Cumulative Impacts Analysis

Transcription

1 City of Ocean Shores Shoreline Master Program Update Cumulative Impacts Analysis and No Net Loss Report Prepared by: 2215 North 30 th Street, Suite Sixth Avenue, Suite 1100 Tacoma, WA Seattle, WA Ecology Grant No: G This report was funded in part through a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. REVISED DRAFT TO ECOLOGY

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents... i List of Figures... iiiiiiiv List of Tables... ivivv List of Abbreviations... vvvi 1 Introduction DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE RELATIONSHIP TO SEPA ASSUMPTIONS DOCUMENT ROADMAP Existing Conditions REACH 1 PACIFIC OCEAN NORTH REACH 2 PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTH REACH 3 JETTY REACH 4 OYHUT WILDLIFE RECREATION AREA REACH 5 OCEAN SHORES MARINA REACH 6 OCEAN SHORES RESIDENTIAL REACH 7 AIRPORT REACH 8 CANALS REACH 9 DUCK LAKE Reasonably Foreseeable Development CITY OF OCEAN SHORES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM REACH 1 PACIFIC OCEAN NORTH REACH 2 PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTH REACH 3 JETTY REACH 4 OYHUT WILDLIFE RECREATION AREA REACH 5 OCEAN SHORES MARINA REACH 6 OCEAN SHORES RESIDENTIAL REACH 7 AIRPORT REACH 8 CANALS REACH 9 DUCK LAKE State, Local, and Federal Regulations LOCAL PLANS AND REGULATIONS STATE REGULATIONS FEDERAL REGULATIONS Net Effect on Ecological Functions Table of Contents i P age

4 5.01 EFFECTS OF SMP PROVISIONS NET EFFECT UNANTICIPATED CUMULATIVE IMPACTS CONCLUSION Conclusions Regarding No Net Loss Cumulative Impact Analysis Tables References Table of Contents ii P age

5 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 1. Shoreline Master Program Process for Achieving the No Net Loss Standard Figure 1 2. Shoreline Reaches within the Jurisdictional Boundaries of Ocean Shores Figure 3 1. Shoreline Environment Designation Distribution within Ocean Shores City Limits List of Figures iii P age

6 LIST OF TABLES Table 2 1. Current Zoning Designations for the Pacific Ocean South Reach Table 2 2. Current Zoning Designations for the Jetty Reach Table 2 3. Current Zoning Designations for the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach Table 2 4. Current Zoning Designations for the Ocean Shores Marina Reach Table 2 5. Current Zoning Designations for the Ocean Shores Residential Reach Table 2 6. Current Zoning Designations for the Airport Reach Table 2 7. Current Zoning Designations for the Canals Reach Table 2 8. Current Zoning Designations for the Duck Lake Reach Table 3 1. Vacant and Developed Parcels in Pacific Ocean South Reach Table 3 2. Development Potential by Shoreline Environment Designation in the Pacific Ocean South Reach Table 3 3. Vacant and Developed Parcels in the Jetty Reach Table 3 4. Vacant and Developed Parcels in the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach Table 3 5. Vacant and Developed Residential Parcels in the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach Table 3 6. Vacant and Developed Commercial Parcels in the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach Table 3 7. Development Potential by Shoreline Environment Designation in the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Reach Table 3 8. Vacant and Developed Parcels in the Ocean Shores Marina Reach Table 3 9. Vacant and Developed Commercial Parcels in the Ocean Shores Marina Reach Table Development Potential by Shoreline Environment Designation in the Ocean Shores Marina Reach Table Vacant and Developed Parcels in the Ocean Shores Residential Reach Table Vacant and Developed Residential Parcels in the Ocean Shores Residential Reach Table Vacant and Developed Parcels in the Airport Reach Table Vacant and Developed Residential Parcels in the Airport Reach Table Development Potential by Shoreline Environment Designation in the Airport Reach Table Vacant and Developed Parcels in the Canals Reach Table Vacant and Developed Residential Parcels in the Canals Reach Table Vacant and Developed Commercial Parcels in the Canals Reach Table Development Potential by Shoreline Environment Designation in the Canals Reach Table Vacant and Developed Parcels in Duck Lake Reach Table Vacant and Developed Residential Parcels in Duck Lake Reach Table Development Potential by Shoreline Environment Designation in Duck Lake Reach Table 7 1. Cumulative Impacts to the Shoreline Environment Nutrient/Pollutant Delivery and Removal Table 7 2. Cumulative Impacts to the Shoreline Environment Surface and Groundwater Flow Table 7 3. Cumulative Impacts to the Shoreline Environment Sediment Transport Table 7 4. Cumulative Impacts to the Shoreline Environment Habitat Biodiversity Table 7 5. Shoreline Function Impacts Associated with Development and SMP Counter Measures Table 7 6. Shoreline Function Impacts Associated with In water and Overwater Structures or Shoreline Modifications and SMP Counter Measures Table 7 7. Summary of Shoreline Master Program and Effects of Cumulative Impacts on Shoreline Functions List of Tables iv P age

