(1) 
The stream corridor system includes hydrologically related critical areas, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, and is part of a fragile and highly complex relationship of geology, soils, water, vegetation, and wildlife. The purpose of this chapter is to establish guidelines, policies, and standards to help conserve, protect, and, where feasible, restore and enhance this complex relationship. These regulations have been designed to:
(a) 
Meet the requirements of the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.172) to protect the functions and values of fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands, stream undercutting geologic hazards and frequently flooded areas; and to give special consideration to anadromous fish;
(b) 
Meet eligibility requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and the authorities set forth in RCW 86.12.
(2) 
The guidelines, policies, and standards of this chapter are intended to:
(a) 
Provide alternatives for necessary development, construction, and uses within a designated stream corridor and other hydrologically related critical areas;
(b) 
Prevent further degradation in the quantity and quality of surface and subsurface waters;
(c) 
Conserve, restore, and protect sensitive or unique fish and wildlife habitats, vegetation, and ecological relationships;
(d) 
Protect public and private properties from adverse effects of improper development within hazardous or sensitive areas of the stream corridor;
(e) 
Provide a zero net loss of natural wetlands functions and values together with a gain of wetlands in the long term, if reasonably possible through voluntary agreements or government incentives;
(f) 
Establish measures to protect streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands;
(g) 
Recognize that, based on WAC 365-190-130(1) (Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas) fish and wildlife habitat conservation means land management for maintaining populations of species in suitable habitats within their natural geographic distribution so that the habitat available is sufficient to support viable populations over the long term and isolated subpopulations are not created. This does not mean maintaining all individuals of all species at all times, but it does mean not degrading or reducing populations or habitats so that they are no longer viable over the long term. Counties and cities should engage in cooperative planning and coordination to help assure long term population viability. Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas contribute to the state's biodiversity and occur on both publicly and privately owned lands. Designating these areas is an important part of land use planning for appropriate development densities, urban growth area boundaries, open space corridors, and incentive-based land conservation and stewardship programs.
(Ord. 13-2007 § 1 (Exh. A)(16C.06.01), 2007; Ord. 2-2009 § 2 (Exh. A (9)), 2009; Ord. 5-2017 § 2(C) (Exh. 1) (part), 2017)
(1) 
To maintain viable populations of fish and wildlife species, there must be adequate environmental conditions for reproduction, foraging, resting, cover, and dispersal of animals at a variety of scales across the landscape. Key factors affecting habitat quality include fragmentation, the presence of essential resources such as food, water, nest building materials, the complexity of the environment, and the presence or absence of predator species and diseases. As a method of linking large habitat areas, migration corridors offer a means by which to connect publicly protected lands and other intact habitat areas. Riparian corridors offer a natural system of such linkages. Yakima County accomplishes fish and wildlife habitat protection in 3 parts:
(a) 
Protect habitat for aquatic (in-water) species through stream, lake, pond and wetland standards;
(b) 
Protect habitat for riparian (near-water) species through stream, lake, pond, and wetland standards and buffer requirements;
(c) 
Protect habitat for upland species using the protection measures of Chapter 16C.11.
(2) 
Yakima County has a very high proportion of federal, state and other publicly and tribally owned land, including State Natural Area Preserves and Natural Resource Conservation Areas. These lands are managed to some extent for the conservation of wildlife habitat. Consequently, one of Yakima County's approaches to protecting all wildlife habitat types is to rely on the management of these lands by the responsible entity. The protection of Larch mountain salamander (Plethodon larselli) (State Sensitive, Federal Species of Concern) and spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) (State Endangered, Federal Threatened) habitat is accomplished through this approach, since their habitat of primary association is located within Federal ownership.
(3) 
To accomplish upland wildlife protection on private lands, Yakima County uses Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife staff consultation and Priority Habitat and Species mapping to identify wildlife habitat. Yakima County relies upon large lot/low density provisions of the Remote/Extremely Limited Development Potential (40-acre minimum), Forest Watershed (80-acre minimum) and Agriculture (40-acre minimum) zoning districts to protect upland wildlife on private lands. Proposed development within upland wildlife habitat areas is reviewed in accordance with 16C.03.02(3)(c)(ii) to determine if a habitat assessment is required.
(4) 
Corridors for wildlife to move between large habitat areas are a component of wildlife habitat. In semi-arid regions such as Yakima County, riparian corridors not only offer migratory linkages between large habitat areas but also offer important refuge and habitat for numerous species that rely on the riparian areas for their existence. Yakima County's approach to protect wildlife migration corridors is to rely on the protection measures for stream corridors, wetlands, upland wildlife habitat, and Shoreline jurisdiction (YCC § 16D), where applicable.
(5) 
Through the wildlife habitat analysis, habitat for listed state and federal threatened, endangered, and sensitive species was assessed and incorporated for upland species. Consequently, Yakima County's approach to protect habitat for listed state and federal threatened, endangered, and sensitive upland species is outlined in Sections 16C.11.060 and 16C.11.070. Protection measures for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (State Candidate, Federal Threatened) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (State Candidate, Federal Threatened) are accomplished by the standards in chapter 16C.06.
(Ord. 13-2007 § 1 (Exh. A)(16C.06.02), 2007; Ord. 2-2009 § 2 (Exh. A (10), (11), (12)), 2009; Ord. 5-2017 § 2(C) (Exh. 1) (part), 2017)