Chapter Two - Natural Resources

CHAPTER 2

INTRODUCTION This Chapter describes the physical The climate, abundance of water, and biological setting of the county as productivity of the soils, easy a whole, and for specific areas. It malleability of the landform, and identifies in general terms how location at the confluence of three "opportunities and constraints" relate major rivers make Benton County a to land use characteristics. It identifies very liveable place. Critical Resources within the county, their "functions and values," and the Opportunities and Constraints current trends associated with The physical and biological regulatory protections for those environment of Benton County resources. It presents the county's provides both "opportunities and approach for protection of such constraints" to the use and enjoyment resources. of the lands and resources base. Any given area of land within the county

will have physical and biological NATURAL SETTING OF BENTON COUNTY features such as slopes, soil types, The natural setting of the Benton hydrology, geologic structure/stability, County typifies that of the larger wind and sun exposure, etc., which Columbia Basin area. It is the product will influence the range of potential of seismic upheavals, volcanic uses which may enjoy success upon it. eruptions, magmatic flows, glacial epochs and cataclysmic floods. The It must be emphasized here that the legacy of this history is the present words "opportunities" and "constraints" geologic landscape: the basin of are not used herein as mutually Hanford, productive soils on the flanks exclusive opposites; if that were so the of anticlinal ridges, the Horse Heaven phrase would be opportunities or plateau, water resources of three constraints. Instead they are seen as major rivers, and the vertical columns terms that convey the adaptability of and plugs of basaltic outcrops. lands and resources to categories of land use, which have definable A thin layer of biology has adapted to attributes. the area's geologic base. The layer is relatively sparse and fragile on the dry To use a human analogy: an athlete uplands of shrub steppe and bunch with a powerfully built short and stocky grasses, but diverse and resilient along frame would have inherent its reaches of river, tributaries, and "constraints" to success on the creeks. basketball court, or on a 10k race

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources course, but would have real - Strong seasonal winds associated "opportunities " for success on the with rapidly moving weather systems. rugby field or wrestling mat. In the same way, a moderately sloping, Sunshine and Growing Season shallow soiled terrain may be a - Growing season is approximately 185 constraint to the construction of a days from mid-April to mid-October; non-sewered residential community, - Percent of possible sunshine each but a profitable opportunity for quality month is 20-30% in winter, 50-60% in vineyards; similarly, riverine uplands in spring, 80-85% in mid-summer; a complex of floodplain/floodway - Number of clear days each month and wetlands offer constraints to all increases from about 5 in winter to fixed developments, but provide 20 in summer. unique opportunities for seasonal recreational use, low density Temperatures residential use associated with - Dry with mild winters and warm agriculture, and indispensable sunny summers, cool summer nights; opportunities for flood control, - Summer temperatures in the maintenance of water quality and warmest summer months can supply, as well as biological diversity. exceed 90 degrees from 26 to 77 days with nights dropping to 50's, Climate day time temperatures can exceed Benton County is located in the 103' for about four days in two out of central part of the Columbia Basin, ten summers; which has a landform surrounded by - Winter afternoon temperatures mountain ranges (see Map 2-0) that range from 35° to 45° with night time have a pronounced effect on the readings at 20° to 30°, minimum region's climate. The following are temperatures can be 6° or lower on characteristics of the climate: (source four nights in two out of ten winters, National Weather Service) afternoons remain below freezing on

about 1/3rd of all January days; Geomorphology and Weather - It can get real cold. In 1949-50 night - The to the west time winter temperatures were less obstructs easterly flows of moist air than 0° on 18 nights, -15°or lower on into the basin; 7 nights, and -23°on one night; - The Rocky Mountain Range and - Warm winters do occur, in 1957-58 ranges in southern British Columbia lowest temperature was 19 above protect the basin from the more zero; severe winter storms; - Number of days with max. - Occasionally an outbreak of temperatures below freezing ranges severely cold weather will penetrate from 2 to 46. into the basin for damaging spring or fall freezes;

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Moisture and Precipitation The Pasco Basin’s basal plain - Mean annual precipitation is from 5 comprises most of what is now the to 10 inches, with from 10 to 15 . Topography is flat to inches in discrete areas on the Horse hilly, with elevation ranging from Heaven and Rattlesnake Hills (see around 300 feet in the east to near Precipitation Map 2-1). 1,000 at the foot of Rattlesnake - Approximately 70 percent of Mountain. precipitation occurs between November and April averaging one The Rattlesnake Ridge segment of the inch per month as either rain or snow Yakima Folds separates the Pasco in mid winter months; Basin from the Yakima Valley. The - There can be no rain from 3 to 6 ridge extends in a southeasterly- weeks at a time in mid summer. northwesterly alignment from its beginning in eastern Yakima County Storms and Weather Events where it is known as the Rattlesnake Hills to a point where it merges with - Thunderstorms occur on 10 to 15 the Horse Heaven Hills south of Finley. days between March and October Rattlesnake Ridge is discontinuous accompanied by usually light through the middle of the County rainfall, but hail and heavy showers where it has been perforated by the can occur; (resulting in Red, Candy, - Winter season snowfall has ranged and Badger Mountains); and contains from less than 1/2 inch (1957-58) to the highest unforested “peak” in 44 inches (1915-16), accumulations State: Rattlesnake have ranged from 4 inches to 21 Mountain. At 3,629 feet, Rattlesnake inches (Feb. 1916); Mountain is also the highest point in - Snow cover can melt rapidly by rain Benton County. or warm Chinook winds; - Severe winter and spring flooding of The Yakima River bisects the County the lower Yakima River can occur as into north and south portions, and is a result of snow melt and/or river responsible for much of the varied icing conditions. topography of central Benton County. The river has been cutting the valley Topography sediments in this syncline that The topography of Benton County is separates Rattlesnake Ridge from the characterized by basin and valley Horse Heaven Hills for tens of lowlands, separated by the upland thousands of years. The present valley plateaus and ridges of the Yakima floor ranges from about 300 feet Folds Belt. From north to south, the above sea level at its confluence with major topographic features of Benton the at the City of County are as follows: Richland, to around 700 feet at the Yakima County line.

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The Horse Heaven Hills plateau each day, flow past our county on its constitutes the southern half of Benton way to the Pacific Ocean. This river County. The elevations of the Horse system serves multiple uses, including Heaven Hills rise from the County’s low power generation, fisheries, point of 265 feet near Crow Butte to endangered species habitat, 1,600 to 2,200 feet along the ridgeline agriculture, and recreation. The which overlooks the Yakima Valley system is the center of the culture of and the Badger Coulee. The Horse both native and non-native Heaven Hills are unique among the Americans and while recognizing the Yakima Folds: it is the southern-most connectivity with the Pacific and longest running ridge in the Northwest, the purpose of the system at some 60 miles; it is the most following policies is to focus on the severely “lop-sided” of the ridges, needs of Benton County. becoming more of a monocline than an anticline in areas; and it takes a Water is one of Benton County’s most definitive, 90° turn to the south at valuable resources. It provides benefit Kiona which is at the center of the for people and for recreational, County. The ridgeline is highest at residential, commercial, industrial, and Jump Off Joe Butte south of agricultural growth. It also provides Kennewick, and the plateau slides benefits for our natural environment southward toward the Columbia River. and aesthetic amenities that contribute to the ambiance and WATER RESOURCES lifestyle of the area. Water is a limited The purpose of water resources resource under numerous competing guiding principles, goals and policies and changing demands, but in this plan are to guide the improved management of the water governmental entity of Benton County resource system allows for managed as it interacts with the Federal growth. government, Washington State, It is the intent of Benton County to external local government agencies protect the quantity and quality of this and residents throughout Benton resource for the many uses that make County. The principles and policies Benton County a desirable place to herein will provide a guide for Benton live, now and in the future. The County elected officials and staff in following principles and policies addressing water and water-related provide fundamentals for the responsibilities and issues affecting guidance of Benton County water Benton County. resource management.