7 List of Tables v P age

8 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BMP CAO CERCLA CIA City CZMA Ecology EPA ESA FPA GHEMP MA NOAA NPDES OHWM ORMA OSMC RCW SCA SEPA SIC Best Management Practices Critical Areas Ordinance Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Cumulative Impacts Analysis City of Ocean Shores Coastal Zone Management Act Washington State Department of Ecology United States Environmental Protection Agency Federal Endangered Species Act Washington State Forest Practices Act (Chapter RCW) Grays Harbor Estuary Management Plan Management Area National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Ordinary High Water Mark Ocean Resources Management Act Ocean Shores Municipal Code Revised Code of Washington Seashore Conservation Area State Environmental Policy Act (Chapter 43.21C RCW) Shoreline Inventory and Characterization Report List of Abbreviations vi P age

9 SMA SMP State USACE WAC WDFW WDNR WSPRC Shoreline Management Act (Chapter RCW) Shoreline Master Program State of Washington United States Army Corps of Engineers Washington Administrative Code Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Washington State Department of Natural Resources Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission List of Abbreviations vii P age

10 INTRODUCTION DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) rules in Chapter of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) require local shoreline master programs (SMPs) to include goals, policies, and regulations to ensure that SMP implementation will achieve no net loss of ecological function over the long term. The SMP Guidelines (WAC (8)(d)) state that: To ensure no net loss of ecological functions and protection of other shoreline functions and/or uses, master programs shall contain policies, programs, and regulations that address adverse cumulative impacts and fairly allocate the burden of addressing cumulative impacts. The SMP Guidelines discuss the concept of net loss in more detail in WAC (2)(c). An SMP must contain goals, policies, and regulations that are designed to direct development activities and uses in a manner that will prevent degradation of ecological functions relative to the existing conditions. The city of Ocean Shores (city s) updated SMP contains goals, policies, and regulations that prevent degradation of ecological functions relative to the existing conditions as documented in the Shoreline Inventory and Characterization (SIC) Report (Herrera and AHBL, 2015). For those projects that result in degradation of ecological functions, the required mitigation must return the resultant ecological function back to the baseline, as illustrated in Figure 1 1. In addition, the SMP must address adverse cumulative impacts and fairly allocate the burden of addressing cumulative impacts among development opportunities (WAC (8)(d)). Introduction 8 P age

11 Figure 0 1. Shoreline Master Program Process for Achieving the No Net Loss Standard. Source: Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) (2012) The purpose of this Cumulative Impacts Analysis (CIA) is to ensure that implementation of the SMP update for the city, prepared by AHBL (2015), will not result in a net loss of shoreline ecological functions over the long term. Consistent with guidance from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), this CIA analyzes how the proposed SMP policies, regulations and environment designations meets this requirement. This analysis includes only those impacts that would result from development and uses within shoreline jurisdiction of the city, and that are subject to regulation under their SMP. Potential impacts of development outside of shoreline jurisdiction are not considered in this CIA. The CIA forecasts the estimated impacts of development in shoreline areas, taking into account the SMP policies, programs, and regulations, as well as: Existing conditions that affect the shorelines and relevant natural processes. The SIC provides this existing condition, or baseline, information. Introduction 9 P age

12 Reasonably foreseeable future development and use of the shorelines that is likely to occur during the next 20 years or so, based on the proposed shoreline environment designations, proposed land use density and bulk standards, and current shoreline development patterns. Beneficial effects of any established regulatory programs under other local, state, and federal laws, such as the federal Clean Water Act. To be consistent with the SIC, this analysis organizes the shorelines of the city into shoreline reaches. The city has approximately 71 miles of shoreline associated with the Pacific Ocean, canals and Duck Lake, Grays Harbor, and 3,495 acres of water and shorelands in its shoreline jurisdiction. In accordance with Ecology guidance, the shoreline assessed in the SIC may contain a nested system of management areas (MAs) and reaches. However, since all of the city s shorelines are associated with a single watershed, the lower Chehalis River, it is appropriate to consider the entire city as within or containing a single MA. The MA was broken down into reaches for the purposes of the SIC and CIA. The city was divided into nine shoreline reaches shown in Figure 1 2 and listed below, based on areas having similar physical and ecological characteristics, land use, and development patterns. 1. Pacific Ocean North 2. Pacific Ocean South 3. Jetty 4. Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area 5. Ocean Shores Marina 6. Ocean Shores Residential 7. Airport 8. Canals 9. Duck Lake Introduction 10 P age

