1-60-280 Water Resources and Aquatic/Riparian/Wetland Areas
(a) It is the policy of the County to preserve and protect its present water resources, recognizing the county’s semi-arid character and that significant transmountain and transbasin diversions and the vested rights of senior appropriators have materially curtailed the availability of water resources. Furthermore, wetlands and riparian ecosystems, which are important to maintaining the overall balance of ecological systems; and are important plant communities, wildlife habitat and movement corridors, should be conserved, protected and restored. The County seeks to protect citizens’ rights to permanently protected minimum stream flows in rivers and creeks, and to the preservation of remaining natural riparian areas and wetlands.
(b) Land uses within the region should be designed to preserve and protect present water resources, including surface and groundwater, and to avoid significant adverse affects on the quantity, quality, or dependability of water resources in the County. Land uses should protect against significant increased salinization of water, loss of minimum instream flows, and the need for future major public expenditures to reacquire or redistribute water resources.
(c) To protect water resources and/or riparian habitat, development in areas adjacent to water bodies, functional irrigation ditches and natural watercourse areas should maintain adequate setbacks where necessary.