A new program to manage river and lake shorelines in Cowlitz County is available for public review and comment through May 4, the Washington Department of Ecology just announced.
Comments will help in the decision whether to approve the county’s update as written or request changes, Ecology said.
Once approved by Ecology, they become part of the state’s overall Shoreline Master Program as outlined in the state Shoreline Management Act.
Cowlitz County’s comprehensive update completely replaces its original shoreline master program adopted in the 1970s. It contains locally tailored policies and provisions to improve habitat protection and encourage restoration of shorelines that include the Columbia, Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis and Toutle rivers, and several lakes and reservoirs.