JUSTIFICATION 



The purpc >c of criteria for wetlands ct Iccal ?;gniiK\-.nee /O. OL^Sj :> to ;rroMJc ■.■■.r. •:.:'. .... 

 government to protect wetlands within the wetlands rating system to a degree higher than thj 

 afforded by stnct application of the other state or regional critcr.a. 



rvu-in: ;-:\'.nL5corccpta lo-: co'.v.~----tcoj:j p-. - •_ ,;- ' _-:. -.C--,. -■ '. 

 wetland to Category III, 11 or I protection levels, promote an othcnvi>e Category lii weilanj lo 

 Category II or I protection levels, or promote an otherwise Category- II wetland to Category 1 

 protection levels. 



WOLS could also be identified and categorized on the basis of intcr-local agreements w here 

 local government boundaries arbitrarily divide a wetland. This w ould be essential w hen 

 additional protection of a watershed-wide wetland function was sought (i.e. flood-storage 

 capacity) and the watershed is divided by multiple jurisdictions. 



For inventory purposes, WOLS would be identified on the basis of strict application of the 

 criteria, regardless of the level of protection afforded them. It would not allow a reduction of 

 protection to wetlands where protection is already required by state or federal law. 



DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY - DRAFT 33 



