Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Committee |
ESSB 6147
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning the replacement of shoreline armoring.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Senators Salomon, Lovelett, Wilson, C., Rolfes, Billig and Keiser).
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/25/20
Staff: Riley O'Leary (786-7296) and Robert Hatfield (786-7117).
Background:
Hydraulic Project Approval.
A person must obtain a hydraulic project approval (HPA) prior to commencing any construction project that will use, divert, obstruct, or change the natural flow or bed of any of the salt or fresh waters of the state. Hydraulic project approvals are issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to ensure the proper protection of fish life. To receive an HPA, the applicant must provide certain information to the WDFW. This information includes general plans for the overall project and complete plans for the proper protection of fish life. The WDFW may impose conditions on a permit. The permit conditions must ensure that the project provides proper protection for fish life, but the WDFW may not impose conditions that attempt to optimize conditions for fish life that are out of proportion to the impact of the proposed project.
Summary of Bill:
Projects for the replacement of marine shoreline stabilization or armoring, bulkheads, or other measures to protect residential structures from marine shoreline erosion must consider the least impactful alternative for the protection of fish life in the following order of preference:
remove the structure and restore the beach;
remove the structure and install native vegetation;
remove the structure and control upland drainage;
remove the structure and replace it with a soft structure constructed of natural materials, including bioengineering;
remove the hard structure and construct upland retaining walls;
remove the hard structure and replace it with a hard structure located landward of the existing structure, preferably at or above the ordinary high water line; or
remove the hard structure and replace it with hard shoreline structure in the same footprint as the existing structure.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.