13 Figure 0 2. Shoreline Reaches within the Jurisdictional Boundaries of Ocean Shores. Introduction 11 P age

14 RELATIONSHIP TO SEPA The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires an assessment of environmental impacts. The CIA is a supplement to the nonproject environmental review done under SEPA and is intended to address cumulative rather than isolated or individual impacts that might not be considered otherwise as part of the environmental checklist. The SEPA review process is intended to provide a list of possible environmental impacts that may occur because of a project (SEPA project review) or change in policy (SEPA nonproject review). This helps identify potential impacts that may need to be mitigated, conditioned, or this may result in the denial of a project or proposal. This CIA is intended to look at impacts as a whole based on whether or not multiple similar projects collectively result in gradual, but significant impacts. While SEPA looks at impacts by topic and the effects they may have as a whole for the project area, the CIA examines cumulative impacts that may result from multiple projects over time. ASSUMPTIONS The CIA considered foreseeable impacts over a 20 year planning horizon. Impacts are examined in the shoreline jurisdiction as identified in the draft SMP document and in the SIC. In addition, site specific impacts are expected to be addressed on a case by case basis during individual shoreline project reviews. DOCUMENT ROADMAP This CIA summarizes existing conditions in the nine shoreline reaches of the city, including shoreline characteristics, land use, public access, shoreline modifications, and ecological functions. It summarizes the applicable policies and regulations in the SMP that will act together to ensure that no net loss of ecological function occurs in shoreline jurisdiction. It identifies potential upland and in water development opportunities within each reach. Potential development opportunities were determined based on existing conditions, shoreline environment designations, zoning, and limiting environmental factors such as the presence of wetlands. This report details the potential impacts and risks to shoreline functions and processes, identifies anticipated development in each shoreline reach and how the SMP regulations would address this development, discusses how other local, state and federal regulations would address these potential impacts, and describes the net effect on ecological Introduction 12 P age

15 functions and processes. Cumulative impacts tables are included in Chapter 7. The tables describe the relationship between ecological function, potential alteration, resources at risk, and proposed SMP regulations and non regulatory measures designed to assure no net loss at a minimum. Introduction 13 P age

16 EXISTING CONDITIONS This chapter summarizes information presented in the SIC. For each shoreline reach, this chapter presents a summary of shoreline characteristics and uses, and describes ecological functions (habitat, water quantity, water quality) considered to be at risk. REACH 1 PACIFIC OCEAN NORTH The Pacific Ocean North Reach is approximately 684 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 17 percent herbaceous, 21 percent barren land, two percent emergent herbaceous wetlands, and less than one percent shrub/scrub. The rest of the reach is beach and dune. Nearly 100 percent of the reach is undevelopable beach land in public ownership and used for recreational purposes. Less than one percent of the reach is zoned Resort Tourist Commercial/General Commercial SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Pacific Ocean North Reach is located on the west side of Ocean Shores consisting of the Pacific Ocean coast line with Butterclam Street SW as the southernmost edge of the reach extending to the northern boundary of the city. The reach consists primarily of unaltered dune areas and public beach land protected from future development LAND USE The reach is over 99 percent undeveloped beach and dune area. The only existing developed land use within the reach is a portion of a hotel. Approximately 17 percent of land cover is herbaceous vegetation that includes dune grass, and the remaining land cover is either barren or covered with wetlands or shrub/scrub vegetation EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS There are at least eight public points to access the Pacific Ocean beach in this reach, including five vehicular and eight pedestrian access points. The beach can be reached by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot. There are areas of this reach that are within the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission s (WSPRC) Seashore Conservation Areas (SCAs). The SCA is open to the public for recreation and enjoyment. Existing Conditions 14 P age

17 SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS The Pacific Ocean North Reach does not contain any known shoreline modifications ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The Pacific Ocean North Reach scored moderate or high for most water quality and habitat functions. Hydrologic Functions are naturally absent from the reach due to the geography of the coastal beach. The reach contains an extensive dune grass community along its margin, which is an important locally unique and protected habitat. REACH 2 PACIFIC OCEAN SOUTH The Pacific Ocean South Reach is approximately 225 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 57 percent barren land, ten percent herbaceous, ten percent open water, three percent shrub/scrub, and one percent emergent wetlands. The rest of the reach is beach and dune. The majority of the reach, 84 percent, is undevelopable beach land in public ownership and used for recreational purposes. The remaining portion of the reach is zoned for residential use SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Pacific Ocean South Reach is located on the west side of Ocean Shores consisting of the Pacific Ocean coastline with Butterclam Street SW as the northernmost edge of the reach. The reach consists primarily of unaltered dune areas, single family, and multifamily residential developments LAND USE The zoning designations for Pacific Ocean South Reach are shown in Table 2 1. The reach is primarily undeveloped beach and dune area, with the remaining land uses being single family and multifamily residential. Approximately 42 percent of land cover is barren, and the remaining land cover is either herbaceous vegetation that includes dune grass or covered with wetlands or shrub/scrub vegetation. Table 0 1. Current Zoning Designations for the Pacific Ocean South Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Dune Area 96% Multifamily Ultra High Density <1% Private Recreational <1% Existing Conditions 15 P age

