CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Inventory and Characterization
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................I
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 1
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE ................................................................................................................... 1
SHORELINE JURISDICTION AND STUDY AREA BOUNDARY ...................................................................... 1
METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................ 2
REPORT ORGANIZATION........................................................................................................................... 3
SHORELINE PLANNING SEGMENTS ........................................................................................................... 3
CURRENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK SUMMARY .................................................................. 5
CITY OF DES MOINES REGULATIONS ....................................................................................................... 5
Current Shoreline Management Act Compliance ................................................................................................5
Comprehensive Plan, Zoning and Other City Regulations ..................................................................................6
STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS........................................................................................................ 6
WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION................................................................................................. 8
ECOSYSTEM WIDE PROCESSES ................................................................................................................. 8
Climate.................................................................................................................................................................9
Topography..........................................................................................................................................................9
Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................................9
Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................................................9
Surface and Groundwater..................................................................................................................................10
Coastal Processes ..............................................................................................................................................11
Historic Land Use Development ........................................................................................................................12
MAJOR LAND AND SHORELINE USES...................................................................................................... 13
WATER QUALITY.................................................................................................................................... 13
NEARSHORE LAND USE PATTERNS................................................................................................ 15
EXISTING LAND USE............................................................................................................................... 15
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN / ZONING DESIGNATIONS ................................................................................. 16
Comprehensive Plan ..........................................................................................................................................16
Zoning Designations ..........................................................................................................................................16
ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES............................................................................................ 18
WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER UTILITIES........................................................................................ 19
EXISTING AND POTENTIAL PUBLIC ACCESS SITES ................................................................................. 20
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL RESOURCES ..................................................................................................... 20
NEARSHORE PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION.......................................................................... 22
NEARSHORE PROCESSES......................................................................................................................... 22
GEOLOGIC UNITS.................................................................................................................................... 23
SOILS .............................................................................................................................. ....................... 23
SEISMIC HAZARD AREAS........................................................................................................................ 24
LANDSLIDE HAZARD AREAS .................................................................................................................. 24
EROSION HAZARD AREAS....................................................................................................................... 24
SHORELINE SLOPE STABILITY ................................................................................................................ 25
AQUIFER RECHARGE AREAS................................................................................................................... 25
STREAMS................................................................................................................................................. 26
FLOOD HAZARD AREAS.......................................................................................................................... 27
SHORELINE MODIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................. 27
Dredging ............................................................................................................................................................27
Shoreline Armoring............................................................................................................................................27
Docks, Piers, and Over-Water Structures..........................................................................................................28
March 2005
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