Roads keep clogging with traffic.
The troubled salmon runs bring reminders about conserving water. Farmlands and open space have transformed into housing developments. Although the state's Growth Management Act went into effect 10 years ago this summer, state residents still face serious challenges to their desire to maintain a high quality of life. The law needs to be streamlined to make it more predictable and strengthened to adequately protect Washington's rich environmental heritage from the threats of sprawl and poorly considered development. Thanks to the GMA, the situation is much better than it could have been.