| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 69 service yard will continue to be available for agricultural uses after construction. The Applicant will make the site available for lease for farming after construction of the utility is completed. 3.2.3 Shoreline Master Program Shoreline Master Program The project site is located adjacent to the Snohomish River, and is separated from the river by a large flood control dike. The site does not contain wetlands. All of the antennas will be located more than 200 feet from the ordinary high water mark of the Snohomish River. The closest antenna structure to the river is approximately 800 feet from the physical shoreline of the river. Because the property is within the FEMA 100-year floodplain,19 however, Snohomish County PDS has determined that the Proposal is subject to the provisions of the Snohomish County Shoreline Management Master Program (�SCSMMP� or �SMMP�). Overview of SMMP The Snohomish County Shoreline Management Master Program categorizes shoreline environments, establishes permitted and conditional uses within these environments, and describes shoreline management policies related to shoreline development proposals. The process of evaluating a proposal�s compliance with the SMMP is summarized by a flowchart included in the SMMP. Proposals are evaluated based upon the Use Regulations applicable to the pertinent shoreline Environment Designation, and based upon applicable shoreline management policies. Shoreline Designation and Use Designation The Shoreline designation of the proposal site under the SMMP is Rural. Utilities are a permitted use in the Rural shoreline environment.20 Because of the nature of AM radio transmission, this utility proposal constitutes a water-dependent or water-oriented use. Such uses are accorded priority under shoreline regulations.21 AM radio uses local Medium Wave (MW) signals that travel by means of �groundwave propagation.� The signal strength and distance traveled in a given direction are directly dependent upon the electrical conductivity of the soil along that path. For the best performance for groundwave propagation, a site located in an area of good ground conductivity is required. River bottom soil (silt) is a good conductor, due to the ability of silt to retain water, and its high mineral content. Glacial hardpan, which is found in most upland areas of the Puget Sound region, has very low conductivity. SMMP Aesthetic Resources Policy for Shorelines of Statewide Significance (H-1-3) The Snohomish River is a shoreline of �statewide significance� pursuant to the SMMP. Shorelines of Statewide Significance Policy 3(c) states that project decision-making should �actively promote aesthetic considerations when contemplating new development.� The 19 FEMA has designated substantially all of the Snohomish River Valley as 100-year floodplain. 20 SMMP F-68. 21 SMMP D-3, Policy 10. |