Brenda Chilton

This document summarizes the community visioning survey results for the Benton County Shoreline Master Program Update. It outlines the process for the program update, which includes characterizing and inventorying shorelines, defining goals, policies, and regulations, analyzing cumulative impacts, and developing a restoration plan. The purpose of the visioning process is to build local consensus for the desired future of the shoreline and ensure the program reflects the long-term desires of the rural community, focusing on current and future shoreline use, physical and visual access, and preservation and restoration options.

The Benton County Shoreline Master Program provides comprehensive policies and regulations for the development, use, and protection of the Columbia and Yakima River shorelines. It aims to achieve no net loss of ecological functions while promoting public access, water-oriented uses, and economic development. Key strategic goals include fostering responsible shoreline use, supporting tourism and agriculture, transitioning Hanford lands, providing public access and recreational opportunities, encouraging efficient circulation, conserving resources, protecting historic/cultural sites, managing flood hazards, and implementing restoration initiatives. The plan balances statewide and local interests, acknowledging the shorelines as resources of statewide significance.

This document outlines the Benton County Shoreline Master Program Update, designed to manage the county's shorelines by planning for and fostering appropriate uses while safeguarding the environment and public interests. It details key components such as defining shoreline jurisdiction, establishing use preferences for various areas (including shorelines of statewide significance), and categorizing shorelines into specific environment designations: Aquatic, Natural, Conservancy, Hanford, Rural, Residential, Rural Industrial, and Urban. The program further emphasizes environmental protection through mitigation sequencing and vegetation conservation, provides regulations for agriculture and residential development, and addresses the management of critical areas and existing nonconforming uses, all with the overarching goal of achieving no net loss of ecological functions.

This document presents selected sections for an update to the Benton County Shoreline Master Program, focusing on specific policies and regulations. Key areas addressed include Archaeological and Historic Resources, Public Access, Commercial Development, Industry, and Recreational Development. The update aims to ensure the protection and restoration of shoreline resources, provide regulated public access, and guide development activities to minimize environmental impacts and prioritize water-oriented uses, promoting no net loss of ecological functions while balancing public and private interests.

This Work Plan, Chapter 4, for the Benton County Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) reviews existing water quality, watershed management, farmland protection, and species recovery data and plans. It identifies critical area and agricultural viability issues, proposing strategies that rely on voluntary stewardship for critical area protection without necessitating a cessation of agricultural activities. The plan details related planning efforts, including watershed planning, sub-basin planning, integrated water resource management, Total Maximum Daily Load studies, habitat assessments, and species recovery planning. Additionally, it outlines the regulatory backstop provided by relevant federal, state, and county regulations, and voluntary programs that apply to agricultural activities within Benton County.