SNR: A Focused Look at Fish and Wildlife Habitat

The Significant Natural Resources and Cultural (SNR) map shows areas where natural resources are located. The County regulates two types of SNRs: Riparian Wildlife Habitat and Upland Wildlife Habitat. Together, these make up the Significant Habitat.

We strongly encourage you to request a pre-application conference with our Development Review/Current Planning staff to learn more about any regulations related to proposed development and/or tree removal that may impact your property.

Significant Habitat boundaries must be confirmed when proposing development or removing trees within the Significant Habitat boundary. The SNR map “flags” the area, letting us know that further information is needed if new development or tree removal is proposed.

Effective Dec. 5, 2024, County maps and regulations have been updated and apply to proposed development and tree removal in Significant Natural Resources (SNR) areas. These maps and regulations are found in the County’s Comprehensive Framework Plan for the Urban Area (CFP), all Community Plans and the Community Development Code Section 422.

Our current regulations apply to habitat areas in the urban unincorporated area. Significant Habitat is shown on the Community Plan Significant Natural and Cultural Resources maps. There are different regulations for the rural area.

Metro defines Upland Wildlife Habitat as, "areas that provide food, cover, roosting and nesting sites for an array of wildlife. Includes forests, woodland, grasslands, wetlands, rocky slopes and uplands, buttes and other features."

Statewide Planning Goal 5 (Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces) is a broad statewide planning goal covering a number of resources, including significant fish and wildlife habitats. It requires local governments to identify and apply appropriate protections to Significant Natural Resource (SNR) areas. Our Community Development Code Section 422 includes regulations that protect, preserve or mitigate impacts to these resources.

Goal 5 Overview

The County’s Goal 5 program includes a Significant Natural Resource (SNR) inventory, land use policies and regulations intended to protect our significant natural resources such as streams, land along waterways and wildlife habitat. Our program includes work we completed in the 1980s and additionally in the mid 2000s under Metro. Our 1980s SNR inventory identifies locally significant fish and wildlife habitats in unincorporated Washington County. See our urban Community Plan and Rural/Natural Resource Plan maps.

The SNR land use regulations are in our Community Development Code (CDC) Section 422, Significant Natural Resources. They describe the process and limitations on proposed developments in SNR areas.

Tualatin Basin Program

We worked with local cities and special districts like Clean Water Services (CWS), Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) and Metro in the early 2000s to develop a habitat protection program for the Tualatin Basin. The Tualatin Basin Program includes limitations on new development and other strategies for protecting natural resources, especially water-related resources, in the County. These other strategies include County partnerships for restoration, mitigation and enhancement activities: Culvert replacements, riparian corridor restoration, tree plantings and funding programs to buy land for preservation.

Metro Nature in Neighborhood Bond measures

Voters passed these measures in 2006 and 2019. They support land purchases for open space, trails and water-quality protection in Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties. The bonds generated $700 million to purchase land to restore wildlife habitats and to improve and complete community parks and trails.

Our other Goal 5 elements

Our Goal 5 program also includes:

• Educational programs promoting habitat-friendly development
• Flexible development design standards
• Technical assistance program
• Other grants and incentives for identified natural resource areas