Introduction to theShoreline Master Program (SMP)

Update

City of BellinghamPlanning Department

2005

Purpose of tonight’s meeting:• Specify which water-bodies are subject to the

SMP. • Identify the State’s requirements for SMP’s and

how other local planning efforts might be integrated.

• Tools necessary to achieve No Net Loss of ecological function.

• Coordination with other agencies & groups.• Public process and next steps.

What areas are subject to the SMP?SHORELINES OF THE STATE which are:

All areas waterward of the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and,

All uplands within 200 feet of the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) or the elevation of the Mean Higher High

Tide (MHHT) and, up to the edge of 100-year floodplains and contiguous

wetlands and, critical areas that are within or partly within these areas.

Page 3 (A) and Page 77, section .180

Bellingham’s Shorelines of the State:

• Bellingham Bay including Chuckanut Bay, Padden Lagoon and Padden Creek upstream to McKenzie Avenue.

• Whatcom, Squalicum and Chuckanut Creeks.

• Lakes Whatcom and Padden.

What is the SMP exactly?

‘Local’ version of the SMA:(RCW 90.58)

whichrequires local governments to:

Page 6 (D)

Require water-dependent, water-related and water-enjoyment uses (a.k.a. ‘water-oriented’ uses)

Protect shoreline natural resources

Promote public access

Manage Shorelines of Statewide Significancefor the long-term benefit of all citizens of the State

SMP Guidelines“Handbook” for local governments

intending to update their SMP’s.State legislature directed DOE to update the 1972

version in 1995. Several iterations later the final SMP Guidelines

were adopted in 2003.Guidelines translate SMA policies into

standards for regulating uses on shorelines that result in a NO NET LOSS

of ecological function.

The GMA requires the SMP to be consistent with and implement goals and policies in

Bellingham’s Comprehensive Plan(1995 and 2005)

ANDProvide a level of protection that is equal to or

greater than level of protection of critical areas within shorelines.

RCW 36.70A

What parts of theCity of Bellingham

Comprehensive Plan might interface with the SMP?

The 1995 version and 2005 updateinclude the following

shoreline related sub-elements :

Neighborhood PlansPlease See Appendix #3

Parks Open Space Plan

WFG Guiding Principles

….as well as Goals and Policieswithin the Framework, Land Use,

Transportation, and Capital Facilities

chapters...

...For example:• LUG-3 Bellingham continues to retain its natural, green setting

by protecting unique natural features and public open spaces, creating greenbelts and preserving wooded hillsides in and around the city. New development is encouraged to incorporate existing mature vegetation and additional trees and native vegetation. Open space corridors along creeks include connections from the Bay to Whatcom and Padden lakes as well as along the Squalicum and Chuckanut Creek corridors heading to the mountains. In order to preserve or create these green corridors and open spaces, the community employs a variety of techniques, including incentives and regulations for the design and siting of new development, as well as public acquisition.

Bay City Supply

Another example:LUG-37 Land uses that promote and allow public access to the waterfront should be encouraged.

Other plans that will serve as a basis for identification of restoration planning and

public access opportunities:(not an exhaustive list)

• Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project (BBPP) EIS and Comprehensive Strategy.

• BBPP Land Use and Habitat Documentation Reports.

• Bellingham Wildlife Habitat Assessment.• Restoration Plan and Environment Assessment for

Whatcom Creek (result of pipeline event).

How do the CAO and SMP relate to one another?

• The SMP must reference critical areas as specified in the CAO that are within jurisdiction of Shorelines of the State AND identify critical areas within MARINE shorelines.

• Please see page 77, Section .180)

• The SMP must provide an equal to or greater level of protection of critical areas specified within the CAO and for critical areas within MARINE shorelines.

• Please see page 9, L.

