Critical Areas Update

Best Available Science - 2011 Draft

A 1995 amendment to the state Growth Management Act requires counties and cities to apply “Best Available Science” when developing critical areas regulations. Local governments must gather and evaluate available scientific information, and determine which information constitutes Best Available Science. While local governments may accept or solicit scientific information from state and federal agencies, universities, tribes, and other experts, it’s ultimately the burden of local governments to determine whether the information they have gathered constitutes the Best Available Science.

 The state’s Critical Areas Assistance Handbook, 11/2003 states:

“While science is not the sole criterion to be used in developing critical areas regulations, …science plays a central role in delineating critical areas, identifying their functions and values, and recommending strategies to protect the functions and values. Local governments must substantively consider the best available science when adopting regulations to designate or protect critical areas.”

Local governments that choose regulatory approaches that are not supported by Best Available Science must demonstrate how they considered the science and why local circumstances prompted them to use a different approach. Local governments must also document their sources, as shown on this web page.

Drafts of the Best Available Science - 2011

Wetlands Best Available Science - Draft as of 10-17-2011

 

Drafts of the Best Available Science - 2005

Please click here to review the Best Available Science that was used for the 2005 draft of the Critical Areas Ordinance, which was never adopted.

Contact Us

Interested Parties: Check back with this website for updated information. If you would like to be added to our Web Mail list, please click here. Staff contact: Andrew Deffobis, Associate Planner. Phone: (360) 754-3355, x5467 E-mail: deffoba@co.thurston.wa.us.