18 Zoning Percentage of Reach Public Recreational <1% EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS There are nine public access points to the Pacific Ocean beach in this reach, including nine pedestrian and one vehicular access points. Residents and visitors heavily use the beach. The SCA is open to the public for recreation and enjoyment SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS[SM1] Most of the shoreline in this reach is unarmored, with the exception of an 850 foot long riprap revetment just north of the North Jetty at the south end of the reach, installed around North of the riprap revetment is a geotube installation, which is slightly older dating from the late 1990s. The reach is also bounded to the south by the North Jetty, which secures the navigation channel ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The Pacific Ocean South Reach has similar characteristics as the northern portion of the outer coast, Pacific Ocean North reach, and scored the same for functions in the functional assessment based on those similar conditions. Notable differences however are a higher level of shoreline modification, and the encroachment of residential development into the beach along the majority of the reach, from approximately Marine View Drive SW to the southern end of the reach. REACH 3 JETTY The Jetty Reach is approximately 42 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 65 percent barren land, 13 percent open water, ten percent herbaceous, six percent developed, low intensity, five percent shrub/scrub, less than one percent developed, medium intensity, and less than one percent emergent herbaceous wetlands. Jetty Reach has intermittent development on lands within shoreline jurisdiction. As the name implies, this reach contains the Grays Harbor North Jetty SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Jetty Reach is located on the south [SM2]side of Ocean Shores consisting of the jetty, which extends west into the Pacific Ocean from the southwest corner of the Ocean Shores peninsula. Existing Conditions 16 P age

19 A pedestrian public access path located off a public parking lot on Ocean Shores Boulevard SW marks the northern edge of the reach. The reach extends along the harbor, and the eastern edge of the reach is the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area. The reach includes the jetty, mediumand high density residential development, vacant lots with development potential, and the city s wastewater treatment plant LAND USE The zoning designations for the Jetty Reach are shown in Table 2 2. The reach is split between public recreational, general commercial, multifamily high density and private recreational land uses. Approximately 65 percent of land cover is barren, and the remaining land cover is either herbaceous vegetation that includes dune grass or covered with wetlands or shrub/scrub vegetation. Table 0 2. Current Zoning Designations for the Jetty Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Public Recreational 18% General Commercial 10 Private Recreational 14 Multifamily Ultra High Density <1% EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS Public access to the shoreline is possible at one pedestrian access point. However, this provides access to the Pacific Ocean beach and not the Grays Harbor channel that constitutes the majority of shoreline area in the reach. Direct access to the channel is prevented by shoreline armoring SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS The most significant shoreline modification in the city is the North Jetty that secures the opening of Grays Harbor (Burch and Sherwood 1992). It has initiated significant accretion throughout the city for most of the twentieth century and affects conditions well beyond this reach (Kaminsky et al. 2010). The Jetty is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) including maintenance dredging. Existing Conditions 17 P age

20 ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The Jetty Reach scored low for many of the ecological functions potentially present. The most significant factor influencing the low functional assessment scores is the highly altered and unvegetated condition associated with extensive armoring. REACH 4 OYHUT WILDLIFE RECREATION AREA The Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach is approximately 675 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 40 percent emergent herbaceous wetlands, 19 percent barren land, 19 percent open water, 16 percent woody wetlands, three percent herbaceous, two percent shrub/scrub, one percent developed, low intensity, and less than one percent developed, open space. This reach is dominated by the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, which is predominantly undeveloped wetlands comprised of forested, scrub shrub, emergent, and estuarine vegetation SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach is located on the south end of the Ocean Shores Peninsula. The property is maintained as waterfowl habitat and for associated recreational opportunities. It is one of four remaining snowy plover nesting sites in the state LAND USE The zoning designations for the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach are shown in Table 2 3. While a portion of the reach (nine percent) is zoned for commercial uses, the existing developed land uses in this reach are predominantly residential. The reach also includes a small portion of a property near the Quinault Marina that is used for tent camping. Table 0 3. Current Zoning Designations for the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Public Recreational 85% General Commercial 8% Multifamily Medium Density 3% Other Sand Area 1% Multifamily High Density <1% Duplex <1% Single Family <1% Multifamily Ultra High Density <1% Existing Conditions 18 P age

21 EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS Public Access to Grays Harbor is possible through the 683 acre Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area. There are four pedestrian access points to the wildlife area within the reach. The wildlife area is maintained by Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as a waterfowl habitat area and a recreation area. It provides important habitat functions, as it is one of the few snowy plover nesting sites in the state. The site is open to the public for fishing and passive recreation except for certain areas that are restricted snowy plover nest sites SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS Rock breakwater extends from the jetty reach to the marina, but the shoreline is otherwise unmodified ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area Reach ranks moderate to high for each ecological function. The reach is mostly characterized by a natural estuarine habitat and mud flats seaward of the OHWM and undeveloped freshwater emergent, scrub shrub, and forested wetlands landward of the OHWM. The presence of invasive European green crab may reduce habitat quality, yet the reach provides important habitat used by shorebirds, and contains diverse estuarine and freshwater vegetation communities that provide habitat structure and water quality functions. REACH 5 OCEAN SHORES MARINA The Ocean Shores Marina Reach is approximately 38 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 32 percent herbaceous, 13 percent barren land, eight percent developed, low intensity, five percent developed, medium intensity, and three percent emergent herbaceous wetlands. Forty percent of the reach is open water. Most of the reach is zoned for commercial use, including the Quinault Marina SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Ocean Shores Marina Reach is located on the southeast corner of the Ocean Shores Peninsula. The reach is bordered on two sides by Grays Harbor and it provides an access point to Damon Point, a 61 acre day use area consisting of a one mile long stretch of land jutting out into the sea. Damon Point is located outside of the city and is not included in shoreline jurisdiction. Existing Conditions 19 P age

