16.50.100 Best Available Science.
(1) Best Available Science Must Be Consistent with Criteria. The best available science is the most current, accurate, and complete scientific and technical information available that is applicable to the critical area prepared by local, state, or federal natural resource agencies and/or a qualified scientific professional or team of qualified scientific professionals, and that is consistent with criteria established in WAC 365-195-900 through WAC 365-195-925. In the context of critical areas protection, best available science must also be based upon a valid scientific process as defined in WAC 365-195-905. Best available science sources are available in records maintained by the department.
(2) Absence of Valid Scientific Information. Where there is an absence of valid scientific information or incomplete scientific information relating to a critical area, leading to uncertainty about the specific boundary of a critical area, and risk to critical area function of permitting an alteration of or impact to the critical area, the Director of Community Development shall:
(a) Take a “precautionary or a no-risk approach,” that strictly limits development and land use activities until the uncertainty is sufficiently resolved;
(b) Require an effective adaptive management program that relies on scientific methods to evaluate how well regulatory and non-regulatory actions protect the critical area. An adaptive management program is a formal and deliberate scientific approach to taking action and obtaining information in the face of uncertainty. An adaptive management program shall:
(i) address funding for the research component of the adaptive management program;
(ii) change course based on the results and interpretation of new information that resolves uncertainties;
(iii) commit to the appropriate time frame and scale necessary to reliably evaluate regulatory and non-regulatory actions affecting protection of critical areas; and
(c) Maintain a critical areas designation certification program for wetlands and habitat conservation areas by periodically updating the city critical area maps with new information as it is provided to the city. Currently the city has two types of boundaries depicted on the wetlands and habitat conservation area maps:
(i) Certified. Where the critical area boundary has been verified and mapped by a qualified professional (e.g. delineated wetland) and this information has been provided to the city.
(ii) Uncertified. Where more specific information needs to prepared by a qualified professional and provided to the city to accurately show the boundary of a given critical area.
The most recent city critical area map revision identifying certified and uncertified wetlands and habitat conservation areas becomes the map of record for demonstrating compliance with the state requirement for designating and classifying these critical areas. (Ord. 21-15 §6, 2021; Ord. 19-6 §3, 2019; Ord. 03-18 §11, 2003).