NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ELEMENT VISION
The valley community clearly demonstrates the high value we place on a healthy ecosystem. Our clean air and water, abundance of habitat for fish and wildlife, forested hillsides and open spaces help us retain our historic connection to the land. We integrate our building and development
activities with the natural environment and the spectacular views.
GOAL:
It is the goal of this community plan to sustain the health, beauty, and function of the unique natural ecosystems of the valley for future generations. The valley’s abundant rivers and wetlands, fertile soils, clean air, forested hillsides, and open spaces provide numerous recreational
opportunities, homes and habitat for fish and wildlife, and a healthy local food supply for the urban areas. The valley’s natural resources should be protected and where degraded, should be restored.
Water Resources
Surface Water Runoff, Flooding, and Habitat
Objective 19. Plant or retain trees and employ other natural methods to stop excess stormwater runoff, flooding, and erosion resulting from construction on hillsides.
Principle 1. Require new hillside developments to mimic pre-development hydrologic conditions.
Standards
19.1.1 Require development on hillsides to utilize low impact development techniques.
19.1.1.1 Hillside developments shall be designed to absorb and slow the water through mechanisms such as the following:
(a) Reduce the building and road footprint by increasing allowable roof-height, clustering the buildings, reducing densities, and shortening the roads;
(b) Allow revised Emergency Vehicle Access standards to reduce road width, length and pavement material while ensuring safety;
(c) Design the sites with terraces to increase the flow length and treatment capacity in heavily vegetated swales connecting bioretention systems;
(d) Locate buildings on the uphill side of the parcel to allow greater area of infiltration below the building; and
(e) Use porous sidewalks, porous patios, porous driveways, and porous roadways.
19.1.2 Require maximum tree retention to ensure slope stability and assist with the uptake of water. Allow limbing or pruning of trees for views while not compromising tree viability or slope stability.
19.1.2.1 Developments on hillsides should be allowed to remove vegetation only in the area necessary for roads, buildings, and yards. Overall vegetation removal should not exceed 30% of the parcel.
19.1.2.2 Explore the establishment of a greenbelt/open space corridor along the ridgelines and hillsides bordering the valley.
19.1.3 Ensure the allowable hillside density is compatible with the carrying capacity of the land.
19.1.3.1 Consider adoption of performance standards for developments on slopes or hillsides.
19.1.3.2 Consider reducing allowable densities on hillsides.
Principle 2. Investigate and correct flooding and sedimentation conflicts resulting from existing hillside development.
Standards
19.2.1 Undertake a study of existing developments on the ridgelines and hillsides to determine the source of excessive stormwater or sedimentation.
19.2.2 Identify and implement action steps to correct problems.
19.2.3 Funding for studies and corrective actions should come from multiple sources including stormwater utility management fees, grants, and developers.
19.2.4 Update the Mid-Puyallup Basin Plan to include any capital projects or programs that address sedimentation and flooding resulting from hillside development.
Principle 3. Implement policies on hillside development.
Standards
19.3.1 Set up a task force to implement the above policies. The task force shall include the Cities of Bonney Lake, Puyallup, and Sumner, Pierce County, and local landowners.
19.3.2 Initiate discussions with the South Hill and Graham Land Use Advisory Commissions regarding the preservation of trees along ridgelines and hillsides within the South Hill and Graham Community Plan boundaries.
19.3.3 Work with homeowner associations located on hillsides to understand and address the issues and correct existing problems.
Objective 20. Recognize and implement the Mid-Puyallup Basin Plan which identifies challenges and solutions for flooding, storm drainage, and fish habitat within the Alderton-McMillin community.
Principle 1. Alleviate flooding, protect water quality, and restore fish habitat in accordance with the Mid-Puyallup Basin Plan.
Standards
20.1.1 Wetlands are an important ecological component of the Alderton-McMillin community and provide water storage capacity, cleansing opportunities for groundwater, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Wetlands shall be preserved and protected through a combination of public
purchase programs and regulation.
20.1.2 In determining properties for purchase with public funds, use the following community preferences:
(a) Priority 1: Headwaters of streams and creeks.
(b) Priority 2: Mouths of creeks with the Puyallup River.
