CHAPTER
7. NATURAL RESOURCES
“An analysis of the uses of rivers and other
waters, forests, range, soils, harbors, fisheries, wildlife, minerals, thermal
waters, beaches, watersheds, and shorelines.”
I.
Summary of Present Conditions:
The City of Lewiston encompasses and is surrounded by water and land based natural resources and features that figure prominently in the City’s identity and livability. Recognition of the interplay between these resources and land use is necessary to the achievement of the citizens’ vision and goals for the City. Land use and zoning requirements should be consistent with the protection and retention of the City’s natural resources while still accommodating growth and development.
Inventory
of Resources
Water-Based Resources: The City of Lewiston is located at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers, which are the most prominent natural features that define the City. The rivers are bordered by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owned levees which were constructed in the mid-1970’s in conjunction with the impoundment of water by Lower Granite Dam. Adjacent to the rivers and levees there are a number of ponds and associated wetlands, providing wildlife habitat within and directly adjacent to the urban development of downtown Lewiston and the City of Clarkston, Washington. Within the City and the Area of City Impact, there exist a number of prominent drainageways and associated ravines and wetlands, including Lindsay Creek, Tammany Creek, “the grapevine” (Vineyard Ave.), and Modie Park. In addition, there are a number of smaller ravines and isolated wetlands located throughout the City and the Area of City Impact. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has mapped wetlands in the Lewiston area as part of the National Wetlands Inventory, basing its maps on aerial photography flown in 1981.
The City of Lewiston obtains its water supply primarily from the Clearwater River. The Russell Aquifer is an additional resource, providing domestic water to the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID) and to the few wells the City operates for water supply. Though shallow recharge areas may exist within the City and the Area of Impact, these areas affect only a few shallow private wells. The Area of Impact may include more of these types of wells, which are more readily affected by land use activities in and adjacent to shallow recharge areas. In contrast, the deep layers of the Russell Aquifer, from which the City and LOID access their well-water, is recharged in areas distant from the City, such as the Craig Mountain area.
Land-Based Resources: In addition to the levees, the City has a number of land-based resources that are integral to the City’s image and function. Within and directly adjacent to the City are vast tracts of prime farmland. Though much of the development in the city involves infill or redevelopment, an increasing share is occurring in these agricultural areas that abut the current limits of urban development. (See Chapter 13, Climate and Environment, for a discussion of farmland preservation.)
In addition to the ravines and wetlands associated with drainageways, there are other pockets of open space within the City and the Area of City Impact. Undeveloped steep slopes in public and private ownership abut the Snake River and downtown Lewiston, as well as the Country Club residential area. Similar areas in the Valley Vista Subdivision have been developed in recent years.
The City also maintains a system of passive and active park facilities, including Pioneer Park, Locomotive Park, Bryden Canyon Golf Course, the aforementioned Modie Park, and a number of ballparks and fields. (See the Parks and Open Space Master Plan, scheduled for adoption in early 1999.) A large active and passive-use park has been proposed adjacent to Warner Avenue in the Orchards. In the same vicinity, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game maintains a Non-Game Wildlife Interpretive Center on five acres adjacent to its offices.
Perhaps the most notable open spaces affecting the City of Lewiston are those beyond its borders...the rolling hills of the Palouse, the 2000-foot rise of the Lewiston Grade above the city, and the vast views of the Blue and Waha Mountain Ranges.
Mineral and aggregate resources in the area consist of sand and gravel production facilities just south of the City limits, in the Area of City Impact. This heavy industrial activity has important implications for adjacent land uses, particularly the Country Club residential areas directly to the north. The recent slide below the Elks Club created transportation issues for the commercial aggregate suppliers, as well as the residences. Other impacts of such activities must also be accounted for as the city plans for the commercial extraction of this resource.
Values
Associated with Natural Resources
The role specific natural resources play in the City will be referred to as values. The resources catalogued above represent two kinds of values: design values and functional values.
Design Values:
Design values associated with the City’s natural resources relate to linkages, buffers, views, and general aesthetics.
