Skamania County
Home MenuHigh Intensity Environment
The purpose of the High Intensity environment is to provide for high-intensity water-oriented commercial, transportation, and industrial uses while protecting existing ecological functions and restoring ecological functions in areas that have been previously degraded.
Residential Use Standards
Use Allowance
- Single-family: not permitted
- Multi-family: permitted use
Setback Requirements from the Water
- Single-family: N/A
- Multi-family: 50 feet
Height Restrictions
- 35 feet
Residential Development Policies and Regulations:
Other Use Standards
Use Allowance
- Aquaculture: permitted use
- Boating and overwater Structures: Permitted
- Water-oriented commercial, industrial, institutional, in-stream structures, recreational, transportation and parking, and utilities: permitted use
Setback Requirements
- Water-oriented commercial: 50 feet
- Water-related and non-water-oriented industrial and port uses, institutional uses: 100 feet
- Recreational uses: 0 feet (water-dependent), 50 feet (water-related and enjoyment), 100 feet (non-water-oriented).
- Transportation: 25-100 feet (roads); railroads and airports (100 feet)
Height Restriction
- Water-dependent industry: 100 feet
- Water-related Industry: 50 feet
- Other uses: 35 feet
Critical Areas
- General provisions: see SMP Section 3.4.3
- Mitigation requirements: see SMP Section 3.4.4
- Wetlands: see SMP Section 3.4.6
- Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas: see SMP section 3.4.7
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat see SMP section 3.4.8
- Frequently Flooded areas see SMP section 3.4.9
- Geologically Hazardous areas see SMP section 3.4.10
- Property Owner’s Handbook Section 2.4
- Critical Areas Handout
Archaeological, Cultural, and Historic Resources
All sites which contain documented archaeological or historic resources that are either recorded at the state historic preservation office and/or by Skamania County or have been discovered inadvertently during development are subject to the provisions of the Skamania County SMP.
Archaeological, Cultural, and Historic Resources Regulations
- If a known resource is within 500 feet of a use or development, a site inspection or evaluation report prepared by a professional archaeologist is required prior to shoreline permit or exemption issuance.
- If an archaeological site inspection or evaluation identifies a significant resource that will be impacted, a cultural resource management plan is required.
- If any item of possible archaeological interest is discovered on site during construction or site work, then all work must stop immediately. Notice to the County, DAHP, and affected tribes is required. See SMP Section 3.3
Vegetation Conservation
- Vegetation conservation standards shall not apply retroactively to existing legally established uses and developments. Existing landscaping (such as lawns and gardens) may be maintained as allowed by this SMP and shall not require mitigation under SMP section 3.7 .
- Vegetation clearing must be limited to the minimum necessary to accommodate approved shoreline development that is consistent with all other provisions of this SMP and Skamania County Code Title 24.
- If impacts to shoreline vegetation are unavoidable, vegetation removal must be mitigated in accordance with requirements found in Table 3-8.
- Hazard trees, view maintenance, noxious weeds, and aquatic weed control are all permitted used but do have specific requirements found in Section 3.7.3.
Use and Modification Standards
- Boating Facilities and Overwater Structures see SMP Section 5.3.3
- Commercial Uses see SMP Section 5.3.4
- Forest Practices see SMP Section 5.3.5
- Industrial and Port Uses see SMP Section 5.3.6
- Mining see SMP Section 5.3.9
- Transportation and Parking Facilities see SMP Section 5.3.12
- Utilities see SMP Section 5.3.13
- Shoreline Stabilization see SMP Section 6.3.1
- Fills see SMP Section 6.3.2
- Dredging and Disposal see SMP Section 6.3.4