14.100.560 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas—Mitigation Standards.
A. Activities that adversely affect fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas and/or their buffers should generally be avoided through site design, including clustering. Unavoidable impacts to designated species or habitats shall be compensated for through habitat creation, restoration, and/or enhancement to achieve no net loss of habitat functions and values in accordance with the purpose and goals of this chapter.
B. When compensatory mitigation is required, the applicant shall submit a compensatory mitigation plan with sufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed activities are logistically feasible, constructible, ecologically sustainable, and likely to succeed. In addition to the requirements of Section 14.100.072, specific information to be provided in the plan shall include, but not be limited to:
1. 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);
2. A description of the functions and values that the proposed mitigation area(s) shall provide, together with a description of required and an assessment of factors that may affect the success of the mitigation program; and
3. A description of known management objectives for the species or habitat.
C. Required mitigation shall be completed as soon as possible following activities that will disturb fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas and during the appropriate season. Mitigation shall be completed prior to use or occupancy of the activity or development. Construction of mitigation projects shall be timed to reduce impacts to existing wildlife and flora.
D. The director shall have authority to require monitoring of mitigation activities and submittal of annual monitoring reports to ensure and document that the goals and objectives of the mitigation are met. The frequency and duration of the monitoring shall be based on the specific needs of the project as determined by the director.