By participating in this voluntary federal-state partnership, we work with NOAA's Office for Coastal Management to design and administer a program that best reflects our state needs and local circumstances. Our federally-approved program is important because it means we are eligible for federal coastal zone funding which support core management activities and special enchantment projects. Having a federally-approved program also provides the state the authority to review federal actions for consistency with the enforceable policies of the program. The
federal consistency provisions of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act require that federal actions, including the issuance of federal licenses and permits be consistent with the enforceable policies of Washington’s Coastal Zone Management Program.
Our partnership with the federal government enhances our work by creating a mechanism for better agency coordination and collaboration, and it provides additional funding that strengthens our capacity to partner with, offer assistance to, and plan for the future needs of coastal communities.
Washington does not have a stand-alone program for coastal zone management. Instead, we fulfill our national Coastal Zone Management Act requirements through a network of state laws and regulations. The
structure and policies of our program allow us to manage coastal resources in a more locally relevant and comprehensive way that fits our state priorities. In 1976, Washington became the first state in the nation to receive federal approval of a Coastal Zone Management Program.
In partnership with NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, we periodically perform a
program evaluation to assess the effectiveness of Washington's coastal management efforts and develop five-year strategic
program enhancement plans that meet both state and broader national interests.