Shoreline planners toolbox

Resources for Shoreline Planning Competitive Grants

Essential information

• 2023-2025 SPC - Funding Guidelines
• 2023-2025 SPC - FAQs
• 2023-2025 - Application Prep Tool

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

Climate resilience planning

• Climate Impacts Group - Climate Mapping Tool for a Resilient Washington
• Washington State coastal hazards resilience resource library
• U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
• Public engagement
  • Identifying and Effectively Engaging Stake- and Rights-Holders
  • Getting the Right People in the Room (Resilience metrics)

Sea level rise planning

• Washington sea level rise projections and associated tools
  • 2018 Miller et al. Projected Sea Level Rise for Washington State
  • Interactive sea level rise projection tools
• NOAA sea level rise and coastal flooding tools
  • NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer
  • NOAA Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper
• Shoreline Master Programs Handbook Appendix A - Addressing Sea Level Rise in SMPs
• Lessons Learned from Local Governments Incorporating Sea Level Rise in Shoreline Master Programs
• Washington State Risk Reduction Case Study Mapper

Environmental Justice

• Learn about Environmental Justice (EPA)
• Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
• Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
• 6 Takeaways from the CEQ Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
• Washington Distressed Communities Map
• Recommendations for Prioritizing Environmental Justice in Washington State Government
• Inclusive Public Engagement (Institute for Local Government)
• Guidance and Responsibilities for Effective Tribal Consultation, Communication, and Engagement (WCOA)

Channel migration zones

• Stream channel migration zones - Washington State Department of Ecology
• A Methodology for Delineating Planning-Level Channel Migration Zones
• A Framework for Delineating Channel Migration Zones

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