Project Information and Timeline

Welcome to the Cowlitz County Partnership Shoreline Master Program Update.

Cowlitz County along with the cities of Castle Rock, Kelso, Kalama and Woodland have formed a partnership to update the county Shoreline Master Program.

The purpose of the Shoreline Master Program project is to update the County's 35-year old plan for managing shorelines throughout the county (current County SMP can be found here). The Shoreline Management Act was a referendum first approved by voters in 1972. The Act provides a statewide framework for managing, accessing and protecting shorelines throughout the state. The Act is implemented through local development regulations. The statute requires each county and city within the state to update their Shoreline Master Program periodically. To complete this work, the Department of Ecology provided the County with a grant.

How to Get Involved

The Partnership encourages your comments and thoughts. The opportunities for direct input include the review of published documents, attendance at public meetings, and email or letters to Staff or elected officials. To make a comment click here.

Project Information and Timeline

Phase 1 - April to June 2012
Identification of preliminary shoreline jurisdictions, development of public participation program, and complete shoreline inventory.

Phase 2 - June to December 2012
Conduct shoreline analysis and characterization and initial stakeholder outreach.

Phase 3 - September 2012 to December 2013
Prepare a cumulative impacts analysis and restoration plans.

Phase 4 - November 2012 to January 2014
Prepare a cumulative impacts analysis and restoration plans.

Phase 5 - January to June 2014
Each jurisdiction adopts their local Shoreline Master Program and sends to the State Department of Ecology for approval.

Phase 6 - June to November 2014
Ecology conducts the state approval process.