18S.40.110 Restoration and Enhancement.
The intent of the Restoration and Enhancement policies and regulations is to manage the reestablishment or upgrades to impaired ecological shoreline processes or functions.
A. Applicability.
1. This Section applies to restoration and enhancement actions aimed at improving shoreline ecological functions and processes.
2. Restoration is the process of reestablishing impaired ecological shoreline processes or functions. This may be accomplished through measures including, but not limited to, re-vegetation, removal of intrusive shoreline structures and removal or treatment of toxic materials. Restoration does not necessitate the return of the shoreline area to emulate conditions that existed prior to human contact.
3. Enhancement is the process of altering physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of shoreline features in order to improve specific functions. Enhancement is often undertaken for specified purposes such as water quality improvement, flood water retention or wildlife habitat. Activities typically consist of planting vegetation, controlling non-native or invasive species, modifying site elevations or the proportion of open water to influence hydro periods, or some combination of these.
B. Policies.
1. Give priority to restoration actions identified in the Shoreline Restoration Plan or other restoration plans that address regional environmental needs.
2. Encourage restoration actions that enhance aquatic and upland ecological functions, processes, and physical features (such as native vegetation) and that address the needs of regulated fish and wildlife species.
3. Encourage and support cooperative restoration efforts between local, state, and federal public agencies, tribes, non-profit organizations, and landowners to improve shorelines with impaired ecological functions and/or processes.
4. Incorporate public education regarding shoreline ecological functions and processes, the role of human actions on the environment, and the importance of public involvement in shorelines management in restoration and enhancement plans.
C. Regulations.
1. Restoration and enhancement projects shall achieve goals and objectives of the Pierce County Shoreline Restoration Plan or in other recovery plans for listed species and/or populations, provided such other plans are consistent with achieving goals and objectives in the Pierce County Shoreline Restoration Plan.
2. Restoration and enhancement completed in advance of shoreline development may be used for future development-related mitigation purposes when:
a. The restoration and enhancement is either:
(1) Demonstrably related to the impacts of the proposed development (i.e., in-kind); or
(2) Not demonstrably related to the impacts of the proposed development (i.e., out-of-kind), provided the restoration and enhancement will result in greater levels of ecological shoreline processes or functions than would in-kind restoration and enhancement; and
b. Initiated after March 1, 2005, the implementation date of the Critical Area regulations update; and
c. Pre-restoration and pre-enhancement ecological shoreline processes or functions can be conclusively demonstrated; and
d. Protective measures are applied to the restored and enhanced area in the form of a tract, conservation easement, or similar preservation mechanism approved by the County.
3. Shoreline restoration projects that result in a landward shift in the ordinary high water mark may be reviewed pursuant to RCW 90.58.580 to determine if relief from Master Program development standards and use regulations are warranted within urban growth areas.
4. Restoration and enhancement designed to improve fish habitat, and meeting the requirements of RCW 77.55.181, may qualify for an expedited review process with no local government fees. To see if your project meets this expedited process, you must provide a complete application package to the Department and to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).