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Jeanie Orr
&? I
From:
Jeanie Orr
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:06 AM
To: Michelle McConnell
Cc: AI Scalf; Stacie Hoskins; Jeanie Orr
Subject: FW: PC RDSMP
Attachments: Comment letter on JefCo SMP re buffers.pdf
From: SCOTTI BRADY (DNR) [mailto:Brady.Scott@dnr.wa.gov]
Sent: WednesdaYI June 171 2009 5:27 PM
To: #Long-Range Planning
Cc: ROBERTSI DAVID (DNR); SWENDDAL, KRISTIN (DNR)
Subject: PC RDSMP
Michelle McConnel- Attached is a comment letter from DNR regarding Jefferson County's Revised Draft of the
SMP. Please confirm receipt of this letter. Thanks, Brady Scott
Brady Scott, Aquatic District Manager
DNR, Aquatic Resources, Orca Straits District
5310 Eaglemount Road, Chimacum, W A 98325
desk (360) 732-0013, cell (360) 460-1811
6/18/2009
WASHINGTON STATE
Natural Resources
PETER GOLDMARK
Commissioner of Public Lands
June 17,2009
Michelle McConnell, Associate Planner
Department of Community Development
621 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, W A 98368
Subject:
Jefferson County Shoreline Master Program, Comments on Revised Draft
Dear Michelle McConnell:
1 am writing on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR manages over 2.6
million acres of state-owned aquatic lands and attached resources, including bedlands,
shorelands, and tidelands within Jefferson County. On behalf of the citizens of the State of
Washington, DNR is responsible to ensure environmental protection of these lands and the
associated habitat.
DNR understands that Jefferson County is considering designating the marine shoreline buffers
in shoreline residential and high intensity shoreline environments at 50 feet, as compared to the
150 to 200 foot buffer used in many other jurisdictions. DNR is concerned that this may result in
a higher level of environmental threat that could result in damages to state-owned aquatic lands-
resulting in increased costs to DNR.
There are many potential threats to state-owned aquatic lands and habitat from shoreline use, one
of these is stormwater runoff. As documented by the University of Washington, Department of
Civil and Environmental Engineeringl, the "economic costs of storm water in the Puget Sound
region range from thousands to millions of dollars per year within a single jurisdiction.. " these
costs include losses from degraded water quality, habitat and restoration, landslide mitigation,
and drainage and flood mitigation..., the hidden costs of untreated problems may be even
greater. "
Additionally, the Storm Water Center2 suggests that, "if properly designed, buffers can provide
storm water management and act as a right of way during floods, sustaining the integrity of
stream ecosystems and habitats," and they recommend, in general, a minimum 100 feet buffer
along streams, and this does not account for high bluff shoreline where, due to shoreline
I Booth, D.B., Visitacion, B., and Steinemann, A.C. (2006). Damages and Costs of Storm water Runoff in the Puget
Sound Region: Summary Report. The Water Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Washington, as sponsored by the Puget Sound Action Team, Office of the Governor. August 30, 2006.
2 Aquatic Buffers Fact Sheet: Buffer Zones. The Stormwater Center. Document was found on the internet on June
17,2009 at: http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Assorted%20Fact%20Sheets/Too13Buffers/BufferZones.htm
411 Tillicum Lane · FORKS, WA 98331-9271
TEL: (360) 374-2800 · FAX: (360) 374-5446 · WWW.DNR'wA.GOV
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
processes, the buffer may need to be greater.
Jefferson County has an opportunity through the Shoreline Master Program to designate a larger
marine shoreline buffer than it is currently considering that would result in more controls on,
amongst other things, storm water runoff. A larger buffer, in turn will result in cost savings,
reduced environmental threats, and the sustained integrity of shoreline ecosystems and habitat.
This would allow for increased environmental protection to the state-owned aquatic lands,
managed by DNR.
DNR hopes you will designate the shoreline buffer for shoreline residential and high intensity
shoreline areas to at least 150 feet, and we encourage you to consider a 200 foot buffer. Thank
you for the opportunity to comment on the Shoreline Management Plan.
If you have any questions please contact me at 360-732-0013 or by email at
brad y. scott@dnr. wa. gov .
Sincerely,
Is/ ByC\c;!tj Scott
Brady Scott, Aquatic District Manager
Aquatic Region, Orca-Straits District
411 Tillicum Lane · Forks, WA 98331-9271
FAX.. (360) 374-5446. TEL: (360) 374-2800
Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer