2. Shoreline Environment

Goal SA-13: Preserve, protect, and restore the shoreline environment.

Kirkland is enriched with valued natural features within the shoreline area that enhance the quality of life for the community. Natural systems serve many essential functions that can provide significant benefits to fish and wildlife, public and private property, and enjoyment of the shoreline area.

Shoreline Critical Areas

Note: The Shoreline Environment Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan contains a set of goals and policies relating to critical areas.

Critical areas found within the shoreline area include geologically hazardous areas, frequently flooded areas, wetlands, and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. Floodplains, while not a designated critical area, are also addressed in this section due to the relationship with frequently flooded areas within the City. No critical aquifer recharge areas are mapped within the City. Critical areas in the shoreline area are subject to the Chapter 90 KZC critical areas regulations incorporated by reference into the City’s SMP.

Policy SA-13.1: Conserve and protect critical areas within the shoreline area from loss or degradation.

Environmentally critical areas within the shoreline area are important contributors to Kirkland’s shoreline environment and high quality of life. Some natural features are critical to protect in order to preserve the important ecological functions they provide. The City also regulates and restricts development within critical areas because of the hazards they present to public health and safety. This policy is intended to ensure that the ecological functions and ecosystem-wide processes of these natural systems are maintained and improved.

Policy SA-13.2: Locate and design public access within and adjacent to critical areas to ensure that ecological functions are not impacted.

While public access for educational and public access purposes is an important objective, the location and design of public access must be carefully considered to avoid impacts to critical areas.

Geologically Hazardous Areas

Policy SA-13.3: Manage development to avoid risk and damage to property and loss of life from geological conditions.

Geologically hazardous areas include landslide hazard areas, erosion hazard areas and seismic hazard areas. These areas, as a result of their slope, hydrology, or underlying soils, are potentially susceptible to erosion, sliding, damage from earthquakes or other geological events. These areas can pose a threat to health and safety, if development is not appropriately managed and the area studied as a condition of permitting construction.

Wetlands

Policy SA-13.4: Protect and manage shoreline-associated wetlands.

Wetlands are areas that, under normal conditions, are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. The wetlands located within the shoreline area perform many ecological functions, including habitat for fish and wildlife, flood control, and groundwater recharge, as well as surface and groundwater transport, storage and filtration. Additionally, wetlands provide opportunities for research and scientific study, outdoor education, and passive recreation.

Kirkland’s shoreline contains two extensive high-quality wetland systems: the wetlands located contiguous with the shoreline at Juanita Bay Park and extending up through the Forbes Valley (Forbes 1) and the Yarrow Bay wetlands (Yarrow 1). It is estimated that these wetlands combined are over 156 acres in size. The Forbes 1 wetland has several different vegetation classes, including forested, scrub-shrub, emergent, open water, and aquatic bed. The wetland contains a variety of plant species and types, including native red alder, willow, cottonwood, salmonberry, spiraea, red osier dogwood, skunk cabbage, buttercup, small-fruited bulrush, lady fern, soft rush, horsetail, cattail, and non-native Himalayan blackberry, reed canarygrass and purple loosestrife. Within the Final Kirkland Shoreline Analysis Report (2006), this system has been rated “high quality” for several functions, including habitat, water and sediment storage, water quality improvement, wave energy attenuation and bank stabilization, and nutrient and toxic compound removal.

The Yarrow Bay wetland complex similarly contains a number of wetland classes, including forested, scrub-shrub, emergent, open water, and aquatic bed. The Yarrow Bay complex also contains a mixture of plant species and types, including native red alder, willow, cottonwood, salmonberry, spiraea, red osier dogwood, and cattail and non-native Himalayan blackberry and reed canarygrass. The Final Kirkland Shoreline Analysis Report (2006) also rates this system “high quality” for numerous functions.

The Forbes 1 and Yarrow 1 wetlands are also mapped as priority wetlands by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) (2006). Priority wetlands are those wetlands that have “[c]omparatively high fish and wildlife density, high fish and wildlife species diversity, important fish and wildlife breeding habitat, important fish and wildlife seasonal ranges, limited availability, [and] high vulnerability to habitat alteration.”

This policy is intended to ensure that the City achieves no net loss of wetlands through retention of wetland area, functions and values. Mitigation sequencing is used to ensure impacts to wetlands are avoided, where possible, and mitigated, when necessary.