22 LAND USE Ocean Shores Marina Reach is zoned primarily for General Commercial, as shown in Table 2 4. Commercial zoning includes the Quinault Marina and RV Park and a private retirement community. The portion of the reach zoned Private Recreational contains a private recreation club. The marina is the dominant land use in the Ocean Shores Marina Reach, although it has not been maintained for commercial use. The ferry that transported passengers between Westport and Ocean Shores [SM3]was discontinued in 2008 due to sand and silt accumulation in the marina. Table 0 4. Current Zoning Designations for the Ocean Shores Marina Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach General Commercial 94% Private Recreational 5% Retail Commercial <1% Single Family <1% EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS Public access to Grays Harbor exists at the Quinault Marina and at the Ocean Shores Interpretive Center SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS There are many shoreline modifications in this reach. The remnants of the original North Jetty bound the southern end of the reach, which includes a portion of the former roadway that provided access to Damon Point. The roadway is within the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and has incrementally eroded over time. This area includes an RV Park, where consolidated gravel surfaces are also eroding into the harbor. Further north a riprap revetment extends the length of the reach. In the marina itself, a decaying, overwater wooden walkway also lines the shoreline. The reach includes the outlet of Duck Lake, which is completely engineered and artificial ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS Ocean Shores Marina Reach ranks low or moderate for most functional assessment criteria that are applicable to the reach. Although there are no documented water quality concerns, the shoreline is highly modified to protect the marina. Limited vegetation cover in combination with shoreline uses including the boat ramp, boat moorage at the marina slips, and parking areas likely reduce the reach s capacity to provide water quality functions. The shoreline Existing Conditions 20 P age

23 modifications also alter natural sediment transport patterns and may represent maintenance concerns and habitat degradation over the long term due to gradual sediment accumulation. Herring spawning is documented on both sides of the marina. This is the only reach where spawning is documented in Ocean Shores, indicating it is a unique and important habitat niche in the city. The reach ranked high for habitat function because multiple types of nearshore vegetation (eelgrass and dune grass) are present within the harbor and along the shoreline north of the breakwater. However, shoreline vegetation is highly disturbed by formal and informal access roads throughout the reach, parking areas, and the RV park. Habitat complexity and quality is limited by these disturbances and the armored shoreline. REACH 6 OCEAN SHORES RESIDENTIAL The Ocean Shores Residential Reach is approximately 56 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 44 percent developed, low intensity, 21 percent herbaceous, twelve percent emergent herbaceous wetlands, nine percent barren land, six percent shrub/scrub, five percent developed, medium intensity, two percent developed, open space, one percent each open water and woody wetlands, and less than one percent evergreen forest. Most of the reach is zoned for single family residential SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Ocean Shores Residential Reach is located on the eastern side of the Ocean Shores Peninsula. The reach is bordered by the marina on the south, Grays Harbor on the east, and the Grays Harbor Estuary and a wildlife viewing area on the north LAND USE As the name implies, the Ocean Shores Residential Reach is largely zoned for Single Family residential development, as shown in Table 2 5. The majority of residential lots in this reach are developed, although there is potential for further development on the remaining vacant lots. Other land uses in the reach include undevelopable sand areas, and public and private recreational areas, many of which are associated with residential developments. A small portion of land in the reach is zoned for high density residential use, although it is developed with single family residences. Table 0 5. Current Zoning Designations for the Ocean Shores Residential Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Existing Conditions 21 P age

24 Zoning Percentage of Reach Single Family 51% Other Sand Area 30% Private Recreational 5% Public Recreational 3% Fresh Waterways 6% Fiveplex & Sixplex 2% EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS There are two pedestrian access points to the Grays Harbor Estuary and a wildlife viewing area in this reach. In addition, the city s future Gunderson Park is an unimproved neighborhood park near North Bay located in this reach SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS Shoreline modifications are moderate (five to 35 percent) in the northern part of the reach. The lower portion is less modified but there are several segments of rock armor protecting structures along the shoreline. Most of the shoreline armoring protect past fill placed during the construction of the city. Portions of unaltered shoreline do not require protection, and they are therefore not currently armored ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS Ocean Shores Residential Reach ranked moderate for most functional assessment criteria. Like most of the marine reaches in Ocean Shores, the Ocean Shores Residential Reach includes important habitat for shorebirds. It also contains a harbor seal nursery area on the tide flat shoals along the channel. No known water quality impairments and a mixture of salt marsh and dune grass communities, and extensive eelgrass, along the reach resulted in high rankings for some functional assessment criteria. The extensive nearshore vegetation indicates, for example, a high level of function for sediment stabilization and shoreline protection in this reach. Low scores relate to the density of riparian vegetation, reduced by residential development in the reach, and indicate potential impairments to habitat quality for a variety of species. Although the reach was ranked low for those criteria, there are important habitats including the nearshore vegetation communities mentioned above, as well as habitat features such as large wood, tidal channels, and the shoal. Estuarine wetlands such as those fringing the existing residential development along Chinook Place and Wakina Loop are particularly important habitats due to their unique conditions and the functions they provide. Existing Conditions 22 P age

