Shoreline planners toolbox

The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) requires each city and county to review, and, if necessary, revise their SMP.

Non-competitive grant funds are awarded based on a formula, rather than competitive, basis. These non-competitive grant funds are awarded to the following jurisdictions under a current statutory requirement to complete their SMP periodic review.

• The counties of Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whitman
• The cities and towns within the counties listed above

Under RCW 90.58.250, “the state will provide funding to local governments that is reasonable and adequate to accomplish the costs of developing and amending shoreline master programs consistent with the schedule established by RCW 90.58.080.”

Under RCW 90.58.080(6)(a) “grants to local governments for developing and amending master programs pursuant to the schedule established by this section shall be provided at least two years before the adoption dates specified in [the Act].” We are offering SMP grant funds to these jurisdictions in the 2021-23 biennium starting July 1, 2021. As a result, the deadline is shifted to June 30, 2023, giving counties and cities two years of funding to complete the required reviews.

How to apply

• Grant applications will be accepted July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022.
• Visit our Shoreline Master Program periodic review grants page to apply or get more information.

Resources

• 21-23 SMP Periodic Review Grant Scope of Work and FAQs

Additional resources and information about the SMP periodic review requirements and process can be found below under the "Amendments" heading.

The SMP Competitive Grant Pilot Program funds shoreline planning and planning-related efforts that advance climate resilience, improve the implementation of SMPs, or progress local shoreline planning priorities. Projects funded through the Pilot Program will have the potential to result in new knowledge and experience that is transferable to other local governments.

In administering the Pilot Program, we will learn how to further the policy of the Shoreline Management Act, RCW 90.58.020, through a competitive grant program that funds locally-driven shoreline planning initiatives. The Pilot Program is open to Washington counties, cities, and towns with an SMP. 

How to apply

• Grant applications will be accepted September 1, 2021 – October 14, 2021.
• Visit our Shoreline Master Program competitive pilot grants page to apply or get more information.

Resources

Essential information

• 21-23 SMP Competitive grant funding guidelines
• 21-23 SMP Competitive grant EAGL application prep tools
• Competitive Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

SMP monitoring and adaptive management

• Critical Areas Handbook - Chapter 7, Department of Commerce
• Webinar 2, Setting the Stage – Department of Commerce’s Monitoring and Adaptive Management Series
• Webinar 8, Shorelines – Department of Commerce’s Monitoring and Adaptive Management Series
• Webinar 9, Permit Implementation Monitoring Tools – Department of Commerce’s Monitoring and Adaptive Management Series

Sea level rise

• 2018 Miller et al. Projected Sea Level Rise for Washington State
• 2018 Washington sea level rise visualization tool (UW Climate Impacts Group)
• NOAA sea level rise viewer
• NOAA Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper
• How to Choose – A Primer for Selecting Sea Level Rise Projections for Washington State
• Extreme Coastal Water Level in Washington State – Guidelines to Support Sea Level Rise Planning
• Shoreline Master Programs Handbook Appendix A – Addressing Sea Level Rise in SMPs
• NOAA resources for assessing vulnerability
• Identifying and Effectively Engaging Stake- and Rights-Holders
• Getting the Right People in the Room (Resilience Metrics)
• Olympia sea level rise vulnerability and risk assessment
• Olympia sea level rise response plan home page
• Island County webpage for community workshops on sea level rise
• Island County – Identifying ways to address sea level rise in the SMP: An overview of an interdepartmental workshop
• Community-Based Coastal Resilience Planning Guidebook
• City of Langley’s draft sea level rise strategy for SMP update
• Bainbridge Island preliminary sea level rise assessment

Environmental Justice

• Learn about Environmental Justice (EPA)
• Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
• Washington Distressed Communities Map
• Recommendations for Prioritizing Environmental Justice in Washington State Government
• Inclusive Public Engagement (Institute for Local Government)

The state Shoreline Management Act requires that counties, cities, and towns periodically review their comprehensively-updated Shoreline Master Program (SMP) every eight years. The review timetable for local governments is established in RCW 90.58.080(4), and the completion deadline and process requirements are outlined in WAC 173-26-090. In addition, WAC 173-26-104 allows an optional joint review process that combines required local and state public comment periods.

Periodic reviews due in 2021-2023

• Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whitman
• The cities and towns within the counties listed above

2021-2023 grant funding

For the 2021-23 biennium, we are offering grant funds to eligible jurisdictions with periodic reviews due on June 30, 2022. Grants issued will start on July 1, 2021 and end on June 30, 2023.

WAC 173-26-090 clarifies that local legislative action is required to complete the review, even when a local government determines that no changes are needed. Our periodic review guidance provides information you can use during your SMP review, as well as example documents.

Guidance documents

• Policy statement regarding SMP Periodic Review deadlines
• Summary of the rule
• SMP amendment procedural review rules
• Checklist
• Checklist guidance
• Optional joint review process
• Sample work program
• Amendment submittal worksheet
• Ocean Management SMP Checklist
• Ocean Management SMP Checklist Guidance
• Example SMP Ocean Management Section Language
• Frequently Asked Questions

Example documents

For both SMP Amendments and Findings of Adequacy

• Public participation plan

For SMP Amendments

• Public notice for public comment period
• Ordinance for Findings of Fact and Adoption of Revisions

For Findings of Adequacy

• Public notice for public comment period
• Resolution for Findings of Fact and Adoption of Findings of Adequacy

Comprehensive updates of Shoreline Master Programs, mandated by the Legislature, are currently underway. Many cities and counties have completed their updates. These shoreline programs carry out the policies of the state Shoreline Management Act for local shorelines. Ecology's guidelines for these updates translate the broad policies of the SMA into standards for shoreline programs. 

A comprehensive update includes a public participation process, shoreline inventory, cumulative impacts analysis and restoration plan. This work results in a determination of shoreline jurisdiction, environment designations, goals, policies and regulations. Our guidance for conducting the work is provided in the Shoreline Master Programs Handbook.

Local governments at times decide to amend their Shoreline Master Programs to address a change in local shoreline conditions, their comprehensive plan or zoning regulations, or improved data. These SMP amendments must be developed consistent with the requirements of WAC 173-26-110. Some of the requirements are:

• Public participation, including at least one public hearing
• Consultation with any agency, tribe or person with interest or responsibility relating to the shoreline
• Consultation with Ecology
• Compliance with SEPA

For locally-initiated amendments and periodic reviews, local jurisdictions have the option to conduct a joint review process with Ecology. This process consolidates local and state public comment periods. See step-by-step instructions in our Joint Review Process guidance.

Shoreline amendments must be approved by the local elected officials and submitted to Ecology for approval. You can find these requirements in the following state rules:

• WAC 173-26-100
• WAC 173-26-110