Benton County is located where the GUIDING PRINCIPALS Snake and Yakima Rivers flow into the Following are the guiding principles Columbia. Vast quantities of water, and beliefs the Commissioners used approximately 191,000 cubic feet per when developing the water policies. second or over 100 billion gallons A. Benton County supports and

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promotes sustainable water E. Benton County will support resources management. sustainable water resource Sustainable water resource management in rural and management will allow for the municipal areas. In unincorporated preservation of current economies, areas Benton County will take on a population growth with improved leadership role. Benton County will quality of life, future economic work with municipalities to develop expansion and diversification, all joint standards in unincorporated while protecting the quality and Urban Growth Areas. quantity of water necessary to F. A water right is a property right. support and enhance native fish and wildlife. G. The development of federal and state water regulations should be B. Water resources should be used to developed in full consultation with promote economic and social well local governments. being in concert with reasonable environmental objectives. There H. Benton County supports securing must exist a realistic balance long-term, sustainable water among water use benefits and supplies sufficient to realize the economic costs. build out of the land uses designated in its Comprehensive C. Even though limited in some Plan, including its Hanford geographical areas, water Comprehensive Land Use Plan. resources physically exist within Benton County to meet current I. Benton County will maintain a and future needs. Innovative good working relationship with strategies are required to allow water users upstream and beneficial use of these waters. downstream from Benton County. Benton County will focus on improving water resource Water resources goals and policies management at all jurisdictional are found in Chapter 3. levels by supporting the efforts of municipal and special purpose Soil Resources governments within Benton County The soils in Benton County are and by promoting a legislative generally suitable for both agriculture agenda at the federal and state and structural development, with level. localized areas of constraint relating to slope, geo-hydrology or pockets of D. To promote the best interests of the sandy soils and fines. Soils are very citizen’s of Benton County, susceptible to wind and water erosion intervening in state and federal once stripped of their natural cover. decision-making processes may be However, in undisturbed condition the required. This intervention may indigenous shrub steppe and bunch include policy, planning, grass vegetative cover is adapted to administrative, and legal hold basin soils in place. When processes.

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources stripped of natural cover, prevention different soil types. For example, a of erosion requires the application of particular soil type might be rated as deliberate and aggressive having slight, moderate, or severe management techniques. limitations for the development of roads or dwellings. A variety of criteria Agricultural Soils are used in making such Generally, but with some notable determinations, including such factors localized exceptions, the addition of as depth to bedrock, shrink-swell water and fertilizer to soils anywhere in potential, permeability, slope, etc. Benton County will result in productive It should be noted that even a agriculture. The principal exceptions "severe" rating would not necessarily are on steep erosive slopes, in pockets mean that constructions would not be of very sandy soils, or where near possible. Rather, it means that the surface basalt formations are potential limitation should be accompanied by thin soils and poor recognized, and that the construction hydrologic conditions. techniques employed may have to take the special soil conditions into Map 2-2 is a generalized depiction of consideration. In all cases, NRCS the soils types and their locations emphasizes that on-site inspection or within Benton County. Appendix 2-1 soil survey would be necessary before contains a textual description of the it can be determined for certain eight soil associations shown on Map whether or not such soil characteristics 2-2. The descriptions are from the 1971 exists at a specific site. Soil Conservation Service survey (now the Natural Resources Conservation The following definitions from the Service NRCS), and are therefore Guide for Interpreting Engineering somewhat dated, especially as Uses for Soils (SCS, 1972), describes the regards the use described for each SCS soil ratings: soil association. For example, much of the Hazel-Quincy-Burbank association Slight soil limitation is the rating given is described as range-land in 1971 and soils that have properties favorable for 1985, but has since been converted to the rated use. The degree of limitation irrigated cropland and orchard. is minor and can be overcome easily. Good performance and low Soil Construction Limitations maintenance can be expected. With the above-mentioned localized exceptions the soils within Benton Moderate soil limitation is the rating County do not apply significant given soils that have properties constraints to most types of moderately favorable for the rated development. The NRCS has use. This degree of limitation can be developed soil ratings that indicate overcome or modified by special the potential degree of limitations for planning, design or maintenance. different types of development on During part of the year the

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources performance of the structure or other Guide for Interpreting Engineering planned use is somewhat less Uses of Soils : desirable than with the soils rated "In rating soils for non-farm uses, it is slight. Some soils rated moderate important to remember that engineers require treatment, such as artificial and others can modify natural soil drainage, runoff control to reduce features or can design or adjust the erosion, extended sewage absorption plans of a structure to compensate for fields, extra excavation, or some most degrees of limitation. Most of modification of certain features these practices, however, are costly. through manipulation of the soil. For The owner must be willing to live with those soils, modification is needed for a few limitations, providing the use those construction plans generally does not violate community codes or used for soils of slight limitation. regulations. The final decision in Modification may include special selecting a site for a particular use is a foundations, extra reinforcement of personal one and generally involves structures, sump pumps, and the like. weighing the costs for site preparation and maintenance." Severe soil limitation is the rating assigned to soils that have one or For the purposes of structural more properties unfavorable for the development, soil limitations are rated use, such as steep slopes, addressed in the County's Critical bedrock near the surface, flooding Areas Protection Ordinance (BCC Title hazard, high shrink-swell potential, a 15.35). The ordinance requires that seasonal high water table, or low developments avoid potentially bearing strength. This degree of unstable areas, or adequately assess limitation generally requires major soil the degree of instability and locate, reclamation, special design, or design and engineer the intensive maintenance. Some of development to address the level of these soils, however, can be improved hazard. by reducing or removing the soil feature that limits use, but in most Mineral Resources situations it is difficult and costly to Existing Conditions alter the soil or to design a structure so In Benton County, mineral resources as to compensate for a severe degree are "aggregates," i.e., sand and gravel of limitation. deposits and crushed quarry rock. These resources are second in Due to the number and complexity of importance to agricultural land as a soil types involved, construction "natural resource land" in Benton limitations have not been synthesized County. into a Countywide map. The information is available by soil type "Mineral resource lands" in Benton and is an important tool in the County are land areas with planning process. As stated in the commercially viable mineral resource