NG SS CRA

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Our task:Integrate all these elements and

develop an SMP that achieves the following objectives:

Protection of ecological function

Requirements for public access

Designate preferred uses such as:WATER-DEPENDENT USES

Please see section .150 - Shoreline Designations - D. High Intensity

WATER-RELATED USESPlease see section .150 - Shoreline Designations - D. High Intensity

WATER-ENJOYMENT USESPlease see section .150 - Shoreline Designations

AKA: ‘WATER-ORIENTED’ USES

Shorelines for NON-WATER ORIENTED USES

AND…...Identify restoration opportunities

Please see APPENDIX #2

How do we get there?

Characterize shoreline resourcesPlease see ‘Shoreline Inventory - final report” on web-page and page 23.

W hatcom Creek Drainage AnalysisLandscape Setting • W hatcom Creek is the only natural surface water outlet of Lake W hatcom .

W hatcom Creek is 4.3 m iles long with a drainage basin of approximately 5,790acres.

• A control dam is located at the upper extent of W hatcom Creek, which is usedfor down-stream flood control, utility storage for water quantity and waterquality considerations in the lake, and to m aintain lake levels.

• The hydroperiod of Lake W hatcom is controlled for recreation and erosioncontrol purposes. Lake levels are m aintained at higher levels during thesumm er and lowered during the winter. This m anipulation of water level anddischarge affects the hydroperiod of W hatcom Creek.

(Ref# 8,13,37,47,71 for above)Geology • Upper reaches: Continental sedim entary rock, resulting in a narrow incised

channel with steep slopes and bedrock substrate and outcrops.• Lower reaches: Glaciom arine drift in narrow, incised channels that are

surrounded by relatively flat terrain.(Ref# 21,103 for above)

Land

scap

e Se

tting

Soils • Upper reaches: Moderate infiltration rates with m oderate runoff potential.• Lower reaches: Very slow infiltration, with high runoff potential.• The m outh of W hatcom Creek is dom inated by artificial fill.

(Ref# 47,51,63 for above)

Land

Use

Current Conditions • W hatcom Creek flows through the heart of the City of Bellingham , and intoBellingham Bay in the m iddle of dense industrial developm ent.

• Comm ercial, industrial, and residential uses dom inate the land use in closeproxim ity of the creek in the lower portion of W hatcom Creek.

• The Iowa Street corridor between Interstate-5 and W hatcom Falls Park is theonly rem aining length of the creek where there is developm ent potential.

• W hatcom Falls Park located in the upper reaches of the SMA.(Ref# 8,16,33,34,71 for above)

Develop Shoreline Goalsthat address the following:

Please see page 25, section .140, Shoreline Goals

• Shorelines uses

• Recreation

• Public Access

• Conservation

• Water Quality

• Circulation

• Historical, Cultural, educational, scientific

• Flood damage minimization

• Economic Development

Assign shoreline designations - for example:Please see page 33, section .150, Shoreline Designations

Develop ‘general regulations’For example:

Development within shorelines designated ‘NATURAL’ shall not be allowed within 200’ of the OHWM.

And ‘use specific’ regulationsFor Example:

Docks, piers, floats and pilings within Lake Whatcom shall not be constructed

with chemically treated wood. Please see page 68, section .170, Use Regulations, J.

Implement mitigation sequencing

• Avoid the impact• Minimize the impact• Rectify the impact by restoration• Reduce the impact by preservation• Compensate by replacing or enhancing• Monitor impacts and make corrections• Please see page 115, section .205, Mitigation Sequencing

Implement “Restoration Planning”Please see APPENDIX #2

Coordinate with other agencies including but not limited to:

These folks comprise our Technical Advisory Committee

This group’s task is to:

• Review our shoreline inventory and ID data gaps.• Provide assistance on determining jurisdiction

and assigning designations.• Review our goals and policies.• Review our regulations to assure that they achieve

a no net loss of ecological function.• Assist in creating a framework for restoration

planning.

Involve the general public

• Multiple public hearings and website info• Review and comment on Shoreline Goals• Review and comment on Shoreline

Designations - uses• Review and comment on Use Policies• Identify restoration opportunities

NEXT STEPS:• Planning Commission Public Hearing

scheduled for December 15, 2005, 7 PM City Council Chambers

• Gather all comments and arrange by topic, present to Planning Commission, allow for further direction, recommendations.