1. Wetlands. Wetlands perform a variety of functions that include maintaining water quality; storing and conveying storm water and flood water; recharging groundwater; providing important fish and wildlife habitat; and serve as areas for recreation, education and scientific study, and aesthetic appreciation.

Wetland buffers serve to moderate runoff volume and flow rates; reduce sediment, chemical nutrient and toxic pollutants; provide shading to maintain desirable water temperatures; provide habitat for wildlife; and protect wetland resources from harmful intrusion.

The primary goals of wetland regulation are to avoid adverse effects to wetlands; to achieve no net loss of wetland function and value – acreage may also be considered in achieving the overall goal; to provide levels of protection that reflect the sensitivity of individual wetlands and the intensity of proposed land uses; and to restore and/or enhance existing wetlands, where possible.

2. Streams. Streams and their associated riparian corridors provide important fish and wildlife habitat; help to maintain water quality; store and convey storm water and flood water; recharge groundwater; and serve as areas for recreation, education and scientific study and aesthetic appreciation. Stream buffers serve to moderate runoff volume and flow rates; reduce sediment, chemical nutrient and toxic pollutants; provide shading to maintain desirable water temperatures; provide habitat for wildlife; and protect stream resources from harmful intrusion.

The primary goals of stream regulation are to avoid adverse effects to streams and associated riparian corridors; to achieve no net loss of functions and values of the larger ecosystem in which the stream is located; to protect fish and wildlife resources; to protect water quality through appropriate management techniques; and, where possible, to provide for stream enhancement and rehabilitation.

3. Wildlife Habitat. Wildlife habitat provides opportunities for food, cover, nesting, breeding and movement for fish and wildlife; maintains and promotes diversity of species and habitat; coordinates habitat protection with elements of the open space system; helps to maintain air and water quality; helps control erosion; serves as areas for recreation, education, scientific study, and aesthetic appreciation; and provides neighborhood separation and visual diversity within urban areas.

The primary goals of wildlife habitat regulation are to avoid adverse effects to critical habitats for fish and wildlife; to achieve no net loss of functions and values of the larger ecosystem in which the wildlife habitat is located; to implement the goals of the Endangered Species Act; to promote connectivity between habitat areas to allow for wildlife movement; to provide multi-purpose open space corridors; and where possible to provide for fish and wildlife habitat enhancement and rehabilitation that reflect the sensitivity of the species.

4. Aquifer Recharge Areas. Aquifer recharge areas provide a source of potable water and contribute to stream discharge/flow. Such areas contribute to the recharge of aquifers, springs and/or wells and are susceptible to contamination of water supplies through infiltration of pollutants through the soil.

The primary goals of aquifer recharge protection regulations are to protect groundwater quality by maintaining the quantity of recharge; avoiding or limiting land use activities that pose potential risk of aquifer contamination; to minimize or avoid adverse effects to groundwater through the application of performance standards; and to comply with the requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Washington Administrative Code that require Group A public water systems to develop and implement a wellhead protection program.

5. Geologically Hazardous Areas. Geologically hazardous areas means areas that, because of their susceptibility to erosion, sliding, earthquake, volcanic activity, or other geological events, are not suited to the siting of commercial, residential, or industrial development consistent with public health or safety concerns.

The primary goals of regulating geologic hazards are to avoid and minimize potential impacts to life and property by regulating and/or limiting land uses where necessary, and to conduct appropriate levels of analysis and ensure sound engineering and construction practices to address identified hazards.

6. Flood Hazard Areas. Floodplains help to store and convey storm water and flood water; recharge groundwater; provide important areas for riparian habitat; and serve as areas for recreation, education, and scientific study. Development within floodplain areas can be hazardous to those inhabiting such development, and to those living upstream and downstream. Floods also cause substantial damage to public and private property that results in significant costs to the public and individuals.

The primary goals of flood hazard regulations are to limit or condition development within the regulatory floodplain to avoid substantial risk of damage to public and private property and that results in significant costs to the public and individuals; to avoid significant increases in peak storm water flows or loss of flood storage capacity; to protect critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and to meet the purposes set forth in Chapter 15.68 ACC. Requirements for the identification, assessment, alteration, and mitigation of flood hazard areas are contained in Chapter 15.68 ACC.

1. Comply with the requirements of the Growth Management Act (Chapter 36.70A RCW) and implement rules to identify and protect critical areas and to perform the review of development regulations required by RCW 36.70A.215;

2. Develop and implement a comprehensive, balanced and fair regulatory program that avoids impacts to critical resources where possible, that requires that mitigation be performed by those affecting critical areas, and that thereby protects the public from injury, loss of life, property or financial losses due to flooding, erosion, landslide, seismic events, soil subsidence, or steep slope failure;

3. Implement the goals and policies of the Auburn comprehensive plan, including those pertaining to natural features and environmental protection, as well as goals relating to land use, housing, economic development, transportation, and adequate public facilities;

4. Serve as a basis for exercise of the city’s substantive authority under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the city’s environmental review procedures, where necessary to supplement these regulations, while also reducing the city’s reliance on project-level SEPA review;

5. Provide consistent standards, criteria and procedures that will enable the city to effectively manage and protect critical areas while accommodating the rights of property owners to use their property in a reasonable manner;

6. Provide greater certainty to property owners regarding uses and activities that are permitted, prohibited, and/or regulated due to the presence of critical areas;

7. Coordinate environmental review and permitting of proposals involving critical areas with existing development review and approval processes to avoid duplication and delay pursuant to the Regulatory Reform Act, Chapter 36.70B RCW;

8. Establish conservation and protection measures for threatened and endangered fish species in compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and the Growth Management Act requirements to preserve or enhance anadromous fisheries, WAC 365-195-925;

9. Alert members of the public, including appraisers, assessors, owners, potential buyers or lessees, to the development limitations of critical areas and their required buffers.