NOTICE: Many of our online applications will not be available starting next Friday, May 31 at 5:00 pm through the weekend, due to maintenance work requiring power outages. (See more information)
The Shoreline Public Access Project is a geographic information
systems (GIS) project to identify the location, length, and degree
of public access to Washington State's marine shoreline. Before the
project, it was unknown how much of Washington's 3068 miles of
shoreline was public. The information was scattered throughout
various government agencies and the data quality was variable.
Through the Shoreline Public Access Project, the best available
information has been summarized into a single data set, used to
answer questions about our shoreline's ownership and public
accessibility.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Shoreline Public Access Project is: 1) to
combine various sources of shoreline data into an organized and
comprehensive database 2) to create a more accurate dataset of
publically accessible shoreline. The ultimate purpose of this data
is to give shoreline managers and planners another tool to assist
them in making important shoreline decisions.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 2004
Ending_Date: 2008
Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.835106
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.100257
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.018241
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 46.245311
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
REQUIRED: Reference to a formally registered thesaurus or a
similar authoritative source of theme keywords.
Theme_Keyword: Public Access
Theme_Keyword: Public Beaches
Theme_Keyword: Shoreline Ownership
Theme_Keyword: Beach Boundaries
Theme_Keyword: Shoreline Management
Place:
Place_Keyword: Washington State
Place_Keyword: Puget Sound
Place_Keyword: Strait of Juan de Fuca
Place_Keyword: Washington Coast
Place_Keyword: Pacific Northwest
Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints:
This data may not be used in legal disputes. This data is not
intended for navigational purposes.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Washington State
Department of Ecology
Microsoft Windows Vista Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1;
ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3000
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Beach ownership data was obtained from primary sources which are
local, state, and federal agencies. The Department of Ecology can
not verify the data's accuracy. Beach ownership is always changing
and this database will not be automatically updated. Always err on
the side of caution and respect private beach owner's rights. Even
public ownership of a beach does not by itself, give access rights
to anyone. Some public beaches are off limits to the public to
protect endangered species, protect fragile habitat, or for the
public's safety, It is always a good idea to check with a beach
owner before entering a beach.
Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal
coordinates
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Shoreline_Public_Access
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically
generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining
the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: REP_NAME
Attribute_Definition: Represenative Name
Attribute_Definition_Source: From Shorezone
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: CLASS_DESC
Attribute_Definition:
A short description of the class code for the project. For
reference only see the full Class Description PDF that should
have been included in download package.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Class Description PDF
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: BEACH_NAME
Attribute_Definition:
Beach Name - there can be various names of a beach locally
and historically. We do our best to ensure we pick the most
accurate name.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: COUNTY
Attribute_Definition: The county in Washington
where the segment is located
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: BIDN
Attribute_Definition:
Beach Identification Number developed by WDFW and used by
DOH shellfish and other groups. This beach roughly corresponds
to the BIDN indicated in this field.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Referencing data
created by WDFW
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OWNER
Attribute_Definition:
Indicates the owner of the property gathered primarily from
parcel data.
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: WDFW
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: DNR
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: ECY
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Washington State Department of Ecology
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: DOT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Washington State Department of Transportation
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: STATE PARKS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: DATA_SOURC
Attribute_Definition: Data Source
Attribute_Definition_Source: The data that was used
to determine the extent of the segment
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: All Sites
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to original Public Access Database created
by the BEACH Program
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: BIDN
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to the Beach Identification Number dataset
created by WDFW
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Parcels
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to the parcel data from each county.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Aerial Photos
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to the photos found on the Washington
Coastal Atlas or from satellite imagery.
