Under the State’s Growth Management Act, every county and city in Washington State must adopt regulations that protect critical areas.  Snohomish County and all but the City of Brier have updated their critical areas regulations.  Critical areas include fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, wetlands, geologic hazard areas, critical aquifer recharge areas and frequently flooded areas.  Every seven years, local governments are required to review and revise as necessary, these regulations to assure that they reflect “best available science” (RCW 36.70A.172) related to the protection and management of critical areas.

To view the handbook on protecting critical areas, visit this link: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/745/default.aspx

Snohomish County updated their Critical Areas Regulations in October 2007.  Any development that has been vested before these new regulations were adopted can build using the older regulations.

Snohomish County’s and cities’ code enforcement relies entirely on citizen complaints.   If you see someone filling in a known wetland or stream and its buffer, you need to report this immediately to code enforcement and report the action.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife monitors streams and rivers.  The Department of Ecology monitors wetlands.

The Department of Health monitors septic system problems.

For more information on the rules and regulations for clearing, grading and cutting down trees and shrubs, visit the jurisdiction’s website and review their codes.