Shoreline Management

TUKWILA’S SHORELINES – THE GREEN/DUWAMISH RIVER

The Green/Duwamish River flows over 93 miles from the Cascade Mountains to Elliott Bay. Approximately 13 miles of the river meanders through Tukwila’s industrial district, urban center and residential neighborhoods. The river system has undergone extensive changes over the years. The population has increased dramatically, forests have been logged, levees have been built, streams and rivers rerouted, and freeways, homes, shopping and manufacturing centers constructed. As the impacts of human development have been recognized, State and Federal agencies have developed regulations that require local jurisdictions to provide better protection for remaining habitat, to control the collected storm water flowing directly into the river, and to identify and restore areas where habitat restoration can succeed.

In response to State and Federal requirements, Tukwila has adopted two policy documents related to the river – the Shoreline Master Program and land use policies in the City’s Comprehensive Plan.  To carry out these policies, zoning regulations have been adopted. Most development within 200 feet of the shoreline requires a  Shoreline Substantial Development Permit. The City’s shoreline development regulations balance economic and residential development with enhancement and stewardship of the ecological functions of the river.

SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM PERIODIC UPDATE

The state Shoreline Management Act requires that counties, cities, and towns periodically review and, if necessary, update  their Shoreline Master Program (SMP) every eight years.  The City of Tukwila’s update started in the fall of 2018 and will be complete in 2019. More information is available on the state Department of Ecology website.

The City of Tukwila and Washington Department of Ecology are accepting comments on a periodic review of the City’s shoreline master program (SMP) under RCW 90.58.080(4). The City has prepared draft SMP amendments to keep the SMP current with changes in state law, changes in other Tukwila plans and regulations, and other changed local circumstances.

For more information please email Shoreline@TukwilaWA.gov or mail:

SMP Periodic Update
Department of Community Development
6300 Southcenter Bl. Suite 100
Tukwila, WA 98188

Proposed amendments to the City SMP are available for review at http://www.tukwilawa.gov/departments/community-development/shoreline-management/ and the Department of Community Development at the address above.

• Periodic Update FAQs
• TMC 18.45 Critical Areas Ordinance – Public Review Draft 3-14-19 Strikeout
• Summary of Key Revisions to TMC 18.45 Critical Areas Ordinance
• Final SMP Update Public Outreach Plan
• SMP Gap Analysis Report
• Shoreline Environment Map
• Matrix of Planning Commission Changes to 18.44 Public Review Draft
• Matrix of Planning Commission Changes to SMP Public Review Draft
• E18-0011 SMP DNS
• SMP PC Recommended Draft 4-25-19
• SMP PC Recommended Draft Strikeout 4-25-19
• TMC 18.44 PC Recommended Draft 4-25-19

Partners in Shoreline Management

• King County Watershed Resource Inventory Area 9 (WRIA 9)
• Washington State Department of Ecology
• Forterra
• EarthCorps
• Duwamish Alive