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources deposits. Mineral Resource lands are biologically sensitive area. required to be protected under provisions of GMA. The resources Sand and Gravel : Sand and gravel from these lands are typically utilized deposits are in high demand and for building and road construction. limited supply. According to Mineral lands represent a particularly documentation for the County's 1985 important local resource opportunity Comprehensive Plan, the major high- because the cost effectiveness of any grade sand and gravel deposits are particular project requiring such found in the following general materials is greatly affected by the locations: transport distance from its source to • in south Kennewick, south of 27th the project site. The presence of these extending east as far as the south resources in the county at scattered Finley area; locations in every region is an • in the east Kennewick, east of Oak economic benefit. at the Benton-Franklin Fairgrounds; • in west Kennewick south and west The major use of aggregate resources of Clearwater; is for urban and rural residential • along the north and south sides of developments. Construction of both Highway 12 extending dwellings and road networks intermittently between Prosser and consumes substantial amounts of sand Benton City; and gravel as well as quarried and • at the southern boundary of the crushed basalt. County along and in the Columbia

River. Map 2-3, indicates the locations of known Mineral Resource deposits within Benton County. State planning The importance of sand and gravel to law requires that such mineral the fishery resources of the Columbia resources of long-term commercial River precludes the extensive use of significance be protected from this source for aggregate supplies. All having their future exploitation of these general sites are producers of prejudiced by adjacent the kind of high-grade sand and developments that may be gravel that is needed for the incompatible with the mining and manufacture of cement and cement processing activities associated with products used in the construction these resources on the site. industry.

Constraints to the exploitation of these Crushed Rock : Unlike sand and gravel, resources usually arise when quarry rock is in ample supply but not incompatible land uses (e.g., all is high-grade material or is close residential or commercial) on enough to ground surface to adjacent lands have surrounded the economically extract. Much of the mineral site, or when the site is in a quarry rock extracted is crushed for

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources use in street and road construction. the location of incompatible land uses The major high-grade basalt deposits on adjacent lands. are: • in the north slope of the Horse CRITICAL RESOURCES Heaven Hills south of Finley in the Existing Conditions vicinity of Finley Road and Nine In 1991, State planning law was Canyon; amended to require all cities and • in the Horse Heaven Hills plateau in counties in Washington state to the vicinity of Sellards Road designate and protect Critical southwest of Prosser; Resources by regulation. • in the vicinity of Four-mile Canyon north of Plymouth; Generally, Critical Resources are land • south of Badger Canyon in the areas with biological or physical Horse Heaven Hills Plateau on features which provide functions and Clodfelter Road; and, values essential to the public health, safety and welfare. • south of Prosser in the north slope

of the Horse Heaven Hills east of Critical Resources are found on the the Painted Hills housing landscape throughout the county, in development. the main-stems, lowlands, tributary creeks, floodways and floodplains, Current Trends and wetlands of the Yakima and Though the Hanford employment Columbia river systems; on and within peak in the early 1990s has passed, cliffs, talus slopes, and canyons; the current trend has shown that high freshwater springs, seeps, wetlands; levels of use of these resources will and perched waters associated with likely continue, with the Hanford basalt outcrops. project activity related to cleanup, and other construction (off the Many critical resources are also Hanford Site). primary habitats of species listed as threatened, endangered, sensitive, or Future Considerations candidate by the federal or state The principle considerations for the government. Maps 2-4 through 2-6 future use of these resources are: i) the depict the general location of Critical identification of additional sites; and ii) Resource Areas in Benton County. providing the owners of known commercially viable sites the State Planning Law refers to five opportunity to apply the provisions of Critical Resources specifically as: the County's Mineral Resources • Critical Aquifer Protection Areas Protection Ordinance (BCC 15.10.45) • Frequently Flooded Areas to the sites. Such protection can • Geologically Hazardous Areas prevent the sites from having their • future exploitation compromised by Wetlands

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• Fish and Wildlife Conservation slopes, unstable ground and basalt Areas. formations (i.e., Geologically Hazardous Areas) are also principal Benton County's Critical Resources Fish and Wildlife Conservation Areas Protection Ordinance , adopted in because they provide habitats 1994 works in conjunction with Goals essential in the life cycles of birds of 28 through 38 and related policies prey. (Chapter 3), to protect Critical Resources. The ordinance has specific Flood Hazards sections for each of the five resources, Existing Condition except that the main-stem rivers and There are several types of landforms in Benton County that are subject to their tributaries and creeks also have a flood hazards. Most notably, the low section; this is appropriate given that lying lands along the Yakima River the riverine environment in the Yakima flood significantly under varying winter Basin is the "core" of its Fish and Wildlife and spring conditions. However Conservation Areas. significant flooding and flood

damage can occur off the river as Critical Resources Data Base : Though well in the Yakima's tributary streams, these resources are generally "dry" canyons and other natural depicted on maps within this plan drainage features throughout the document, they are more specifically county which are susceptible to "flash depicted on a database of maps, floods", or heavy run-off from snow aerial photographs and digital images melt. housed in the County’s Planning

Department. The size (magnitude) of a flood is described in terms of the likelihood of Critical Resources Are Generally a flood that size occurring in any Niche Environments : Critical Resources given year, or to put it another way, are created by and occupy historically a flood of a certain size has landscapes that are marginally occurred every so many years. For useable for other than critical example, the likelihood of a 25-year resource functions. These landscapes flood in any year is one in 25; the are generally geologically hazardous likelihood of a 100-year flood, one in and/or frequently flooded areas. 100. This does not mean that once a Generally several Critical Resources 100-year flood occurs, another will not occupy the same location. As an happen for 100 years. It is not example, within the Basin's desert unheard of to have two 100-year environment, the Floodway and floods in one year, or to have two or Floodplains of rivers are also the more in a 10 or 25-year period. locations of principle Wetlands, major components of Fish and Wildlife Though this method of "sizing" floods is Conservation Areas, and Aquifer useful as a means of short-term Recharge Areas. Similarly, steep measurement, it is only a tool and has

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources its limitations. For example, mankind pack, the rate and timing of its melt, has kept flood records in this region for and the ground conditions within the only 100 to 150 years, therefore water shed, the lower Yakima River historical knowledge from direct floodway may or may not be sufficient experience is limited; also watershed to carry the flow. Where it is conditions are changing constantly, insufficient, water leaves the floodway and in the direction of more run-off and moves overland onto the per acre of the upper watershed, not floodplain. less; and local and regional climates are determined by cyclic global If the snow pack melts gradually over oceanic conditions which are little the spring months the river channel understood at present. may be full, but not flood. However, if a warm Chinook wind melts a portion Flood areas pose constraints to of the snow pack in January, while the development because construction river and ground in Benton County are within them can put at risk both life still frozen, the melt water will reach its and property, and require frequent ice clogged channel and leave the and recurring expenditures of public river to spread overland; or if warm funds for the repair of public and temperatures come suddenly in early private property. spring the entire watershed may thaw simultaneously and inundate the Floodways and Floodplains within the lower river valley. County are shown on the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) The areas along the lower Yakima in flood maps, and on Map 2-4 of this Benton County especially vulnerable chapter (for known flash flood areas to flooding annually extend from in canyons and natural drainage Benton City downstream through West ways). The flood areas on the FEMA Richland, to the delta where the maps indicate the magnitude of Yakima empties into the Columbia floods. River. This area is characterized by low-lying river bottom lands and The most damaging floods in Benton ancient river channels which are County are associated with the historically the river's natural floodway Yakima River. This is because Benton and flood plain. County is the most downstream county in the entire Yakima River Current Trends drainage, which contains 6,155 sq. The maximum known flood of the miles, or four million acres. Annually, Yakima River occurred in December the snow pack on the east side of the of 1933 with a depth of approximately Cascade Range melts and passes 9.5 feet above the top of the through Benton County within a river riverbank at Benton City, its estimated channel ("floodway") that is in some recurrence interval is approximately places less than 60 feet across. 170 years. Other recent major floods Depending upon the size of the snow and their recurrence intervals are 1948

