WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County is asking for the public’s input to help update its standards for sensitive environmental areas.

According to the Whatcom County Code, standards for its Critical Areas Ordinance are required to be updated every 10 years.

Those standards are in effect for places like wetlands and protected wildlife habitat, along with high-risk flood zones and areas considered to be “geologically hazardous.”

The current phase of the update process will ensure that the Critical Areas Ordinance complies with applicable state standards.

Recommendations from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will also be taken into consideration through the end of this year.

The Whatcom County Planning Commission has scheduled a handful of upcoming workshops, town halls and hearings before closing the chapter on Phase 1.

The next workshop will be held on Nov. 19 at the county’s engineering building on Northwest Drive. An online survey is also available for residents to fill out through the end of this week.