27.14.010 Purpose.
This chapter is intended to address comprehensive stormwater management in unincorporated Clallam County for new development and redevelopment through the use of construction and post-construction best management practices. As part of implementing comprehensive stormwater management in Clallam County, this chapter adopts a stormwater manual with minimum requirements for stormwater management. This chapter shall also address illicit nonstormwater discharges and illegal connections to public stormwater drainage systems in an effort to control and reduce the presence of stormwater pollutants. Specifically, this chapter has been created for the following purposes:
(1) General Purposes.
(a) To promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens and protect public and private resources of Clallam County without preventing the reasonable use, development, and maintenance of land.
(b) To protect critical areas from deterioration or destruction as required under the State’s Growth Management Act and Shoreline Management Act.
(c) To implement the provisions of the April 9, 2020, Settlement Agreement between the WA State Department of Ecology and Clallam County.
This included not requiring Clallam County to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge General Permit, modified stormwater thresholds outside of the Unincorporated Port Angeles Urban Growth Area (UPAUGA), and other requirements.
(d) To provide landowners (outside of the Unincorporated Port Angeles Urban Growth Area (UPAUGA)) a cost effective, simple, non-custom engineered option for small residential projects through the use of the Small Project Drainage Manual.
(e) To have the quality and quantity of stormwater, after land development activity occurs, be the same or better than the predevelopment conditions.
(2) Development Purposes.
(a) To ensure prompt development, restoration, and replanting and effective erosion control of property during and after land clearing, filling and grading.
(b) To promote land development practices that minimize disturbance to existing vegetation and soils.
(c) To manage and mitigate the effects of urbanization on stormwater drainage throughout the urban areas within unincorporated Clallam County through planning, appropriate engineering practices and proper maintenance.
(d) To manage all surface water runoff and diversions that may contribute to flooding and the pollution of surface waters.
(e) To prevent siltation in Clallam County’s streams, lakes, storm sewer systems, and public roadside improvements.
(f) To protect adjacent and downstream public or private properties from damage.
(g) To reduce the risk of slides and the creation of unstable building sites.
(h) To promote low impact development site planning and building practices that provide for managing surface water runoff on site and are consistent with Clallam County’s natural topography, vegetation cover, and hydrology.
(i) To allow the use of simple technologies whenever appropriate and realistic, but require the use of more sophisticated techniques when necessary to ensure the adequacy of stormwater controls.
(3) Environmental Purposes.
(a) To preserve, protect, replace, or enhance the natural qualities of lands, watercourses, and aquatic resources.
(b) To preserve and protect priority fish and wildlife habitats.
(c) To prevent water quality degradation and the sedimentation of creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands, marine waters, and other water bodies; and preserve and enhance beneficial uses.