CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
11. Fills waterward of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) for any use except ecological
restoration shall require a conditional use permit.
6.2.7 Land Clearing and Grading
1. Land clearing and grading activities shall only be allowed in association with an allowed
(permitted) shoreline development, subject to the Vegetation Conservation provisions of this
SMP (Section 6.1.2).
2. Land clearing and grading activities shall adhere to the following provisions:
a. Slope. No slope of cut or fill surfaces shall be steeper than 2:1 unless approved by the
Shoreline Administrator;
b. Erosion/Sedimentation Control. All land clearing and grading shall be accomplished in a
manner that minimizes erosion. All disturbed areas, including faces of cuts and fill
slopes, shall be prepared and maintained to control erosion/sedimentation in accordance
with the specifications of the surface water design manual. Prior to undertaking any land
clearing or grading, the applicant shall submit for approval by the Shoreline
Administrator, an erosion / sedimentation control (ESC) plan. The ESC plan shall set
forth the specific measures from the surface water design manual to be utilized by the
proposed project during (from beginning until the end) and following the construction.
All land clearing and grading shall be consistent with the approved ESC plan;
c. Excavations to Water-producing Depth. All excavations must be made to a waterproducing
depth or grade to permit natural drainage. The excavations made to a waterproducing
depth shall be reclaimed in the following manner:
i. Depth of the excavation must not be less than two feet measured below the low water
mark.
ii. All banks shall be sloped to the water line no steeper than 2:1.
iii. In no event shall the term “water producing depth” be construed to allow stagnant or
standing water to collect or remain in the excavations.
d. Bench Terrace. Benches at least 10 feet in width shall be back sloped and shall be
established at no more than 10-foot vertical intervals to control surface drainage and
debris. Swales or ditches on benches shall have a maximum gradient of one percent;
e. Drainage. Provisions shall be made to prevent surface water or seepage from damaging
the cut face of excavations or the sloping face of a fill and to carry surface waters that are
or might be concentrated as a result of a fill or excavation to a natural watercourse or
other means as approved by the code official. All development activities shall make
provisions for drainage pursuant to the requirements of the surface water design manual.
3. All land clearing and grading practices in shoreline areas shall be conducted t so there is no
net loss of shoreline ecological functions.
4. Tree brush and vine removal in steep slope and fragile areas shall be prohibited except as a
measure to protect public safety. Nondestructive pruning for tree maintenance or view or
aesthetic purposes is not affected by this regulation.
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502 75