10-25-1993 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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documents usually are the best sources of information concerning the capability of soils for agricultural or development activity. When these documents are not available, it is necessary and reasonable to define steep slopes as lands that are in excess of 12% slope or more, since county soil surveys and technical reports generally begin to include cautionary statements about soils capability when these conditions exist. The requirement that the slope horizontal component be 50 feet or more is based on the relationship that slope length has to soil erosion potential. Generally, the longer the slope the greater the potential for erosion. A slope length of 50 feet is necessary to exclude those areas commonly found in shoreland that may have a 12% slope or greater but only over relatively short areas with minimal potential for soil erosion. For example, ice ridges and small natural terraces or benches of land along lake or river shorelines would not be considered as steep slopes unless they are long enough to meet the above definition. It is reasonable to allow vegetation clearing outside of the previously mentioned areas if the activity is consistent with accepted forest management practices and soil erosion control practices since this is where development will take place according to the structure setback requirements for the particular shoreland area. It is also reasonable to allow limited clearing of trees and shrubs within these areas as long as it is the minimum necessary to meet the specific needs of the landowner to place the facilities or conduct the activities that are allowed in these areas. As a condition of allowing vegetative alterations in the shore and bluff impact zones and on steep slopes, it is necessary to specify performance standards and provisions to ensure that soil, vegetation, water and aesthetic resources of these areas will be properly managed. A notable benefit of the proposed rule language and arrangement is that local units of government are not required to issue written permits for vegetative alteration, thereby reducing costs to these units. Instead, landowners wishing to conduct vegetative alteration activities need only comply with the listed performance criteria, which is intended to be published in informational brochures and distributed to local units and handed out to shoreland owners. As stated in item B it is necessary to require the issuance of local permits for the grading or filling of the topography in shore and bluff impact zones and on steep slopes that involves ten or more cubic yards of material