Critical Areas & Environmental Protection

Grays Harbor County recognizes and protects wetlands for their important ecological functions, including fish and wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge and discharge, streamflow support during low-flow periods, shoreline stabilization, floodwater storage, and natural water quality improvement. The County regulates land use to avoid adverse impacts and maintain wetland functions and values.

Wetland presence and boundaries must be determined based on-site conditions. Property owners should consult a qualified wetland professional when evaluating potential wetlands or buffers. Mapping tools such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and County GIS (MapGeo) may be used for reference only and are not survey accurate; unmapped areas may still contain wetlands.

Wetland buffers typically range from approximately 40 to 300 feet, with an additional 10-foot building setback from the buffer edge. Buffer width is determined by wetland category and habitat score, as evaluated by a qualified wetland professional.

A qualified wetland professional must have at least two years of full-time experience in wetland science, including delineation, reporting, functional assessments, and mitigation planning, consistent with GHCC 18.06.370.

If no critical areas are identified within 300 feet of a project area, verification from a qualified consultant may be accepted. If critical areas are present within 300 feet, a Critical Area Report is required in accordance with GHCC 18.06.180 and 18.06.370. The County does not maintain a consultant list; applicants may reference other jurisdictions when selecting a qualified professional, and must verify qualifications.

Grays Harbor County protects groundwater resources and public health by regulating development in Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARA), which are areas where geologic and hydrologic conditions allow rapid infiltration of water into underlying aquifers.

Certain types of development in CARA may require a Critical Area Report in accordance with GHCC 18.06.180 and 18.06.450. These include, but are not limited to, industrial or commercial agricultural uses with high chemical application, facilities handling hazardous materials or large fuel storage, golf courses or similar high-intensity turf uses, large underground storage tanks, fossil fuel development, and subdivisions of more than four lots.

Critical Area Reports must include a description of the proposed project and a hydrogeologic evaluation addressing site conditions, soils and geology, groundwater flow and quality, nearby wells and springs, recharge characteristics, and potential impacts to groundwater quantity and quality, including cumulative effects.

Reports must be prepared by a qualified professional, such as a licensed professional engineer with relevant hydrogeologic training, or a qualified geologist or hydrogeologist with appropriate education and experience per GHCC 18.06.450.

Grays Harbor County regulates development in Frequently Flooded Areas to protect public safety, reduce flood risk, and comply with the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood hazard areas are identified using the most current Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Grays Harbor County, or by approved engineering analysis where data is not available, consistent with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and GHCC 18.06.460.

Development in flood hazard areas require a Floodplain Development Permit and must be designed to reduce flood damage and may be subject to elevation requirements, anchoring standards, and restrictions on fill, utilities, and land disturbance in accordance with GHCC 18.06.500.

Grays Harbor County designates Geologically Hazardous Areas to protect life, property, and infrastructure from risks associated with erosion, landslides, seismic activity, tsunamis, and other geologic events, in accordance with GHCC 18.06.550.

Development in geologically hazardous areas may require a Critical Area Report prepared by a qualified licensed geologist or engineer with experience in geotechnical analysis, consistent with GHCC 18.06.560, 18.06.570 and 18.06.580. The report must evaluate site conditions, identify potential hazards, and recommend mitigation measures to reduce risk to the proposed development and surrounding properties.

Grays Harbor County designates Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas to protect species, habitats, and ecological functions that are critical to the long-term health of local ecosystems, in accordance with GHCC 18.06.590.

These areas include habitats associated with state and federally listed species, state priority habitats and species, critical saltwater habitats (including eelgrass beds, forage fish spawning areas, shellfish beds, and intertidal habitats), naturally occurring ponds under 20 acres, state waters, and designated natural resource and wildlife areas.

Development within or near habitat conservation areas may require a Critical Area Report prepared by a qualified biologist, consistent with GHCC 18.06.610 and GHCC 18.06.620. The report must identify habitat conditions, evaluate potential impacts to species and ecological functions, and recommend measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts.

Buffer areas are required for streams, lakes, and other habitat types to protect ecological integrity. Standard riparian buffers generally range from 50 to 150 feet depending on water type classification, as outlined in GHCC 18.06.630. Buffers and habitat areas must be preserved and maintained in accordance with county standards and applicable mitigation requirements.

Grays Harbor County does not maintain a list of approved or recommended consultants for critical area studies or reports. Applicants may refer to consultant lists or professional directories maintained by other jurisdictions for informational purposes only.

All Critical Area Reports must be prepared by a qualified professional in accordance with applicable requirements of the Grays Harbor County Code, including GHCC 18.06.180 and all relevant critical area provisions.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that any selected consultant meets the minimum qualifications required under County Code for the specific type of critical area evaluation being performed.

Consultant lists provided by other jurisdictions are not vetted or endorsed by Grays Harbor County and may include individuals who do not meet County qualification standards.

👉 Pierce County

👉 Pacific County