Land-use planning priorities and resources

Tiger swallowtails getting minerals and moisture
Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Southeast Region

Under the Growth Management Act (GMA), all cities and counties in Washington must designate and protect five different kinds of critical areas. WDFW serves as technical advisors for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCAs). When amending their Critical Areas Ordinances (CAOs), local jurisdictions must:

  • Include the best available science
  • Allow "no net loss" of ecosystem functions and values
  • Give special consideration to anadromous (primarily salmon and steelhead) fisheries 
  • Support viable, connected populations over the long term by preserving and enhancing habitat and wildlife connectivity

To support this process, WDFW has defined the following land use planning priorities and offers a wide array of resources. There are also a number of questions that WDFW asks of land-use planners as they designate and protect critical areas in their jurisdiction.

For assistance with land-use planning, contact a WDFW planner in your area.

Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) Program

The Priority Habitats and Species (PHS) Program is WDFW's primary means of transferring fish and wildlife information to local jurisdictions, landowners, and others who use it to protect habitat. PHS information is a form of best available science for land use planning. It is used by cities and counties to implement and update land use plans and development regulations, and landowners use PHS as they consider ways to conserve priority habitats and species on their property.

Among the questions land-use planners should ask themselves as they develop local regulations:

  • Are PHS Priority Habitats and Priority Species designated and protected as Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCAs)?
  • Are the PHS list, maps, and management recommendations adopted and incorporated by reference in your Critical Area Ordinance?
  • Have you obtained and evaluated the most current PHS list for your county? 
  • Have you obtained and evaluated the most current PHS maps or spatial (GIS) data?
  • Have you reviewed the most current PHS publications?

Riparian standards and mapping

WDFW offers several resources specific to riparian areas (ecosystems along rivers and streams), which are among the first priority habitats designated by WDFW. This includes designating Riparian Management Zones (RMZs), which are intended to provide fully functioning riparian ecosystems in support of water quality, salmon recovery, and climate resilience, among other ecosystem services.

In addition, WDFW asks land-use planners: 

  • Does your jurisdiction have a current stream inventory?
  • What water typing resources/GIS/mapping are you currently using?

Shrubsteppe protection and restoration

Shrubsteppe is a priority habitat in Washington, supporting diverse species such as sage grouse, pygmy rabbits, and numerous plants and animals uniquely adapted to dryland environments. Historically, shrubsteppe spanned vast areas of the state, but today, less than half of this habitat remains intact, primarily due to land conversion, wildfires, and invasive species. Local jurisdictions play a pivotal role in preserving what’s left of this vital habitat and restoring its lost functions and values to ensure its ecological resilience over the long-term.

Among the questions land-use planners should ask themselves as they develop local regulations and plans:

Have you designated shrubsteppe as a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area (FWHCA)? 

Designating shrubsteppe as a FWHCA in your critical areas ordinance is a critical step in ensuring the long-term protection of this priority habitat. By doing so, you help preserve vital ecosystems that support wildlife and contribute to the region’s biodiversity.

Do local regulations address the primary threats to shrubsteppe, such as fragmentation, invasive species, and wildfire?

Does your jurisdiction collaborate with stakeholders to support shrubsteppe conservation?

Effective shrubsteppe conservation requires partnerships across multiple sectors. Collaboration with stakeholders — such as local communities, landowners, regional agencies, and conservation groups — is key to achieving lasting conservation outcomes. This isn’t just a WDFW initiative; a wide range of partners are working together to protect this vital habitat. 

Are there monitoring and adaptive management plans in place to restore and sustain shrubsteppe habitats to ensure No Net Loss and strive for Net Ecological Gain?

A robust adaptive management plan is essential to both restoring and sustaining shrubsteppe habitats. These plans help ensure that conservation efforts lead to no net loss of shrubsteppe functions and values, and, where possible, strive for net ecological gain to compensate for past losses. Establishing these adaptive frameworks allows jurisdictions to respond to evolving ecological conditions and new threats to ensure long-term success in habitat conservation.

For guidance, review: 

Salmon recovery

Salmon recovery is among WDFW's highest priorities, an effort that spans the entire state and affects many other fish and wildlife species, including the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. In addition to these conservation objectives, salmon recovery is also critical for Washington's cultural and economic landscape. 

Land-use planners should consider the following resources and ask questions about how their work affects salmon recovery, depending on their location and potential impact to salmon populations:

No Net Loss of critical area functions and values

Protection of Critical Areas means providing for no net loss of ecosystem functions and values, which is included in Washington state law (WAC 365-196-830(4)). Existing habitat conditions should not deteriorate due without equivalent mitigation for any losses. No Net Loss is achieved through mitigation sequencing, as outlined in WAC 197-11-768.

Consider the following resources and questions when evaluating for no net loss in local jurisdictions:

  • Do you have a functional monitoring and adaptive management program at the jurisdiction scale?
  • Do you account for Critical Areas before allowing lot subdivision to minimize the need for Reasonable Use Exemptions?
  • Do other regulations conflict with your CAO and inadvertently impact critical area functions and values (e.g., clearing, grading, and filling ordinances or lack thereof)? If so, does your code include a provision that the regulation which provides greater protection to critical areas shall apply?

Habitat connectivity

Animals move throughout Washington in pursuit of food and other resources, to migrate between seasonal habitats or find mates, and in response to environmental changes. Habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors help ensure animals can move across the landscape within their natural habitats and maintain viable populations.

Consider the following when planning for habitat connectivity:

Climate resilience

Growing evidence shows that climate change is increasingly impacting our region's ecological systems. Land use planning can contribute to climate resilience by considering current and future impacts of climate change. City and county planners must adopt policies and regulations to bolster climate resilience in their jurisdictions.

Additional resources