SUMMARY OF THE RATIONALE FOR THE CATEGORIES 



The follo'.'.ing description of tbc different categories should he!p to ch.irae;..p.zo thv a;-;-- ,■ ;'- 

 \NC ha\c taken in defining and protecting the v.etlands under this S)>tcm. 



CATEGORY 1 



These v/eliandi are the e::a"' cf the crop' . GeoLraliy. th^>.: ^■. ;.:\;rd- :;'e _. :■ : ; ...- 

 rarely in a given area and should make up less than 5% of the wetlands in the slate. These are 

 the types of wetlands that: 1) are very valuable for a particular rare species; 2) represent a high 

 quality example of a rare wetland type; 3) are rare within a given region; 4) provide 

 irreplaceable functions and values; or 5) are impossible to replace within a human lifetime if at 

 all. These are the types of wetlands to which we cannot afford to risk any kind of degradation. 



CATEGORY U 



These wetlands are those that: 1) provide habitat for very sensitive or important vdldlife or 

 plants; 2) are either difficult to replace; or 3) provide very high functions and values, 

 particularly wildlife habitat. These wetlands will occur more commonly than Category I 

 wetlands and need a high level of protection. 



CATEGORY III 



These wetlands provide important functions and values. They are important for a variety of 

 wildlife species and occur more commonly throughout the state. They will occur most frequently, 

 generally be difficult to replace, and need a moderate level of protection. 



CATEGORY IV 



These wetlands are those that are smaller, isolated and less diverse vegetatively. They are 

 the types of wetlands that we should be able to replace and may even be able to improve on from 

 a habitat standpoint. However, replacement is by no means guaranteed. Those wetlands do 

 provide important functions and values, and losses must be mitigated for. In some areas, (for 

 example, islands), these wetlands may be providing imp)ortant groundwater recharge functions 

 and may require higher protection. Thus, regional differences may call for a more narrow 

 definition of this category. 



DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY - DRAFT 



