Time is running out to comment on Shoreline Master Plan
The public comment period for the Shoreline Master Plan ends this Friday (Oct 2) at midnight - please be sure to have your comments in by then. Click HERE for a quick tool you can use to support strong protections for our shorelines.
If you're stuck on finding a reason to support strong protections, read the following opening line from a story that appeared in The Spokesman-Review yesterday: "The discovery of toxic algae blooms in Long Lake has prompted authorities to warn residents to stay out of the water and keep their pets and livestock away, too."
This after a Long Lake resident discovered, through testing and funds of his own, concentrations of a neurotoxin called microcystin at levels of 18,700 micrograms per liter. According to Jani Gilbert at Ecology and reported by Becky Kramer with the Spokesman, "the threshold for concern is 6 micrograms per liter."
Upon the release of this news, Futurewise sent out an email reminding people that, "This does not happen in a healthy ecosystem. It's time to demand that Department of Ecology reverse Spokane County's weakening of the adopted Shoreline Master Plan, uphold the planning commission's recommendations and make needed changes to protect water quality, increase public access and help reach compliance with the Clean Water Act."
Don't forget, you have until this Friday at midnight to submit your comment.
Written comments will be accepted through October 2, 2009
at dpin461@ecy.wa.gov or Ecology’s Spokane office: 4601 N. Monroe St.,
Spokane, WA 99205. Comments should be addressed to the attention of
“Spokane County SMP.”
The Shoreline Master Programs are the vehicles for which shorelines are protected under the Shoreline Management Act defined as, “the comprehensive use plan for a described area, and the use regulations together with maps, diagrams, charts, or other descriptive material and text, a statement of desired goals, and standards.”
The Shoreline Master Programs are written to help minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses and reduce interference with the public’s access to water.
Follow past the jump to see what you should ask Ecology to do:
But first, here is a draft letter put together by a citizen·of Spokane - feel free to use it for your comment:
To whom it may concern,
Thank you for the opportunity
to comment on Spokane County’s Draft Revised Shoreline Master Program.
I am a citizen interested in ensuring and protecting public access to
the Spokane River and other waterways.
In general terms, the Shoreline
Master Program (SMP) should be improved by clearly articulating a goal
and requirements to increase public access to publicly owned rivers,
streams and lakes. Relative to the Shoreline Management Act, there are
several provisions in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that
specify requirements for carrying out this goal and requirements. Unfortunately,
they are not clearly detailed in the SMP.
The draft plan would be strengthened
with language to clearly implement the public trust doctrine that protects
public access rights for navigation, fishing and general recreation.
Further, to the extent access is developed for residential or commercial
developments, there should be SMP provisions that clearly include a
requirement to afford public access as part of creating these developments.
To do otherwise restricts public access to public waters.
Protecting and enhancing the
Spokane River and other waterways is critical to our future. The SMP
would be strengthened by adding provisions to protect the public’s
ability to access, enjoy and preserve these wonderful resources.
Sincerely,
xxxxxx
Now here is what you should ask Ecology to do:
Rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands should all
enjoy the same strong protections. Clarify that the shoreline master program
maintains the 250 foot buffers on shoreline rivers adopted in the
· Protect all wildlife habitats within shoreline jurisdiction including insects
and plants. This is necessary to protect the fish and wildlife resources that
we all value and to maintain the ecological functions of our watershed. The
Shoreline Management Act and the regulations that implement it require protection
of wildlife and maintenance ecological functions.
· Improve the public access provisions to protect the public’s existing access
to rivers, streams and lakes and to provide increased public access for our
growing population. This will improve opportunities to boat, swim, and fish.
The Shoreline Management Act and the regulations that implement it require that
public access be provided by large developments,
· Adopt stronger measures to protect people and property by directing
development away from all of the channel migration zones. These are areas where
rivers and streams periodically move. This movement will damage any buildings
within this area and put the resident’s lives at risk.
**The Board of
· Re-designate four miles of
· Re-designate 1,000 lineal feet on
· Re-designate the
· Restore the “High Quality Area designation” on the west shore of the
· Keep the existing ten foot minimum separation between a septic tank
drainfields and the water table to protect water quality and drinking water sources.
