Shoreline Master Program Updates: Using Policy to Improve Shoreline Conditions in Washington State

Many shorelines within Washington State have been highly altered by shoreline residential, commercial, and industrial development, resulting in the degradation of shallow water habitat, sediment and hydrologic processes, and shoreline vegetation. Opportunities to maintain shoreline ecosystem function while allowing for continued development are often limited by pressure to minimize shoreline setbacks and allow for modifications including armoring and overwater structures, among others.

The Washington State Shoreline Management Act requires that cities and counties establish and periodically update Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs), comprehensive shoreline land-use plans that include policies and regulations for shoreline use and development, to achieve no net loss in shoreline ecosystem function over time. This presentation will provide an overview of various regulatory strategies used by jurisdictions around the Puget Sound to overcome these hurdles and conserve shoreline functions in developed settings.  Strategies include a combination of realistic policy approaches, clear standards with built-in options, and permitting incentives to encourage shoreline restoration practices that both improve nearshore habitat and are palatable to many landowners.