Wetlands are protected in part by buffers, which are upland areas adjacent to wetlands. Wetland buffers serve to moderate runoff volume and flow rates; reduce sediment loads; remove waterborne contaminants such as excess nutrients, synthetic organic chemicals (e.g., pesticides, oils, and greases), and metals; provide shade for surface water temperature moderation; provide wildlife habitat; and deter harmful intrusion into wetlands.

Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas

Policy SA-13.5: Protect and restore critical freshwater habitat.

Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas provide food, protective cover, nesting, breeding, or movement for threatened, endangered, sensitive, monitor, or priority species of plants, fish, or wildlife. Within the City, there are several areas that fall within this classification.

Lake Washington is known to support a diversity of salmonids, including Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, bull trout (listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act), Coho salmon, sockeye salmon, and kokanee salmon.

Several streams pass through the City of Kirkland, discharging into Lake Washington. Several of these streams are known to support fish use, including Chinook (juvenile use of the mouths of several streams), Coho, sockeye salmon, and steelhead and cutthroat trout. Some of the most prominent fish-bearing streams include Yarrow Creek, Forbes Creek, Juanita Creek and Denny Creek, which are protected within City parks at their outlet to Lake Washington. Salmonid and other fish species are also known to inhabit other Lake Washington tributaries such as Carillon Creek and Champagne Creek.

The Forbes Creek corridor is designated by WDFW as a priority “riparian zone” because it has been determined to meet these criteria: “[h]igh fish and wildlife density, high fish and wildlife species diversity, important fish and wildlife breeding habitat, important wildlife seasonal ranges, important fish and wildlife movement corridors, high vulnerability to habitat alteration, unique or dependent species.” Denny Creek is designated by WDFW as a biodiversity area and corridor with pileated woodpecker habitat.

Both the Yarrow Bay wetlands and Juanita Bay Park extending up the Forbes Creek corridor provide excellent habitat for birds (including songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl), amphibians, mammals and even reptiles. Bald eagles and ospreys regularly perch in trees adjacent to Juanita and Yarrow Bays, and forage in the Bays. Pileated woodpeckers (a State Candidate species) also reportedly nest in the Juanita Bay wetlands, and according to the East Lake Washington Audubon Society, purple martins (a State Candidate species) used nesting gourds installed in early 2006 around the Juanita Bay. Bald eagle nests can be found in Yarrow Bay and in the Market Street and Finn Hill neighborhoods near Lake Washington. Great Blue Herons can be found in Yarrow Bay. Trumpeter Swans can be found in Juanita Bay. See WDFW maps and Kirkland Best Available Science Report dated December 2015 prepared by The Watershed Company.

This policy is intended to ensure that the ecological functions and ecosystem-wide processes associated with critical freshwater habitats are protected to assure no net loss, and that improvements are made through restoration activities. The City has worked to protect these valuable habitat areas through acquisition and management of public areas, as well as development controls, including protection of streams and wetlands and their associated buffers and coordination with federal and State agencies on protection issues associated with listed species.

Frequently Flooded Areas and Floodplains

Goal SA-14: Limit new development in floodplains.

Policy SA-14.1: Regulate development within the 100-year floodplain to avoid risk and damage to property and loss of life.

Frequently flooded areas help to store and convey storm and flood water; recharge groundwater; provide important riparian habitat for fish and wildlife; and serve as areas for recreation, education, and scientific study. Development within these areas can be hazardous to those inhabiting such development, and to those living upstream and downstream. Flooding also can cause substantial damage to public and private property that results in significant costs to the public as well as to private individuals.

The primary purpose of frequently flooded areas regulations is to regulate development in the 100-year floodplain to avoid substantial risk and damage to public and private property and loss of life. Lake Washington does not have a floodplain due to its lake elevation control by the Corps. However, floodplains are designated for both Yarrow Creek wetlands in association with Yarrow Creek and the low-gradient riparian area associated with Forbes Creek.

In both cases, the potential channel migration zone is protected as wetlands associated with Lake Washington. This protection limits development and modifications in those areas where the creeks have the potential to migrate. This protection limits the potential for migration to affect existing or future structures.

Water Quality and Quantity

Note: The Environment Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan contains a set of goals and policies relating to water systems and addressing water quality and quantity. The Utilities Chapter also contains policies addressing storm water.

