Shoreline Inventory and Analysis

In 2004, several early adopters obtained grants from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to conduct characterizations of their shoreline jurisdictions as defined by the state's Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58). The purpose of this project was to develop and apply a process to conduct baseline inventories of abiotic, biological and cultural conditions in several jurisdictions to provide the basis for their Shoreline Master Program updates. These characterizations helped the jurisdictions identify existing conditions, evaluated functions and values of resources in their shoreline jurisdictions, and explored opportunities for conservation and restoration of ecological functions. The findings helped provide a framework for future updates to shoreline environment designations and shoreline management policies and regulations. Following Ecology protocols, each shoreline inventory and analysis attempted to integrate findings in an accessible manner through narratives and associated digital map portfolios to inform SMP planning decisions and to provide a baseline for adaptive management and cumulative impact assessment. The resulting shoreline characterizations indicated management opportunities for protection of ecological functions, restoration of degraded habitat, improving public access, and supporting water-dependent use.

Funding Sources:

City of Medical Lake Shoreline Master Program Update
City of Medical Lake/Washington Department of Ecology.
Amount: $21,700.
Dates of Project: 02/04-08/05
Graduate Students Funded: 2


City of Chewelah Shoreline Master Program Update
Town of Chewelah/Washington Department of Ecology.
Amount: $13,100.
Dates of Project: 02/04-08/05
Graduate Students Funded: 1


Town of Cusick Shoreline Master Program Update
Town of Cusick/Washington Department of Ecology.
Amount: $13,100.
Dates of Project: 02/04-08/05
Graduate Students Funded: 1


City of Moses Lake Shoreline Master Program Update
Washington Department of Ecology.
Amount: $39,000.
Dates of Project: 02/04-08/05
Graduate Students Funded: 3


Yakima County Assistance for Shoreline Characterization and SMP Update
Yakima County.
Amount: $53,000.
Dates of Project: 11/03-09/04
Students Funded: 6


Yakima County Shoreline Characterization and SMP Update
Washington Department of Ecology.
Amount: $35,000.
Dates of Project: 07/03-08/05
Graduate Students Funded: 2


Finished Reports:

Gabriel, A., and K. Lillquist. 2005. City of Chewelah Shoreline Characterization and Analysis. Final Report and Digital Map Portfolio. Geo-ecology Research Group Research Report 12. Ellensburg: Central Washington University. 58 pp.

Gabriel, A., and K. Lillquist. 2005. City of Medical Lake Shoreline Characterization and Analysis. Report and Digital Map Portfolio.Geo-ecology Research Group Research Report 13. Ellensburg: Central Washington University. 68 pp.

Gabriel, A. 2005. City of Moses Lake Shoreline Characterization and Analysis. Report and Digital Map Portfolio.Geo-ecology Research Group Research Report 14. Ellensburg: Central Washington University. 223 pp.

Gabriel, A., and K. Lillquist. 2005. Town of Cusick Shoreline Characterization and Analysis. Report and Digital Map Portfolio.Geo-ecology Research Group Research Report 15. Ellensburg: Central Washington University. 42 pp.

Gabriel, A., A. Sullivan, and M. Uebelacker. 2005. Yakima County Shoreline Characterization and Analysis. Report and Digital Map Portfolio.Geo-ecology Research Group Research Report 16. Ellensburg: Central Washington University. 578 pp.

Related Publications:

Gabriel, A. 2005. Challenges and lessons learned from the shoreline inventory, analysis and characterization. Presented at the 2005 Annual Planning Association of Washington Spring Conference: Empowered by Planning, WestCoast Ridpath Hotel, Spokane, Washington, April 28–29, 2005.