Linkages
Resources such as the levees, drainageways, and the greenbelts formed by undeveloped steep slopes serve as horizontal linkages. These may be visual linkages, such as the steeply sloped greenbelts. Alternatively, linkages may connect one land use with another land use or with another natural resource. For example, the levees connect downtown and commercial/industrial areas near Main Street with one another, with parks, and with the river itself. Such linkages may be utilized to promote development goals such as tourism, recreation, downtown redevelopment, and general economic vitality.
Buffers
Resources may also serve as buffers between land uses. Steeply sloped greenbelts, developed and undeveloped open space, and agricultural lands serve this function. Natural drainageways and greenbelts may serve as effective natural separations between one type of zoning classification, such as residential zones, and more intensive commercial uses.
Views
The open space, parks, wetlands, and drainageways within the City provide territorial views to adjacent lands. Resources outside the City limits, such as the Palouse, the Lewiston Grade, and the mountains provide panoramic views. Many City residents have determined the siting of their homes based on such views. Though land use decisions within the City of Lewiston or the Area of City Impact do not directly affect these resources, development may obscure views, thus diminishing the role this valuable asset plays in forming the image of the City.
General Aesthetics
Many area residents refer to the Lewis-Clark Valley as the most beautiful place anywhere. The abundance of natural resources and scenic beauty, as well as the general aesthetic values these resources promote have played an important part in the overall quality of life in the City of Lewiston.
Functional Values:
The functional values of the City’s natural resources include recreation, tourism, transportation and commerce, and ecological values. These functions may be interdependent; for example, Hell’s Canyon tours on the river provide economic and recreational opportunities for the City.
Recreation and Tourism
The Clearwater and Snake Rivers provide many and varied recreational opportunities to City residents. Private and commercial boating, jet boat racing, fishing, hunting, swimming and camping are facilitated by these resources. Active and passive recreational needs of the citizens are also met by the parks and open spaces operated by city, state and federal agencies.
Transportation, Commerce, and Tourism
The rivers also provide an important link in the Columbia River transportation system. Lewiston is the Northwest’s most inland seaport. The Port of Lewiston and associated economic activity are vital to the local economy. The transportation link has also facilitated the arrival of riverboat tours originating in Portland, Oregon. The City is actively pursuing the berthing of Columbia River riverboats as part of its Fifth Street Downtown Redevelopment Project. Nearly all recreational uses of the river promote additional tourism and economic activity.
Ecological Values
The preservation of the City’s natural resources is vital to wildlife habitat, fisheries, water quality, air quality, flood protection, and erosion control. Water and land-based resources function inter-dependently to maintain these ecological values.
Wildlife Habitat - The ponds and wetlands associated with the Snake and Clearwater Rivers provide valuable wildlife habitat. The drainageways, ravines and wetlands within the City also provide refuge for birds and mammals. The area is particularly rich in migratory and upland game birds. Small mammals and deer are still prevalent adjacent on the fringes of development to the east and south of the city, near the Country Club Neighborhood, and in the East Orchards. Though development may be expected to affect the presence of mammals in these areas, particularly large mammals, bird habitat can and should be maintained not only adjacent to the rivers, but throughout the City.
Fisheries - The Snake and Clearwater Rivers form a segment of the Columbia River salmon runs. Many other species exist in the vicinity of Lewiston. The retention of natural resources throughout the City affects these fisheries. Open space, wetlands, natural drainageways, and other natural areas facilitate the bio-filtration of urban and agricultural run-off. This in turn minimizes water pollution and thereby protects the fish. Land use actions affect these resources. The establishment of development standards to retain natural resources would, therefore, protect fisheries.
Water Quality - (See Chapter 13, Climate & Environment)
Air Quality - (See Chapter 13, Climate and Environment)
Flood Protection - (See Chapter 6, Land Use - Hazardous Areas)
Erosion Control - (See Chapter 6, Land Use - Hazardous Areas)
II.
Goals and Objectives
Design-Related Natural Resource Goals
Linkages
GOAL
(LU/N-1.0): Develop linkages
between residential and commercial land uses and natural resources (such as
parks, open space, and the river and levee system.)
GOAL
(LU/N-2.0): Use natural resources
areas as one way to link residential and commercial uses.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-2.1:
Implement the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
LU/N-2.2: Develop the proposed Warner
Avenue Park, which includes pedestrian and equestrian trails.
