FINAL Shoreline Analysis Report for Shorelines in Benton County: Yakima and Columbia Rivers 17 APRIL 2013 FINAL BENTON COUNTY GRANT NO. G1200022 S HORELINE A NALYSIS R EPORT FOR SHORELINES IN BENTON COUNTY: YAKIMA AND COLUMBIA RIVERS Prepared for: Benton County Planning Department 1002 Dudley Avenue Prosser, WA 99350 Prepared by: STRATEGY | ANALYSIS | COMMUNICATIONS 2025 First Avenue, Suite 800 Seattle WA 98121 April 17, 2013 This report was funded in part through a grant from the Washington Department of The Watershed Company Ecology. Reference Number: 120209 Printed on 330%0%% rrecyece ycycled paper. Cite this document as: The Watershed Company and BERK. April 2013. FINAL Shoreline Analysis Report for Shorelines in Benton County: Yakima and Columbia Rivers. Prepared for the Benton County Planning Department, Prosser, WA The Watershed Company Contact Persons: Amy Summe/Sarah Sandstrom BERK Contact Person: Lisa Grueter TABLE OF C ONTENTS Page # 1 Introduction ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and Purpose ............................................................................. 1 1.2 Shoreline Jurisdiction .................................................................................. 1 1.3 Study Area ..................................................................................................... 3 2 Summary of Current Regulatory Framework .......................... 4 2.1 Shoreline Management Act .......................................................................... 4 2.2 Benton County .............................................................................................. 4 2.3 State Agencies and Regulations .................................................................. 5 2.4 Federal Regulations ...................................................................................... 8 3 Summary of Ecosystem Conditions ...................................... 11 3.1 Columbia River ............................................................................................ 11 3.1.1 Geographic and Ecosystem Context ........................................................... 11 3.1.2 Topography, Geology, and Drainage Patterns ........................................... 12 3.1.3 Major Land Use Changes .............................................................................. 14 3.1.4 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................ 16 3.2 Yakima River ............................................................................................... 19 3.2.1 Geographic and Ecosystem Context ........................................................... 19 3.2.2 Topography, Geology, and Drainage Patterns ........................................... 19 3.2.3 Major Land Use Changes .............................................................................. 22 3.2.4 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................ 25 4 Shoreline Inventory ................................................................. 27 4.1 Inventory Sources ....................................................................................... 27 4.2 Data Sources, Assumptions, and Data Gaps ............................................ 28 4.2.1 Ecological Characterization ......................................................................... 28 4.2.2 Land Use Characterization ........................................................................... 36 4.3 Summary of Shoreline Inventory Results .................................................. 41 5 Analysis of Ecological Functions .......................................... 54 i 5.1 Approach, Rationale and Limitations of Functional Analysis .................. 54 5.1.1 Reach Delineation.......................................................................................... 54 5.1.2 Functions and Impairments .......................................................................... 55 5.1.3 Limitations ...................................................................................................... 62 5.2 Results of Functional Analysis .................................................................. 63 5.2.1 Columbia River .............................................................................................. 63 5.2.2 Yakima River .................................................................................................. 82 5.3 Existing Setbacks and Vegetated Buffer Widths ...................................... 99 5.3.1 Approach ........................................................................................................ 99 5.3.2 Limitations .................................................................................................... 101 5.3.3 Results .......................................................................................................... 101 6 Land Use Analysis ................................................................ 103 6.1 Columbia River .......................................................................................... 103 6.1.1 Current Land Use......................................................................................... 103 6.1.2 Future Land Use .......................................................................................... 105 6.1.3 Shoreline Permit History ............................................................................. 109 6.1.4 Existing and Potential Public Access ....................................................... 110 6.1.5 Historic and Archeological Sites ............................................................... 112 6.2 Yakima River ............................................................................................. 113 6.2.1 Current Land Use......................................................................................... 113 6.2.2 Future Land Use .......................................................................................... 114 6.2.3 Shoreline Permit History ............................................................................. 116 6.2.4 Existing and Potential Public Access ....................................................... 117 6.2.5 Historic and Archeological Sites ............................................................... 120 7 Shoreline Management Recommendations ........................ 120 7.1 Environment Designations ....................................................................... 120 7.2 General Policies and Regulations ............................................................ 121 7.2.1 Archaeological and Historic Resources ................................................... 121 7.2.2 Critical Areas ................................................................................................ 122 7.2.3 Flood Hazard Reduction ............................................................................. 122 7.2.4 Public Access .............................................................................................. 123 7.2.5 Shoreline Vegetation Conservation ........................................................... 123 7.2.6 Water Quality, Stormwater, and Nonpoint Pollution ................................ 123 7.3 Shoreline Modification Provisions ........................................................... 124 ii 7.3.1 Shoreline Stabilization ................................................................................ 124 7.3.2 Piers and Docks ........................................................................................... 124 7.3.3 Fill .................................................................................................................. 125 7.3.4 Breakwaters, Jetties, Groins and Weirs .................................................... 125 7.3.5 Dredging and Dredge Material Disposal ................................................... 125 7.3.6 Shoreline Habitat and Natural Systems Enhancement Projects ............ 125 7.4 Shoreline Uses .......................................................................................... 125 7.4.1 Agriculture .................................................................................................... 125 7.4.2 Aquaculture .................................................................................................. 125 7.4.3 Boating Facilities ......................................................................................... 125 7.4.4 Commercial Development .......................................................................... 126 7.4.5 Forest Practices ........................................................................................... 126 7.4.6 Industry ......................................................................................................... 126 7.4.7 In-stream Structural Uses ........................................................................... 126 7.4.8 Mining ........................................................................................................... 126 7.4.9 Recreational Development ......................................................................... 126 7.4.10 Residential Development ............................................................................ 127 7.4.11 Transportation and Parking ........................................................................ 127 7.4.12 Utilities .........................................................................................................