Refering to data the county has provided identifying
location on parks
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: State Parks
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to the GIS State Parks Layer.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Afoot & Afloat
(Mueller)
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to a series books used in researching public
access
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: RecBeaches
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Refering to a dataset known as RecBeaches or
Recreational Beaches; created by State Dept of Health
Shellfish group.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Boat Launches
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Referring to the GIS layer created by the
Recreational and Conservation Office identifying all the
boat launches in WA.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: CLASS
Attribute_Definition:
Classification - A system used to classify the type of
Public Access. There are various degrees of public access: a
beach may be accessible to anyone in the public such as a
government park, a beach may be owned by the public but
inaccessible, or a beach may be owned by a private entity but
open to the public (ex nature conservancy, boy scouts). The goal
of this dataset is to represent these degrees of variability so
that through the use of queries, each end user can query the
type of accessiblity they are interested in.
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUB1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
GOVERNMENT PARK
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT
OWNED PARK ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUB2
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND WITH KNOWN PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT
OWNED LAND ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUB3
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
GOVERNMENT OWNED TIDELANDS ACCESSIBLE FROM LAND
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
GOVERNMENT OWNED TIDELANDS ACCESSIBLE FROM PUBLIC
ACCESS POINT OR FROM AN ADJACENT PUBLIC BEACH. UPLANDS
ARE PRIVATE OR NONACCESSIBLE GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUB4
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND WITH NO KNOWN PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY, PORT DISTRICT, OR
OTHER PUBLIC ENTITY LAND WITH NO KNOWN PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUB5
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: NON
ACCESSIBLE GOVERNMENT OWNED TIDELANDS.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
BEACHES FROM THE 2001BIDN_region (DATA MAINTAINED BY
WDFW) THAT HAVE QUESTIONABLE PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND
LOCATION. THERE ARE NO OTHER DATA SETS SUPPORTING THESE
BEACHES AS PUBLIC.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUBBOAT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PUBLIC
BOAT LAUNCH
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
BOAT LAUNCH OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY AND OPEN TO
ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUBDOCK
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PUBLIC
DOCK
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
DOCK OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY AND OPEN TO ANYONE
IN THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUBPIER
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PUBLIC
PIER
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PIER OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY AND OPEN TO ANYONE
IN THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUBRD
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PUBLIC
ROAD END
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
ROAD END OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITATY AND OPEN TO
ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUBMARINA
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PUBLIC
MARINA
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PROPERTY OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY AND TYPICALLY
OPEN TO ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PUBFERRY
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: A
PUBLIC FERRY TERMINAL
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
FERRY TERMINAL OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY AND OPEN
TO ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: BRIDGE
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: A
BRIDGE ON A PUBLIC ROAD/HIGHWAY
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
BRIDGE OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY (USUALLY DOT)
AND OPEN TO ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC. MANY BRIDGES (MUD BAY
BRIDGE IN OLYMPIA, STEAMBOAT ISLAND BRIDGE) ARE POPULAR
WITH FISHERMEN AND OFFER ACCESS TO THE SHORE.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: RAIL
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
BEACH WITH RAILROAD WHERE TIDELANDS ARE ADJACENT TO
PUBLIC BEACH
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PRIVATE UPLANDS WITH RAILROAD WHERE TIDELANDS ARE
ACCESSIBLE DUE TO ADJACENT PUBLIC BEACH. DO NOT CROSS
RAILROAD TRACKS
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: RAIL2
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: BEACH
WITH RAILROAD WHERE THERE IS NO PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
RAILROAD ON BEACH WHERE THE PUBLIC CANNOT ACCESS THE
SHORELINE. THIS CLASSIFICATION IS INCLUDED BECAUSE THEY
COULD BE POTENTIAL PLACES TO ACCESS THE SHORELINE (THEY
PRESERVE RIGHT OF WAY). IN SOME CASES UPLANDS ARE OWNED
BY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. DO NOT CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PRIV
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PRIVATE
LAND WITH KNOWN PUBLIC ACCESS (FORMAL ORGANIZATION)
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PRIVATE LAND WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE
PUBLIC THROUGH A HOTEL, BOARDWALK, TRUST, RESTAURANT,
SCHOOL, OR OTHER ORGANIZATION. TYPICALLY ACCESS REQUIRES
PAYING A FEE, PERMISSION, OR GROUP MEMBERSHIP (EX: THE
NATURE CONSERVANCY)
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PRIV2
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PRIVATE
LAND WITH SUSPECTED PUBLIC ACCESS (FORMAL ORGANIZATION)
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
WEYERHAEUSER LAND WITH UNKNOWN ACCESS, NOT BEING
RELEASED TO PUBLIC.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PRIVCOM
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
PRIVATELY OWNED COMMUNITY BEACH
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
USUALLY COMMUNITY BEACHES, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS
AND PRIVATE BEACH CLUBS. AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE
PRIVATE COMMUNITY.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PRIVMARINA
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PRIVATE
MARINA USED BY THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PRIVATELY OPERATED MARINA OPEN TO THE PUBLIC USUALLY
WITH A MOORING/LAUNCHING FEE.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: PRIVYACHT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PRIVATE
YACHT CLUB
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PRIVATELY OPERATED YACHT CLUB ACCESSIBLE TO MEMBERS
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: CAMP
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PRIVATE
CAMP USED BY THE PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PRIVATE BOY SCOUT, GIRL SCOUT, CHURCH ETC CAMP.
