Tri-County Element

Supports or Meets Requirements

Does Not Meet All Expected Requirements

Comment

Participation in Tri-County program by both staff and elected officials

Yes

Bellevue is one of seven jurisdictions negotiating Tri-County package and has technical staff involved in the development of all "planks".

Support and participation in watershed planning

Yes

Bellevue has been a key player in the development of the Cedar-Sammamish WRIA interlocal agreement and is budgeting for its share of planning costs. This will build on Bellevue's history of watershed participation, including the Regional Needs Assessment, the Lake Washington/Cedar and Sammamish Forums, and the Lake Washington Ecological Studies.

Commitment to capital funding

Unknown

Bellevue may already meet some of the expected short-term local capital program funding levels. Since a long term funding strategy has not been developed it is unknown whether Bellevue will support the full recommendations. Council has supported spending funds in the region where they do the most good and the concept of a regionally based funding strategy.

Land Use Regulations

Will not adopt Tri-County prescriptive standards at this time.

The City will require additional review and potential mitigation for salmon through the use of a "fish checklist" and SEPA. Land use requirements will also be modified as a result of adopting new state shoreline regulations next year. In the long term it is likely that programmatic evaluations will be conducted and regulations tailored to individual sub-basins within the City.

Tri-County Element

Supports or Meets Requirements

Does Not Meet All Expected Requirements

Comment

Stormwater Program

(Note: NMFS says Land Use Regulations & Stormwater Program are linked for 4(d))

All standard stormwater elements except detention requirements

Bellevue's current stormwater management program meets almost all of the expected Tri-County requirements with one exception. Bellevue's current detention standards do not meet the proposed duration control requirements. However, this issue will be addressed during considerations of the DOE stormwater technical manual update (expected in early 2001), and NPDES permit requirements.

Roadway Maintenance

Do not meet some training requirements and BMPs

Many of Bellevue's practices meet the expected standards. While Bellevue will not commit to all of the additional training requirements at this time, the budget will include funds to continue to participate in the development of BMPs at the regional level. Bellevue programs will also be modified to more fish friendly practices within current budget limitations.

Monitoring and Adaptive Management

Yes for local monitoring

Regional monitoring to be developed through WRIA planning & NPDES permit process.

Until critical data gaps are identified through the watershed reconnaissance efforts, it is unknown whether Bellevue has budgeted enough funds for regional monitoring. Budget proposal does have funds for focused studies and analysis on Bellevue's streams, in addition to some funding for regional efforts.

Biological Assessments

Yes

All Bellevue initiated projects with a federal nexus will include a biological assessment as part of a Section 7 review. In addition, non-federal related projects which involve fish sensitive landscapes will include a biological review.