17.150.024 Shoreline vegetation conservation.
In addition to the critical areas standards of Chapters 17.114 through 17.135 SMC, the following shall apply to development on the shoreline:
(1) A vegetation management plan shall be required for all critical area buffer areas within SMA jurisdiction to include:
(a) Maintaining adequate cover of native vegetation including trees and understory. If a portion of the buffer has been cleared, or if tree cover is substantially less than a native climate mixed evergreen and deciduous plantings, supplemental plantings shall be required.
(b) Providing a dense screen of native evergreen trees at the perimeter of the buffer to provide and protect ecological functions. Except at locations of water-dependent facilities or designated public physical or visual access, if existing vegetation is not sufficient to prevent viewing adjacent development from within the buffer, planting shall be required equivalent to two rows of three-foot-high stock of native evergreens at a triangular spacing of 15 feet, or three rows of gallon containers at a triangular spacing of eight feet. Fencing may be required if needed to block headlights or other sources of light or to provide an immediate effective visual screen.
(c) Providing a plan for control of invasive weeds, and removing existing invasive species.
(d) Providing for a monitoring and maintenance plan for a period of at least five years. This provision may be waived for single-family residential lots.
(2) In cases where approved development results in unavoidable adverse impacts to existing shoreline vegetation, mitigation shall be required to ensure that there will be no net loss in the ecological functions performed. Mitigation shall take place on site to the maximum extent feasible. Mitigation plans shall be completed before initiation of other permitted activities, unless a phased or concurrent schedule that assures completion prior to occupancy has been approved by the director.
(3) Lawns and other nonnative vegetation maintained within shoreline jurisdiction shall minimize use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or other similar substances. Such chemical treatments shall not be applied within 10 feet of the OHWM. Applications in solid time release form shall be preferred over liquid or concentrate application. Best management practices (BMPs) shall be implemented in all chemical applications.
(4) Aquatic weed management should stress prevention first. Where active removal or destruction is necessary, it should be the minimum to allow water-dependent activities to continue, minimize negative impacts to native plant communities, and include appropriate handling or disposal of weed materials.
(a) Aquatic weed control shall only occur when native plant communities and associated habitats are threatened or where an existing water-dependent use is restricted by the presence of weeds. Aquatic weed control shall occur in compliance with all other applicable laws and standards.
(b) The control of aquatic weeds by derooting, rotovating or other method, which disturbs the bottom sediment or benthos, shall be considered development for which a shoreline permit is required, unless it will maintain existing water depth for navigation in an area covered by a previous permit for such activity, in which case it shall be considered normal maintenance and repair and therefore exempt from the requirement to obtain a shoreline permit.
(c) Use of herbicides to control aquatic weeds shall be prohibited except where no reasonable alternative exists and weed control is demonstrated to be in the public’s interest. A conditional use permit, and compliance with applicable federal and state laws, shall be required in such case. (Ord. 1373 § 46, 2014).