Habitat Conservation Ordinance
What’s Next:
A committee appointed by the Board of County Commissioners is developing guidelines for protecting fish and wildlife habitat while continuing existing agricultural uses. A draft workbook will be ready for public comment this spring.
Background:
On June 20, 2006, the commissioners adopted non-agricultural updates to the HCO involving regulations for categorizing streams, reducing riparian areas along streams without fish habitat, clarification of "reasonable use" rules for significantly impacted property, and requirements for utility maintenance permits. On August 1, 2006, the commissioners adopted agricultural updates to the HCO. These agricultural updates are due to take effect on July 11, 2007.
Documents
- CCC Chapter 40.440 Habitat Conservation Ordinance (PDF - 155K)
- Summary of changes (PDF - 79K)
For more information about the habitat conservation ordinance, contact Joel Rupley, (360) 397-2022, joel.rupley@clark.wa.gov.
Wetland Protection Ordinance
The Board of Clark County Commissioners adopted updates to the wetlands protection ordinance (WPO) on May 30, 2006.
The adopted ordinance is below:
CCC Chapter 40.450 Wetlands Protection Ordinance (PDF - 258K)
Figure 1 (PDF - 54K)
For more information about the WPO, contact Pat Lee, (360) 397-2375 ext. 4070, patrick.lee@clark.wa.gov.
Project Summary
The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that jurisdictions periodically review and update their critical areas ordinances. The GMA defines critical areas that must be designated and protected as wetlands, critical habitat, geologic hazard areas, flood hazard areas, and critical aquifer recharge areas (CARA). The county has ordinances for each of these that can be found in Clark County Code, Title 40.
The GMA further requires that any revisions to critical areas ordinances be based on best available science (BAS). With the exception of the wetlands ordinance, the county’s critical areas ordinances were based on best available science when they were adopted. Most of the revisions are expected to be to the wetlands and habitat ordinances, although the mapping of all critical areas will be reviewed and updated as needed.
The GMA also has a provision that jurisdictions give ‘special attention to anadromous fish’, fish (like salmon) that spawn in freshwater and mature in the ocean.
The Clark County Board of Commissioners adopted changes to the CARA and flood hazard ordinances on April 19, 2005, and adopted changes to the geohazard ordinance on April 26, 2005. The Board adopted changes to the wetlands protection ordinance on May 30, 2006, and adopted changes to the habitat conservation ordinance on June 20 and July 11, 2006.
Project Contact:
Gordy Euler, Community Planning
(360) 397-2280 ext. 4968
gordon.euler@clark.wa.gov
