Five definitions restored to critical areas ordinance

Whitman County Commissioners approved Nov. 4 an update to the county's critical areas ordinance – adding five definitions that were inadvertently left out of the document's April 1 final draft.

Joan Folwell, Steptoe Butte native and a Palouse prairie landowner, and David Hall of Palouse Prairie Foundation appeared in support at last week's hearing, and Mark Storey, Whitman County Public Works director, suggested commissioners approve.

The critical areas ordinance, by state mandate, covers wetlands, flood plains, critical habitat, aquifer recharge and geologically hazardous areas.

The local doc...