(c) Priority 3: Wetlands that mediate stream flow and provide flood storage capacity.
(d) Priority 4: Wetlands that mainly provide habitat for wildlife.
20.1.3 Time Mid-Puyallup Basin Plan capital improvement projects in the Alderton-McMillin community to reflect the following community priorities:
(a) Priority 1: Projects that alleviate flooding.
(b) Priority 2. Projects to reduce erosion and sedimentation.
(c) Priority 3: Project that alleviate flooding.
(d) Priority 4: Projects that provide greater conveyance efficiency.
(e) Priority 5: Projects that improve water quality and aquatic habitat.
20.1.4 Stream corridor restoration and removal of invasive plant species protects the carrying capacity of stream channels, reduces sediment deposition, protects or restores fish habitat, improves water quality, and reduces property damage and flooding. Restoration and
invasive vegetation removal projects in Alderton-McMillin should reflect the following community priorities:
(a) Priority 1: Projects that alleviate flooding or reduce property damage.
(b) Priority 2: Projects that include both bank restoration and invasive removal.
(c) Priority 3: Invasive species removal.
(d) Priority 4: Bank restoration.
20.1.5 Stream corridor restoration and invasive species removal should be coordinated with Pierce County Water Programs, Stream Team, and Pierce Conservation District.
Objective 21. Reduce flooding, improve water quality, and restore fish and wildlife habitat within the Puyallup River and Carbon Rivers systems.
Principle 1. Reduce flood insurance by continuing to implement measures to diminish flooding and property damage.
Standards
21.1.1 Recognize flooding and channel migration are part of the natural river process. Move people and homes out of and away from these areas.
21.1.2 Properties that are located completely in the floodway or channel migration zone and cannot be built upon should be prioritized for purchase or utilized for parks or agriculture.
21.1.3 The County should continue to participate in the Community Rating System program in order to reduce flood insurance for county citizens.
21.1.4 Support restoration projects for the mainstem of the Puyallup River identified in the Puyallup Tribe Restoration Opportunities on the Puyallup River, Restoration Site Catalogue as listed in Appendix A of this plan.
21.1.5 Limit densities and uses within the 100-year floodplain.
21.1.6 Allow limited uses within the 500-year floodplain with proper construction techniques including: elevating structures and insuring emergency ingress and egress.
IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS FOR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ELEMENT
The following list of actions needs to be completed in order to implement the policies contained within this plan. They are arranged according to the timeframe within which each should be completed: short, medium, or long term. Short-term actions should occur within one year of plan adoption. Mid-term actions should be completed
within 2-5 years. Long-term actions should be completed within 5-10 years of plan adoption. The entity or entities responsible for leading the effort to complete the action item is listed in parenthesis following the action. Actions are assigned to the Land Use Advisory Commission (LUAC), Pierce County Planning and Land Services (PALS), Pierce County Economic Development (ED), Pierce
County Parks and Recreations (Parks), Pierce County Public Works & Utilities (PWU), and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD).
Short Term Actions (Upon plan adoption to 1 year)
Amend the Pierce County Development Regulations to include design criteria (such as clustering and building construction) and site development standards (such as Low Impact Development, maximum impervious surface coverage, minimum vegetation retention, tree retention) for hillside areas to reduce the negative impacts of stormwater
runoff into the valley areas. (PALS)
Mid-Term Actions (1-5 years)
Establish a task force to address stormwater runoff problems coming from hillsides onto the valley areas. The task force process shall include:
- Initiate a study to analyze hillside development and determine the source of stormwater runoff into the valley areas and identify recommendations to correct this problem.
- Companion update within affected Basin plans to address necessary capital improvement projects to mitigate stormwater runoff problems from hillside areas.
(PALS, PWU, City of Bonney Lake, City of Puyallup, City of Sumner, South Hill LUAC, Graham LUAC, local landowners)
Work with the Public Works and Utilities Department – Water Programs Division to prioritize property acquisition within flood hazard areas. (PALS, PWU, LUAC)
Long Term Actions (5-10 years)
Implement basin plan recommendations to correct flooding problems in the plan area. (PWU)
Implement Puyallup Tribes recommended restoration opportunities on the Puyallup River. (PWU, Puyallup Tribe)
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Valley Preservation Group