Ordinary high water mark
Definition
The ordinary high water mark is defined as:
"That mark that will be found by examining the bed and banks and ascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct from that of the abutting upland, in respect to vegetation as that condition exists on June 1, 1971, as it may naturally change thereafter, or at it may change thereafter in accordance with permits issued by a local government or the Department of Ecology.
"Provided, that in any area where the ordinary high water mark cannot be found, the ordinary high water mark adjoining salt water shall be the line of mean higher high tide and the ordinary high water mark adjoining fresh water shall be the line of mean high water."
In relation to extreme high and extreme low water, the position of the OHWM varies from site to site and changes through time due to a number of factors including:
Ordinary high water mark in relationship to extreme high and extreme low water marks.
- Accretion
- Activities of beavers and other animals and organisms
- Consistency of pool elevations
- Erosion
- Groundwater
- Land-use changes
- Presence of peat
- Soils
- Stormwater runoff
- Substrates
- Waves
- Wind
Contact information
Central Regional Office:
Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties
Alicia Schulz
Alicia.Schulz@ecy.wa.gov
509-454-4260
Benton, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties
Lori White
lori.white@ecy.wa.gov
509-575-2616
Eastern Regional Office:
Stevens county
Jeremy Sikes
jeremy.sikes@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3426
Ferry, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, and Spokane counties
Jacob McCann
jacob.mccann@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3426
Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Franklin, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties
Hallie Ladd
hallie.ladd@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3474
Northwest Regional Office:
King, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish counties
Doug Gresham
doug.gresham@ecy.wa.gov
206-594-0076
Island and Kitsap counties
Neil Molstad
neil.molstad@ecy.wa.gov
206-594-0070
Whatcom County
Chris Luerkens
chris.luerkens@ecy.wa.gov
360-255-4399
Southwest Regional Office:
Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, and Pacific counties
Rick Mraz
richard.mraz@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6221
Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties
Rebecca Rothwell
rebecca.rothwell@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7273
Lewis, Pierce, and Thurston counties
Zach Meyer
zachary.meyer@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6167