What are Critical Areas?
The following critical areas are specifically defined under the Growth Management Act (GMA; RCW 36.70A.030):
| Wetlands | Wetlands are areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater and support a prevalence of vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands assist in the reduction of erosion, siltation, flooding, and groundwater and surface water pollution, and provide wildlife, plant, and fisheries habitats. |
| Critical aquifer recharge areas | Critical aquifer recharge areas have a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water, including areas where an aquifer that is a source of drinking water is vulnerable to contamination that would affect the potability of the water or is susceptible to reduced recharge. |
| Frequently flooded areas | Frequently flooded areas are lands within the floodplain subject to at least a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year, or within areas subject to flooding due to high groundwater levels. |
| Geologically hazardous areas | Geologically hazardous areas are susceptible to erosion, sliding, earthquakes, and other geological events. Development is not suitable in these areas due to public health or safety concerns. In Whitman County, geologically hazardous areas on agricultural lands are mostly erosion hazards due to wind and water erosion. |
| Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas | Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas are lands and waters that are managed in order to maintain populations of fish and wildlife species in suitable habitats within their natural geographic distributions. This management occurs over the long term and within connected habitat blocks and open spaces. |
The VSP Work Plan details how Whitman County will protect critical areas within areas where agricultural activities are conducted while maintaining and enhancing the viability of agriculture. Protection in terms of the VSP means to prevent the degradation of critical areas functions and values that existed when VSP legislation was passed, on July 22, 2011.
What are examples of voluntary stewardship measures that protect or enhance critical areas?
- Direct Seed/No’Till/2-Pass
- precision ag
- Nutrient/Pest Manangement
- Grazing Management
- Alternative Water Developements
- Manure Management Structures
- Buffers
- Riparian Plantings
- Streambank Protection
What is meant by the Baseline Conditions?
The effective date of the VSP legislation is July 22, 2011. This is the date used for identifying the baseline for protecting critical areas function and agricultural viability. This date also represents the switch between regulatory critical area protection and voluntary-based critical areas protection and enhancement for counties that have opted into the VSP.
What is the “Protect Critical Areas” test?
The Work Plan details how Whitman County will protect critical areas while maintaining and enhancing the viability of agriculture in the watershed through the VSP. The definition of protection in the legislation for the VSP indicates that “Protect” or “protecting” means to prevent the degradation of functions and values existing as of July 22, 2011.
What does it mean to “Create and Meet Protection and Enhancement Benchmarks?”
VSPs require creation of measurable benchmarks that are designed to protect and enhance critical area functions and values through voluntary actions by agricultural operators. Protection requires prevention of the degradation of functions and values of baseline conditions (conditions existing as of July 22, 2011 when VSP legislation was passed). Enhancement means to improve the processes, structure, and functions of baseline conditions for ecosystems and habitats associated with critical areas (RCW 36.70A.703).
In addition to benchmarks for critical area functions, the Work Plan must also include benchmarks for promotion and implementation of voluntary stewardship actions designed to protect and enhance these critical area functions. Failure to meet the goals and benchmarks for critical area functions will represent failure of the Work Plan and trigger a regulatory approach to critical areas protection under the GMA.
What does it mean to “Maintain and Enhance Agricultural Viability”?
To receive approval, the VSP Work Plan must maintain and enhance agricultural viability (RCW 36.70A.725). For instance, the primary method of promoting critical area functions must be through voluntary stewardship actions. VSP will not require an agricultural operator to discontinue agricultural activities that legally existed before July 22, 2011 (RCW 36.70A.702).
Additionally, VSP does not give counties or state agencies any additional authority to protect critical areas on lands used for agricultural activities (RCW 36.70A.702). In order to promote producer participation and productive decision-making among Work Group members, VSP prohibits creation of new County-wide critical area regulations related to agricultural activities during VSP process (narrow exceptions apply; RCW 36.70A.130[8][a]). Further, nothing in VSP requires participation from agricultural operators; participation is voluntary.
However, failure to meet the goals and benchmarks for critical area functions will represent failure of the Work Plan and trigger a regulatory approach to critical areas protection under the GMA.
What are the differences between the current Growth Management Act (GMA) regulations and VSP?
| GMA | VSP |
| Participation is compulsory | Participation is voluntary |
| Regulated by mandated requirements from state | Created though Work Plans developed by stakeholder group |
| Can cause conflict between the county and landowners | Encourages and fosters a spirit of cooperation and partnership between landowners and the County |
| Focuses on agricultural land designations | Focuses on stewardship activities |
| Applies to an individual land parcel | Applies to a watershed or river reach |
| Uses buffers and voluntary incentive programs to protect critical areas | Uses landowners’ stewardship plans |
| Protection of critical areas through regulatory buffers combined with enforcement program | Focus is on protecting overall critical area functions through voluntary actions |
| Neutral position on agricultural viability | Concerned with viability of agriculture |
| Uses buffers to protect critical areas | Uses goals and benchmarks to assess critical area functions |
| Neutral position on outreach and technical assistance | Ensures outreach and technical assistance is provided to agricultural operators |
| Based on established buffers | Based on measurable stewardship objectives that are monitored |
| Enforcement triggered by land-use activity or development | Progress assessed through monitoring and reporting |
| Adopted and defended by the County | Adopted and defended by Washington State Conservation Commission |
Why should I participate in the VSP?
- First and foremost, it keeps us all from being regulated. This means more local control, more certainty, and less regulations.
- Gives us greater flexibility in solving problems.
- It will promote a positive image in agriculture