Lake Spokane shoreline goes au natural

By Jamie Gardipe, Water Quality Program, Eastern Regional Office

Project partners include: Avista Corporation, Ecology, The Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance, Lake Spokane Association, Stevens County Conservation District, and Spokane Conservation District.

Why replace bulkheads with natural shorelines? While bulkheads can provide protection to property where they are built, they can also cause problems for neighbors, and overtime often fail. Bulkheads transfer wave energy to other areas where it may result in more erosion. Unlike natural shorelines, bulkheads don’t provide habitat for fish and wildlife. Additionally, lawn to the edge of bulkhead doesn’t provide the right vegetation to filter runoff before it enters the water.

• help protect the shoreline from erosion
• decrease the intensity of waves
• provide habitat for fish and wildlife
• increase safety by providing a gradual slope rather than a drop-off to the water
• reduce polluted run-off
• increase the aesthetic value of the property

In the spring of 2012 Ecology began working with local partners to identify potential property owners interested in naturalizing their shoreline on Lake Spokane. The lake, known for low dissolved oxygen problems, is actually a reservoir on the Spokane River controlled by Avista Utilities’ hydropower operations. Run-off and other non-point source pollution from homes contribute to the lake’s water quality problem. In order to help address these impacts the project team pursued a demonstration bulkhead removal and shoreline naturalization project.

Eric and Alycia Staggs decided their property located on the southeast corner of Lake Spokane was the perfect guinea pig for the project. Their bulkhead was failing and they were excited about making the change to a naturalized shoreline. The majority of the project was funded through Ecology’s Water Quality Program’s Direct Implementation Fund, a subset of federal grant funds dedicated sources of pollution like residential runoff and erosion. The Spokane Conservation District supplied engineering and design grant funds and the Staggs family purchased the plant material.

Spokane Conservation District was key to success of the project. Their staff provided technical assistance by working with the project engineer on the design, providing additional funding, applying for permits, and supervising construction contractors. After obtaining all the permits required, the project began in February 2013 following reservoir drawdown. The district spent four days on-site overseeing bulkhead demolition and re-grading of the shoreline, returned in the spring to plant shoreline vegetation, and later repaired erosion caused by high lake levels and rain. The homeowners used time-lapse video to show the project transformation from start to finish.

For more information on protecting clean water and natural shorelines visit: Our Living Shorelines: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/livingshorelines/index.html

Spokane River Basin: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/geographic/spokane/spokane_river_basin.htm
Spokane Conservation District: http://www.sccd.org/

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At the Water’s Edge: Updated aquaculture online resources

By Cedar Bouta, Environmental Planner, Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program

Suquamish Tribe’s shellfish nursery raft in Poulsbo marina. Photo by Keri Weaver. Courtesy of City of Poulsbo.


Icicle Seafoods’ net pen at Ediz Hook, Port Angeles.


Chinook salmon. Courtesy of WDFW.

Aquaculture is the culture or farming of fish, shellfish, or other aquatic plants and animals. It occurs in all types of water bodies – from lakes and streams to Puget Sound and the coast – and includes restoring, planting, growing, harvesting, transporting and selling fish, shellfish and aquatic plants.

Citizens and local governments wanting to learn more about aquaculture science and policies can visit Ecology’s updated online shellfish and net pen resources.

Aquaculture is an historic, water-dependent use of Washington’s shorelines preceding Washington statehood in 1889. Commercial shellfish aquaculture, for instance, has operated in our waters for well over 100 years and finfish net pens for almost 40 years.

Both types of operations are subject to many different federal, state and local regulations.

Shoreline master programs and aquaculture

Several local governments bordering marine waters are updating their shoreline master programs and related permitting requirements for aquaculture. A shoreline master program combines local plans for future shoreline development and preservation with new development ordinances and related permitting requirements.

These local programs must comply with the state Shoreline Management Act, passed by voter referendum in 1972, and related standards, referred to as “guidelines.”

The updating process provides an opportunity for citizens to get involved in shaping the future of their shorelines.

Concerns about aquaculture

Some elected officials and citizens have raised concerns about potential adverse environmental and economic effects from commercial aquaculture – especially geoduck operations and Puget Sound net pen operations raising Atlantic salmon.

Concerns include:

• Effects on endangered native salmon.
• Introduction of disease and non-native species.
• Interference with navigation.
• Loss of shoreline access and aesthetics.

Many of these issues are addressed through state and federal regulations. Local governments also have the option to require substantial development permits and/or conditional use permits for new commercial aquaculture.

