First ever update to county shoreline rules protects Puget Sound

Department of Ecology News Release - August 6, 2008

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First ever update to county shoreline rules protects Puget Sound

BELLINGHAM - Ecology has approved the new Whatcom County Shoreline Master Program - a landmark effort that will significantly increase protection of Puget Sound.

The new rulebook was built in Whatcom County by local groups with divergent views. They worked past historic differences and found common ground in basing future development decisions in science.

Washington Department of Ecology officials believe their collaboration will serve as the model for cities and counties throughout the state as they tailor to their geography shoreline building rules that better protect the environment.

"Whatcom County's new Shoreline Master Program is an extraordinary example of how we can best protect and restore shorelines and wetlands," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "This master program required a lot of time and effort from the county and state, and involved important input from the local community. It shows if we work together, we can find creative solutions to guide development, manage land use, and help safeguard the health of not only Puget Sound, but all Washington waters."

The new master program combines planning policies and implementation strategies, based on scientific data that establishes an ecological baseline of the county’s nearly 400 miles of marine and freshwater shorelines, and the upland areas that affect them.

It is the result of five years of collaboration and hard work among groups representing state agencies, builders, farmers, tribes, local governments, and environmental groups.

The updated Shoreline Master Program:

Improves protection to habitat and water quality through regulations that apply to 14 percent of the 54,678 properties in Whatcom County.
Provides shoreline regulations in one stop by integrating the county’s Growth Management Plan, and zoning, floodplain management and critical areas ordinances.
Requires vegetation buffers of 100 to 150 feet, and structures must be 10 feet away from the buffer. The old program had no buffers - only structural setbacks of 25 to 75 feet.
Reduces the width of new recreational piers from 8 feet to 4 feet.
Strictly limits the construction of armored shores, and encourages the use of soft-bank methods of erosion protection.
Is accompanied by a restoration plan that shows where and how voluntary improvements made both in water and to upland areas can yield improvements at the shoreline.
Helps support the broader Puget Sound Initiative to protect and restore the sound.

Here’s what those who worked on the county Shoreline Master Program said about the process and the resulting document:

“The updated Shoreline Master Program defines the culture and values of this unique place. It’s consistent with Whatcom County environmental policies and regulations, and maintains quality of life and economic opportunity for current and future generations." - David Stalheim, Director, Whatcom County Planning & Development Services

“This new shoreline program will benefit not only Whatcom County, but the entire Puget Sound. It serves as a model, and provides momentum, for other counties. The program not only demonstrates the critical nature of local government, but also the importance of collaboration. Saving the Sound will depend largely on everyone who has a stake being at the table and doing their part.” - David Dicks, Executive Director, Puget Sound Partnership

“The wide range of shoreline functions and factors that are defined and the protections established in the Shoreline Master Program are important to the maintenance and restoration of a healthy shoreline environment and our common goal of recovering salmon populations native to the Nooksack watershed.” - Narz Cunanan, Chairman, Nooksack Indian Tribe

“The Whatcom County Shoreline Master Program is a step in the right direction toward restoring and protecting the salmon and shellfish resources that the Lummi people rely on for ceremonial, subsistence, and commercial harvests. Hopefully the words reflected in the approved document will be followed by actions that result in the effective implementation of the program.” - Gordon Adams, Vice Chairman, Lummi Nation

“The Citizen Advisory process for the Shoreline Master Program was long and thorough, and it was well worth the effort. Our SMP is the result of a real collaborative effort among diverse interests. That’s what makes it a strong plan. At the end of the day, not one member of the Citizen Advisory Committee thought it was a perfect document, but we were all satisfied that it was a good management plan, and we all felt some ownership of it.” - Wendy Steffensen, North Sound Baykeeper

“This shoreline master program fosters our industry’s continued economic viability by affording farmers a flexible, tailored means of compliance. Shorelines are not only protected from poor farming practices, but should be enhanced as future conservation plans are developed and implemented consistent with the SMP.” - George Boggs, Manager, Whatcom Conservation District

“BIAWC volunteer members, representing a rich mix of professional disciplines, appreciated the opportunity, and worked diligently to review and comment on the SMP. Our interest now is how the document will be interpreted and enforced by county officials.” - Bill Quehrn, Executive Officer, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County

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Media Contacts:
Katie Skipper, Ecology communications manager, 360-715-5205, 360-510-0682 cell, kski461@ecy.wa.gov
Barry Wenger, Ecology shoreline planner, 360-715-5220
Gordon White, Ecology Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program manager, 360-407-6977
David Stalheim, Whatcom County Planning and Development Services Director, 360-676-6907
Joe Bates, Whatcom County communications, 360- 676-6707 ext. 52510, jbates@co.whatcom.wa.us

For more information:
Draft Shoreline Master Program is online at www.whatcomcounty.us/pds/shorelines_critical_areas/pdf/SMP_County_Council_approved_02-27-07_clean_w_maps.pdf
Or go to www.co.whatcom.wa.us > Critical Areas and Shoreline Updates (in left navigation bar) > Shoreline Management Program > Work Products > County Council Approved SMP.

Letter to Carl Weimer, Chairman, Whatcom County Council