By Shelley Kneip, Study Committee Chair, LWV of Washington 

The LWVWA has completed a study of the state Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and its implementation (download the study from the LWVWA website). Pursuant to League protocol, the study is an objective analysis of the SMA. Once completed, it is reviewed by local Leagues, which are asked to find consensus on the questions on issues identified in the study. Once statewide consensus is reached, the LWVWA will form a position on the issues. 

Why Is This Important?  

The SMA was one of the first environmental laws enacted in the state of Washington. The act was proposed by Washington citizens to protect our state’s environmentally significant shorelines and its natural resources. The SMA is administered by cities and counties through local shoreline management programs, which are overseen by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The SMA covers many different types of shorelines: streams, lakes, rivers, and coastal shorelines. The legislative policy goals in the SMA are meant to protect shoreline ecological functions while fostering appropriate shoreline uses, with preference to water-dependent uses and ensuring public access to shorelines. While a raft of other state and federal environmental regulations have subsequently been adopted, the SMA remains the primary mechanism for protecting Washington’s shorelines, biodiversity, and natural resources. We have seen substantial changes since the SMA was adopted over 50 years ago, but the last significant updates to its rules and procedures were almost 20 years ago in 2003. Importantly, most local jurisdictions are currently in the process of updating their shoreline programs, so now is the time to be involved.  

The Study Committee spent two years evaluating how the SMA is working. Is it truly protecting our shorelines? Is it up to date? What conditions have changed over the past 50 years that may need to be addressed? Moreover, since many local governments are in the process of updating their shoreline management programs, the background in this document will assist local  Leagues in participating and commenting on those programs. 

What’s Coming Next 

There will be a presentation and display table at the LWVWA June council in Everett. Following the council meeting, a statewide virtual meeting with local  Leagues will go into more detail on the study. Local Leagues should review the study, meet, and develop their answers to the consensus questions. For more information, contact Shelley Kneip.