25 REACH 7 AIRPORT The Airport Reach is approximately 184 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 63 percent emergent herbaceous wetlands, 21 percent woody wetlands, five percent developed, open space, three percent each herbaceous and developed, low intensity, two percent each open water and shrub/scrub, one percent barren land, and less than one percent each developed, high intensity, developed, medium intensity, and evergreen forest. Most of the reach is in public ownership, including the Grays Harbor Estuary and wildlife viewing area SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Airport Reach is located on the eastern side of the Ocean Shores Peninsula and includes the Ocean Shores Municipal Airport. The reach is primarily emergent herbaceous wetlands. The reach is bordered by Grays Harbor on the east, single family residential on the south, and the city boundary on the north LAND USE The Airport Reach is predominantly undevelopable Sand Area, as shown in Table 2 6. This term refers to the estuarine wetlands associated with Grays Harbor. Airport Reach contains the Ocean Shores Municipal Airport, and the runway is located entirely within shoreline jurisdiction. The majority of land in this reach is owned by WDFW and is used for public recreation. A small portion of residential development is located in the western and northern portions of the reach. Table 0 6. Current Zoning Designations for the Airport Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Other Sand Area 57% General Commercial 39% Single Family 3% Manufactured Home Double Wide 1% EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS The Grays Harbor Estuary is accessible to the public through the Ocean Shores Airport Unit, 185 acres of land owned by WDFW. This area is maintained in a natural state. Visitors can enjoy bird watching year round and hunt for waterfowl during hunting season. Existing Conditions 23 P age

26 SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS According to the Ecology database, the shoreline has been modified near the airport. This may refer to some combination of fill and rock placed to protect the airport. Because the airport is set back a large distance from the wrack line, the impacts of these modifications are primarily in the footprint of the placed fill, and do not extend the beyond the current development of the facility ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS Except where it has been filled and altered to accommodate the airport, the Airport Reach is characterized by an extensive state owned salt marsh that transitions into eelgrass bed. The natural condition of a significant portion of the reach contributes to high scores for several functional assessment criteria in this reach. Much of the reach is relatively undisturbed habitat for shellfish, a variety shorebirds, and peregrine falcons. North of the airport, several residential structures contribute to a somewhat fragmented riparian forest cover. Although the estuarine wetland narrows in this location, compared to the broader wetlands next to the airport, it contains valuable habitat features such as large wood, vegetation, and a relatively unaltered shoreline that contribute to the overall level of ecological function in the reach. REACH 8 CANALS The Canals Reach is approximately 693 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 70 percent developed, low intensity, 16 percent open water, ten percent developed, open space, and the remainder is developed, medium intensity, woody wetlands, evergreen forest, herbaceous, emergent herbaceous wetlands, and shrub/scrub. Most of the reach is zoned for single family development SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS The Canals Reach includes the freshwater canals located on the Ocean Shores Peninsula. The reach surrounds the canals, including the Grand Canal, and extends north from the southern boundary of the city near the marina to J K Lewis Street. The majority of the development surrounding the canals is single family residences LAND USE The Canals Reach is predominantly zoned for residential uses, as shown in Table 2 7. A small percentage of the total area is zoned for commercial and public recreational land uses and it Existing Conditions 24 P age

27 contains a mixture of developed and vacant lots. The undeveloped lots have the potential to develop with single family homes over the next several decades. Table 0 7. Current Zoning Designations for the Canals Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Single Family 46% Retail Commercial 4% Fiveplex & Sixplex 3% Private Recreational 3% Public Recreational <1% General Commercial <1% Fourplex <1% Triplex <1% Ultra High Density <1% EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS There are a number of public access and recreation opportunities in the Canals Reach. South End Grand Canal Park provides a boat docking facility, fishing pier, bird watching amenities, and wildlife viewing amenities. Texmar Park is a mostly unimproved neighborhood park that has a hand launch area for watercraft. A bicycle path runs parallel to the Grand Canal and provides recreation opportunities SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS There are numerous small scale (single residence) revetments protecting past fill and residential structures. They are typically for aesthetic or slope stability purposes since the energy of the water body is effectively zero ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The shoreline in the Canals Reach exhibits a moderate level of impairment with low rankings for many (12 out of 20) functional assessment criteria. Low levels of function are primarily associated with lack of both the types and amount of shoreline vegetation that would support water quality and habitat functions. Due to their constructed form within the landscape and lack of substantial floodplain or connected wetlands, the canals provide low levels of hydrologic functions. They do, however, provide some floodwater storage capacity for the city. Due to their lack of connection to the marine waters by a tide gate at the Ocean Shores Marina, the canals do not provide good habitat that would generally be suitable for sensitive species. The Existing Conditions 25 P age

