Skamania County
Home MenuRural Conservancy Environment
The purpose of the Rural Conservancy environment is to provide recreational opportunities, support sustainable forestry and mining operations, and provide for low density residential and water-oriented commercial and industrial uses consistent with the rural character of Skamania County.
Residential Use Standards
Use Allowance
- Single-family: permitted use
- Multi-family: not permitted
Setback Requirements from the Water
- Single-family: 150 feet
- Multi-family: N/A
Height Restrictions
- 35 feet
Residential Development Policies and Regulations:
- See SMP Section 5.3.11
- Property Owner’s Handbook Section 2.2
- Single-Family Residential Focus Sheet Handout
Other Use Standards
Use Allowance
- Aquaculture: permitted
- Boating Facilities and Overwater Structures: conditional use or permitted
- Commercial (water-oriented): conditional use
- Forest Practices: roads, log storage, temporary structures (permitted), stream crossings (conditional use)
- Water-oriented commercial: conditional use
- Water oriented industrial: permitted
- Mining: Permitted
- Recreational: water-oriented, trails, viewing platforms (permitted), non-water-oriented (conditional use)
- Transportation: roads (permitted), railroads and airports (conditional use)
- Utilities: water-oriented (permitted), non-water-oriented parallel (conditional use), non-water-oriented perpendicular and water-oriented (permitted)
Setback Requirements
- Aquaculture: 100 feet
- Boating Facilities and Overwater Structures: Not applicable
- Commercial (water-oriented): 0-150 feet
- Forest Practices: 150 feet
- Industrial (water-related): 150 feet
- Mining: 150-200 feet
- Recreation: Water-dependent/shoreline access (0 feet), water-oriented/enjoyment and trails (50-150 feet)
- Transportation: 150 feet
- Utilities: Water-oriented (0 feet); non-water oriented parallel (150 feet); non-water-oriented perpendicular and water-oriented (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
- Aquaculture see SMP Section 5.3.2
- Boating Facilities and Overwater Structures see SMP Section 5.3.3
- Forest Practices see SMP Section 5.3.5
- Commercial Uses see SMP Section 5.3.4
- Industrial and Port Uses see SMP Section 5.3.6
- Mining see SMP Section 5.3.9
- Recreational Uses see SMP Section 5.3.10
- Utilities see SMP Section 5.3.13