Title
SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM UPDATE
COUNCIL INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Provide sustainable water quality & environmental infrastructure
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
All city and county jurisdictions in Washington are subject to the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) of 1972. The act was last revised in 2011. Longview currently uses the 1977 Cowlitz County Shoreline Management Program (SMP) for shoreline regulation. In 2003, state legislation was passed that required cities and counties to amend local SMPs to be consistent with the SMA. The City of Longview was awarded a $125,000 grant to update Longview's SMP. Ecological Land Services was hired to perform the update process beginning in 2012. The deadline for update completion of SMPs for all jurisdiction within Cowlitz County is June 30, 2014.
Preliminary assessment of Shoreline Jurisdiction was completed in 2012. Several Stakeholder/Technical committee meetings were held in 2012, 2013 & 2014. After completing a collaborative process with the Department of Ecology (DOE) in March of 2014, the Draft SMP is now ready to begin the local adoption process.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Following workshop and input from Council staff will process a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklist in preparation for public hearing and adoption of the SMP.