14.100.261 Wetland Mitigation Plan Requirements.
In addition to meeting the requirements of Section 14.100.072, a compensatory mitigation plan for wetland and wetland buffer impacts shall meet the following requirements:
A. The plan shall be based on applicable portions of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Wetland Mitigation in Washington State Part 2: Developing Mitigation Plans, 2006, or other appropriate guidance document that is consistent with best available science.
B. The plan shall contain sufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed activities are logistically feasible, constructible, ecologically sustainable, and likely to succeed. Specific information to be provided in the plan shall include:
1. The rationale for site selection;
2. General description and scaled drawings of the activities proposed including, but not limited to, clearing, grading/excavation, drainage alterations, planting, invasive plant management, installation of habitat structures, irrigation, and other site treatments associated with the development activities and proposed mitigation action(s);
3. A description of the ecological functions and values that the proposed alteration will affect and the specific ecological functions and values the proposed mitigation area(s) shall provide, together with a description of required or recommended mitigation ratios and an assessment of factors that may affect the success of the mitigation program;
4. Overall goals of the plan, including wetland function, value, and acreage;
5. Description of baseline (existing) site conditions including topography, vegetation, soils, hydrology, habitat features (i.e., snags), surrounding land use, and other pertinent information;
6. Field data confirming the presence of adequate hydrology (surface and/or ground water) to support existing and compensatory wetland area(s);
7. Nature of mitigation activities, including area of restored, created, enhanced and preserved wetland, by wetland type;
8. Detailed grading and planting plans showing proposed post-construction topography; general hydrologic patterns; spacing and distribution of plant species, size and type of proposed planting stock, watering or irrigation plans, and other pertinent information;
9. A description of site treatment measures including invasive species removal, use of mulch and fertilizer, placement of erosion and sediment control devices, and best management practices that will be used to protect existing wetlands and desirable vegetation;
10. A demonstration that the site will have adequate buffers sufficient to protect the wetland functions into perpetuity.
C. Specific measurable performance standards that the proposed mitigation action(s) shall achieve together with a description of how the mitigation action(s) will be evaluated and monitored to determine if the performance standards are being met and identification of potential courses of action, and any corrective measures to be taken if monitoring or evaluation indicates that project performance standards are not being met. The performance standards shall be tied to and directly related to the mitigation goals and objectives.
D. Cost estimates for the installation of the mitigation program, monitoring, and potential corrective actions if project performance standards are not being met.