Lake and Beach Management Districts
Contents
- About Lake and Beach Management Districts
- Statutory Authority
- Functions and Powers
- Formation of Lake and Beach Management Districts - Brief Summary
- Citizen Information and Resources
- Sample Provisions Creating Lake and Beach Management Districts
- Links to Lake and Beach Management Districts
- Other References
About Lake and Beach Management Districts
The 1985 legislature authorized counties, cities, and towns to create local improvement districts for lake improvements (Laws of 1985, ch. 398 ). In 2008 the lake management district provisions were amended to include the formation of beach management districts (Laws of 2008, ch. 301). The purpose of the lake and beach district legislation is to establish a governmental mechanism by which property owners can embark on a program of lake or beach improvement and maintenance.
This page provides a summary of statutory provisions, citizen information on how to create lake and beach management districts, and links to lake management district web sites in Washington. For specific procedures, please refer to the relevant statutes.
Statutory Authority
- Ch. 36.61 RCW - Lake and Beach Management Districts (Counties)
- RCW 35.21.403 - Authority to establish lake and beach management districts, as provided in Ch. 36.61 RCW (Cities and Towns)
Functions, and Powers
A lake or beach management district may: assess property, issue bonds; control or remove aquatic plants and vegetation; improve water quality; control water levels; treat and divert storm water; control agricultural waste; study lake or marine water quality problems and solutions; clean and maintain ditches and streams entering the lake or marine waters or leaving the lake; and monitor air quality.
Formation of Lake or Beach Management District - Brief Summary
A lake or beach management district may be initiated by a resolution of intention by any city, town, or county legislative authority or by a petition signed by 10 landowners or the owners of at least 15 percent of the acreage of the proposed district. The resolution of intention designates the number of the proposed district and sets a hearing date. (RCW 36.61.030)
Hearing on Formation of Lake or Beach Management District
A hearing must be scheduled at least 30 days and no more than 90 days after the adoption of a resolution, unless an emergency exists. Notice of hearing is to be published at least twice in newspaper of general circulation in the proposed district and mailed to landowners and the departments of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Ecology. If the original proposal is altered, an amended resolution of intention must be passed and property owners given a new notice. (RCW 36.61.030-.060)
Election to Form a Lake or Beach Management District
The legislative authority adopts a resolution submitting the question of creating the lake or beach management district to owners of land within the proposed district. The election is by mail ballot. Votes are weighted based on estimated special assessment (one vote per dollar of estimated assessment). (RCW 36.61.070-.090)
Passage of Proposition to Form Lake or Beach Management District
Passage of the proposition requires a simple majority of votes cast. If the proposition is approved, the legislative authority adopts an ordinance creating the lake or beach management district. Notice of district's creation must be published within 10 days of adopting the ordinance. (RCW 36.61.090 - .100)
Finance - Special Assessment Roll Procedures
An election is required if assessments exceed 110 percent of that estimated in the resolution initiating the district. A proposed special assessment roll is prepared and hearing is held on the assessment roll. The legislative authority must confirm and approve a special assessment roll by adoption of a resolution. The legislative authority may provide, by ordinance, for a committee of the legislative body or an officer (hearing examiner) to hear objections, act as a board of equalization, and make recommendations to the full legislative authority without a hearing on the assessment roll. If special assessment roll is amended to raise any special assessment or to include omitted property, a new public hearing must be held.
Objection must be made in writing and filed with the governing body prior to the public hearing. If authority is delegated, the process for appeals to the legislative body must be provided by ordinance. Appeal to courts must be made within 10 days after notice of resolution confirming assessment roll has been published. (RCW 36.61.115 - .250)
- Sample Appeals Process - Whatcom County Code Ch. 2.100 - Objection Process for Lake Management District Rates and Charges or Special Assessments
Governance of Lake or Beach Management District
No governance is statutorily specified; however many jurisdictions have set up advisory committees. See examples below.
- Whatcom County Code Ch. 2.96 - Lake Management District No. 1 Advisory Committee
- Federal Way Resolution No. 03-397 (
), 10/2003 - Creates Steele Lake Management District Advisory Committee
- Beaver Lake Management District Advisory Board, Sammamish
- Lake Wilderness Lake Management District Advisory Board, Maple Valley Ordinance O-98-57
Citizen Information and Resources
- How to Form a Lake Management District, Thurston County Department of Water and Waste Management - Includes guidelines/policies for Thurston County
- Forming a Lake Group, King County
- Lake Information, Department of Ecology
Sample Provisions Creating Lake and Beach Management Districts
- Federal Way Steel Lake Management District
- Federal Way Resolution No. 03-384 (
), passed 05/2003 - Resolution of Intent to Form the Steele Lake Management District
- Federal Way Resolution 03-386 (
), passed 07/2003 - Calls for election to form district
- Federal Way Ordinance No. 03-452 (
), passed 10/2003 - Creates Steele Lake Management District
- Federal Way Resolution No. 03-397 (
), passed 10/2003 - Creates Steele Lake Management District Advisory Committee
- Steel Lake LMD Publications and Meeting Materials
- Federal Way Resolution No. 03-384 (
- Sammamish Beaver Lake Management District No. 1
- Sammamish Resolution No. R2000 - 57 (
) - Resolution of Intent
- Sammamish Resolution No. R2001-73 (
) - Amended Resolution of Intent and Calling for Hearing
- Sammamish Resolution No. R2001-77 (
) - Resolution Calling for Election
- Sammamish Ordinance No. O2001-93 - Ordinance Creating Lake Management District
- Sammamish Resolution No. R2002-101 (
) - Confirming Assessment Role
- Sammamish Resolution No. R2000 - 57 (
Links to Lake and Beach Management Districts
- King County
- Beaver Lake Management District Advisory Board, Sammamish
- Lake Wilderness Lake Management District Advisory Board, Maple Valley Ordinance O-98-57
- North Lake Management District, Federal Way
- Steel Lake Lake Management District, Federal Way
- Snohomish County
- Thurston County
- Whatcom County
Other References
Return to ESA Water Quality
Return to Special Districts
Return to Storm Water Funding
Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Lake Management Districts (Ch. 36.61 RCW)

