(1) Counties and cities must protect critical areas. Counties and cities required or opting to plan under the act must consider the definitions and guidelines in this chapter when designating critical areas and when preparing development regulations that protect all functions and values of critical areas to ensure no net loss of ecological functions and values. The department provides additional recommendations for adopting critical areas regulations in WAC 365-196-485.

(2) Counties and cities must include the best available science as described in chapter 365-195 WAC, when designating critical areas and when developing policies and regulations that protect critical areas. Counties and cities must give special consideration to conservation or protection measures necessary to preserve or enhance anadromous fisheries. Counties and cities are encouraged to also protect both surface and groundwater resources, because these waters often recharge wetlands, streams and lakes.

(3) Counties and cities are encouraged to develop a coordinated regional critical areas protection program that combines interjurisdictional cooperation, public education, incentives to promote voluntary protective measures, and regulatory standards that serve to protect these critical areas.

(4) Counties and cities should designate critical areas by using maps and performance standards.

(a) Maps may benefit the public by increasing public awareness of critical areas and their locations. County and city staff may also benefit from maps which provide a useful tool for determining whether a particular land use permit application may affect a critical area. However, because maps may be too inexact for regulatory purposes, counties and cities should rely primarily on performance standards to protect critical areas. Counties and cities should apply performance standards to protect critical areas when a land use permit decision is made.

(b) Counties and cities should clearly state that maps showing known critical areas are only for information or illustrative purposes.