Critical Areas
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What are Critical Areas Ordinances?
Critical Areas Ordinances are a set of development regulations that protect wetlands, stream corridors, fish and wildlife habitat, areas that recharge groundwater sources used for drinking water, flood plains and geological hazards (like steep slopes). Every county and city in Washington is required to adopt and enforce Critical Areas Ordinances.
About CAO Updates
Between 2004 and 2008, each county and city in the state is required to
update its Critical Areas Ordinance.
The CAO update includes identifying important habitats, wetlands, waterways, and providing guidelines on how they should be protected. Counties and cities must include the best available science in developing policies and development regulations to protect the functions and values of critical areas.
Citizen input is essential to the creation of plans that are protective of wetlands, wildlife habitat, farmland and other natural resources. This is our opportunity to strengthen protections and close loopholes left open by the original plans. If protections are weakened, it will be at least another seven years until we have another opportunity to make significant changes. How can I get involved in my county?
What CAO's Do
Streams, wetlands, and their buffers are important because they make highly beneficial environmental contributions to society. The benefits brought by Critical Areas include:
- Maintaining the quality of our water supply
- Maintaining lakes and streams
- Providing habitat for wildlife and fish
- Protecting priceless endangered species
- Keeping our natural vegetation
- Recreation areas and our aesthetic landscape
- Mitigation of natural hazard
- Floodwater storage
Since each county's CAO was last updated, there have been major advances in the scientific understanding of fish and wildlife. This new science needs to be included in the CAO.
The population of most counties have increased, putting more pressure on critical areas. We have to think about CAOs as a tool for better managing growth.
State law requires each county to review and update their critical areas ordinance using best available science.
Sometimes an original CAO does not include strong regulations in the terms of wildlife and fish protections. Protection for wildlife habitats are important because once a species is lost, it will never return.
Protecting water buffer zones are very important for water quality. Buffer zones help filter stormwater run-off. This system protects streams or lakes from erosion and pollution. Natural vegetations along streams stabilize water temperature. Some species, such as salmon, are very sensitive to fluctuations in water temperature.
A strong CAO will improve our quality of life by providing for clean water and abundant fish and wildlife habitat, as well as minimizing damage to buildings and human life from natural hazards, and helping to prevent the huge costs of unnecessary sprawl.
CAO Schedule
- December 1, 2004: Clallam, Clark, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties and cities.
- December 1, 2006: Cowlitz, Island, Lewis, Mason, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania counties and cities.
- December 1, 2007: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Spokane, Yakima counties and cities
- December 1, 2008: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties and cities