The report includes specific criteria for the designation of environmentally significant areas in the Denver Region. Environmentally significant areas are land and water areas that exhibit valuable and unique physical characteristics which have an important effect and influence on the quality of life for a community or individual. For the purposes of this study, environmentally significant areas include environmental hazard areas, environmentally sensitive areas, natural resource areas, park, recreation and open space areas. The technical information and documentation contained in this report relate to the regional development policies on environmental protection set forth in the Regional Growth and Development Plan for the Denver Region. These regional development policies provide direction and guidance to growth and development within environmentally significant areas and distinguished between those areas which should be left undeveloped and those which can be developed with restrictions or closer management.