New shoreline regulations will be in effect starting July 9.

On June 16, the Mercer Island City Council adopted an ordinance amending the city’s Shoreline Master Program. This concluded a two-year city-code update process protecting environmentally sensitive landscapes.

The Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) was updated in July 2019, but the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) needed further review by the Washington Department of Ecology.

The new SMP requirements, governing shorelines within 200 feet of Lake Washington, stipulate that dock repairs need only incorporate decking materials that allow at least 40 percent light transmittance for the benefit of the aquatic habitat below.

Previous regulations required that surface repairs of docks also meet present-day width and height standards.

To see the entirety of Ordinance 20C-013, go to the city of Mercer Island’s website.