It happens but once every 7 or 8 years
Tonight is a big night for Spokane County's rivers, lakes and streams, and the next few weeks will be absolutely crucial in our fight to help protect the Spokane River, the Little Spokane River, Hangman Creek, Newman Lake and 73 other lakes and streams in Spokane County.
The Spokane County Shoreline Master Plan Hearing, a public workshop and hearing on the Shoreline Master Plan update, is being held at 7 p.m., TONIGHT, Sept. 15 at Spokane Community College, Building 6, Sasquatch Room, 1810 N. Green St.
This update happens only every 7 or 8 years, meaning it's absolutely imperative that
you take this opportunity to weigh in. In addition to the public hearing, the Washington State Department of Ecology is holding a public comment period in regard to the Shoreline Master Programs
in which, YOU, can voice your opinion on how future development is
handled, where habitat improvements will be made, and whether it is a
water-dependent use, public access, or habitat protection you value.
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:
· 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.
