FAQs

Critical areas (defined in San Juan County Code 18.20.030) include: 

• Critical aquifer recharge areas (CARA) (SJCC 18.35.080)
• Wetlands (SJCC 18.20.230)
• Frequently flooded areas (FFA) (SJCC 18.20.060)
• Areas with geologic hazards (SJCC 18.20.070) 
• Certain types of fish and wildlife habitat including marine shorelines, lakes, natural ponds, streams, and habitats associated with particular plants and animals AKA Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCA). (SJCC 18.35.115)

The purpose of critical area regulations is to ensure that development does not harm water quality, groundwater recharge, wetlands, and some fish and wildlife habitats. The CAO includes regulations for tree protection zones, water quality buffers, habitat buffers, and prescribed development standards within flood zones and geohazards. 

The term ‘Best Available Science’ refers to the body of scientific work used to establish these regulations. The best available science adopted for the County’s current CAO dates back to 2011. 

The County is required by the GMA to consider the Best Available Science when developing critical area regulations. The County is further required to demonstrate how the Best Available Science informed the regulations. 

The new supplement to the 2011 Best Available Science synthesis is available here.

The County's consultants have reviewed the current code, section by section and identified specific provisions that need to be amended. The gap analysis is available here.

Should the County choose to adopt regulations that depart from the best available science, the County will be required to account for the departure. 

The County will draw from updated reports provided by the state agencies to update the best available science that will inform updated regulation in the CAO. 

County staff are currently working alongside the consultant to update the best available science and draft new regulations that will meet the Growth Management Act (GMA). The initial draft of the updated goals and policies will be available in June as part of the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update. The first draft of the proposed regulation changes will be available in August of 2025. 

At that point, the public will have the opportunity to review and ask questions about the best available science, read the proposed changes, and provide comments on the proposed amendments.

Please sign up for public meeting notifications and other Department of Community Development news flashes here: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/2025-comp-plan-update and via this Engage Page by subscribing to the project. 

The County will host a series of community meetings during the early fall to solicit public feedback.  More information, including public participation opportunities, drafts, and hearing dates, will be shared as they become available.