CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
2. Fill needed to support the following water dependent uses may be allowed in all shoreline
environments through a Shoreline Conditional Use Permit:
a. Public access;
b. Expansion, alteration, or repair of transportation facilities currently located with in the
shoreline;
c. Mitigation actions;
d. Environmental, ecological, or watershed restoration projects;
e. Beach nourishment or enhancement projects; and
f. Soft shore bank stabilization projects.
3. Permitted fill activities must comply with the following standards:
a. Demonstration that alternatives to fill are not feasible;
b. Demonstration that fill materials shall be of such quality that it will not adversely affect
water quality;
c. Demonstration that fill shall be deposited so as to minimize disruption of normal surface
and ground water passage. Earth material which has no more than a minor amount of
organic material and has no rock or similar irreducible material with a maximum
dimension greater than eight inches shall be used;
d. Demonstration that fill shall allow surface water penetration into the ground water
supply, where such conditions exist prior to the fill; and
e. Demonstration that landfill timing will minimize damage to water quality and aquatic
life.
4. Fill, except for beach nourishment, shall be prohibited in areas of high shoreline erosion
potential.
5. For allowed fill activities, the ground surface shall be prepared to receive fill by removing
any unsuitable materials such as oversized rock, concrete slabs, tree stumps, brush, etc.
6. Fill activities shall be designed to blend physically and visually with existing topography
whenever possible. Perimeter banks shall be sloped no steeper than 1 foot vertical for every
3 feet horizontal unless a specific engineering or geotechnical analysis has been provided and
the Shoreline Administrator determines that the fill blends with existing topography.
7. Fill located waterward of the ordinary high water mark, except for beach nourishment, shall
be allowed only after full consideration is given to total water surface reduction, impediment
to water flow and circulation, reduction of water quality and destruction of habitat.
8. Fill within the one hundred-year (100-year) flood plain requires demonstration that landfill
will not reduce the flood plain water storage capacity or in any way increase flood hazard so
as to endanger public safety.
9. An erosion and sediment control (ESC) plan shall be provided for all proposed fill activities.
10. Fills shall be located, designed, and constructed to protect shoreline ecological functions and
ecosystem-wide processes, including channel migration within stream subestuaries.
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
74 Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502