ACCESSIBLE TO CAMPERS OR WITH PERMISSION.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: OPW1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
GOVERNMENT OWNED PARK ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY PERSONAL
WATERCRAFT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PARK OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BECAUSE IT IS ON AN ISLAND THAT IS
NOT SERVICED BY THE STATE FERRY OR UPLANDS ARE PRIVATE
OR NON-ACCESSIBLE.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: OPW2
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY PERSONAL
WATERCRAFT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
LAND OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BECAUSE IT IS ON AN ISLAND THAT IS
NOT SERVICED BY THE STATE FERRY OR UPLANDS ARE PRIVATE
OR NON-ACCESSIBLE.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: OPW3
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND WITH SUSPECTED PUBLIC ACCESS ON
ISLAND ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
GOVERNMENT OWNED TIDELANDS ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BECAUSE IT IS ON AN ISLAND THAT IS
NOT SERVICED BY THE STATE FERRY OR UPLANDS ARE PRIVATE
OR NON-ACCESSIBLE.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: OPWPRIV
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: PRIVATE
LAND WITH PUBLIC ACCESS ONLY BY PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND WITH PUBLIC ACCESS ONLY BY
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT BECAUSE IT IS ON AN ISLAND THAT IS
NOT SERVICED BY THE STATE FERRY. TYPICALLY CONSERVATION
OR TRUST LAND.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: TRIBE1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: TRIBAL
LAND WITH KNOWN PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
LAND OWNED BY A TRIBE WITH AN OPEN INVITATION TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: TRIBE2
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: TRIBAL
LAND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC WITH PERMISSION
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
LAND OWNED BY A TRIBE THAT REQUIRES PERMISSION BY
THE TRIBE TO ACCESS, SUCH AS A DAY PASS. SEE COMMENTS
FOR CONTACT INFO.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: TRIBEISL
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: TRIBAL
ISLAND WITH PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
ISLAND OWNED BY A TRIBE THAT HAS PUBLIC ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: MILITARY
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
MILITARY LAND WITH KNOWN ACCESS RESTRICTED TO
MILITARY PERSONNEL
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
LAND THAT IS ACCESSIBLE ONLY TO MILITARY PERSONNEL
AND GUESTS. EX: BOAT LAUNCH ON FORT LEWIS
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: MILITARY4
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
MILITARY LAND WITH NO KNOWN ACCESS TO SHORELINE -
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
LAND OWNED BY THE MILITARY THAT HAS NO KNOWN ACCESS
OR ONLY RESTRICTED ACCESS
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: COMMENTS
Attribute_Definition: Typically used to make
comments about the GIS process.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: UNIT_ID
Attribute_Definition:
This is the Shorezone Unit ID field which links the specific
beach to a specific record in ShoreZone. As there may be more
than one Shorezone record to a single beach the Shorezone
segment that is more than half is recorded here.
If "Y" then it may be monitored by DOH Recreational
Shellfish Program. A WDFW link on their website may provide
additional information about shellfish populations and access
directions/details.