Descriptions
Whatcom County’s Critical Areas are environmentally sensitive natural resources that have been designated for protection and management in accordance with the requirements of the Growth Management Act. Protection and management of these areas is important to the preservation of ecological functions and values of our natural environment, as well as the protection of the public health, safety and welfare of our community.
What are Geologically Hazardous Areas?
 Geologically hazardous areas are areas that, due to their susceptibility to erosion, sliding, earthquake, or other geological events, may expose development tto risks that are inconsistent with the protection of public health and safety. These include landslide hazard areas, seismic hazards, mine hazards, alluvial fans, and erosion hazards areas.
Landslide Hazard Areas – Landslide hazard areas are areas throughout Whatcom County where there is potential for slope failure due to a combination of geologic, topographic, and hydrologic factors. These include any areas, including bordering uplands, that are susceptible to landslides because of any combination of bedrock, soil, slope, slope aspect, structure, hydrology, or other physical factors.
Seismic Hazard Areas –Seismic hazard areas are areas that are subject to a severe risk of earthquake damage as a result of seismically induced ground shaking, differential settlement, or soil liquefaction. These include areas where there are:
- Surface deposits of man-made fill or partially decomposed organic materials at least 5-feet deep;
- Filled wetlands; and
- Areas of alluvial deposits that are subject to liquefaction.
Mine Hazard Areas – Mine hazard areas are lands located in proximity to abandoned coal mines and associated underground mine workings. Mine workings include mine entrances, tunnels, rooms and chutes (large voids), drifts (water level tunnels), pillars (coal left for support), and air shafts. Related hazards include:
- Subsidence - uneven downward movement of the ground caused by cave in of underground workings;
- Ground and surface water contamination from tailings and underground workings;
- Concentrations of lethal or noxious gases; and
- Underground mine fires.
Alluvial Fan Hazard Areas – An alluvial fan is a fan shaped deposit of sediment and organic debris that forms where a stream flows, or has flowed, out of a mountainous upland onto a level plain or valley floor. As a stream flows out of a mountainous environment, it abruptly loses capacity to transport sediment and debris resulting in an accumulation of transported materials. As materials accumulate and build on top of older deposits, stream channels can shift and begin building in other areas.
Alluvial fan hazard areas are those areas on a fan that have the potential to damage or harm the health or welfare of the community. They generally correspond to the path of recent and potential future stream flooding, boulder flooding, and/or debris torrents.
Erosion Hazard Areas - Channel migration zones are one form of erosion hazard that may be found along a river or stream where a channel is susceptible to erosion and can be predicted (based on historic record, geologic character, and evidence of past migration) to have a high probability of movement over time. Channel migration is a natural and normally occurring hydrologic process that can cause significant adverse impacts to property or public improvements and can result in a net loss of ecological functions associated with that river or stream.
What are Frequently Flooded Areas?
Frequently flooded areas are areas located along major rivers, streams and coastal areas that are inundated by a depth, velocity, intensity and frequency of flood waters during major events that are of such a magnitude that they pose significant, and potentially devastating, risks to human life and property. Development activities proposed within frequently flooded areas must mitigate for flood hazards and conform to the provisions of WCC Title 17 – Flood Damage Prevention.
What are Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas?
An aquifer is a permeable subsurface soil or rock layer that is capable of storing, transmitting and supplying a significant amount of ground water to wells or springs. Critical aquifer recharge areas are areas that have been identified as having a critical effect on aquifers used for potable water and as being highly susceptible to groundwater contamination. A goal of the CAO is to preserve, protect, and conserve Whatcom County’s groundwater resources for current and future generations by protecting these areas from contamination.
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are areas that, under normal circumstances, are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater frequently enough and long enough to support vegetation that is adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps (forested), marshes (non-forested), bogs (peat) and other similar areas, and may be either freshwater or estuarine systems.