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(33 year), 1974 (36 year), and most flood-carrying capacity and increases recently, the flood of February 1996, flood heights, thus expanding the when the river crested at 22 ft, which area susceptible to flooding and may have been a 100 year flood increasing flood hazards in areas event. Major public and private beyond the encroachment itself. One residential property damage occurred aspect of flood plain management between Benton City and Richland in involves balancing the economic gain the flood of 1996. from flood plain development against the resulting increase in flood hazard. At present, there are limited flood For purposes of the National Flood control protection devices in Insurance Program, the concept of a operation or planned in the lower floodway is used as a tool to assist Yakima. Levees exist on both banks of local communities in this aspect of the Yakima River at its mouth. flood plain management. Under this Additionally, a levee has been concept, the area of the 100-year constructed on the south bank from flood is divided into a "floodway" and the Van Giesen Bridge at West a floodway fringe. The floodway is the Richland downstream for channel of a river, plus any adjacent approximately one mile. flood plain areas that must be kept free of encroachment in order that The likely trend is for the frequency the 100-year flood be carried without and magnitude of floods within the substantial increases in flood heights. lower reaches of the Yakima River to As a minimum standard, the Federal increase as the upper water shed Insurance Administration limits such continues to urbanize and its natural increases in flood heights to one foot, storage capacity is reduced by provided that hazardous velocities are logging, agriculture, and stream not produced. modification. The area between the floodway and Flood Management the boundary of the 100-year flood is One of the products of the Federal termed the "floodway fringe". The Emergency Management Agency's floodway fringe thus encompasses the (FEMA) flood insurance program has portion of the flood plain that could been the mapping of flood hazard be completely obstructed without areas throughout the nation. The increasing the water-surface elevation primary area of concern in this effort of the 100-year flood more than one has been the 100-year flood hazard foot at any point. area. The 100-year flood has been adopted by FEMA as the base flood Future Considerations for purposes of flood plain The approach Benton County has management measures. taken to new residential development in the Floodway is that none is Encroachment on flood plains, such permitted, and that what exists now as placing artificial fill, reduces the can be replaced only within the same

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources footprint, except that it must be County line west of Prosser to the elevated above predictable flood Columbia River southeast of the levels. City of Kennewick. • The Rattlesnake Hills, which run in, The approach on the 100-year a northwest-southeasterly Floodplain is to: alignment along the southwestern • update and digitize the flood boundary of the Hanford Site, and maps from data taken after the extensions of which (e.g. Red most recent major floods; Mountain, Candy Mountain, and • to initiate flood management Badger Mountain) extend to the studies; western fringes of the City of • to keep densities low and apply Kennewick. site planning standards which Steep sloped areas have the potential influence the clustering of principal for mass movement and slope erosion structures on the highest ground; hazards. Mass movement is the and movement of rock or soil material • to accommodate and facilitate down slope in response to gravity the "non-destructive" movement of (hillsides). Slope erosion is the removal flood water on the floodplain by of soil or weathered bedrock that appropriate engineering of occurs as a result of sheet wash (no culverts, ditches and public and conspicuous channels), rill erosion private roads. (numerous small rivulets) or gully erosion (larger, more nearly

permanent channels). Geologic Hazards

Existing Conditions Steep slopes and unstable geologic Most of the geologic hazards within structures pose a constraint to Benton County are associated with development because developments either basalt outcroppings or steep associated with them require more and unstable slopes. The latter are of expensive design and engineering principal concern as they are work. Additionally, a much greater associated with landslides, slumps, land area per structure is necessary on unstable soils and severe erosion. steep slopes. Left in their undeveloped condition, the Map 2-5 shows there are two major opportunities provided by these areas of steep slopes (greater than 15 resources range from aesthetic percent) in addition to numerous (visual), to open space (for smaller areas. The two major areas recreation), and for basalt are: outcroppings and steep canyons • The north and northeast slopes of important habitats (nesting areas for the plateau of Horse Heaven Hills birds of prey). that extend across the midsection of the County from the Yakima Slopes of fifty percent can be found in

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources both the Rattlesnake and Horse developments will increasingly Heaven Hills. Due to the unique occupy the more geologically difficult problems inherent in development in terrain. These are the areas which steeply sloping areas, special care present problems associated with must be exercised in the planning and geologic hazards. development of such areas. The Comprehensive Plans’ Land Use Map Future Considerations identifies lower rural densities for The approach to development in steeply sloping areas and the Critical Geologically Hazardous areas is to: Areas Protection Ordinance applies • apply an overall rural density performance standards to which reflects the geologic development within these areas. constraints of the land; While not prohibiting development, • encourage clustered the ordinance does require that the developments so that as much of nature and severity of the hazard be the the allowable density as identified and that the siting, design possible on "unbuildable areas" of and engineering for development a parcel can be transferred to the directly respond to the identified "buildable" areas; hazards, so that long term structural • require accurate technical integrity can be reasonably assured. characterization of site conditions;

and Benton County is located within • Seismic Zone II according to the require the application of design Uniform Building Code Seismic Risk and engineering measures Map. This indicates that earthquakes tailored to site conditions in order up to Intensity VII on the Modified to assure long term structural Mercalli (MM) Scale can be expected integrity both on and off-site, and to occur in the county. This would to protect public health, safety, correspond with a 5.5-6.1 event on the and welfare. Richter Scale. A Table in Appendix 2-2 provides a description of the range of Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas earthquake intensities. The table lends Critical Aquifer recharge areas within perspective to the degree of risk Benton County are those areas where found in Benton County. Seismic surface waters have "connectivity" to hazards are not seen as a significant the underlying unconfined aquifer. risk to development in Benton County. Protection of the water quality within unconfined aquifers is a public health Current Trends issue as the aquifer is used as a Typically, as land use intensifies over potable water supply. In many the landscape with agriculture and locations it has direct connectivity to residential developments especially river and near shore surface waters competing for ground, and as higher that are also used for wading, income households target view lots on swimming, fishing, stock watering and slopes and ridges, new residential other uses where human contact