Goal SA-15: Manage activities that may adversely impact surface and groundwater quality or quantity.

While most of the storm water entering streams and the lake does not come from the shoreline jurisdiction, surface water management is still a key component of the shoreline environment, due to the potential of activities in the larger watershed basin to contribute to water quantity and quality conditions in streams and the lake.

As part of Kirkland’s Surface Water Utility, Surface Water Master Plan, and implementation of the NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater permit requirements, the City is pursuing activities and programs within the larger watershed basin to address flood protection, water quality improvement, and habitat protection and restoration.

Within the shoreline jurisdiction, the City can regulate development and provide education and incentives to minimize impacts to water quality and limit the amount of surface water runoff entering the lake.

Policy SA-15.1: Manage storm water quantity to ensure protection of natural hydrology patterns and avoid or minimize impacts to streams.

Native forest communities with healthy soil structure and organic contact help to manage the amount and timing of runoff water that reaches streams and lakes by intercepting, storing, and slowly conveying precipitation. As these systems are impacted and forests are replaced by impervious surfaces like roads, parking areas, and rooftops, larger quantities of water leave the developed watershed more quickly. Impervious surfaces affect the amount of water that seeps into the ground and washes into streams; they also affect how quickly the water gets there. When land is covered with pavement or buildings, the area available for rainwater and snowmelt to seep into the ground and replenish the groundwater is drastically reduced; in many urban areas it is virtually eliminated. The natural movement of water through the ground to usual discharge points such as springs and streams is altered. Instead, the natural flow is replaced by storm sewers or by more concentrated entrance points of water into the ground and surface drainages.

Changing the timing and amount of water runoff can lead to too much water going directly into streams in the rainy months of winter instead of soaking into the ground. Consequently, there is not enough water in the ground to slowly release into streams in the dry months of summer. Too much water in the winter causes unnaturally swift currents that can erode stream banks and scour and simplify the stream channels, damaging fragile fish habitat. In contrast, not enough water in streams in the summer leads to water temperatures too high to support fish and isolation of fish in small pools. These fundamental changes to hydrology alter watersheds in several ways, including the following:

•    The size, shape, and layout of stream channels change to accommodate the new flow regime, thus changing physical habitat conditions for aquatic species.

•    Erosion increases suspended solid concentrations and turbidity in receiving properties which can impair survival of aquatic species, including salmon.

•    Opportunities for soils and vegetation to filter pollutants from stormwater are reduced, leading to water quality degradation. Stormwater can also carry heavy metals, household wastes, excess nutrients, and other pollutants to the shoreline area.

•    Reduced streamside vegetation can lead to increased water temperatures that reduce survival of aquatic species, including salmon. Fine sediment smothers fish eggs, impacting future populations.

Discharges into the tributary streams, such as Forbes Creek, can have a significant impact on in-stream habitat complexity, peak flow magnitude and duration, bank stability, substrate composition, and a number of other parameters.

Policy SA-15.2: Prevent impacts to water quality.

This policy is intended to prevent impacts that would result in a net loss of shoreline ecological functions, or a significant impact to aesthetic qualities or recreational opportunities.

Water is essential to human life and to the health of the environment. Water quality is commonly defined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic (appearance and smell) characteristics. A healthy environment is one in which the water quality supports a rich and varied community of organisms and protects public health. Water quality influences the way in which Kirkland uses water for activities such as recreation and scientific study and education, and it also impacts our ability to protect aquatic ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

The degradation of water quality adversely impacts wildlife habitat and public health. This is particularly relevant to the shoreline, since all of the regulated surface waters, both natural and piped, are discharged ultimately to Lake Washington. The water quality impact of stormwater inputs is also significant. Stormwater runoff carries pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers applied to lawns and sports fields; hydrocarbons and metals from vehicles; and sediments from construction sites, among other things. All of these things can harm fish and wildlife, their habitats, and humans.

Presently, Lake Washington is considered at risk for chemical contamination from hydrocarbon input from the urbanized watershed. The lake has also exhibited problems with levels of fecal coliform, ammonia, and PCBs present (Final Kirkland Shoreline Analysis Report, 2006).

