WAC 222-24-015   Construction in wetlands.  *(1) In order to assure that there is no net loss of wetland function, all road and landing construction near or within wetlands must be conducted so that selection of choices are made in the following order with avoidance being the most preferred and replacement being the least preferred alternative:

     (a) Avoid impacts by selecting the least environmentally damaging landing location, road location and road length. Landowners must attempt to minimize road length concurrently with the attempt to avoid wetlands; or

     (b) Minimize impacts by reducing the subgrade width, fill acreage and spoil areas; or

     (c) Restore affected areas by removing temporary fills or road sections upon the completion of the project; or

     (d) Reduce or eliminate impacts over time by preserving or maintaining areas; or

     (e) Replace affected areas by creating new wetlands or enhancing existing wetlands.

     *(2) An accurate delineation of wetland boundaries will not be required under this section except where necessary to determine acreage of road or landing construction which fills or drains more than (0.1) one tenth acre of a wetland. All such mapping must follow the delineation and mapping standards outlined in the board manual, section 8.

     *(3) Approximate determination of wetland boundaries, following the guidelines in the board manual, shall be required for the purpose of avoidance during design and construction of roads. Landowners must attempt to minimize road length concurrently with the attempt to avoid wetlands. Delineation, following the guidelines in the board manual, shall be required to determine the length of road constructed within a wetland in order to determine acreage when replacement by substitution or enhancement of a wetland is required. The requirement for accurate delineation shall be limited to the area of the wetland proposed to be filled.

     *(4) Filling or draining more than 0.5 acre of a wetland requires replacement by substitution or enhancement of the lost wetland functions. (See the board manual, section 9.) The objective of successful replacement by substitution of lost wetland area will be generally on a two-for-one basis and of the same type and in the same general location. The objective of enhancing wetlands function is to provide for an equivalent amount of function to replace that which is lost. See WAC 222-16-050 (1)(h).



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW, RCW 76.09.040,[76.09.]050 , [76.09.]370, 76.13.120(9). 01-12-042, § 222-24-015, filed 5/30/01, effective 7/1/01.]