Title Level 1

Title Level 2

Shoreline Master Program (SMP)

Updates

Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

November 2012

Kittitas County Cle Elum

South Cle Elum Ellensburg

Topics

• Shoreline Master Program and Critical Areas Ordinance Integration

• Channel Migration Zones (CMZs)

SMP-CAO Integration

SMPs:

• Required by the Shoreline Management Act

• Must undergo local AND state (Ecology) approval

• Only applicable to “Shorelines of the State” and their adjacent “shorelands”

• SMP must result in “no net loss” of shoreline ecological functions

• Must be based on “current, accurate, complete scientific and technical information”

SMP-CAO Integration

CAOs:

• Required by the Growth Management Act

• Administered by State (Commerce), no formal approval by Ecology (can be appealed)

• Regulates wetlands, fish and wildlife habitats, critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded areas, and geologically hazardous areas

• Rules apply to entire jurisdiction

• Must be based upon “best available science”

Wetland

Shoreline

Jurisdiction

Relationship of SMPs to CAOs

RCW 36.70A. 480

Shoreline master programs shall provide a level of

protection to critical areas located within shorelines of the

state that assures no net loss of shoreline ecological

functions necessary to sustain shoreline natural

resources …

SMP Integration Options:

1. CAO is adopted by reference into the updated SMP

• Critical areas are regulated the same, both within and outside of shoreline jurisdiction

• Can be problematic if CAO is not up-to-date

• Ecology could refuse to approve the SMP unless the CAO if revised to meet No Net Loss

SMP Integration Options:

2. Critical Areas standards are incorporated directly into the SMP

• Creates a “one-stop-shop” for shoreline and critical areas regulations

• Doesn’t require jurisdiction-wide CAO update

• Critical areas regulations may differ within and outside of shoreline jurisdiction

As shoreline development occurs, ecological functions stay the same (or are improved) over time

Eco

logic

al

Fu

nct

ion

Time 2012 2019

Exiting condition

What is No Net Loss?

Development, Mitigation and Restoration

How is No Net Loss Achieved?

Avoid New Impacts (SMP &

CAO rules)

Mitigate Unavoidable

Impacts

Restore Degraded

Areas

No Net Loss

• How do you measure ecological functions?

• At what scale do you account for gains or loses?

• How do you separate the effects of SMP

development from other activities that affect

ecological functions?

• Can you have development and still achieve no net

loss?

• Can/should require restoration? Who pays?

Common Questions About No Net Loss:

Questions to Guide NNL Analysis

• What are the components of healthy shorelines?

• How healthy are the shorelines now?

• What are the major threats to healthy shorelines?

• Where are threats most prevalent?

• How will the SMP & CAO address threats?

• How to compensate for potential loss?

What are Channel Migration Zones

Manastash Creek, May 2011

The area where a river channel is expected to move over a period of time

Photo: Daily Record

Gold Creek

Teanaway River

State Requirements for Mapping CMZs

• Identify “general location” of CMZs (WAC 174-26-201(3)(c)

• Based on historic record (e.g., air photos) and geologic character

• Areas separated from the active channel by artificial structures are not considered to be within the CMZ

• However, structures have to be “built above or constructed to remain intact” through the 100-year flood

Initial Mapping Results

Teanaway River- ‘Tier 1’ Analysis

North Fork Teanaway River- ‘Tier 2’ Analysis

Implications for Shoreline Management

Development within CMZs puts people and property at risk – events can be sudden and catastrophic

Allowing rivers to migrate naturally is important for maintain healthy streams / fish habitat

Implications for Shoreline Management

• CMZs can extend outside of the regulated shoreline zone

• CMZs are critical areas

Implications for Shoreline Management

Strategies for addressing CMZs in the SMP/CAO:

• Development prohibitions

• Wider setbacks

• Require in-depth studies for all proposed development

• Require studies for just land subdivision/major development

• Other?