Incentives for shoreline restoration projects
 

The City of Seattle DCLU has made available a report outlining ways local governments can incorporate incentives into local shoreline policies that encourage voluntary restoration projects in degraded shoreline environments.

• Part 1 describes the potential disincentives to voluntary restoration of shoreline habitat. The central concern is that restoration that changes the ordinary high water mark (e.g., creating an estuary to enhance fish and wildlife habitat on what is now dry land) would extend shoreline regulations to property currently outside SMA jurisdiction. This is a concern to property owners because of additional requirements the SMA may impose upon lots or development within the shoreland area (generally within 200 feet of the shoreline), including limitations on allowed uses, special development standards, provision of view corridors, etc.

• Part 2 of the paper reviews the SMA’s jurisdictional provisions issue and concludes that the SMA jurisdiction does change if shoreline restoration alters the ordinary high water mark of the shoreline.

• Part 3 identifies alternative policy language that local governments may incorporate into SMPs to create incentives for land owners to restore shorelines, such as:

  • adopting provisions to facilitate fills related to restoration,

  • allowing a range of uses on upland areas,

  • developing restoration incentives through development standards,

  • allowing integrated buffers, and

  • conducting sub-area planning.

Download City of Seattle: "Shoreline Management Act Jurisdiction and Incentives For Shoreline Restoration Projects"

For more information

To contact one of Ecology's regional planners responsible for reviewing local SMPs go to the Contacts page and click on the map. Ecology's statewide contact on the SMP amendment process is Peter Skowlund, (360) 407-6522.

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