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources occurs. picture is complex, the trend is one of declining ground water levels in lower Accurate information on groundwater aquifers, and declining water quality resources in Benton County is not in upper aquifers. This regional currently available. For example, phenomena is largely attributable to locations of groundwater recharge expansions in the amount of acreage areas off the riverine corridor are not under irrigated agricultural definitively known. Absent definitive production: water from deeper data on groundwater resources, this aquifers is withdrawn, augmented with plan, and the Critical Areas Protection agricultural chemicals, and applied to Ordinance focus the issue of aquifer crops, where it then percolates protection in areas of known or through the soil column to low lying suspected surface/ground-water upper aquifers. This is occurring within connectivity. These areas are as portions of the Pasco Basin (which follows: extends westerly into Benton County • within the riverine corridor; from the east and underlies the Finley • on the floodplain and in wetlands; plain, Badger Canyon and the Yakima River westerly to the Red Mountain • in other areas of known surface anticline). As the Yakima Basin is hydrology per information heavily irrigated, the trend is also likely gathered by the Benton Franklin within the Yakima Basin lying to the Health District; west of Red Mountain. • along the unlined main canals of local irrigation districts. Nitrate contaminations occur principally in upper aquifer wells Hanford critical aquifers : In order to drilled in the lower lying areas of the prevent contamination of waters county. The spatial correlation having connectivity to unconfined between elevated concentrations of aquifers, plan goals and policies and nitrates in groundwater and irrigated specific provisions within the Critical croplands indicates that the major Areas Protection Ordinance apply source of contamination is applied performance standards to certain fertilizers for irrigated crops. types of development within and adjacent to the above listed areas. A complicating factor in the nitrate picture is evidence that suggests that Current Trends currently, seepage from irrigation Absent accurate groundwater studies district canals actually serves to dilute and characterization, and the what would otherwise be higher identification of recharge areas, nitrate levels within groundwater (U.S. (outside of Hanford) little can be said Geological Survey, Water Resources relative to trends for greater Benton Investigations Report 93-4060). As County specifically. federal and state sponsored conservation projects reduce or Regionally however, though the eliminate this seepage, nitrate

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources concentrations in the upper aquifer vertebrate and invertebrate activity. may actually rise. Because wetlands and their surrounding area are discrete Future Considerations concentrations of extreme conditions For reasons relating to a broader and transition zones, they support a range of issues than groundwater rich diversity of plant and animal life. contamination, the groundwater Relative to dryland, or rivers and resources within Benton County east ponds, a wetland and its surrounding of the Pasco Basin must be transition zone promotes heightened characterized. This should occur as biological diversity and uniqueness. part of the new state and local initiative to transfer management Wetlands also function to purify water. responsibilities for entire watersheds to Since they are often connected with local jurisdictions within them. ground and surface waters, this is a Such characterizations need to beneficial function; however, the include: connection to groundwater is also a • identification of hydro-geologic pathway for the movement of units; contaminants into groundwater • connectivity, including with supplies should the waters of the surface waters; wetland itself be contaminated. • potential yields versus demand; Natural wetlands: Despite the arid • recharge areas and water quality. character of the Benton County

As this information is accumulated, landscape, wetlands can be found provisions relating to critical aquifer throughout. Many of these wetlands recharge areas can be amended to naturally occur from the "daylighting" local plans and their implementing and collection of waters from basalt ordinances. formations, springs, seeps, and within canyons on the land surface. Though Wetlands there are significant natural wetlands Existing Conditions associated with basalt formations Wetlands are wet environments based upland of the river corridors and upon saturated "hydric" soils that tributary creeks, the major natural support plant life that can exist only in wetlands in the county are found on those conditions. In contrast to rivers, the low lying floodplains and ancient water conditions in wetlands are still or abandoned floodways of the lower stagnant. In contrast to pond or lake Yakima River. A good example of environments, water depths are which is the 2000 -3000 acres of the shallow, which means that sunlight lower river north and west of the "Twin penetrates through the water column Bridges" near West Richland. to depth, which means heat, light and organic matter create conditions rich Artificial wetlands: Significant and suitable for a unique range of acreage’s of wetland within the

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources county are the product of irrigation result of these efforts is to leave more water "return flows" which are waters water in the rivers as instream flow, freely moving down slope through the then the natural wetlands along the landform after having either leaked riverine corridor should benefit. through the bottom of an irrigation ditch, or percolated through the soil Future Considerations column after application to crops. By both policy and ordinance, the These waters collect in low spots and Benton County Comprehensive Plan may create wetland conditions in protects natural wetlands from non- those areas. agricultural developments. It protects previously unfarmed wetlands even Natural/artificial wetlands: Since both from new agriculture. It is expected natural groundwater, and irrigation that the database for wetlands within water return flows will seek the same the county will be improved over time, low places, many wetlands on the and that such resources will be landscape are a product of both protected consistent with the water sources. Examples of this are: requirements of state law and local wetlands along the Amon Wasteway; interest. at the base of Badger Canyon on the south side of Badger Rd; and the Rivers and Creeks perched waters on top of the shallow Existing Conditions basalt north and northwest of Prosser, The main-stems of both the Columbia and above Finley. and Yakima Rivers and their tributaries and creeks are the most vital and Current Trends important “critical resources” within The current regulatory trend is for the the county. In fact, they are directly protection of wetlands as resources related, and functionally essential to vital to sustaining biological all the other state identified "critical productivity and water quality. While resources except for Geologically the regulatory effort to protect natural Hazardous Areas. Within the central wetlands, which is decades old at this basin's desert environment, it is point, has been only marginally estimated that up to 75 percent of successful, there is an emerging indigenous wildlife species depend technical trend to construct artificial upon these narrow riverine corridors wetlands as purifiers of industrial and for cover and other sustenance agricultural waste waters. essential to their life cycle.

Within Benton County, the most Yakima River: the current condition of noticeable trend is the gradual loss of artificial wetlands resulting from water the Yakima River, especially in its lower conservation projects by irrigation reaches in Benton County is degraded districts, and more efficient irrigation and poor: water quality is poor as a practices by farmers. Though there is result of low summer flows, non-point no clear evidence of it to date, if the source pollution, and high water

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources temperatures, all of which are in the estuaries of the lower functionally related. This condition Columbia where juvenile salmon jeopardizes both the native and "acclimate" to salt water anadromous fisheries, it threatens the conditions before migrating out to long term survival of the agricultural the open ocean; economy, reduces recreational • ocean, and fishing pressure on the opportunities overall, lowers real high seas around the globe, and estate values of river front property, within the river system itself when and limits the utility of the river for the fish return to spawn. municipal and industrial uses. An increasing number of the anadromous species within the river In 1994, the congress passed the system are being list as threatened, Yakima River Basin Water endangered, or candidate under the Enhancement law in response to Federal Endangered Species Act several severe water short years and (ESA). disagreements over water entitlements. The law authorizes the expenditure of $150 million in local, Current Trends state, and federal funds to implement Current trends regarding protection of conservation efforts to save a rivers and creeks are divergent. On maximum of 110,000 acre-feet of the one hand, regulatory water to be used for fish and wildlife requirements such as GMA and federal and state water quality laws needs, and 55,000 acre-feet of saved require protection of these resources. water for irrigation needs. As of the Recent initiatives by local writing of this document, a draft governments within discrete conservation plan is nearing watersheds (e.g., the Yakima) to availability for public review. regionalize watershed planning at the

local (counties) level have been met The current condition of the Columbia by new state legislation which makes is good relative to water quality. this possible. There is a recognition However a major overriding issue for that the problems are essentially both the Columbia and the Yakima is "watershed-wide," cumulative, and the survival of salmon and steelhead. much more complex than can be These fisheries are in decline. The dealt with by the state unilaterally, or principal reasons for declines are: individual jurisdictions, even if they • water quality and habitat "coordinate" efforts. What is required conditions within watersheds such is an integrated watershed plan as the Yakima; covering all aspects of water and • hydroelectric dams and pools on land use potentially impactive of the Columbia which kill out- water quantity and quality. migrating "smolts;" • declining water quality conditions Simultaneously, declining fish species indicates that improvements to water

