Wetland & Ecology
The East Harrison Shoreline Street End is one of 144 designated Shoreline Street Ends in Seattle. The ecology of the East Harrison Shoreline Street End is unique. It has a Category 2 Wetland in the shoreline, with a buffer that extends 110 feet toward 39th Avenue East. To our knowledge, it is the only Shoreline Street End with a delineated wetland.
The wetland was delineated in 2011, 2017 and most recently in a Critical Areas Report dated December 11, 2024. Please see this link for the report, and Appendix C and F for earlier delineations. Section 3.2 of the Critical Areas Report provides an explanation of the two earlier delineations. The figure below is on page 35 of the report.
Existing Conditions Map from the 2024 Critical Areas Report
This new delineation is consistent with what is shown on mapping from the National Wetland Inventory, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and by the Seattle Department of Inspections & Construction (SDCI). The estimated area of the wetland is shown in yellow on the National Wetland Inventory.
National Wetlands Inventory Map of East Harrison Shoreline Street End
Shoreline Ecological Functions
The wetland is recognized as a critical area, but it is not the only important ecological function of the East Harrison SSE.
- The Department of Fish and Wildlife recognizes the property as a priority area for aquatic habitat.
All of Lake Washington is part of Water Resource Inventory (WRIA) 8 and provides habitat to salmon and trout. The WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan “recommends actions to restore and protect habitat that salmon need to survive” and was ratified by Seattle in 2005. One of the actions the Plan recommends is to enforce critical areas regulations to prevent further loss of wetlands.
Lake Washington is also listed as essential fish habitat for groundfish, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon.
On December 12, a code compliance complaint against SDOT was submitted to SDCI: Record Number: 013909-24CP.
The complaint is for multiple and continuing violations of the Shoreline Master Program Regulations (Chapter 23.60A SMC), and the Environmentally Critical Areas Regulations (Chapter 25.09 SMC), at the East Harrison Shoreline Street End by the Seattle Department of Transportation, who is responsible for the property.
Additional Information and Documents
The critical areas report that states that the East Harrison Shoreline Street End is a category 2 wetland.
