Cities and counties planning fully under the Growth Management Act (GMA) also must identify open space corridors within and between urban growth areas. Critical areas include wetlands, areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for drinking water, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas.

 

In recognition of the central role that salmonids play in the environment and culture of the northwest, jurisdictions also need to give special consideration to conservation and protection measures necessary to preserve or enhance anadromous fisheries.  A broad range of activities should be considered in this effort, including water conservation, limiting effective impervious surfaces that create stormwater run-off, promoting water infiltration to recharge critical aquifers that provide summer-time base flow to streams, public education and involvement activities, cooperating with neighboring jurisdictions and Native American tribes to promote consistent environmental standards, as well as preserving rural lands and designated natural resource lands by promoting compact urban development and preventing rural sprawl.

 

The GMA also requires integrating shoreline protection with land use planning, as required by the Shoreline Management Act (Chapter 90.58 RCW), and as an additional GMA planning goal.