Ecology relies on partner expertise

Based on the best scientific knowledge and advice from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey,Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington Department of Natural Resources, Ecology has concluded that when properly sited and operated, commercial net pens are compatible with a healthy marine environment.

On Jan. 10, 2013, Ecology hosted a state and federal employee symposium about the science and management of commercial net pens. We have posted videos from the event.

Ecology is working with cities and counties and using the most relevant science to inform our review and approval of local shoreline program updates. The content of these updated programs will have a strong influence on the future of aquaculture in Washington.

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Water’s Edge: Is your shoreline home or business in harm’s way?

by Curt Hart, communcations manager, Shorelines and Environmental Assistance Program

People have always been drawn to the water’s edge.

Hurricane Sandy’s devastation is a heartbreaking reminder that living near a lake, stream, river or Washington’s marine waters can come at the extreme cost of life and property. Knowing where erosion and high water may happen – and placing homes, roads, and businesses out of harm’s way – is the first step in avoiding costly losses.

Shoreline master programs help protect homes, structures

In Washington, most cities and counties have shoreline master programs that manage new uses and activities in hazard areas like floodplains, steep slopes, and landslide zones.

Local shoreline programs use buffers, setbacks and minimum lot sizes tailored to local conditions, which help place development a safe distance from the water’s edge.
A buffer that seems large in calm weather can disappear quickly in a winter storm or flood.

Being prepared for natural disasters like floods is wise and residents should prepare. Reducing the overall risk through land use planning is even wiser.

Choose carefully when buying or building a shoreline home or business

These tips can help:

• Buyer Beware: A checklist of questions to ask
• Contact your city or county planning department to review local shoreline program and hazard area maps.

Consider soft armoring for existing homes or businesses at risk

This information can prove invaluable:

• Bulkheads, rip rap and other hard armoring are not always the best solution to protecting property unless it’s in immediate danger. Hard armoring redirects waves and currents to neighboring properties, sending the danger from one property to another. In some locations, softer alternatives – called ‘green shorelines’ – may protect property while working with natural site conditions.
• Contact a qualified geo-engineer to determine whether hazards exist on your property.
• If you own a farm or agricultural property, contact your local conservation district to get technical advice and possible funding to fix erosion problems.

For more information

• Shoreline Master Programs – Frequently Asked Questions
• Coastal hazards
• Puget Sound landslides
• Washington’s Coastal Atlas – flood hazard maps and flood risks 
• Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazards: Preparing Washington for a Changing Climate
• Glossary of shoreline ecology and planning terms – King County
• San Juan Shoreline Living – Setbacks

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Water's Edge: New video focuses on young salmon and shorelines

By Annette Frahm, Green Shorelines Outreach Coordinator, King County (WRIA 8)

Salmon are a Pacific Northwest icon.

As a keystone species, salmon help support wildlife – from birds to bears and otters to seals, sea lions and Puget Sound orcas.

Young salmon need healthy shorelines to help them survive. A new video explains the shoreline elements that are important to these endangered fish.

The video features Roger Tabor, biologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who has studied salmon in Lake Washington for 20 years.

Find out more at the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) Green Shorelines website. Or visit the Green Shorelines blog.

WRIA 8 partners are working to restore and conserve Chinook salmon, listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. WRIA 8 is a cooperative effort of 27 local governments, citizens, businesses, scientists and environmentalists.

For more information, contact me by phone at 206-296-8013 or send me an email.

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Water's Edge: New blog helps promote Green Shorelines

By Annette Frahm, Green Shorelines Outreach Coordinator for WRIA 8

To promote more salmon-friendly shorelines around Lakes Washington and Sammamish, an interagency team in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) has started a Green Shorelines Blog.

The blog is aimed at local people but may be useful for other lake settings. It provides a platform for sharing case studies about shoreline projects, updates on policies and projects, and information you can use to communicate about improving salmon habitat and shorelines.

Posts to date include:

• Kirkland’s innovative decision tree for shoreline development.



• The first of several posts on green shoreline FAQs.



• Madrona Woods: a volunteer restoration project.



• Meydenbauer Beach Park: Bellevue’s visionary plan to connect the beach with downtown.



• Green Shores for Homes, which will develop a rating system and incentives for green shoreline projects.



• List of publicly accessible green shoreline demonstration sites.

The WRIA 8 team welcomes your ideas for topics to cover, project case studies, or updates. Please contact me at 206-296-8013 or email at annette.frahm@kingcounty.gov.

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