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources quantity and quality are not occurring, and wildlife habitat in the county. The or if they are, not at a sufficient pace study was completed with the to reverse fishery declines. assistance of some 30 individuals, agencies, and organizations outside Future Considerations of the local Audubon Society, in Within Benton County, the adopted addition to members of that critical area ordinance provides some organization with significant expertise protections against adverse impacts of their own. Contributors included from some developments. It is personnel from such agencies as the anticipated that the other counties Washington Dept. of Game (now and cities within the watershed will do Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), similarly per the requirements of GMA. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In accordance with the county's intent However, as important as these efforts to protect its environmental quality, are, they do not address the "macro" the portions of the study that identified issues affecting water supply and and described critical fish and wildlife quality within the basin. These issues habitats were adopted as a are: agricultural and logging practices component of the 1985 affecting erosion and base storage; Comprehensive Plan. Since the maps conservation and demand/supply and data within the study identify the and artificial storage; and seasonal general locations of those resources flows. consistent with a more recent mapping accomplished as part of the Relative to these macro issues, the new (1991) state planning law Counties within the Yakima Watershed requirement, the maps, data and text (Benton, Yakima and Kittitas) are in the of the study are also incorporated by process of working with the Yakima reference into this plan. Watershed Council to prepare, adopt and implement a Yakima Watershed Hanford: In 1996, Benton County Management Plan. The counties assembled data constituting a have formed the Tri-County Water biological resources inventory of the Resources Agency to work with the Hanford Site in order to designate Council and help implement the Critical Areas as an early step in the watershed plan. Hanford Land Use Planning process. In 1997, the Benton County Planning Fish And Wildlife Conservation Areas Commission designated Fish and Existing Conditions Wildlife Conservation Areas on the In March of 1982, the Lower Valley Hanford Site as part of a site-wide Columbia Basin Audubon Society Comprehensive Planning Program for completed a study entitled Hanford land. The Planning Ecologically Sensitive Areas Of Benton Commissions designations are County , one of the primary purposes awaiting hearing and action by the of which was to identify critical fish Board of Commissioners.

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Barker Ranch system of ditches, canals, gates and The 1982 study Ecologically Sensitive culverts distributed the water Areas of Benton County, prepared by throughout the ranch. For a hundred a consortium of interests including years prior to 1994 the land was scientific and ecology experts as well grazed and cropped at varying as agency scientists, Audubon intensities. representatives, and local and state and federal government In the late 1990s the owners of the representatives, identified the area of Ranch initiated a Conservation Plan the Barker Ranch site as critical fish for the ranch under the auspices and and wildlife habitats that should be funding from the USDA-National protected from intensive use because Reserve Conservation Program’s of its unique fish and wildlife habitat Wetland Reserve Plan (WRP). The Plan and aquatic characteristics in the was developed with the landowner midst of an otherwise arid and assistance from Washington State environment, and for its botanical University, Ducks Unlimited, and the inventory. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The emphasis of the WRP is to The Ranch is approximately 2400 protect, restore, and enhance acres of alluvial and glacial floodway wetland ecosystems to provide and floodplain with extensive riparian habitat for wildlife and migratory birds shoreline, and wetlands that are a including threatened and product of variously applied water, endangered species. In order to upwelling from subsurface hydrology, provide water for the wetlands and seasonal river flooding. The throughout the migratory bird season, ranch is located within the Yakima in 1998 the State Department of River migration zone primarily on the Ecology granted a request to change north side of the river extending up the water right from seasonal to and down river from the Twin Bridges annual. and the intersection of Snively and Grosscup Roads. The north boundary The Barker Ranch owners received a is the Horn Rapids Ditch, the south payment in exchange for their boundary is the ordinary high water landowner rights to develop that line at the north side of the Yakima portion of the property that is subject River. The site is in some measure an to the conservation easement. The upriver extension of the Yakima River exchange is the basis of the WRP delta system. easement, and gives control of management decisions to the United The early owners of the ranch States government. Under the obtained a seasonal irrigation water agreement the landowners will right in 1899 with a point of withdrawal continue to manage the property for on the Yakima River at the Wannawish waterfowl hunting on the easement. (Horn Rapids) dam. Historically a The Yakama Tribe has used the area

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources for thousands of years and currently sampling evidence indicates that members of the Yakama Nation even during the late summer Yakima harvest soft-stemmed bulrush to make River flows, when low flows contribute tule mats for log houses and other to water temperatures in the main- goods. stem that approach levels lethal to salmonids, the surface and hyphoreic Today, under the federal Wetland waters flowing into the river from the Reserve Program (WRP) approximately ranch provide a source of cool water 2000 acres of the site is under that creates refugia and niche permanent conservation easement, habitats essential for salmonid survival. with waterfowl and habitat production the primary management Benton County's Critical Areas objectives. Limited grazing continues Protection Ordinance sets forth under a grazing management plan procedures for development review that is wildlife and habitat driven and standards for siting and rather than cattle driven. The constructing new developments in a antiquated water distribution system manner which protects fish and that is used to supply a series of open wildlife conservation areas, (including water habitats with vegetated edges wetlands that are not a product of and variable water depths in wetlands either conveyed or applied irrigation for annual water fowl migrations is waters). The ordinance also contains being renovated and improved with procedures and mitigating impacts for federal funds. state and federally listed species which have a "primary association" The management of the ranch under with lands located outside of those the WRP for habitat enhancement shown on Map 2-6. An inventory of and migratory bird habitats/hunting currently "listed" species for Benton has significant benefits to the lower County is shown in Appendix 2-4. Yakima River ecology. The ranch provides a major reach of shoreline Functions and Values of Critical wherein the natural riverine functions Resources : The state legislature are intact. The forested and open required the protection of Critical wetlands and upland habitat are a Areas because they are generally biological oasis and a source of part of natural systems which cross- species out-migration into other areas jurisdictional boundaries and are therefore of statewide interest. of the lower river, where the shoreline and riverine functions are declining The legislative requirement to protect from a steady expansion of Critical Resources is carried out by the agriculture, rural gentrification of the county's adopted Critical Areas shoreline, and urban expansion. In Protection Ordinance ( BCC Title 15 addition to its irreplaceable value as a adopted in 1994). The basic wildlife habitat in the lower river, approach of the ordinance is to apply photographic and water quality

