(a) The removal, excavation, grading, or dredging of soil, sand, gravel, minerals, organic matter, or material of any kind;

(b) The dumping, discharging, or filling with any material, including discharges of stormwater and domestic, commercial, or industrial wastewater;

(c) The draining, flooding, or disturbing of the water level, duration of inundation, or water table;

(d) The driving of pilings;

(e) The placing of obstructions;

(f) The construction, reconstruction, demolition, or expansion of any structure;

(g) Significant vegetation removal; provided, that these activities are not part of a forest practice governed under Chapter 76.09 RCW and its rules;

(h) Other uses or development that results in an ecological impact to the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of wetlands; or

(i) Activities reducing the functions of buffers.

(a) Drinking Water. Ability of a wetland to recharge, maintain, and/or enhance surface or groundwater resources that yield potable water in sufficient quantities to be economically useful.

(b) Floodflow Desynchronization. Ability of a wetland to retain/detain floodwaters in the upper watershed, reducing the severity of flooding.

(c) Groundwater Recharge. This wetland function is significant but not in the context that wetlands act as the major locations of groundwater recharge to aquifers. Although some wetlands do provide a significant amount of groundwater recharge, the large areas of river alluvium and unconsolidated glacial deposits and, in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, the irrigation network are much more regionally significant. Rather, groundwater recharge is significant because wetlands in contact with the aquifer are most susceptible to carrying pollutants to the aquifer. Conversely, if managed properly, such wetlands could assist in the treatment of pollutants already carried in the drinking water aquifer.

(d) Nutrient Removal/Transformation. Ability of a wetland to retain or transform inorganic phosphorus and/or nitrogen into their organic forms, or transform nitrogen into its gaseous form, on either a net annual basis or during the growing season. This can reduce excess nutrients and algal blooms in downstream surface waters.

(e) Sediment/Toxicant/Bacterial Retention. Ability of a wetland to retain suspended solids and chemical contaminants such as pesticides, pathogens, and heavy metals absorbed to them, on a net annual basis.

(f) Salt Water Intrusion Prevention. Wetlands can act as the boundary between the unconfined aquifer and the marine environment. Loss of water supply or drainage of wetlands will likely increase salt water intrusion to unconfined aquifers supplying drinking water to coastal inhabitants.

(g) Streamflow/Channel Maintenance. Wetlands that provide detention or groundwater discharge can supply a significant proportion of streamflow during summer and fall. These areas regulate the amount and timing of stream energy and therefore are crucial to defining the shape of stream channels.

(h) Temperature Maintenance. Wetlands can provide thermal refuges during winter and summer months due to influence from springs or contact with the unconfined aquifer. During summer months, wetlands with this function are important as fish habitat for salmonids; during winter months, these wetlands provide waterfowl habitat by maintaining ice-free conditions.

(i) Water/Food Availability. The ability of a wetland to provide surface water and foraging resources for migratory and resident species.

(j) Habitat. The quality and availability of areas for breeding, nesting, feeding, and resting for wetland-dependent and wetland-associated species.