17.150.044 Dredging and dredge material disposal.
(1) Dredging shall only be permitted for the following purposes and only when other alternatives are impractical:
(a) To improve water quality or aquatic habitat;
(b) To maintain and improve navigability and water flow;
(c) To mitigate conditions which could endanger public safety;
(d) To create or improve public recreational opportunities.
(2) All unconfined, open water dredge disposal activities shall comply with the Puget Sound dredged disposal analysis (PSDDA) criteria and guidelines and other applicable local, state and federal regulations. When consistent with this program, disposal of dredged materials in water areas other than PSDDA sites may only be allowed for the following reasons:
(a) To restore or enhance habitat;
(b) To reestablish substrates for fish and shellfish resources;
(c) To nourish beaches that are starved for sediment; or
(d) To remediate contaminated sediments.
(3) New development should be sited and designed to avoid or, if that is not possible, to minimize the need for new and maintenance dredging. Dredging for the purpose of establishing, expanding, or relocating or reconfiguring navigation channels and basins should be allowed where necessary for assuring safe and efficient accommodation of existing navigational uses and then only when significant ecological impacts are minimized and when mitigation is provided. Maintenance dredging of established navigation channels and basins should be restricted to maintaining previously dredged and/or existing authorized location, depth, and width.
(4) Dredging waterward of the ordinary high water mark for the primary purpose of obtaining fill material shall not be allowed, except when the material is necessary for the restoration of ecological functions. When allowed, the site where the fill is to be placed must be located waterward of the ordinary high water mark. The project must be either associated with a MTCA or CERCLA habitat restoration project or, if approved through a shoreline conditional use permit, any other significant habitat enhancement project.
(5) Applications for dredging permits shall include the following information (at a minimum):
(a) Physical analysis of material to be dredged: material composition and amount, grain size, organic materials present, source of material, etc.;
(b) Chemical analysis of material to be dredged: volatile solids, chemical oxygen demand (COD), grease and oil content, mercury, lead and zinc content, etc.;
(c) Biological analysis of material to be dredged;
(d) Information on stability of bedlands adjacent to proposed dredging and spoils disposal;
(e) Dredging procedure: time of dredging, volume to be dredged, method of dredging and spoils disposal;
(f) Spoil disposal area for current project and subsequent maintenance dredging (when appropriate) including: location, size, capacity and physical characteristics.
(6) Dredge spoils shall be deposited at sites which are consistent with the landfill section of this program.
(a) Prior to commencement of disposal operations, the disposal site’s dikes shall be improved such that no spoils bearing discharge water may escape. The site’s dikes shall be kept in this condition throughout any disposal operations;
(b) The settling area within the dikes shall be maintained sufficiently large so that return water carries a minimum of suspended sediment. The outlet pipe shall be moved from time to time as may be necessary to comply with this requirement;
(c) After approval of the shoreline permit, notice shall be given to the city of Stanwood, in writing, at least two weeks prior to the commencement of any disposal operations. (Ord. 1373 § 46, 2014).