Wetlands perform a variety of beneficial functions, including:
- Habitat diversity and food chain support for fish and wildlife;
- Erosion control and shoreline stabilization;
- Maintenance of stream flows by gradually releasing stored water after floods and wet seasons;
- Storage of storm and flood waters;
- Improvement of water quality through filtration and retention of sediments, nutrients and contaminants;
- Groundwater recharge; and
- Education, scientific study, and aesthetic appreciation.
What are Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas?
Habitat conservation areas (HCAs) are protected to:
- Ensure the continued existence and enhancement of fish and wildlife populations by protecting and conserving valuable fish and wildlife habitat.
- Encourage the preservation of marine shorelines and natural river and stream functions that support fish and wildlife populations.
- Preserve critical wildlife habitats so that isolated populations of species are not created and habitat fragmentation is avoided, especially along riparian corridors.
- Maintain the natural geographic distribution of fish and wildlife habitat.
Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas include:
ESA Listed Species and Habitat – Listed species are those officially designated by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) as endangered, threatened, sensitive, or candidate. Such species include Chinook salmon, bull trout, bald eagle, and California red-legged frog. Listed species are known to be experiencing, or have experienced, failing or declining populations due to factors such as limited numbers, disease, predation, exploitation, or a loss of suitable habitat.
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Habitats and Species of Local Importance – Habitats and species of local importance include habitat that supports both vulnerable and recreationally important species. Vulnerable species, such as the great blue heron, are those susceptible to significant population declines because they are uncommon, have a very limited distribution, or have special space or habitat requirements. Recreationally important species include species with high recreational importance or a high public profile, and that are vulnerable to habitat loss or degradation.
Shellfish Habitat Conservation Areas –
Shellfish Habitat Conservation Areas are all public and private tidelands that have been identified by the Washington Department of Health as being suitable for commercial shellfish growing areas, as well as any recreational harvest areas identified by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Any area that has been designated as a Shellfish Protection District is also a Shellfish Habitat Conservation Area.
Kelp and Eelgrass Beds, Pacific Herring Spawning Areas –Eelgrass beds may be found along much of Whatcom County’s marine shorelines, particularly near Point Roberts, Drayton Harbor, Birch Bay, Lummi Bay and around Portage Island. Kelp forests and eelgrass beds provide forage, spawning and refuge areas for a number of marine species, including waterfowl, crab, snails, shrimp, and the Pacific Herring, an important local forage fish. Preservation of kelp and eelgrass beds also serves to protect local beaches from erosion by softening the force of waves against the shoreline.
Surf Smelt and Sand Lance Spawning Areas – The Whatcom County nearshore environment provides important migratory corridors and habitat for forage fish spawning. Surf smelt and sand lance are schooling plankton feeder fish that are preyed on by a variety of animal species in the marine food web. Both surf smelt and the sand lance spawn along marine shoreline areas, depositing their eggs on protected upper intertidal sand or sandy-gravel beaches. Juvenile fish rear in nearby bays and nearshore areas.
Rivers and Streams – Rivers and streams are generally characterized by surface water flow that has produced a defined channel or bed. Rivers and streams essentially function as a drainage system that transports water, sediment, and dissolved nutrients
across the land’s surface toward the sea. They also provide important habitat elements for fish and wildlife species. Many factors can affect the function and characteristics of a river or stream system, including: precipitation patterns, geology, topography, and human activities such as dams, dikes, gravel extraction, and removal of riparian vegetation.
A channel or bed does not need to contain water year-round to be considered a stream. Streams can also include drainage ditches or other artificial water courses where:
- natural streams existed prior to human alteration; and
- the water way is used by salmonid fish populations; or
- the water course flows directly into a shellfish habitat conservation area.
River and Stream corridors perform a variety of beneficial functions, including:
- Fish and wildlife habitat
- Flood and storm water storage
- Groundwater recharge
- Recreation, education, scientific study, and aesthetic values
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