CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
4.5 Restoration Opportunities
When identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing opportunities for restoration, the concept of
“restoration” in the context of SMP planning should be linked to two key concepts:
1. Restoration or enhancement should support the overarching goal that local SMPs “serve
to improve the overall condition of habitat and resources within the shoreline area”; and
2. Restoration should be designed to address areas where shoreline ecological functions
have been impaired as a result of past development activities.
Both programmatic and site-specific opportunities for shoreline restoration or enhancement exist
in Des Moines. Opportunities have been identified by both regional plans (e.g., WRIA 9 Salmon
Habitat Plan and related studies) and the City’s Shoreline Inventory and Characterization
(Adolfson, 2005).
4.5.1 Programmatic Opportunities
The WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan recommends development of several programs relevant to the
City of Des Moines SMP update. The programs would be developed by King County in
coordination with local jurisdictions and could be implemented at the local level by the County
or by the City of Des Moines. These include:
• Promote Habitat Restoration on Private Property by Offering a “Toolbox” of Nearshore
Habitat Project Designs. This program would promote voluntary restoration on private
property by creating a “toolbox” of model habitat design and shoreline restoration
actions. Types of actions could include removal of unneeded shoreline armoring and/or
derelict structures, and rehabilitation of marine riparian vegetation. The program would
provide technical assistance to landowners and would seek to develop incentives to
encourage voluntary restoration projects on private property.
• Create a Soft Armoring Technical Assistance and Cost-Share Program. This program
would promote voluntary replacement of traditional “hard” shoreline armoring
(concrete/riprap/wooden bulkheads) with “soft-shore” armoring techniques where
appropriate and feasible. Specific designs would vary from site to site depending on the
site’s unique characteristics. A number of case studies and example designs are
provided in Alternative Bank Protection Methods for Puget Sound Shorelines (Ecology,
2000). An area in Des Moines that would most directly benefit from this type of
program is the Woodmont Neighborhood. Much of the shoreline in this neighborhood is
privately owned with a majority being developed single-family residential areas and
local streets. However, public education or incentives for shoreline bulkhead removal
could help restore natural shoreline processes in this formerly important reach of feeder
bluff (Adolfson, 2005), as well as at other sites.
• Citizen Volunteer Forage Fish Monitoring Program. This program would offer an
opportunity for citizens to work with biologists and participate in data gathering to better
identify and monitor forage fish spawning areas.
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
38 Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502