(a) As defined by the Shoreline Management Act of 1971, shorelines include certain waters of the State plus their associated “shorelands.” The waterbodies designated as shorelines of the State are streams whose mean annual flow is 20 cubic feet per second (cfs) or greater and lakes whose area is greater than 20 acres.

(b) Shorelands, as adopted by the City of Pullman and indicated on the Official Shoreline Maps available for review in the Department of Community Development, are defined as:

“those lands extending landward for 200 feet in all directions as measured on a horizontal plane from the ordinary high water mark; floodways and contiguous floodplain areas landward 200 feet from such floodways; and all wetlands and river deltas associated with the streams, lakes, and tidal waters which are subject to the provisions of this chapter….” (RCW 90.58.030)

The City of Pullman will not extend shoreline jurisdiction to encompass critical area buffers that otherwise extend outside of the minimum shoreline jurisdiction.

(c) The extent of shoreline jurisdiction is indicated on the Official Shoreline Maps available for review in the City Department of Community Development. The purpose of the Official Shoreline Maps is to identify Environment Designations (Section 16.55.220). The maps only approximately identify or depict the lateral extent of shoreline jurisdiction. The actual lateral extent of the shoreline jurisdiction shall be determined on a site-specific basis based on the location of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM), floodway, floodplain, and presence of associated wetlands.

(d) In circumstances where shoreline jurisdiction does not include an entire parcel, only that portion of the parcel within shoreline jurisdiction and any use, activity or development proposed within shoreline jurisdiction on that portion of the parcel is subject to this Shoreline Master Program.

(a) This SMP adopts the following policy provided in RCW 90.58.020, and fully implements it to the extent of its authority under this SMP:

“It is the policy of the State to provide for the management of the shorelines of the State by planning for and fostering all reasonable and appropriate uses. This policy is designed to insure the development of these shorelines in a manner which, while allowing for limited reduction of rights of the public in the navigable waters, will promote and enhance the public interest. This policy contemplates protecting against adverse effects to the public health, the land and its vegetation and wildlife, and the waters of the State and their aquatic life, while protecting generally public rights of navigation and corollary rights incidental thereto...

In the implementation of this policy, the public’s opportunity to enjoy the physical and aesthetic qualities of natural shorelines of the State shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible consistent with the overall best interest of the State and the people generally. To this end uses shall be preferred which are consistent with control of pollution and prevention of damage to the natural environment, or are unique to or dependent upon use of the state’s shoreline. Alterations of the natural condition of the shorelines of the state, in those limited instances when authorized, shall be given priority for single family residences and their appurtenant structures, ports, shoreline recreational uses including but not limited to parks, marinas, piers, and other improvements facilitating public access to shorelines of the state, industrial and commercial developments which are particularly dependent on their location on or use of the shorelines of the state and other development that will provide an opportunity for substantial numbers of the people to enjoy the shorelines of the state. Alterations of the natural condition of the shorelines and shorelands of the state shall be recognized by the [D]epartment [of Ecology]. Shorelines and shorelands of the state shall be appropriately classified and these classifications shall be revised when circumstances warrant regardless of whether the change in circumstances occurs through man-made causes or natural causes. Any areas resulting from alterations of the natural condition of the shorelines and shorelands of the state no longer meeting the definition of “shorelines of the state” shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 90.58 RCW.

Permitted uses in the shorelines of the State shall be designed and conducted in a manner to minimize, insofar as practical, any resultant damage to the ecology and environment of the shoreline area and any interference with the public’s use of the water.”

(b) When determining allowable uses and resolving use conflicts on shorelines within jurisdiction consistent with the above policy, the following preferences and priorities as listed in WAC 173-26-201(2)(d) shall be applied in the order presented below: