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<br />Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners Shoreline Master Program Adopting Ordinance <br />Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program Exhibit D | March 2016 | Page 299 of 339 <br /> <br />stabilization includes actions taken to address erosion impacts to property and dwellings, <br />businesses, or structures caused by natural processes, such as current, flood, wind, or wave <br />action. These actions include nonstructural and structural methods. <br />Nonstructural methods include building setbacks, relocation of the structure to be protected, <br />groundwater management, planning and regulatory measures to avoid the need for structural <br />stabilization. <br />Structural stabilization measures include: <br /> • Vegetation enhancement; <br /> • Anchor trees; <br /> • Gravel placement; <br /> • Rock revetments; <br /> • Gabions; <br /> • Concrete groins; <br /> • Retaining walls and bluff walls; and <br /> • Bulkheads. <br />Structural stabilization measures can be “hard” or “soft.” “Hard” structural stabilization refers to <br />those with solid, hard surfaces, such as concrete bulkheads, while "soft" structural measures <br />rely on less rigid materials, such as biotechnical vegetation measures. <br />Generally, the harder the construction measure, the greater the impact on shoreline processes, <br />including sediment transport, geomorphology, and biological functions. Additionally, hard <br />structures, especially vertical walls, often create conditions that lead to failure of the structure. <br />Failed bulkheads and walls adversely impact beach aesthetics, may be a safety or navigational <br />hazard, and may adversely impact shoreline ecological functions. <br />A. Policies. Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.480, the shoreline stabilization policies of the 2016 <br />Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program shall be considered as policies of the Kittitas County <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br />B. Regulations. <br />1. New uses and developments shall be located and designed to avoid the need for future <br />shoreline stabilization to the extent feasible. <br />2. Subdivision of land should not create lots that will require shoreline stabilization in order for <br />reasonable use or development to occur. <br />3. New uses and developments on steep slopes or bluffs shall be set back sufficiently to <br />ensure that shoreline stabilization is unlikely to be necessary during the life of the structure, <br />as demonstrated by a geotechnical analysis. <br />4. New uses and developments that would require shoreline stabilization which causes <br />significant impacts to adjacent or down-current properties and shoreline areas shall not be <br />allowed. <br />5. New structural stabilization measures shall only be allowed for the following instances, and <br />then only when necessity is demonstrated based on criteria included in this Section: <br />a. When necessary to protect an existing primary structure; <br />b. In support of new non-water-dependent development, including single-family residence; <br />c. In support of new water-dependent development; and <br />d. To protect projects for the restoration of ecological functions or hazardous substance <br />remediation projects. <br />6. New or enlarged structural shoreline stabilization measures for an existing primary structure, <br />including residences, are permitted only if there is conclusive evidence, documented by a <br />geotechnical analysis, that the structure is in danger from shoreline erosion caused by <br />stream processes or waves. Normal sloughing, erosion of steep bluffs, or shoreline erosion <br />itself, without a scientific or geotechnical analysis, is not demonstration of need. The <br />geotechnical analysis shall evaluate on-site drainage issues and address drainage problems <br />away from the shoreline edge before considering structural shoreline stabilization.