28 canals are also impacted by invasive species, which reduces the shoreline s habitat function in terms providing the space and conditions to support shoreline dependent species. REACH 9 DUCK LAKE Duck Lake Reach is approximately 514 acres in area. Land cover is comprised of 44 percent open water, 37 percent developed, low intensity, nine percent developed, open space, three percent each developed, medium intensity and evergreen forest, two percent woody wetlands, one percent each emergent herbaceous wetlands and barren land, and less than one percent shrub/scrub SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS Duck Lake Reach is located on the eastern side of the Ocean Shores Peninsula. The reach primarily consists of single family residences. The reach contains several public access points to the lake, and includes several parks and publicly owned lands that provide public recreation opportunities LAND USE Duck Lake Reach is zoned for single family residential development, as shown in Table 2 8. There is a small percentage of land zoned for public recreation. The Weatherwax Property located in this reach is zoned R 1 Single Family although it is a public recreation use, therefore the total area of public recreation land is not represented by the zoning designations in Table 2 8. The city of Ocean Shores owns a significant amount of land in this reach, including the Weatherwax property, Duck Lake, and land directly adjacent to the water s edge. Because the city owns the land directly adjacent to the water s edge, residents with waterfront property must obtain a lease from the city to build docks with access to Duck Lake. Table 0 8. Current Zoning Designations for the Duck Lake Reach. Zoning Percentage of Reach Single Family 45% Public Recreational 1% Mobile and Manufactured Home 1% Fiveplex, Sixplex <1% Manufactured Home Double Wide <1% Private Recreational <1% Existing Conditions 26 P age

29 EXISTING PUBLIC ACCESS The Duck Lake Reach contains a number of shoreline public access points. North Bay Park is a 7.1 acre park with frontage on Duck Lake. It includes a boat launch, fishing dock, and other recreational facilities such as baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts. Residents can also enjoy bird watching and wildlife viewing at North Bay Park. Chinook Park is located on the east side of Duck Lake. Public access to the lake is provided by a boat launch and fishing dock. Limpet Park is an unimproved lot on the northeast side of Duck Lake. The site provides access to the water for hand launch boats. Additional public access opportunities have been identified in the city s Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS Duck Lake is not a natural feature and much of its shoreline is armored with a wide variety of revetments. These revetments are diverse and often primarily aesthetic features, particularly since flow and wave energy is negligible ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS The Duck Lake shoreline is affected by some of the same impediments as the Canals Reach including lack of significant riparian vegetation and presence of invasive aquatic plants. Moderate levels of function for habitat are related to a relatively complex habitat structure, presence of habitat features, and mapped trumpeter swan habitat. Like the canals in the city, Duck Lake has limited potential to provide hydrologic functions, but it does provide floodwater storage. The lake is listed on Ecology s 303(d) list as a waterbody of concern for total phosphorous. This may indicate that shoreline functions for maintaining water quality are impaired by adjacent development or land use practices. It also suggests that Duck Lake is an important factor for maintaining water quality in Grays Harbor. Forested parcels along the shoreline that are owned by the city (Weatherwax property) likely provide a higher level of function compared to the reach overall, due to their vegetated condition. The parcels may warrant special consideration during shoreline planning in order to preserve and possibly improve their functional value. Since the city s shoreline jurisdiction generally lacks significant forested areas, these parcels provide a unique riparian habitat niche within the city. Existing Conditions 27 P age

30 REASONABLY FORESEEABLE DEVELOPMENT According to the SMP Guidelines, the CIA should evaluate the reasonably foreseeable future development and use of the shoreline that is likely to occur based upon the proposed shoreline environment designations within the planning period. The planning period for the SMP is 20 years. Ocean Shores does have a history of robust development. In the five years prior to the downturn of development in Washington State, Ocean Shores averaged issuing over 150 permits a year for new residential development. The number dropped significantly to a low of 38 new residential permits in 2012 but rebounded since then with 92 issued in 2015 and the city is on track to issue at least that many again in As a vacation destination with a healthy inventory of buildable lots, the city should continue to enjoy a strong demand for new residential development, much of it in the shoreline jurisdiction. The table below shows permits issued for new residential and commercial development and all shoreline permits issued between 2004 and Table 3 0: Permits issued for new residential and commercial development and all shoreline permits issued New Residential New Commercial All Shoreline CITY OF OCEAN SHORES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM This chapter provides a brief overview of the SMP and how it addresses the protection of ecological functions and processes from cumulative impacts. This chapter is intended to put the SMP regulations in context with the other regulations that apply to shoreline jurisdiction. The SMP Guidelines include the following recommendations to help achieve no net loss of ecological functions: Restrict uses that are not water dependent or preferred shoreline uses. Reasonably Foreseeable Development 28 P age

