(a) Policy 2. Rural neighborhood conservation designation will be established on the Strait and overlooking the Elwha on Place Road and along Dan Kelly Road from SR 112 to the 90-degree corner on Dan Kelly. Rural neighborhood conservation will also be established near Granny’s on US 101.

(b) Policy 3. A rural low density designation is mapped out near the intersection of Dan Kelly and Eden Valley Road and extends down Eden Valley to the Sandhagen Road area. Rural low density is also utilized just west of the Elwha on US 101.

(c) Policy 4. Rural very low density designations were mapped at the far west extension of Eden Valley to provide low density designations which grade into the commercial forestlands to the west. Rural very low is also mapped on private lands on either side of Granny’s on US 101 to buffer the surrounding commercial forest resource lands.

(d) Policy 5. Rural character conservation is designated along SR 112 and south down the first mile of Eden Valley Road and just west and south of Herrick Road. Many of these lands have not been able to develop to their maximum density due to the large percentage of land within critical areas. Streams, ravines, wetland complexes, and erosion hazard areas are extensive in this area. Utilizing a rural character conservation approach would allow development to occur but would allow critical areas to be protected in large lot sizes and by homeowners’ associations. To include these critical areas in small individual lots, such as the case under conventional zoning, would lead to loss of rural character, diminish water quality and destroy wildlife habitat.

(e) Policy 6. Clallam County shall recognize the interdependence of the Black Diamond and Little River neighborhoods and treat impacts as cumulative from both areas. Development in either area will impact the other as they are linked by a single road, depend on a limited water source and contain large tracts of viable timber land.

(a) [Policy No. 7] Forest lands of long-term commercial significance have been designated in the foothills and mountains which dominate this neighborhood. Ownership of forest lands is diverse: from the State of Washington to major private timber companies to individuals. Land uses adjoining that land shall ensure continued viability of long-term forest production, with increased setbacks from the forest line and notification of potential incompatible uses required during new development. Further encroachment of residential uses into commercial forest areas shall be prohibited as it would severely impact the commercial viability of the area for commercial forestry.

(b) [Policy No. 8] Development adjacent to designated forest lands of long-term commercial significance should be at rural very low density or shall utilize a commercial forest mixed use designation to provide a low density buffer to commercial forestlands. Where rural character conservation is mapped adjacent to commercial forestry, the large parcels or open space required along with rural character conservation development shall be utilized to buffer the commercial forestlands.

(a) [Policy No. 9] Prepare, update, and distribute a fact sheet on Elwha River restoration and its relationship to County watershed goals. Address water quality and quantity, fish habitat, fish passage, and other concerns in regular updates that compare long-term river restoration goals and methods to achievement of watershed goals and objectives.

(b) [Policy No. 10] Coordinate a citizens’ information team of local volunteers to track the status of the restoration and provide information to the community through radio and press releases and distribution of a fact sheet on Elwha River restoration.

(c) [Policy No. 11] Utilize the site and activities of river restoration as a “living laboratory” with long-term educational and scientific value. Sponsor field trips, talks, and public forums to provide information to the community on river restoration and ecosystems in general.

(d) [Policy No. 12] Provide technical support to the interagency river restoration team. Participate in restoration efforts that support watershed management goals, through dissemination of information on the project and through education of citizens, groups, and agency staff.

(e) [Policy No. 13] Conduct educational programs which address water quality and quantity issues and problems particular to the Elwha River watershed. Subjects covered should include land management; riparian management; water rights; ground water protection, and water conservation.

(f) [Policy No. 14] Review existing regulations relating to critical areas, sewage disposal, and land division for adequacy and effectiveness of ground and surface water protection measures. Use existing regulations to protect water quality and quantity and to control specific sources of nonpoint pollution.

(a) Provide additional protection for water quality and habitat by establishing riparian management zones on these streams.

(b)  Recognize the connection between flows and habitat on the Little River related to the Elwha River. No further water rights appropriations should be granted on Little River until minimum flow standards are established to prevent loss of fish habitat and diseases associated with low-flow periods.

(a) [Policy No. 16] Water service is provided to a portion of this neighborhood by Crescent Water District. Residences along the Little River utilize water directly from Little River. Much of this neighborhood utilizes individual wells or small community water systems.

(b) [Policy No. 17] Individual on-site sewage disposal systems or community on-site sewage disposal systems should be utilized for waste treatment in this resource and rural density neighborhood.

(a) [Policy No. 18] The steep-sided creek ravines, Elwha River Valley and marine bluffs form natural greenbelts in this neighborhood. Extensive commercial forestry resource lands provide for retention of many open space values. Open space will occur as a result of wetland protection, stream buffering and rural character conservation development which requires large, rural sized lots to be retained in rural areas.

(b) [Policy No. 19] Owners of wetlands and ravines should be encouraged to file conservation easements on these portions of their property to protect them from development, provide open spaces and gain tax advantage. Owners of critical areas identified by an open space overlay should receive the advantage of qualifying for open space taxation regardless of property size. Critical areas contained in the open space overlay should be protected and linked whenever possible in rural character conservation designations by ensuring that the large, rural sized parcels retained as a result of development protect critical areas.

(a) [Policy No. 20] Dan Kelly Road, Little River Road and Place Road are scheduled for road improvements in the six (6) year plan.

(b) [Policy No. 21] County gravel roads serving low density development or accessing commercial forest designation should remain a gravel standard to minimize conversion pressures. The eastern end of Eden Valley Road shall remain at gravel standard to limit conversion pressures in this neighborhood.