Growth Management

Various provisions of the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) require local comprehensive plans to address planning issues of statewide importance. It is a characteristic of GMA that, depending upon the issue, the state purposes for local plans can be either general or very specific. Relative to natural resource lands (mineral, agricultural and forestry lands), and "critical areas" (areas designated as wetlands, fish and wildlife conservation, frequently flooded, critical aquifer recharge, and geologically hazardous areas), the expression of state interest is clear and specific. These must be designated and “protected” (critical areas) or “conserved” (agriculture, minerals and forestry) by regulation (36.70A.060). Currently, most of the counties and the major municipalities in the Subbasin have growth management plans that include provisions for areas along the Columbia River.

The “Goals, Policies, and Actions,” within comprehensive plans are the primary directives for land use decision-making and long range planning. They are also the principal directives to county decision-makers and staff relative to what planning and public works actions, studies, and other projects, have to be undertaken during the plan's 20 year horizon in order to address current and future growth and development, and resource issues.

Shorelines Management

The Shorelines Management Act covers, as applicable, all marine waters; streams with a mean annual flow greater than 20 cubic feet per second; and lakes 20 acres or larger. See RCW 90.58.030, Definitions and concepts. Counties and cities with defined shorelines must adopt and maintain a shoreline master program, which is a policy and regulatory document that guides shoreline use and protection. The Shoreline Management Act also states "the interests of all the people shall be paramount in the management of shorelines of statewide significance." Shorelines of statewide significance include:

• Pacific Coast, Hood Canal and Puget Sound shorelines
• All waters of Puget Sound and the Straight of Juan de Fuca
• Lakes or reservoirs with the surface acreage of 1,000 acres or more
• Larger rivers (1,000 cubic feet per second or greater for rivers in Western Washington, 200 cubic feet per second and greater east of the Cascade crest)
• Wetlands associated with all of the above