CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
from the ordinary high water mark together with any associated wetlands, river deltas, and
floodways associated with tidal waters that are subject to the provisions of this chapter and
whose locations have been designated by the Department of Ecology. There is hereby made a
part of this Master Program a map, Figure 1-1, illustrating the shoreline designations and the
approximate location of the upland extent of the shoreline jurisdiction in Des Moines.
The Des Moines shoreline jurisdiction also applies to the area waterward of the OHWM to the
middle of Puget Sound, an offshore boundary shared with King County, as RCW 35.21.160
extends jurisdiction to the middle of water bodies, such as bays, sounds, lakes and rivers. The
actual seaward and landward extent of shoreline jurisdiction will be determined on a case-bycase
basis. Given that the Shoreline Designation Map is an integral part of this Master Program,
no part of the map may be altered or revised unless a Master Program amendment has been
approved by the City Council and the Washington State Department of Ecology (RCW
90.58.090).
Associated wetlands, deltas and floodways that are included in the shoreline jurisdiction are
those that influence or are influenced by the regulated waters of Puget Sound. In general, a
wetland is “associated” if all or a portion of the wetland falls within that area that is 200 feet
from the ordinary high water mark. A wetland outside of this area may also be associated if it is
in proximity to the shoreline and there is a demonstrated influence between the wetland and the
shoreline. Such influence can include hydraulic continuity, such as a surface or groundwater
connection. The deltas or subestuaries occurring in the City’s shoreline jurisdiction include Des
Moines Creek, Massey Creek, McSorley Creek, Woodmont Creek, Redondo Creek and Cold
Creek.
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
4 Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502