WHO WE ARE:

We are shoreline and near-shore property owners and concerned locals on Whidbey Island who have come together to create the South Whidbey Shoreline Group (SWSG). Our objective is to demonstrate to Island County that there is concern and need for improvement of the restrictive policies of the County’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) as it pertains to shoreline stabilization, (17.05A.110.A)

 

OUR GOAL:

Is to assist Island County in urgently updating the county SMP in such a manner that shoreline owners can protect their homes from the "natural processes" referred to in WAC 173-26-231 and Chapter 15 of the SMP Handbook. 

 

OUR CONCERN:

The Washington State Department of Ecology has established basic guidelines that each County uses to develop their own SMP. It has become apparent that Island County’s SMP is overly restrictive such that the ability to protect shoreline property is very expensive and the approvals required are nearly impossible to get. Additionally, Island County’s SMP is more restrictive than those of other Washington counties with marine shorelines.

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OUR PROPOSED SOLUTION:

We feel the most effective way to influence necessary policy changes are to expand the SWSG. With a larger group, we can successfully engage Island County in a meaningful dialog on evolving its shoreline management policies. We encourage and solicit your involvement by supporting our group. Collectively, we can share more information and have a louder voice as the process proceeds. We ask that you sign the petition below that encourages the County to seriously engage with us to address this critical issue.

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Climate change is driving Sea Level Rise and is contributing to the severity of winter storms. In addition, the current phase of the 18.6 year lunar cycle will increase high tide levels for the next several years. This puts hundreds of millions of dollars of near shoreline property values at risk. With the County’s current restrictive policies there is very little we can do to protect our properties from the coming crisis. As an example, during a king tide in December of 2022 an unprotected shoreline on Mutiny Bay was breached, which flooded all the homes along Cedar Street, shutting down the water system and inundating septic systems. This resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in property damage. Surely there are more similar examples.​

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The petition simply states that the signatories are in agreement with amending the Island County SMP to better align with the criteria set forth by Washington State Law and the recommendations of Chapter 15 of the SMP Handbook..

 

“Washington State law WAC 173-26-231, Shoreline modifications”, Shoreline stabilization includes actions taken to address erosion impacts to property and dwellings, businesses, or structures caused by natural processes, such as current, flood, tides, wind, or wave action”. In addition to these the SMP needs to include “Vulnerability to a large one-time event” as justification for shoreline stabilization.

 

These are important changes to the Island County SMP which will include the natural processes of, tidal action (including sea water flooding), currents and waves as justification for shoreline stabilization.

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WHAT WE NEED:

We ask that you to lend your name, and perhaps your time, to support the effort to protect the financial and physical value we all have invested in our South Whidbey properties. Please consider adding your name to the below online petition to Island County.

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If you have a significant other/partner, please include their name in the list.  Also, please feel free to forward this message to your neighbors who might be interested in this cause. We need as many people as possible. Please fill out and Sign the Petition to let us know that you are willing to join us, because the number of voices count!

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Updated 2/10/2024.