WAC 332-30-139   Marinas and moorages.  (1) Moorage facilities developed on aquatic lands should meet the following design criteria:

     (a) Moorage shall be designed so as to be compatible with the local environment and to minimize adverse esthetic impacts.

     (b) Open moorage is preferred in relatively undeveloped areas and locations where view preservation is desirable, and/or where leisure activities are prevalent.

     (c) Covered moorage may be considered in highly developed areas and locations having a commercial environment.

     (d) Enclosed moorage should be confined to areas of an industrial character where there is a minimum of esthetic concern.

     (e) In general, covered moorage is preferred to enclosed moorage and open moorage is preferred to covered moorage.

     (f) View encumbrance due to enclosed moorage shall be avoided in those areas where views are an important element in the local environment.

     (g) In order to minimize the impact of moorage demand on natural shorelines, large marina developments in urban areas should be fostered in preference to numerous small marinas widely distributed.

     (h) The use of floating breakwaters shall be considered as protective structures before using solid fills.

     (i) Dry moorage facilities (stacked dry boat storage) shall be considered as an alternative to wet storage in those locations where such storage will:

     (i) Significantly reduce environmental or land use impacts within the water area of the immediate shoreline.

     (ii) Reduce the need for expansion of existing wet storage when such expansion would significantly impact the environment or adjacent land use.

     (2) Anchorages suitable for use by transient, recreational boaters will be identified and established by the department in appropriate locations so as to provide additional moorage space.

     (3) Upland sewage disposal approved by local government and appropriate state agencies is required for all vessels used as a residence.

     (4) The department shall work with federal, state, local government agencies and other groups to determine acceptable locations for marina development, properly distributed to meet projected public need for the period 1980 to 2010.

     (5) The department may lease open water moorage and anchorage areas only to local governments that have authorized the establishment of open water moorage and anchorage areas in their local Shoreline Master Programs within five years of the effective date of this rule. With the department's approval, the local government lessee may install mooring buoys or other floating moorage devices, designate anchorage locations, sublease moorage and anchorage in the area, collect rent and fees for such moorage and anchorage, and otherwise manage the area as a moorage facility. All open water moorage and anchorage areas must meet the following requirements:

     (a) Open water moorage and anchorage areas must meet all relevant requirements normally applicable to a marina lease, which may include the placement, design, limitation on the number of vessels or floating houses, and operation of the area and any improvements within the area, payment of rent to the department, consideration of navigational and environmental impacts, and all other applicable permits and other requirements of law.

     (b) Open water moorage and anchorage areas may not be in a harbor area nor in any location or configuration that would interfere with water-borne commerce and navigation.

     (c) The leasing of state-owned aquatic lands for open water moorage and anchorage areas is subject to all preferences accorded upland, tideland, or shoreland owners in RCW 79.125.400, 79.125.460, 79.125.410, 79.130.010, and WAC 332-30-122.

     (d) Any vessel used for residential use or floating house in an open water moorage and anchorage area must comply with WAC 332-30-171.

     (e) Except for nongrandfathered floating house moorage as defined in WAC 332-30-171 (7)(a)(ii), nonwater-dependent uses and commercial uses are prohibited in open water moorage and anchorage areas. Uses prohibited by this subsection (e) are allowed when necessary because of an emergency that immediately threatens human life or property, for the duration of the emergency only.

     The department will not lease an open water moorage and anchorage area to an entity other than a local government agency. This restriction shall not affect use authorizations to public or private entities for mooring buoys, aquaculture net pens, or other floating structures otherwise allowed by law.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 79.105.360. 06-06-005 (Order 724), § 332-30-139, filed 2/16/06, effective 3/19/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 79.90.455, 79.90.460. 02-21-076 (Order 710), § 332-30-139, filed 10/17/02, effective 11/17/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.30.150. 80-09-005 (Order 343), § 332-30-139, filed 7/3/80.]