Publication Summary

The purpose of this information is to provide a decision support framework with defensible methods for assessing channel migration areas that meets the intent of the Shoreline Management Act.

The purpose of this web-based guidance is to facilitate successful shoreline planning by cities and counties. This web site is intended to support planning for "shorelines of the state" required by the Shoreline Management Act, (SMA).

Identifying the general location of the Channel Migration Zone is a required part of the shoreline planning process during the inventory and characterization of natural shoreline processes and associated ecological functions.

Additionally, the Shoreline Management Act requires management of Channel Migration Zones to protect their ecological functions and to reduce potential hazards to human settlements by guiding development away from channel migration hazards.

The web-based guidance provides a step-by-step scientifically credible method designed to identify Channel Migration Zones based on historic patterns, and hydrologic and geomorphic factors inline with the Shoreline planning guidelines. The methods provide for different levels of analysis depending on reasons for conducting a channel migration assessment, scale of assessment area, and channel pattern. The guidance provides the framework for local governments to determine if a channel migration assessment should be conducted and where. The guidance outlines different methods and provides examples of completed assessments.

The steps are presented in flow charts that can be used to go to the sections. The document can also be scrolled through page by page.