WETLANDS - co.thurston.wa.us
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THE ROLE OF WETLANDS Wetlands: Prevent flooding and erosion by absorbing • floodwater and sending it slowly to rivers, streams and aquifers. Filter out pollutants, such as nitrogen and • phosphorous, which are found in household ferlizers and herbicides. Provide a home for many species of nave plants and • wildlife. This natural cleansing capacity of wetlands can become overtaxed if too much polluon accumulates in the wetland, adversely affecng the wildlife it supports. WETLANDS WETLAND CONSIDERATIONS IN CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE A crucial way to protect habitat and water quality is to • preserve a naturally vegetated buffer between human disturbances and sensive land and water resources. Vegetated buffers: • > Help shield wetlands from polluted stormwater runoff, soil erosion, toxic chemicals, and other substances that would otherwise flow into the water. > Protect wetlands from human disturbances, such as noise and light polluon. > Support both land- and water-based animals and plants. The purpose of protecng wetlands is to protect habitat and healthy, funconing ecosystems in order to support viable fish and wildlife populaons in Thurston County. IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WETLAND BUFFERS The range of wetland buffers would remain the same as the exisng ordinance • that is now in effect (50 feet to 300 feet); however, the method of determining buffer widths would change. Under current regulaons, wetland buffer widths are fixed based on the • general type of wetland and the intensity of the proposed land use. The potenal amendments would determine buffer widths based on each wetland’s characteriscs and on distances required to maintain water quality and habitat value according to a Department of Ecology rang system. (See the Wetland fact sheet page for more informaon about this rang system.) Buffers for some wetlands would be narrower than they are now, and • some would be wider, depending on the wetlands’ funcons. Wetlands that provide the most important wildlife habitat would get the widest buffers. The potenal buffers would apply to all wetlands greater than 1,000 square feet. • Forested Wetland Scrub/Shrub Wetland Emergent Wetland Aquatic Bed Wetland
Transcript of WETLANDS - co.thurston.wa.us
THE ROLE OF WETLANDSWetlands:
Prevent flooding and erosion by absorbing • floodwater and sending it slowly to rivers, streams and aquifers.
Filter out pollutants, such as nitrogen and • phosphorous, which are found in household fertilizers and herbicides.
Provide a home for many species of native plants and • wildlife.
This natural cleansing capacity of wetlands can become overtaxed if too much pollution accumulates in the wetland, adversely affecting the wildlife it supports.
WETLANDS
WETLAND CONSIDERATIONS IN CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCEA crucial way to protect habitat and water quality is to •
preserve a naturally vegetated buffer between human disturbances and sensitive land and water resources.
Vegetated buffers:•
> Help shield wetlands from polluted stormwater runoff, soil erosion, toxic chemicals, and other substances that would otherwise flow into the water.
> Protect wetlands from human disturbances, such as noise and light pollution.
> Support both land- and water-based animals and plants.
The purpose of protecting wetlands is to protect habitat and healthy, functioning ecosystems in order to support viable fish and wildlife populations in Thurston County.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WETLAND BUFFERSThe range of wetland buffers would remain the same as the existing ordinance • that is now in effect (50 feet to 300 feet); however, the method of determining buffer widths would change.
Under current regulations, wetland buffer widths are fixed based on the • general type of wetland and the intensity of the proposed land use. The potential amendments would determine buffer widths based on each wetland’s characteristics and on distances required to maintain water quality and habitat value according to a Department of Ecology rating system. (See the Wetland fact sheet page for more information about this rating system.)
Buffers for some wetlands would be narrower than they are now, and • some would be wider, depending on the wetlands’ functions. Wetlands that provide the most important wildlife habitat would get the widest buffers.
The potential buffers would apply to all wetlands greater than 1,000 square feet.•
Forested Wetland Scrub/Shrub Wetland Emergent Wetland Aquatic Bed Wetland
