Determine shoreline environment designations

Environment designations are analogous to zoning designations for areas under SMP jurisdiction. Their intent is to encourage uses that will protect or enhance the current or desired character of a shoreline. During the shoreline analysis, shorelines are classified into preliminary “environment designations” based on their physical, biological and development characteristics. After public review, formal boundaries are established for each environment designation and policies and regulations prepared specific to that environment. These policies and regulations will apply to all uses allowed with the environment.

Historically, SMPs have used primarily four basic environment designations (“natural", "conservancy", "rural" and "urban"). New state guidelines recommend the six designations below.  Local governments may establish a different designation system or may retain their current environment designations, provided it is consistent with the purposes and policies of the guidelines. The policies and regulations for each designation should reflect the purpose and intent of each environment and reflect its specific conditions.

Ecology guidelines for shoreline environment designations

The guidelines describe basic requirements for SMP designations, including requirements of the classification system and specific mapping requirements. The guidelines also include criteria to help local governments evaluate the consistency between master program environment designation provisions and the corresponding comprehensive plan elements and development regulations.

Ecology has defined policies and designation criteria for the following environments:

• Natural
• Rural-conservancy
• Aquatic
• High-intensity
• Urban conservancy
• Shoreline residential

Link to Ecology's guidelines for environment designations (external link to Code Reviser's site)

Local examples

• City of Sumner: Draft designation language | Draft designation map

Back to SMP menu