The City has various programs to control stormwater pollution through maintenance of public facilities, inspection of private facilities, water quality treatment requirements for new development, source control work with businesses and residents, and spill control and response. These programs are managed under the Surface Water Utility, whose goals are:

•    Flood protection;

•    Water quality improvement; and

•    Habitat protection and restoration.

Kirkland has also adopted a Surface Water Master Plan that sets goals and recommends actions for flood reduction, water quality improvement, and aquatic habitat restoration. This plan contains plans and programs to address water quality and high flow impacts from creeks and shoreline development through a number of mechanisms, including the following:

•    Participation in WRIA 8 activities.

•    Adoption of regulations and best management practices consistent with the NPDES Phase II permit requirements.

•    Increased public education and outreach.

•    Construction of projects that address existing flooding problems.

•    Increased inspection and rehabilitation of the existing stormwater system.

•    Identifying pollution “hot spots” for possible water quality treatment.

•    Examining City practices and facilities to identify where water quality improvements can be made.

•    Combining flow controls with in-stream habitat improvement projects in Juanita and Forbes creek watersheds.

Policy SA-15.3: Require environmental cleanup of previously contaminated shorelines.

Some of Kirkland’s shorelines previously supported industrial or commercial practices that may have resulted in environmental contamination. If not addressed, environmental contamination can continue to impact the environmental quality of Kirkland’s shorelines. The potential liability associated with contamination can complicate business development, property transactions or expansion on the property as well. Sites which are suspected of having past activities that may have resulted in environmental contamination should be evaluated and developers should comply with State and federal regulations and programs addressing environmental contamination, including the Model Toxics Control Act, as well as the Department of Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program.

Policy SA-15.4: Support public education efforts to protect and improve water quality.

Many residential yards within the shoreline area are dominated by lawn and landscaping, which can contribute water quality contaminants such as fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Fertilizers and herbicides can affect the aquatic vegetation community, stimulating overgrowth of some species which can have a multitude of deleterious effects and suppress growth of other species. Pesticides also directly affect fish. Fish use their olfactory sense to find their way home. Garden chemicals that get into our lakes and streams may mask the smell fish use for homing. Scientists have found that pesticides also interfere with the ability of salmon to reproduce and avoid predators. Other effects include impaired reproduction, skeletal deformities, decreased swimming ability, and toxicity to salmon food sources.

Presently, nutrient levels in Lake Washington do not represent a problem for salmonids (Final Kirkland Shoreline Analysis Report, 2006). Encouraging natural yard care practices and salmon-friendly landscape design can help to reduce the contaminant load into Lake Washington. Should nutrient levels continue to increase and represent a more significant problem, regulations limiting the use of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides in the shoreline environment may become necessary.

Boat maintenance can also impact the aquatic environment with hydrocarbons, oils and other chemicals, and solvents. Providing information on boating practices, including operation and maintenance practices that can help prevent harmful substances from entering the water such as gasoline, two-stroke engine fuel, paint, and wood conditioner and other boat related substances, can also improve water quality. The City should also assist property owners by providing information on environmentally friendly methods of maintaining piers and decks.

Finally, the City should continue its efforts to increase the public’s awareness of potential impacts of certain practices on water bodies and water quality, including improper disposal of hazardous materials.

Vegetation Management

Note: The Environment Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan contains goals and policies relating to vegetation. The Natural Resources Management Plan also addresses issues relating to vegetation management.

Goal SA-16: Protect, conserve and establish vegetation along the shoreline edge.

Policy SA-16.1: Plan and design new development or substantial reconstruction to retain or provide shoreline vegetation.

Vegetation within the shoreline environment is essential for fish and wildlife habitat, providing habitat complexity and, in the case of riparian vegetation, supporting the insects that provide an important food source for salmon¹. Shoreline vegetation is also important in helping to camouflage young salmon as they hide amidst root wads, beneath overhanging vegetation, or within branches that have fallen into the water². Vegetation also helps to support soil stability, reduce erosion, moderate temperature, produce oxygen, and absorb significant amounts of water, thereby reducing runoff and flooding.

Cove with native shoreline vegetation along lake

Presently, shoreline vegetation and riparian structure are not properly functioning within Lake Washington (Final Kirkland Shoreline Analysis Report, 2006). The intent of this policy is to protect existing shoreline vegetation, in particular existing trees, and establish new vegetation, including native trees, shrubs and groundcover, along the shoreline edge to improve shoreline vegetation and riparian structure and the ecological functions that these shoreline conditions affect.

