On Thursday, December 17, 2009, the Washington Department of Ecology posted information on its blog site, ECOconnect, regarding ‘non-conforming’ or ‘grandfathered’ structures and uses in state shoreline areas. Go to http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/ to read the blog post.

Ecology has heard concerns regarding how the department and local jurisdictions intend to manage structures built in shoreline areas either before a local shoreline master program was adopted or voters passed the state Shorelines Management Act in 1972. Approximately 250 Washington towns, cities and counties are currently or soon will be working on modernizing their shoreline plans, regulations and permitting processes.

Gordon White, who oversees statewide shoreline management issues for Ecology, provides key answers and information to help property owners, city and county officials, interest groups, and the media better understand the issue. Again, please go to http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/ to read his blog.