wetland Mitigation Banks.
i. Credits from a wetland mitigation bank may be approved for use as
compensation for unavoidable impacts to wetlands when:
(A) The bank is certified under state rules;
(B) The Administrator determines that the wetland mitigation bank provides
appropriate compensation for the authorized impacts; and
(C) The proposed use of credits is consistent with the terms and conditions
of the certified bank instrument.
ii. Replacement ratios for projects using bank credits shall be consistent with
replacement ratios specified in the certified bank instrument.
iii. Credits from a certified wetland mitigation bank may be used to compensate
for impacts located within the service area specified in the certified bank instrument.
In some cases , the service area of the bank may include portions of more than one
adjacent drainage basin for specific wetland functions .
b. In-Lieu Fee. To aid in the implementation of off-site mitigation , the City may develop
Ordinance No. 15-001 Page-5
an in-lieu fee program. This program shall be developed and approved through a public
process and be consistent with federal rules, state policy on in-lieu fee mitigation, and
state water quality regulations. An approved in-lieu-fee program sells compensatory
mitigation credits to permittees whose obligation to provide compensatory mitigation is
then transferred to the in-lieu program sponsor, a governmental or non-profit natural
resource management entity. Credits from an approved in-lieu-fee program may be used
when paragraphs 1-6 below apply:
i. The approval authority determines that it would provide environmentally
appropriate compensation for the proposed impacts.
ii. The mitigation will occur on a site identified using the site selection and
prioritization process in the approved in-lieu-fee program instrument.
iii. The proposed use of credits is consistent with the terms and conditions of the
approved in-lieu-fee program instrument.
iv. Land acquisition and initial physical and biological improvements of the
mitigation site must be completed within three years of the credit sale.
v. Projects using in-lieu-fee credits shall have debits associated with the
proposed impacts calculated by the applicant's qualified wetland scientist using
the method consistent with the credit assessment method specified in the
approved instrument for the in-lieu-fee program.
vi. Credits from an approved in-lieu-fee program may be used to compensate for
impacts located within the service area specified in the approved in-lieu-fee
instrument.
c. Compensatory mitigation credits may be issued for unavoidable impacts in the following
cases:
i. Residential building permits where on-site enhancement and/or preservation
is not adequate to meet the requirements of subsection (D)(4) of this section;
ii. Approved reasonable use exceptions where sufficient on-site wetland and
wetland buffer mitigation is not practical;
iii. Small impacts affecting less than 0.10 acre of wetland where on-site
enhancement and/or preservation is not adequate to meet the requirements of
subsection (D)(4) of this section; or
iv. As an additional mitigation measure when all other mitigation options have
been applied to the greatest extent practicable.
Section IX
Camas Municipal Code Section 16.53.050(0)(6) is hereby amended to provide as follows:
6. Stormwater Facilities. Stormwater facilities are allowed in wetlands with habitat
scores of three or four on the rating form, in compliance with the following requirements:
a. Stormwater detention and retention necessary to maintain wetland hydrology is
authorized; provided, that the responsible official finds that wetland functions will not be
degraded; and
b. Stormwater runoff is treated for water quality in accordance with the requirements of
Section 17.19.040(C)(3) prior to discharge into the wetland.
Ordinance No. 15-001
Section X
This Ordinance shall take force and be in effect five (5) days from and after its publication
according to law.
PASSED BY the Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this da of January, 2015.
APPROVED as to form:
~L!1;~k--
City Attorney
SIGNED: _ _,.;__....:::L---:c-:-------
Mayor
ATTEST: 9~ ~~
Clerk
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