LU/N-2.3:
Implement the 5th Street Corridor Downtown Revitalization Plan.
LU/N-2.4: Explore options for connecting
Normal Hill with the levee along Snake River Avenue.
LU/N-2.5: Develop an integrated
pedestrian and bicycle plan for downtown, Normal Hill and Snake River Avenue.
Buffers
GOAL
(LU/N-3.0): Promote the retention or
development of natural buffers between conflicting land uses.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-3.1: Establish development
standards to retain steep slopes in their natural vegetative state,
particularly the slopes along Snake River Avenue and Bryden Canyon Road, as well
as the bluffs that separate Downtown Lewiston from Normal Hill.
LU/N-3.2: Establish development
standards to protect ravines and drainageways from encroachment or fill due to
nearby development.
Views
GOAL
(LU/N-4.0): Maintain territorial
and panoramic views.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-4.1:
Identify view corridors within the City.
LU/N-4.2: Identify geographic areas
within which views may warrant special protection.
LU/N-4.3: Establish development
standards to protect view corridors and views. Such standards may relate to
signs, building height and massing, setbacks, lot size, and landscaping, as
well as other criteria.
LU/N-4.4: Encourage the underground
placement of utility lines in areas that are already developed.
Natural Resource
Preservation
GOAL
(LU/N-5.0): Promote contiguous,
consolidated growth to preserve farmland, open space, and other natural
resources that exist on the fringe of existing development.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-5.1: Identify geographic areas in
which further growth should occur. Revise the zoning code to encourage this
purpose.
LU/N-5.2: Coordinate with the Public
Works Department to assure that its long-range plans are consistent with
efforts to direct further development to these specific areas.
Recreation
GOAL
(LU/N-6.0): Maintain access to
natural resources for passive and active recreation.
GOAL
(LU/N-7.0): Maintain and enhance
public access to the riverfront.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-7.1:
Implement the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
LU/N-7.2:
Implement the 5th Street Corridor Downtown Revitalization Plan.
LU/N-7.3: Evaluate other development and
redevelopment opportunities related to the waterfront, including linkages with
Downtown, Normal Hill and North Lewiston.
Transportation, Commerce and Tourism
GOAL
(LU/N-8.0): Utilize natural resources
to promote economic vitality and tourism.
GOAL
(LU/N-9.0): Encourage and promote
people and pedestrian oriented land uses adjacent to the rivers.
GOAL
(LU/N-10.0): Encourage and promote
water-related land uses adjacent to the rivers.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-10.1:
Implement the 5th Street Corridor Downtown Revitalization Plan.
LU/N-10.2:
Promote tourist related retail uses along Snake River Avenue. Revise the zoning code as needed to
accomplish this purpose.
Ecology
GOAL
(LU/N-11.0): Protect, retain,
and/or restore natural drainage ways, ravines, and associated wetlands and open
space.
GOAL
(LU/N-12.0): Protect and retain
wetlands associated with the Snake and Clearwater Rivers and adjacent ponds.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-12.1:
Establish development standards designed to protect drainageways,
ravines, and wetlands.
LU/N-12.2:
Develop a wetland layer for the GIS mapping system, using the National
Wetlands Inventory Maps and field data.
LU/N-12.3:
Provide wetland designation information to property owners who propose
development on parcels containing wetlands.
Refer such property owners to the Army Corps of Engineers to determine
the need for a Section 404 Permit for their proposed development.
LU/N-12.4:
Explore options for public/private partnerships to retain natural
resources. Such options may include
conservancy agreements, transfer of development rights, land swaps, or the
acquisition of private land.
GOAL
(LU/N-13.0): Protect any recharge
areas within the City of Lewiston and the Area of City Impact.
OBJECTIVES:
LU/N-13.1:
Implement the City’s Sewer, Water, and Stormwater Master Plans.
LU/N-13.2:
Identify and map any recharge areas within the City or the Area of
Impact, as well as any recharge areas to which such lands may drain.
LU/N-13.3:
Evaluate options for protecting any recharge areas that may be
determined to exist. Such options may
include wellhead protection measures,
cooperation with DEQ’s Source Water Assessment Plan, and/or development
standards designed to protect recharge areas.