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Chapter Two - Natural Resources

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Chapter Two - Natural Resources 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 Benton County Comprehensive Plan Page 2-1 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 Cascade range 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; Benton County Comprehensive Plan Page 2-2 Chapter Two - Natural Resources 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 Hanford Site. 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; Yakima River (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 Washington 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 Columbia River at the City of County are as follows: Richland, to around 700 feet at the Yakima County line. Benton County Comprehensive Plan Page 2-3 Chapter Two - Natural Resources 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.
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