Skamania County
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The purpose of the Natural environment is to protect those shoreline areas that are relatively free of human influence or that include intact or minimally degraded shoreline functions.
Residential Use Standards
Use Allowance
- Single-family: not permitted
- Multi-family: not permitted
- Floating homes and floating on-water residences: not permitted
Setback Requirements from the Water
- Single-family: N/A
- Multi-family: N/A
- Floating Homes: N/A
Height Restrictions
- 35 feet
Other Use Standards
Use Allowance
- Boating Facilities and Overwater Structures: non-motorized boat and kayak launches (conditional use), all others (prohibited use).
- Forest practices: conditional use
- Recreational: water-dependent (permitted use), water-related/enjoyment (conditional use), viewing platforms and access trails (permitted use)
- Transportation: roads (conditional use)
Setback Requirements
- Boating facilities and overwater structures: 0 feet
- Forest practices: roads, log storage, temporary structures (150 feet); stream crossings (0 feet)
Height Restriction
- 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
- Forest Practices see SMP Section 5.3.5
- Recreational Uses see SMP Section 5.3.10
- Utilities see SMP Section 5.3.13
- Shoreline Restoration and Enhancement see SMP Section 6.3.5
Permitting Requirements
Property Owner’s Handbook Section 3
Master Application and Checklist