Mooring Structures (Piers and Docks)

Kitsap County Shoreline Master Program Update Task Force Work Group Meeting August 16, 2011 Mooring Structures (Piers and Docks)

OVERVIEW • Shoreline Stabilization and Armoring: Update • Mooring Structures • - WAC Guidelines, Management Policies • - Critical Salt and Fresh Water Habitats • - WDFW perspective • - Piers, Docks, and Floats • - Launching Ramps and Railways • - Boat Houses • - Lake standards • - Alternative moorage and Incentives (buoys, joint-use) Kitsap County SMP Task Force

Mooring Structures WAC GUIDELINES • New overwater structures only for water-dependent uses, public access or ecological restoration (no new overwater residences- WAC 173-26-241(j)) • Structure size limited to minimum necessary to support intended use • Multiple-use over-water facilities encouraged • Locate, design, and manage to prevent and minimize: • interference with surface navigation, public views, and unobstructed passage of fish and wildlife • degradation of water quality and alteration of natural hydrographic conditions • adverse impacts to the ecological functions of critical saltwater and freshwater habitats (when allowed, must follow mitigation sequencing) Kitsap County SMP Task Force

Mooring Strucutures WAC GUIDELINES (cont.) • Critical Saltwater and Freshwater Habitats [WAC 173-26-221(2)(c)(iii)] • Critical Saltwater Habitats include: • Kelp and eelgrass beds • Forage fish spawning and holding areas • Shellfish beds (commercial, subsistence and recreational) • Mudflats • Intertidal habitats with vascular plants • Areas with which priority species have a primary association • Critical Freshwater Habitats: • Includes planning for protection, restoration and regulation where appropriate along the entire length, including migration zones, floodplains and hyporheic zones. This includes managing stormwater quantity and quality, vegetative cover / impervious surfaces, and other functions. Kitsap County SMP Task Force

Standards for Critical Saltwater and Freshwater Habitats[WAC 173-26-221(2)(c)(iii)] • Docks, bulkheads, fill, floats, jetties, utility crossings and other human-made structures shall not intrude into or over critical salt [and fresh]water habitats except when certain conditions are met. • Private, non-commercial docks for individual or community use may be authorized with certain conditions. • All over-water and near-shore developments must do an inventory of the site and adjacent beach sections to assess the presence of critical salt or freshwater habitats and functions. • Other standards may include restricting certain uses or modifications, requiring Conditional Use Permits (Cumulative Impacts), or higher standards Kitsap County SMP Task Force

Agencies Involved • Kitsap County Department of Community Development • Army Corps of Engineers • Washington Department of Natural Resources • Tribes • Washington Department of Fish And Wildlife Kitsap County SMP Task Force

Mooring Structures • Issues: • RGP 6 consistency • Length, Depth and Location • Upland Designation Consistency • Public vs. private standards (incentives/allowances for community docks) • Cumulative Impacts and Critical Saltwater Habitats • Incentives (Mooring Buoys and Joint Use) • Lakes (RGP 3) Pier, Ramp and Dock Grounded Recreation Float Kitsap County SMP Task Force

NEXT STEPS • August 30 – Shoreline “Buffers” • Additional Meeting- Sept. 13 or 27? • Re-convene Task Force Mid-October (13th?) Kitsap County SMP Task Force

Mooring Structures (Piers and Docks)