Marine Spatial Planning on Washington's Pacific Coast and Beyond

Washington State law directs the Departments of Ecology and Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct comprehensive marine spatial planning in its marine waters to address conflicting ocean uses and potential new ocean uses, while considering economic and environmental sustainability. The state legislature provided funding beginning in July 2012 through June 2015 for the state to work with stakeholders and tribes to execute a planning process on the state’s Pacific Coast. The DNR is responsible for the development and management of a robust ocean mapping tool, a data catalog, and an interagency marine spatial planning website. DNR is also the project manager for marine spatial planning activities that include mapping human uses, ocean conditions, and ecosystems; conducting an ecosystem assessment; modeling planning scenarios; and holding stakeholder outreach events. While these planning activities are currently underway for Washington’s Pacific coast, the state agencies, at the direction of the legislature, will begin marine spatial planning for Puget Sound and the Columbia River upon completion of the coastal plan.