20D.150.170 Vegetation Management.

20D.150.170-010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect shorelines, sensitive areas, fish and wildlife habitat, and other natural areas from potentially adverse management activities, and to implement the goals and policies for the protection of the natural environment contained in RCDG Title 20B, Goals, Policies and Plans. (Ord. 2486)

20D.150.170-020 Vegetation Management Within Shorelines.

(1) Preservation of Shoreline Vegetation. Trees and other vegetation within the shoreline shall be preserved consistent with RCDG 20D.150.110, Tree Protection, Landscaping and Screening Within Shorelines, RCDG 20D.150.60-010, Shoreline Buffers, and RCDG 20D.150.60-020, Lake Sammamish Setback.

(2) Clearing and grading within the shoreline is regulated by RCDG 20D.150.90, Clearing, Grading, Landfill and Excavation Within Shorelines.

(3) Aquatic Vegetation Removal Prohibited.

(a) Removal of aquatic vegetation within the Aquatic, Natural or Urban Conservancy Shoreline Environments is prohibited, except where:

(i) Authorized under an approved habitat enhancement plan, adopted basin plan, or authorized aquatic weed management program; and

(ii) Native plant communities and habitats are threatened or an existing water-dependent use is threatened by the presence of aquatic weeds.

(b) The removal of native aquatic plants is prohibited, except where:

(i) An existing water-dependent use is threatened; or

(ii) The overabundance of the native plant threatens fish and wildlife habitat.

(i) No reasonable alterative exists;

(ii) The use of herbicides has been approved through a comprehensive vegetation management and monitoring plan; and

(iii) Authorized by the City or other agency through the environmental review process pursuant to Chapter 197-11 WAC, the State Environmental Policy Act.

(d) Where aquatic vegetation removal becomes necessary, it shall be the minimum area and duration necessary to accomplish the stated objectives of the removal program, and shall minimize negative impacts on wildlife, fish and shoreline habitat.

(e) Aquatic vegetation management programs shall include preventive measures and monitoring recommendations.

(f) Aquatic vegetation removal activities within the shoreline jurisdiction shall comply with the requirements of the responsible agencies (i.e., Washington State Departments of Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife, or Ecology, or the Federal Environmental Protection Agency).

(4) Vegetation Removal Restricted.

(a) Normal pruning and trimming of landscape plants within the shoreline jurisdiction are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

(b) Vegetation removal within shoreline buffers and waterfront building setbacks shall be allowed only for the purposes of maintaining established landscaping, maintaining public safety, maintaining an allowed shoreline use or improvement, or to enhance fish or wildlife habitat, provided that:

(i) Removal shall not be by mechanical means unless no feasible alternative exists;

(ii) The extent of removal is the minimum necessary to achieve the above purposes;

(iii) Native plants are not removed for the purpose of establishing nonnative plants; and

(iv) The timing and duration of such removal is demonstrated to not have long-term adverse impacts on wildlife or fish.

(5) Application of Herbicides, Pesticides and Fertilizers.

(a) The application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers within shoreline buffers or waterfront building setbacks is discouraged and shall be the minimum necessary for the long-term maintenance or restoration of fish or wildlife habitat, restoration or maintenance of native plants, or maintenance of existing landscaping.

(b) Herbicides and other agricultural and landscape chemicals shall be applied in a manner that minimizes their transmittal to adjacent water bodies. The direct runoff of chemical-laden waters into adjacent water bodies is prohibited. Aerial spraying of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers within 500 feet of the OHWM of the adjacent water body is prohibited.

(c) Within 20 feet of the shoreline buffer or waterfront building setback, broad spectrum herbicides shall be used only for spot application with wicking or small spray equipment on noxious weeds.

(d) The use of time-release fertilizers and herbicides shall be preferred over liquid or concentrate application on turf within the shoreline jurisdiction.

(e) The use of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers within the shoreline jurisdiction shall comply with regulations of responsible agencies (i.e., Washington State Departments of Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife, or Ecology, or the Federal Environmental Protection Agency).

(f) Sports fields, parks, golf courses and other outdoor recreational uses that require maintenance of extensive areas of turf shall provide a chemical management plan or integrated turf management program designed to ensure that existing water quality of adjacent water bodies and aquifers is maintained. The chemical management plan or integrated turf management program shall incorporate facilities and management methods sufficient to maintain water quality, including stormwater treatment facilities adequate to remove a minimum of 50 percent of excess phosphorous and nitrogen, and up to 25 percent additional shoreline and shoreline tributary buffers where necessary to protect water quality.

(6) Landscape Maintenance Required.

(a) All landscaped areas within the shoreline jurisdiction, shoreline buffers and shoreline setbacks shall be managed and maintained to prevent the excessive growth of noxious weeds as required by RMC 6.12.030.

(b) Areas disturbed by removal of noxious or invasive plants shall be replanted in a timely manner with native vegetation.

(7) Where large quantities of plants are removed by vegetation control activities, plant debris shall be collected and disposed of in an appropriate upland location outside of shoreline buffers and waterfront building setbacks. (Ord. 2486)