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources performance standards based on Best this is: the stripping of a bank on an Available Science to development anadramous river of its riparian cover activities in order to protect the destabilizes its banks, this causes the "functions and values" of these bank to collapse and erode, which resources. Specific functions and spreads a layer of sediment over the values are identified in Table 2.0. spawning gravels of an anadromous Functions and Values are described fishery, which smothers and kills the generally below. spawn, which endangers the base populations of the salmonid species. Functions are the roles that a critical resource plays in sustaining (or when In, summary, the functions of all the dysfunction occurs, degrading), a individual components of a Critical natural system. For example one Resource must operate as an function of wetlands is to purify integrated whole in order for the surface waters. Where the waters of a resource to sustain the fishery (or other wetland have "connectivity" to values). groundwater, the wetland also functions to maintain groundwater Values are the qualitative or quality and levels. In the obverse, a quantitative benefits derived from the contaminated or drained wetland functions of a critical resource. For would function to contaminate example, qualitatively we know that groundwater or lower its water level. clean water is more beneficial and There are numerous functional "sub- useful than contaminated water. It is components" within the overall also more cost effective because function of a critical resource. For cleaning water for human or in-stream example, in a wetland, the water uses, or finding alternative sources of purification process involves a water is more costly than using a complex interaction between plants, readily available clean supply. acidic soils and organisms all specially adapted to anaerobic conditions (no It is not easy to quantify the values of oxygen); each of these components critical resources, but it is done performs its own function. Within a increasingly. For example dairies now river, the cobble bottom on the create fresh water wetlands as water downstream end of an island has a treatment systems for their dairy different function for anadromous fish wastes. Dairymen can identify the than a riffle at the upstream end of cost of constructing and operating the island, or a deep hole in the river. these systems, and they can measure The functions of the various features of them against the costs of the old ways the river bottom differ entirely from of disposal, including the costs of that of the riparian cover on the bank compliance with clean water above the high water line, the regulations. Health agencies can disfunction of the riparian cover can assign dollar values to improvements cause functions of the river bottom to in the quality of public water supplies fail as well. A simplified rendition of as a result of this use of wetland

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources technology. Resource agencies can been left untouched by the far- assign dollar values as a result of reaching developments which have improved in-stream conditions for converted the landscape off the Site. fisheries; retailers of sporting goods The shrub steppe and wetlands may note increased sales related to complex of the to the use of that resource as it improves. north of the Columbia River, and the U.S. Army's Yakima Training Facility to Values can be calculated as either the west add additional hundreds of benefits (when the resource is square miles of indigenous habitat, functioning on a sustained basis), or as potentially "connectable" as a single the "avoidance of disbenefits" i.e., a unit. degraded resource results in costs from lost productivity and Additionally, within the lower, flood opportunities, plus the additional prone reaches of the Yakima River, dollars required to bring it back to where private development is sustainable use levels. It is relatively sparse and large acreages advantageous to operate from the are within local or federal ownership, former rather than the latter condition. a rich riverine environment of islands, In economic terms the difference is wetlands, braided channels and back that between already having an water provide lush habitat and asset, or having to purchase it. breeding and nursery areas for aquatic species. Table 2.0 identifies some of the important known functions of critical Additionally, shore lands owned by resources and their values. The far the U.S. Army Corps and the U.S. Fish right column identifies in general terms and Wildlife Service in south county the standards which the county's along the Columbia river's hydro- Critical Resources Ordinance applies electric pools provide significant fish to development activities in order to and wildlife resources. protect those functions and values. In contrast, biological resources which Current Trends are not faring well are generally found The current trends relative to outside of the Hanford Site. sustainability of Fish and Wildlife Specifically they are the native shrub resources in Benton County, but also steppe habitat which is being region-wide, is a mix of success and eliminated at a rapid pace by the failure. expansion of urban and agricultural developments, and Yakima river's On the successful side, the Hanford anadromous and resident fisheries, Site, occupying five percent of the which are threatened by poor water county’s land area is a large and quality mainly, due in large part to functional museum of indigenous non-point source pollution combined biological resources. Under federal with low summer flows. Overall, ownership for the past 50 years, it has outside of publicly held lands, the

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources current regional and local trend, economic incentive for habitat regarding biological resources and preservation, regulatory requirements wet environments as habitat is a to protect such resources on privately paradox, i.e., while federal and state held lands are not equal to the policy and law increasingly seek economic incentives for protection through regulation, the development. Additionally, the actual trend on the landscape is one impracticality of enforcing regulations of severe losses through development over the entire land and water and land conversion, including on resources base weighs against State Department Of Natural effective protection through Resource (DNR) lands in eastern regulation alone. Circumstances Washington. contributing to this condition are: • An inherent resistance to The continuing loss of biological regulation; resources is evidenced by • Insufficient regulatory and fragmentation of natural habitat, enforcement budgets, especially declining water quality, and the where compliance becomes growing number of terrestrial and "process" which is costly; aquatic species listed as candidate, • Gradual and imperceptible threatened and endangered by the decline of the environment: most federal and state governments. local non-agricultural

developments are of relatively Within the larger watershed, there are small scale, where the impacts also sub-trends. For example, there associated with any one project are projects for the conservation of may be marginal in effect, but surface water resources by Irrigation cumulatively significant. Districts under federal and state Cumulative impacts are difficult to sponsored water conservation identify and address. projects. The typical project is the • lining or piping of antiquated irrigation Lack of effective monitoring: long water delivery infrastructure to reduce term "post project" monitoring is leakage loss. Additional programs difficult, satisfactory enforcement is seek to reduce the total of "applied" rarely achieved and not cost water. The impact of these programs effective; is likely to be improved flow and water • Potential "takings" issues: quality in river main-stems and Commercial agriculture on tributaries, while eliminating the privately held land is the major significant acreage of wetlands converter of natural habitat in created by conveyed or applied eastern Washington. Yet, unlike water run-off. other land uses, it remains relatively free from regulatory requirements Protection of Biological Resources On to protect natural habitats and Privately Held Lands : Absent biological resources. This is education, volunteerism, and because the cost to the

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

agricultural land owner who leaves County believes that it is the public lands out of production, for a holdings, because of their size and public purpose, is a definable uncomplicated ownerships, which annual expense, which unless the hold the promise of successfully farmer is reimbursed, becomes protecting eastern Washington's simply lost production, which the natural wildlife heritage. The acreage farmer can easily document for a of these holdings may be augmented claim of " taking." by private lands too constrained for • Shifting legal ground: Though economic use. protection of resources through the application of regulatory Given these considerations, an constraints to the use of property appropriate integration of has generally been upheld by the mechanisms to sustain biological state and U.S. Supreme Courts, resources, i.e., fish and wildlife habitats recent court decisions have put is as follows. These actions should be the standards for doing so in flux, pursued under a federal, state, and thereby raising a "cautionary flag" local partnership, with non-impactive to regulatory entities, especially recreational uses a goal secondary to local governments which are wildlife protection: reluctant to get involved in • conserve for habitat purposes "takings" claims. suitable acreages of existing public • Politics of land use regulation: lands, augmented where needed Where the courts have failed to by additional purchases, find that property rights are exchanges, conservation ease- absolute, the issue has moved out ments etc., to "connect" large of the courts on to the political tracts of habitat into functional stage. systems; • apply and monitor for Future Considerations effectiveness, regulatory provisions As the trend to conversion of raw land to protect and enhance near- continues, fragmentation of natural shore riverine and wetland habitats will further reduce biological environments; productivity and diversity. Remaining • apply water conservation productive terrestrial and wet habitats standards to non-farm will be confined largely to floodways developments; and floodplains, canyons, • increase upper watershed storage undevelopable terrain, undeveloped capacity to provide additional low areas designated "Rural" on the Land season flows and reduce the Use Plan Map, and on lands in competition between in and out- government ownership (other than of-stream uses for available water state DNR). supplies; • in appropriate areas of the In recognizing this trend, Benton watershed apply land use

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

• practices which eliminate or government owned land in Benton significantly reduce non-point County outside of Hanford. Some of source pollution; these acreages are inter-connected • in concert with state resources into relatively large tracts (e.g., north agencies, undertake local slope of Horseheaven Hills above educational outreach programs Kiona). In the aggregate, these lands, including grant monies for estimated at 65,000 acres, represent demonstration projects on private the spectrum of upland and wet lands associated with sensitive biomes in the Central Basin. If resource issues. managed as an integrated whole, in As shown in Chapter Four, Figure 4-13, conjunction with undevelopable there are significant acreages of private lands, they would be a significant biological resource.

