Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Boat Launch Permitting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Permit review and wetland mitigation may delay permanent boat-launch work, staff says
Summary
City staff briefed the committee that boat-launch improvements submitted for permitting triggered SEPA review and Department of Ecology comments requiring potential wetland mitigation; staff said a temporary solution will allow treatment access this year but permanent work could be delayed.
City staff told the Barnes Lake Management District steering committee that the proposed extension to the district boat launch entered the city permitting process and triggered SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review, and that the Department of Ecology had submitted comments requiring mitigation planning for any disturbance below the high-water mark.
Staff explained that mitigation could require a wetland delineation by a qualified biologist and a formal mitigation plan, and that any mitigation sites must typically be in the same watershed or nearby. The city’s community development staff said they are seeking whether an exemption is possible but cautioned there is no guaranteed exemption for the stated purpose of improving water quality.
Staff estimated the physical disturbance to be small—roughly a strip or spot a few feet across (the committee discussed a 5-by-5-foot estimate for the immediate ramp extension)—but emphasized that even small disturbances below the high-water mark require the same review steps as larger projects. If a formal mitigation and delineation process is required, staff said it could add significant time and cost and potentially delay permanent boat-launch modifications.
Committee members asked whether permitting affects contractor Scott’s planned ability to treat the lake this year; staff said a temporary access solution will be used so Scott can carry out treatments this season while permitting proceeds.
Staff also said a permit through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be required and that the city will use existing rights-of-entry (a city right-of-entry agreement with property owner Dana Day) to stage contractor work where needed. The committee discussed equity and precedent concerns, noting staff must apply permitting rules consistently to avoid creating a wave of similar exceptions along the shoreline.
Staff said they will continue to coordinate with the community development manager and habitat specialist (Grant Gilmore and Tammy Merriman were named) and will report back when they know whether an exemption or expedited path is available.
