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UPDATE: County sets public hearings Nov. 1, 22 on draft shoreline plan
Two public hearings are scheduled in November for the Board of County Commissioners to consider a proposed shoreline master plan to update an existing plan adopted in 1974. View the proposed shoreline master plan.
For more information, please visit the Shoreline Partnership website.
Project summary
The State Shoreline Management Act requires counties and cities to update their Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs). SMPs govern activities on and near lakes, streams, and rivers. Most local SMPs date from the 1970s, and must be modernized to reflect today's conditions and address new state requirements.
Battle Ground, Camas, Clark County, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Washougal, and Yacolt are partnering in a two- to three-year effort to update their respective SMPs.
SMP updates are done in six phases as recommended by the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE):
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Inventory shoreline and adjacent land uses including transportation and utility facilities, critical areas, degraded areas, areas of special interest, public access sites, channel migration zones and floodplains, archaeological and historic resources. This includes a public participation plan that identifies stakeholders, specific objectives, and timelines.
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Identify shoreline function, ecosystem process, public access and shoreline use, and potential protection and restoration areas.
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Develop policies and regulations for all shoreline designations including natural, rural conservancy, aquatic, high intensity, urban conservancy, and shoreline residential. Policies and regulations will be developed for each designation.
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Analyze cumulative impacts, demonstrate no-net-loss of ecological function, and identify ways to restore shoreline ecological functions.
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Adopt individual Shoreline Master Programs for the county and each city. Jurisdictions will work together to develop policies and regulations that are as consistent as possible across boundaries.
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Submit updates to the Department of Ecology for approval.
SMP updates are funded by a Department of Ecology grant administered through the city of Vancouver on behalf of the county and its cities. The county and its cities will share analysis data and develop consistent as possible policies and regulations across the landscape.
Clark County SMP
The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) was enacted by the Legislature in 1971. The county adopted a Shoreline Master Program (SMP) (PDF 3.3MB) in 1974, and it has not been amended since. The Department of Ecology adopted new rules for SMPs in 2003. The Growth Management Act states that the goals and policies of the SMA are considered a fourteenth goal for purposes of the Act and the comprehensive plan. The county is partnering with its cities to complete the update which has to be done by December 1, 2011.
Project contacts
Gordy Euler
(360) 397-2280 ext. 4968
gordon.euler@clark.wa.gov
Gary Albrecht
(360) 397-2280 ext. 4318
gary.albrecht@clark.wa.gov
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