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Disclaimer, Shoreline Master Program Interactive Mapset
King County iMap

GENERAL DISCLAIMER -- FOR ALL MAPS
The draft information included on this map has been compiled by staff from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice. King County makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or rights to the use of such information. King County shall not be liable for any general, special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages including, but not limited to, lost revenues or lost profits resulting from the use or misuse of the information contained on this map. Any sale of this map or information on this map is prohibited except by written permission of King County.

In addition to the general disclaimer, see additional disclaimers/info below for each map layer.

SHORELINE ALTERATIONS ANALYSIS RESULTS and EXAMPLES OF SHORELINE ALTERATIONS ANALYSIS RESULTS
This draft analysis evaluates the degree to which 10 ecological processes along shorelines of the state are altered. Processes evaluated include sediment, large woody debris, wave energy, light energy, nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), pathogens, tidal influences, hydrologic cycle and toxins. The overall quality (low to high) of each shoreline reach was determined according to the degree to which these processes were altered. A full description of this analysis and its results can be found in the draft King County Shorelines Technical Appendix and the results for specific shoreline reaches can be viewed with King County's Shoreline Mapping Lookup tool.

SHORELINE JURISDICTION
Shorelines of the State include all marine shorelines, lakes greater than 20 acres, and rivers and streams with 20 cubic feet per second (cfs) mean annual flow or greater. The shoreline jurisdiction includes these water bodies and shorelands. Shorelands are defined as those areas extending landward for two hundred feet from the ordinary high water mark, floodways and contiguous floodplain areas landward two hundred feet from such floodways, and all associated wetlands and river deltas. King County currently includes the zero-rise floodway, essentially the 100-year floodplain, in its shoreline jurisdiction.

The updated spatial data of the shoreline jurisdiction was developed based on State direction to include all qualifying shorelines on federal lands (these were not previously included) and to use new information from a 1998 US Geological Survey study to identify the location of 20 cubic feet per second flow points on streams (these new points are higher up in the watershed than most current points). Further, lakes were reevaluated in relation to the 20-acre threshold given the availability of new data about lake size.

Data Sources: Existing and proposed jurisdictional areas from King County/DOE (3/06), Shoreline of State Significance from WDOE, (8/01). King County standard datasets used for county boundary ("kingco", 2004), roads ("kcsn", 3/06), (water bodies ("wtrbdy", 8/06), streams ("wtrcrs", 2002), potential annexation areas (3/06), cities ("citymast", 3/06), associated floodplains ("fldplain", 3/06).

SHORELINES OF STATEWIDE SIGNFICANCE
The following water bodies and shoreland areas are currently identified as Shorelines of the Statewide Significance in the King County Shoreline Master Program:

  1. Those areas of Puget Sound and adjacent salt waters and the Strait of Juan de Fuca between the ordinary high water mark and the line of extreme low tide as follows:
    1. Nisqually Delta -- from DeWolf Bight to Tatsolo Point,
    2. Birch Bay -- from Point Whitehorn to Birch Point,
    3. Hood Canal -- from Tala Point to Foulweather Bluff,
    4. Skagit Bay and adjacent area -- from Brown Point to Yokeko Point, and
    5. Padilla Bay -- from March Point to William Point;
  2. Those areas of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and adjacent salt waters north to the Canadian line and lying seaward from the line of extreme low tide;
  3. Those lakes, whether natural, artificial, or a combination thereof, with a surface acreage of 1,000 acres or more measured at the ordinary high water mark;
  4. Those natural rivers or segments thereof west of the crest of the Cascade range downstream of a point where the mean annual flow is measured at 1,000 cubic feet per second or more;
  5. Those shorelands associated with the water bodies above.

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES -- AQUATIC HABITAT
WDFW Policy 5210 describes how sensitive fish and wildlife information from the state may be displayed. The basin-level information presented herein is intended to present wildlife data while adhering to restrictions for the display of such data. Data Sources include: Dams ("King_co_dams"), natural barriers ("King_co_natbarriers"), and culverts data from WDFW Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Inventory and Assessment Program (SSHIAP). Fish distribution information (line data: fish7-2/03, fish8-5/01, Fish9-12/00; point data: "fishv" (10/03) from King County DNRP. Aquatic species of concern ("PHS, HRTG") from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, 8/06. Vashon kelp, eelgrass, Pacific sand lance, herring spawning grounds, surfsmelt spawning beach from WDFW, 2/04. Freshwater mussels data (in Bear and Cottage Lake Creeks) collected by King County staff during habitat assessments in 2001.

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES -- TERRESTRIAL HABITAT
WDFW Policy 5210 describes how sensitive fish and wildlife information from the state may be displayed. The basin-level information presented herein is intended to present wildlife data while adhering to restrictions for the display of such data. Data Sources include: Red-tailed Hawk data from King County Department of Development and Environmental Services. All other wildlife data ("sph_phspoly", "hrtgpts", "sph_owls", "sph_mamupts") from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES -- FOREST VALUE AND WILDLIFE NETWORK
Data Sources include: Wildlife Habitat Network (WILDNET1966) from King County. Forest value ("forest_conn") from University of Washington landcover dataset, 2002 (reg_02lndc).

