Two Southwest Washington cities revise how their shorelines will be managed

Morton and South Bend updates ready for public review and comment

Forty years after adopting their first Shoreline Master Programs, the Southwest Washington cities of Morton and South Bend have submitted proposals to the Department of Ecology to completely replace those original programs.

Ecology is asking the public to review and comment on these comprehensive updates, which will help the agency decide whether to approve the proposals as submitted or request changes from the Cities.

Morton – Central Lewis County

Morton’s proposed comprehensive update, which was adopted by the city this past September, prioritizes water-related uses and includes policies to protect, restore and guide development of shoreline habitats along the Tilton River and Johnson Creek.

Erosion of the Tilton River bank near Morton has caused a section of
historic railroad track to fall into the river. 

One goal of the new plan is to encourage restoration of degraded areas to ecologically functional conditions. An example of a project that may get a boost under this goal calls for removing a section of historic railroad track that has fallen into the Tilton River. An engineered logjam and native vegetation would then be installed to control erosion and improve salmon habitat. Water quality will also be improved.

The proposal is available for review on the project website, and in paper form at the Washington Department of Ecology headquarters and at Morton City Hall.

Comments on Morton’s comprehensive update will be accepted through Jan. 11, 2017.

All comments should be sent to Ecology’s Sarah Cassal. There are four ways to do it:

By email:      sarah.cassal@ecy.wa.gov

By mail:        Southwest Regional Office
                     PO Box 47775
                     Olympia, WA 98504-7600

In person:     300 Desmond Drive
                     Lacey, WA 98503

By phone:     360-407-7459

South Bend – North Central Pacific County

South Bend’s proposed update was adopted by the city in October and will also replace its original shoreline program. It addresses uses and development of seven miles of shoreline along the Skidmore and Potter Sloughs, and the Willapa River. The new program also identifies potential future restoration efforts, and incorporates regulations to protect critical areas.

The proposal seeks to preserve the area’s natural beauty while also supporting economic development and tourism. A key component of the update is ensuring public access opportunities are realized, including the extension of the 56-mile Willapa Hills Trail from its terminus at Summit Avenue to the South Bend Boat Launch. 

Paper copies of the new shoreline plan are available by contacting the City of South Bend or Ecology Regional Planner Kim Van Zwalenburg at the address below.

Comments on South Bend’s proposed update will be accepted through Jan. 17, 2017.

All comments should be sent to Kim Van Zwalenburg. There are four ways to do it:

By email:      Kim.VanZwalenburg@ecy.wa.gov

By mail:        Southwest Regional Office
                     PO Box 47775
                     Olympia, WA 98504-7600

In person:     300 Desmond Drive
                     Lacey, WA 98503

By phone:     360-407-6520



By Dave Bennett, Southwest Region communications