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Washington’s
Shoreline Management Act
(SMA) was adopted by the public in a
1972 referendum “to prevent the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and
piecemeal development of the state’s shorelines.” The SMA has three
broad policies:
- Encourage water-dependent uses: "uses shall be preferred which
are consistent with control of pollution and prevention of damage to the
natural environment, or are unique to or dependent upon use of the states'
shorelines...”
- Protect shoreline natural resources, including "...the land and
its vegetation and wildlife, and the water of the state and their aquatic
life..."
- Promote public access: “the public’s opportunity to enjoy the
physical and aesthetic qualities of natural shorelines of the state shall
be preserved to the greatest extent feasible consistent with the overall
best interest of the state and the people generally."
State-local partnership
The SMA is administered through a cooperative program between local
governments and Ecology:
The Act
places a strong emphasis on public participation in developing local shoreline
programs and in the
local permit process.
Shoreline Master Programs
Ecology's adoption of
new shoreline master program (SMP) guidelines in 2003 initiated
a new generation of shoreline planning in Washington. The guidelines were developed as part of a year-long negotiated
settlement that also led to adoption of shoreline legislation (effective
July 2003) that established a new
schedule for updating SMPs, and a biennial appropriation of $2 million
to fund local SMP development.
Ecology has developed a set of “frequently asked questions” about shoreline master programs. We will be adding more information to our list to answer issues and other questions as local governments and Ecology move through the update process.
Ecology administers an SMP Grants
Program that provides funding for local jurisdictions to undertake
comprehensive SMP updates. The next grant cycle will open in the spring
of 2009.
- Introduction to
the Shoreline Management Act.
- SMP Register
(PDF) - a list of all Ecology-approved shoreline master
programs and amendments since 1971.
- Master programs updated in accordance with the SMP
Guidelines that took effect on January 17, 2004:
- City of
Chewelah (PDF, 1.6 MB)
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Town of Coupeville (PDF, 476 KB)
- Town of
Darrington (PDF, 751 KB)
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Douglas County
(No maps, PDF, 3.72 MB)
- City of Monroe
(PDF, 46 MB)
- City of
Marysville (PDF, 655 KB)
- City of Orting
(PDF, 913 KB)
- Port
Townsend (PDF, 7.3 KB)
- City of Sultan
(PDF, 6 KB)
-
Whatcom
County (PDF, 2.1 KB)
- List
of streams regulated by county and city shoreline master
programs (PDF)
- List of
other 'water bodies' regulated by county and city shoreline
master programs (PDF)
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November 2009
Chapter
5, Shoreline Jurisdiction (PDF), of the SMP Handbook, is now
available. This is the third chapter of the revised SMP
Handbook to be posted to our website. When it’s completed, the
SMP Handbook will cover all aspects of the SMP update process.
October 2009
Chapter
6, Public Participation (PDF), of the SMP Handbook, is now
available.
Frequently
Asked Questions for SMPs
SMP Grants as of October 1, 2009 (PDF)
September 2009
Ecology
seeking public review of Spokane County's revised shoreline
regulations.
August 2009
Chapter 7, Shoreline Inventory and Characterization (PDF),
of the Shoreline Master Program Handbook is now available.
July 1, 2009
City of Bellingham releases 2009 draft Shoreline Management Plan (external link).
June 29, 2009
Ecology/Commerce Guidance on Futurewise et al v. Western
Washington Growth Management Hearings Board and City of
Anacortes et al addressing shorelines and critical areas.
June 1, 2009
2009 Amendments
to the SMA and GMA
May 15, 2009
Press Release: Legal
decision bolsters state, local efforts to update shoreline rules.
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