14.100.554 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas—Other Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas—Buffers.
A. Definition and Buffers. Protection standards for fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas other than streams and lakes are as provided in the table below:
|
Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area |
Buffer Requirement |
|---|---|
|
Areas with which federally listed threatened or endangered species have a primary association. State priority habitats and areas with which priority species have a primary association. A “primary association” means a critical component(s) of the habitats of a species, which, if altered, may reduce the likelihood that the species will maintain and reproduce over the long term. |
Buffers shall be based on recommendations provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife PHS Program; provided, that where no such recommendations are available, the buffer width shall be determined based on published literature concerning the species/habitat(s) in question and/or the opinions and recommendations of qualified professional with appropriate expertise. |
|
Natural area preserves and natural resource conservation areas. |
Buffers shall be based on recommendations provided by site managers; provided, that the management strategies are considered effective and within the scope of this chapter. |
|
Locally important habitat areas. |
The need for and dimensions of buffers for locally important species or habitats shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, according to the needs of specific species or habitat area of concern. The director shall coordinate with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and other state, federal or tribal experts in these instances, and shall use WDFW PHS management recommendations when available. |
B. Alterations that occur within a locally important habitat area or that may affect a locally important species as defined herein shall be subject to review on a case-by-case basis. The director shall have the authority to require an assessment of the effects of the alteration on species or habitats and may require mitigation to ensure that adverse effects do not occur. This standard is intended to allow for flexibility and responsiveness with regard to locally important species and habitats.