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

TABLE 2.0 FUNCTIONS AND VALUES OF CRITICAL RESOURCES Resource/Component Function Value Ord. Protection Hazardous Areas Floodways (river -provides a -is a "vessel" of self -no new channels) defined path of cleaning water, of construction or least resistance for sufficient volume and obstructions within watershed flows quality to support irr. -no modifications or and collects and Crop production breaching of holds a volume of worth $100s millions floodway boundary water sufficient to annually. -no contaminations allow diversions (agriculture exempt) and discharges - discharge of municipal and industrial waste worth $millions annually.

- sport and commercial salmon and steelhead fishery worth $millions annually, and general water recreation

-confines high -avoids disbenefits -same as above water flows and associated with energy to a property loss and predictable and public expenditures non-destructive from floods, provides path, opportunities to locate land uses with relative certainty.

Floodplain -natural flood -in lieu of capital -low densities, holding basin expenditures to do develop higher stores and same, reduces flood ground, no net dissipates flood damage by $millions increase in energy floodplain water level height -recharges -provides an upper -same as above groundwater aquifer gw supply for ag. And residential use

-replenishes "base" -improved water flow of river (i.e., quality enables water stored for municipal and release in summer industrial discharges, flow periods lowers water temperatures for fish survival

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

Resource/Component Function Value Ord. Protection -creates off- -nursery areas for sport -protection of these stream channels, and recreational features from filling, streams and fisheries as well as encroachment, wetlands which other aquatic biology contamination are biological which can be nurseries replicated only at cost

Flash flood areas -convey run-off -serve as natural -prohibit obstruction from short duration drainage facilities in by fixed above high intensity lieu of capital grade storms in defined expenditures to developments, channels provide artificial designate by devices easements

Geologic Hazards -landscape -aesthetic, real estate -none cliffs, talus slopes, features values, outcrops -nesting habitat -natural insect pest -nesting and for birds of prey and rodent control roosting areas of which costs to listed species replace protected

-mineral resource -crushed rock and -commercial basalt second highest aggregate sites are value natural resource designated and in county protected from encroachment by ordinance

Steep (unstable) slopes -open space, -value is in avoiding -ordinance habitats, damage to life and standards require landscape property and liability technical for damage; aesthetic assessment of risks in and wildlife value also order to locate, design and engineer in accordance with risk

Critical Aquifer recharge -recharge -replenishable water -manage the use, Areas groundwater and supplies have storage and surface water incalculable values transport of toxic resources (they over the long term, products in the make the once contaminated vicinity of known resource at a "recharge" or recharge areas, "renewable") "connectivity" point, agricultural use of they go from chemical exempt economic asset to economic liability

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

Resource/Component Function Value Ord. Protection

Wetlands -natural water -the increased costs of -protect natural treatment systems maintaining water wetlands; quality standards for in require and out- of- stream development uses without them setbacks

-groundwater -declining upper recharge aquifer levels means increased well and pumping costs -irrigation water -for farmers and supply irrigation districts entitled to "return flows," the value is calculated either as decreased crop production absent the resource, or water replacement cost (if new water is available) -riverine wetlands -value of rivers for are the nurseries fisheries declines, costs for in-stream of maintaining biology fisheries increases, including ESA costs which affect other economic sectors

-riverine and -bio-diversity has real upland wetlands estate value, play an essential recreational value, life cycle role for avoidance of >75% of terrestrial regulatory costs value, species in the pest control value desert landscape

Fish & Wildlife -provide habitat -aesthetics -coincident with Conservation Areas for biological -education & science Freq-uently Flooded resources -recreational and Geologic -maintain ecological Hazards protection balances standards, riverine -real estate value corridors and -avoid mitigation and wetlands are recovery costs incl. protected, and ESA impacts to "actual" listed species and

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

Resource/Component Function Value Ord. Protection their "priority habitats" (outside of wetland and riverine corridors) are mitigated

Rivers and Creeks -landscape - aesthetic, provides -ordinance riverine corridors feature extra real estate provisions requiring values along its reach development setbacks for river and creek corridors to maintain habitat and integrity of corridor Water surface and -wildlife corridor -consumptive sport -none specifically for column and river bed with diverse recreation (hunting, cultural, but other habitats: riparian, fishing) in $millions, protections wetland, upland, non-consumptive coincidentally do islands, water, (hiking, nature protect supports >75% of observation) indigenous species -cultural resource -tribal spiritual and -none ,except for subsistence resource designation of of incalculable value; public access ways in Plan

-a body of water - public recreation , -none for intrinsic for public access sales of recreational value, ord. provisions and use equipment to protect water quality

-habitat for -intrinsic value, sport -ordinance salmonid and commercial provisions for and resident recreational fishing structural setback fisheries equip. sales value in from rivers and $millions; creeks, protect riparian corridors Riparian Corridors -shade cover -high temperatures lowers instream are lethal to fish, water especially salmonids. temperature as the value is in does protecting the public's groundwater investment of more releases than $100 millions in from vegetated fisheries maintenance shoreline and enhancement -high temperatures cause algae blooms which deprive

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

Resource/Component Function Value Ord. Protection organisms of oxygen, and raise water temperatures same value as above

-riparian -noxious weed

vegetative abatement is an corridor is natural ongoing cost for gov’t weed control and agri-business. Rivers & Creeks are primary vectors for weeds, intact riparian cover hinders weed germination and growth

-root mass of -protects river banks riparian corridor against loss of stabilizes river property due to banks erosion;

-improves water quality by absorbing nutrients which enables increased economic use of the water;

- increases watershed

base storage for low summer flows which provides economic uses

-riparian corridor -value is in provides insect maintaining natural food resource for processes so as not to fisheries undercut public investment in fisheries maintenance

-riparian corridor -same as above provides leaf litter and other organic matter to the river

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Page 2-31 Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-0 Page 2-32

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-1 Page 2-33

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-2 Page 2-34

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-3 Page 2-35

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-4 Page 2-36 S STEEP SLOPES

General Areas of 15% Slope or Greater

SR-24

HANFORD AREA

WEST RICHLAND RICHLAND

BENTON CITY

PASCO I-82 PROSSER

KENNEWICK

PLYMOUTH PATERSON

U M A T IL LA

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-5 Page 2-37 FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREAS

HANFORD AREA

*

WEST BENTON RICHLAND RICHLAND CITY

PASCO PROSSER

FINLEY

PATERSON PLYMOUTH

Benton County Comprehensive Plan Map 2-6 Page 2-38