SHORELINE HISTORIC RESOURCES
PREHISTORIC (pre-1850) AND HISTORIC (post-1850) ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE JURISDICTIONAL AREA (Not Mapped)*:

WRIA 7 - Snoqualmie/Skykomish Watershed:

  • Prehistoric resources include rock shelter and other sites along Skykomish River on federal lands.
  • Prehistoric sites such as village site and residential camps along Snoqualmie between Tokul Creek and Carnation.
  • Historic sites associated with railroads and logging along Skykomish on federal lands.
  • Historic sites related to trapping, logging and early roads along Middle and South Forks of Snoqualmie River, mainstem Snoqualmie River, and North Fork and Lower Tolt River.

WRIA 8 - Cedar/Lake Washington Watershed:

  • Prehistoric sites throughout Cedar River corridor, including village sites in Lower Cedar River basin
  • Prehistoric sites along Sammamish River (near Redmond), Bear Creek and Evans Creek
  • Historic sites such as homesteads and logging and dam construction camps primarily located along Cedar River

WRIA 9 - Green/Duwamish Watershed:

  • Prehistoric sites distributed along Green River, Howard Hanson Reservoir, Duwamish River, Newaukum Creek and Mill Creek.
  • Historic sites related to coal mining located along Middle Green River, and railroad, logging and homestead sites located on the Upper Green.

WRIA 10 - White River Watershed:

  • Known prehistoric resources along lower Boise Creek and sites likely elsewhere along shorelines.

Vashon-Maury Island:

  • Prehistoric resources densely located in protected low-bank marine areas and around Quartermaster Harbor.
  • Prehistoric sites likely on points or near stream confluences.

*Note: This data presents generalized information about the location of archaeological sites along unincorporated King County shorelines; these sites are not mapped. RCW 42.17.310 makes archaeological site location information exempt from public release in order to diminish the risk that sites will be vandalized or looted. It is illegal to knowingly disturb, remove or sell archaeological resources on public or private lands without a state-issued permit (27.44 RCW, 27.53 RCW). For more information about these sites, please contact the King County Historic Preservation Program.
Data Source: King County Historic Resources Inventory, 2006.

EXISTING SHORELINE PUBLIC ACCESS
Data Sources include: Boat launch, dock/pier and swimming beaches from "WaterAccessMaster_13Jul06.prj" developed by King County DNRP staff, last updated on 11/15/06. Medium-high park/regional trail (Greenprint) data from King County DNRP Greenprint project dataset ("Trails_GP", 4/24/06). Large privately owned timberland from ("4th_run_maj_private.shp", 04/05/06), ownership based on King County Assesssor's data 1/26/06. Additional King County standard datasets utilized for trails ("trail", 5/02); camping and picnic sites ("park_facility", 11/06); parks ("park", 11/06); (PBRS parcels ("cut_pbrs_tim.smp", 05/19/05).

PUBLIC ACCESS GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The following draft criteria were used to identify gaps in formal shoreline public access and recreation. Formal public access and recreation are those where access is specifically allowed and managed by a public agency. Identifying gaps will help to identify and prioritize public access opportunities that could be established as part of the Shoreline Master Program Public Access Plan. Gaps include shoreline areas where there is:

  1. a notable geographic absence in public access opportunities;
  2. a notable absence in type of public access opportunities (visual, physical, or type of facility);
  3. informal access and use of sites that confirms demand; and/or
  4. population concentrated in area or otherwise known demand for access at the site.

Also considered in identifying public access gaps were existing public access plans. Plans considered include Public Boating and Fishing Access to the Cedar River (http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/watersheds/cedrLKWA/cedar-river-public-access.htm, October 2006)) and Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River Valley Phase II -- River Corridor Public Use Concept (September 1997).

Data Sources include: Boat launch, dock/pier, public street ends and swimming beaches from "WaterAccessMaster_13Jul06.prj" developed by King County DNRP staff, last updated on 11/15/06. Medium-high park/regional trail (Greenprint) data from King County DNRP Greenprint project dataset ("Trails_GP", 4/24/06). Large privately owned timberland from ("4th_run_maj_private.shp", 04/05/06), ownership based on King County Assessor's data 1/26/06. The following King County DNRP datasets were used: natural lands informal access points ("NRL_access_smp.shp", 8/06), park informal access points ("Park_access_smp.shp", 8/06), public access gaps ("accessgaps", 11/06). Additional King County standard datasets utilized for trails ("trail", 5/02); camping and picnic sites ("park_facility", 11/06); parks ("park", 11/06); PBRS parcels ("cut_pbrs_tim.smp", 05/19/05).

CHANNEL MIGRATION ZONES
Data Sources: Channel Migration Zones from standard King County dataset "CHNLMIGR" (11/02).

WDNR NAVIGABLE WATERS
Map Source: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (December 2004).

NOAA NAVIGATION LANES
Map Source: NOAA (July 1999).

CURRENT LAND USE IN SHORELINE JURISDICTION and LAND USE PATTERNS
Data Sources include: Generalized land use from standard King County dataset "GRWTHPAT" (2000). King County DDES shoreline permits from "ShorelineMMP_Permits_29Aug06_SMPonly" by King County DDES (data includes shoreline substantial development permits going back to 1990; building permits go back to 1999). Forest Production and Agricultural Production Districts from standard King County datasets "FORPDDST" (10/04) and "AGRPDDST" (8/15/03). Urban Growth Area Line from standard King County dataset "URBAN_GROWTH" (2005).

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  Updated: Jan. 16, 2007