Policy SA-16.2: Minimize tree clearing and thinning activities along the shoreline and require mitigation for trees that are removed.

As a result of the functions that shoreline vegetation provides, it is important that vegetation conservation measures be implemented along the shoreline. New trees or other appropriate restoration should be installed to replace functions of trees that are removed, either through development or as part of ongoing management of property. Tree removal or topping for the purposes of creating views should be prohibited. Limited thinning of trees to enhance views or for maintenance of health and vigor of the tree may be appropriate in certain circumstances; provided, that this activity does not adversely impact tree health, ecological functions, and/or slope stability.

Applicants are encouraged to make trees that are removed available for City shoreline restoration projects.

Policy SA-16.3: Provide outreach and education materials to lakeside property owners about the importance and role of shoreline vegetation.

The City should offer shoreline property owners workshops or other materials to address the value of riparian vegetation, invasive species, erosion control, the value of large woody debris for salmon habitat, and natural yard care practices.

Public outreach efforts should focus on the opportunity to improve existing habitat and on the ability to use shoreline vegetation to:

•    Create an attractive landscape that offers variety and seasonal color;

•    Reduce maintenance;

•    Provide privacy without sacrificing views;

•    Increase property values;

•    Improve water quality; and

•    Reduce use by geese and other waterfowl.

Goal SA-17: Design aquatic vegetation management efforts to use a mix of various control methods with emphasis on the most environmentally sensitive methods.

Noxious weeds of Washington State are non-native, invasive plants defined by law as a plant that when established is highly destructive, competitive or difficult to control by cultural or chemical practices. These plants have been introduced intentionally and unintentionally by human actions. Most of these species have no natural enemies, such as insects or diseases, to help keep their population in check. As a result, these plants can often multiply rapidly. The two most common invasive species that are impacting Lake Washington’s and Kirkland’s marinas, residential waterfront owners and wildlife are Eurasian watermilfoil and white water lily. Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic plant found in lakes and slow-moving streams, can lower dissolved oxygen and increase pH, displace native aquatic plants, and increase water temperature.

Some aquatic weeds are controlled because they interfere with human needs such as boating and swimming in the lakes. Others pose a threat to the environment. The introduction of any non-native species has an effect on native species and habitats, although it is often difficult to predict those effects. However, there is a growing number of non-native aquatic plant and animal species whose current or potential impacts on native species and habitats are known to be significant. Potential threats may be evidenced by the degree of negative impact these species have upon the environment, human health, industry and the economy (WDFW 2001). Potential negative impacts relevant to the Lake Washington environment include:

•    Loss of biodiversity;

•    Threaten ESA-listed species such as salmon;

•    Alterations in nutrient cycling pathways;

•    Decreased habitat value of infested waters;

•    Decreased water quality;

•    Decreased recreational opportunities;

•    Increased safety concerns for swimmers; and

•    Decreased property values.

Non-native species can be controlled through a variety of mechanisms, including mechanical and physical means (hand pulling, hand tools, bottom barrier, weed roller, mechanical cutters, and harvesters), biological controls and herbicides.

In response to the problem of invasive, non-native species entering Washington waters, laws have now been enacted requiring that all boats leaving a Washington boat launch be free of aquatic weeds and other debris, or otherwise risk being ticketed.

Aquatic vegetation management will likely take coordination on a larger scale to be effective. As a result, the City should work with landowners and neighboring jurisdictions to develop aquatic vegetation management plans on a large-scale basis.

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Christensen, D.L., B.R. Herwig, D.E. Schindler, and S.R. Carpenter. 1996. Impacts of lakeshore residential development on coarse woody debris in north temperate lakes. Ecological Applications 6:1143-1149.

Tabor, R.A. and R.M. Piaskowski. 2002. Nearshore habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon in lentic systems of the Lake Washington Basin, Annual Report, 2001. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lacey, WA.

Tabor, R.A., M.T. Celedonia, F. Mejia, R.M. Piaskowski, D.L. Low, B. Footen, and L. Park. 2004a. Predation of juvenile Chinook salmon by predatory fishes in three areas of the Lake Washington Basin. Miscellaneous report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, Lacey, WA.