Ecology’s Role under the

Shoreline Management Act

Department of Ecology
Kim Van Zwalenburg, Regional Shoreline Planner
4/22/2010
 Overview

 Shoreline management in Washington State

 SMP Guidelines

 Ecology’s role

 Answer your questions

Shoreline Management Act (SMA)
 Passed by the Legislature in 1971; approved
by voters through referendum (statewide
vote) in 1972
 Three basic policies (RCW 90.58.020):
– Protection of environmental resources
– Promotion of public access and enjoyment
– Priority given to those uses that are unique to or
dependent upon use of the shoreline
Where does the Shoreline Management Act (SMA)
apply?

The SMA applies in all 39 counties and more than 200

cities across the state:

•all marine waters of the 15

coastal counties

•fresh water streams with > 20 cfs

mean annual flow;

• lakes > 20 acres;

• upland areas within 200 feet

landward of such waters, with
option to include entire
floodplain

• all associated wetlands

 Shoreline Management Act (SMA)

 Designed as a cooperative state/local partnership:

– Local governments initiate shoreline planning and
administer the regulatory program, through a “locally
customized” Shoreline Master Program (SMP)
– Ecology acts primarily in a supportive and review
capacity with emphasis on providing assistance to local
governments and ensuring compliance with the SMA

 Unlike local GMA plans and regulations including

Critical Area Ordinances, each SMP must be
approved by Ecology, before it takes effect
Differences between the SMA and the
Growth Management Act (GMA)

 GMA – requires the fasting growing counties

in the state, and their cities to formulate
plans that align with 14 state goals
– Based on local communities’ values and
objectives
– Plans and regulations are presumed valid when
approved by local government
Differences between the SMA and the
Growth Management Act (GMA)

 SMA – applies to cities and counties having

“shorelines of the state”
– Balances statewide and local interests
– Includes critical areas within shoreline
jurisdiction
– Must be approved by both local government and
Ecology
 What are the SMP Guidelines?
 The SMP Guidelines (WAC 173-26, Part III) were
last updated by Ecology in December 2003.

 The guidelines provide direction to local

governments in implementing the policy of the
SMA, as they update their SMPs

 The guidelines also provide minimum procedural

and substantive standards used by Ecology (and
the GMHB’s) in reviewing and approving local
SMPs submitted for approval
 SMP updates phases
 Phase 1: Preliminary Shoreline Jurisdiction and Public Participation
Plan

 Phase 2: Shoreline Inventory & Shoreline Analysis & Characterization

 Phase 3: Shoreline Environment Designations, Policy & Regulation

Development, Cumulative Impacts Analysis
 
 Phase 4: Restoration Plan, Revisiting Phase 3 Products as Necessary
 
 Phase 5: Local Approval
 
 Phase 6: State Approval
 Local SMP Update Process
1. Citizen involvement throughout the process
2. Conduct shoreline inventory and use analysis
3. Establish shoreline goals, policies and
environment designations
4. Establish shoreline use and modification
regulations and standards
5. Update permit administration and enforcement
provisions
6. Locally adopt
7. Submit to Ecology for approval
 SMP Update Funding & Schedule
 Funding – $7.5 million
this biennium to local
governments for the
purpose of updating Puget
Sound SMPs

 Deadlines – local SMP

updates complete for all
266 jurisdictions state-
wide by 2014
 For more information:

Access our web site at:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sma/
index.html

Kim Van Zwalenburg – (360) 407-6520

Kim.vanzwalenburg@ecy.wa.gov