31 Require that all future shoreline development, including water dependent and preferred uses, be carried out in a manner that limits further degradation of the shoreline environment. Establish appropriate shoreline environment designations. The environment designations must reflect the findings of the SIC. A shoreline landscape that is relatively unaltered should be designated Natural and protected from any use that would degrade the natural character of the shoreline. Require buffers and setbacks. Vegetated buffers and building setbacks from those buffers reduce the impacts of development on the shoreline environment. In all cases, require mitigation sequencing. The SMP must include regulations that require developers to follow mitigation sequencing: avoid impacts, minimize impacts, rectify impacts, reduce impacts over time, compensate for impacts, monitor impacts, and take corrective measures. Establish strong policies and regulations. Policies and regulations will define what type of development can occur in each shoreline environment designation, determine the level of review required through the type of shoreline permit, and set up mitigation measures and restoration requirements. Measures described in Sections through , below, will implement the above recommendations, helping the city achieve no net loss of shoreline ecological functions ENVIRONMENT DESIGNATIONS The first level of protection provided by the SMP is the establishment of five different shoreline environment designation types in the city: Aquatic, High Intensity, Natural, Shoreline Residential, and Urban Conservancy. These environment designations were assigned based primarily on existing and proposed land uses, which implicitly encompasses differing levels of ecological functions and different probabilities and potentials for improvements of ecological functions, as well as the location of critical areas and their buffers. Each environment designation s designated area is outlined below. New environment designations were developed based on a review of existing development patterns, biological and physical characteristics of the shoreline, goals and aspirations of the community as expressed through the city s Comprehensive Plan, associated plans and regulations, and the SMP Guidelines (WAC ). The five shoreline environment 3,190 Acres in Area 11% 26% 51% 9% 3% Reasonably Foreseeable Development Aquatic Natural Urban Conservancy High Intensity 29 P age Shoreline Residential

32 designations include either the upland property from the OHWM or water areas lying waterward of the OHWM. A. Aquatic The Aquatic shoreline environment designation consists of all lands waterward of the OHWM of the waterways of the city. The Aquatic shoreline environment designation is assigned to protect, restore, and manage the unique characteristics and resources of the areas waterward of the OHWM. All lands waterward of the OHWM in the city is in the Aquatic shoreline environment designation. B. High Intensity The High Intensity shoreline environment designation consists of Figure 0 1. Shoreline Environment Designation Distribution within Ocean Shores City Limits shoreline areas that currently support high intensity uses related to commerce or are suitable for high intensity non water water oriented uses. The purpose of the High Intensity shoreline environment designation is to provide for high intensity non wateroriented commercial uses while protecting existing ecological functions and restoring ecological functions in areas that have been previously degraded. The High Intensity shoreline environment designation is assigned to portions of Reach 1 Pacific Ocean North, Reach 3 Jetty, Reach 4 Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, Reach 5 Ocean Shores Marina, Reach 7 Airport, and Reach 8 Canals. C. Shoreline Residential The Shoreline Residential shoreline environment designation consists of shoreline areas that are predominantly single family residential development or are planned and platted for residential development. The purpose of the Shoreline Residential shoreline environment designation is to provide for residential uses where necessary facilities for development can be provided. An additional purpose is to provide public access and recreational uses. The Shoreline Residential shoreline environment designation is assigned to portions of Reach 2 Pacific Ocean South, Reach 3 Jetty, Reach 4 Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, Reach 6 Ocean Shores Residential, Reach 7 Airport, Reach 8 Canals, and Reach 9 Duck Lake. Reasonably Foreseeable Development 30 P age

33 D. Urban Conservancy The Urban Conservancy shoreline environment designation consists of those shorelines and shoreland areas that most closely match the following characteristics: 1. They are suitable for water related or water enjoyment uses; 2. Areas containing extensive forested and recreational uses; 3. They are open space, flood plain, wetland or wetland buffer, stream buffer or other sensitive areas that should not be more intensively developed; 4. They have the potential for development that is compatible with ecological restoration; 5. Areas with existing non water dependent shoreline development that will not be expanded; 6. They have potential for ecological restoration; 7. Areas that retain important ecological functions, even though partially developed; or 8. Newly annexed areas where there is no designation. The purpose of the Urban Conservancy shoreline environment designation is to protect and restore ecological functions of open space and other sensitive lands where they exist in urban and developed settings, while allowing a variety of water oriented uses and uses consistent with effective environmental management. The designation will provide for ecological protection and rehabilitation in relatively undeveloped shoreline areas anticipated for or containing existing agricultural, recreation, and open space uses and limited development suitable to lands characterized by ecological and flood hazard constraints. The Urban Conservancy shoreline environment designation is assigned to portions of Reach 1 Pacific Ocean North, Reach 2 Pacific Ocean South, Reach 3 Jetty, Reach 6 Ocean Shores Residential, Reach 8 Canals, and Reach 9 Duck Lake. E. Natural The Natural environment designation consists of shoreline areas where any of the following applies: 1. The shoreline area is ecologically intact and performing an important ecological function that would be damaged by human activity; 2. The shoreline area is of particular scientific and educational interest; or Reasonably Foreseeable Development 31 P age