If you are located on a shoreline, some or all of your property may be affected. Skamania County includes a number of waterbodies that are regulated by the SMP, including Canyon Creek, the Columbia River, Panther Creek, Swift Reservoir, and the Washougal River. In addition, there are many other streams, lakes, and associated wetlands that are within shoreline jurisdiction.

Generally speaking, shoreline jurisdiction (where the SMP applies) includes the in-water areas and the adjacent land 200 feet upland of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of the designated shorelines and/or within associated wetlands. If your property is located within these areas, certain activities you propose to undertake will be subject to the County’s SMP. The approximate shoreline jurisdictional areas are delineated on a series of maps available in the County’s SMP. The precise extent of the shoreline jurisdiction is determined on a site-by-site basis, based on adopted definitions and technical criteria (e.g., location of the OHWM).

The County’s critical areas ordinance (CAO), in Title 19 of the Skamania County Code, applies to critical areas outside shoreline jurisdiction. Your project may require review under the CAO and SMP if it includes development inside and outside shoreline jurisdiction. The CAO does not apply within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (NSA). Developments within the Columbia River Gorge NSA must comply with both the SMP and the NSA regulations (Title 22) in the Skamania County Code.

We recommend that you talk with a planner before applying to ensure that your proposal will meet the requirements of the CAO and NSA. NSA approval must be completed prior to completing shoreline review.

Shorelines in Washington State are protected under the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) of 1971, embodied in RCW 90.58. Skamania County’s SMP was first adopted in 1974 and recently amended in 2020 to meet the requirements of the SMA and the SMP Guidelines in WAC 173-26. Every Washington city and county with shorelines is required to adopt an SMP. The general purpose of the Skamania County SMP is to guide use and development along the shorelines to protect the natural resources and functions and to recognize and protect private property rights consistent with the public interest.

The SMP applies to all new uses and development (including expansion of existing development) occurring in shoreline jurisdiction. Please note that all shoreline
activities must comply with the SMP even if no shoreline permit is needed.

Previously approved structures and uses are allowed to continue to be used, maintained, and repaired. In cases where these structures do not meet the updated SMP
regulations (e.g., such as setbacks from the shoreline or height), they are known as “nonconforming” (SMP Section 2.9). A change of use, an expansion of a current use or
structure, and normal maintenance and repair require SMP review and authorization.

Nonconforming structures may be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, or expanded, provided the proposed alteration, enlargement, or expansion does not intrude further into a restricted area such as a setback or critical area buffer and only expands laterally or away from the restricted area.