Birch Bay Watershed Action Plan: Linking Low Impact Development with Improved Critical Areas Management

摘要

The Birch Bay watershed encompasses 31 square miles between Drayton Harbor and LummirnBay in Whatcom County, Washington. The watershed supports exceptional biological diversityrnand the bay is classified as a critical shellfish protection area. These resources and amenities arernunder pressure from land development, and in danger of being damaged or lost unless specificrnsteps are taken to ensure their preservation. Whatcom County, through collaboration withrnstakeholders within the Birch Bay community, is developing a watershed action plan to providernincentives and flexibility for developers that minimize hydrologic and water quality impactsrnonsite and mitigate for wildlife habitat impacts offsite. The voluntary program creates a BirchrnBay Watershed Low Impact Development (LID) to encourage low impact development byrnproviding incentives to qualifying projects, including access to a new habitat mitigation fundrn(HMF), flexibility to standard code provisions, reductions in critical area buffers and resourcesrnfor implementing LID.rnThe Birch Bay Low Impact Development (LID) Overlay establishes a scoring system for lowrnimpact developments in the Birch Bay/Terrell Creek watershed. While enrollment in thisrnprogram is not required, all applicants for development permits are encouraged to use LIDrntechniques in their projects. This overlay is intended to fulfill the following purposes:rn1. Manage stormwater through a land development strategy that emphasizes conservationrnand use of on-site natural features to more closely mimic predevelopment hydrologicrnconditions.rn2. Minimize impervious surfaces.rn3. Encourage the creation or preservation of permanent forest cover and native vegetation.rn4. Promote innovative housing design and coordinated site planning.rn5. Provide standards for development practices that will earn credits toward incentives.rn6. Provide incentives for project proponents whose project exceeds the standards of existingrndevelopment regulations.rnDevelopers who implement low impact development measures through this pilot program alsornhave access to the Birch Bay Habitat Mitigation Fund. This fundprovides an alternativernapproach to mitigating impacts to wildlife habitat functions resulting from alterations to wetlandrnand stream buffers. The fund creates a fee-in-lieu of program whereby applicants can pay intornthe fund as an alternative to on-site and/or permittee-responsible mitigation. The county willrndirect mitigation funds to subbasins, identified through a detailed watershed characterization study, that provide the best opportunities to restore ecological functions and processes within thernwatershed.rnThe program was developed through twenty-six public meetings, including community openrnhouses, workshops, planning commission meetings, and stakeholder group meetings.rnStakeholder groups consisted of community members, builders, planning commission members,rndesign professionals, regulatory agencies and conservation groups over a 36 month period. Therncode revisions and supporting materials approved by the Planning Commission on January 26,rn2012, and will be reviewed and approved by the County Council in summer/fall of 2012. Thernprogram will be evaluated after a five year period and amended as necessary based on feedbackrnfrom enrollees, number of applications enrolling in the program, effectiveness of LID to treat andrnretain stormwater, effectiveness of the program to preserve and restore habitat and advances inrntechnology. This presentation will provide a summary of the program, progress to date andrnlessons learned for future incentive-based programs.