Our Concerns
The East Harrison Shoreline Street End used to be lush and green. It was nicknamed “hidden beach” because it was hidden and special. About fifteen years ago much of the vegetation was cleared out in an effort to reduce illegal activity that was occurring on the shoreline. Nevertheless, beautiful grass covered the shoreline, and it remained a quiet and contemplative place. During COVID the use of the shoreline skyrocketed, and now in the summer there are days when over 500 people a day are jammed into this small space. Motor boats are beached on the shoreline in the wetland and wetland buffer while people and animals are in the water, creating a hazard for everyone involved and destroying the ecology. It's illegal to run dogs off-leash, but people are running dogs-off leash daily, destroying the shoreline. The result of unregulated, unmanaged, and often illegal uses is that this once special space has rapidly deteriorated.
Posted Sign on Site
This sign, posted at the top of the East Harrison Shoreline Street End, clearly states which activities are prohibited.
Examples of Damaging Uses
Crowds trample the wetland and destroy vegetation and native grasses
This photo shows just one day of crowds in the shoreline. Crowds like this have become a regular occurrence over the last few summers.
Fires and After-Dark Activities
Last summer, more often than not, there was after-dark activity at the East Harrison Shoreline Street End. On July 2nd, there was a campfire that lasted for several hours on the shoreline at night. This is illegal, and very unsafe.
July 2, 2024
Trash, firewood, and chairs left over from after-dark activities
Illegal parking, which damages ecology and makes it difficult for others to enjoy
Summer 2024
Unknown Water Quality
The East Harrison Shoreline Street End is not tested for water quality. This summer, nearby Madison Park Beach was closed at times due to high bacteria levels, according to King County’s Lake Swimming Beach bacteria and temperature maps. The East Harrison Shoreline Street End is not a designated swimming beach, and water quality is not tested, potentially putting people and pets at risk and degrading the environmental functions of the SSE when large crowds of people and off-leash dogs are allowed on the shoreline.
Illegal Off-Leash Dogs
Illegal Off-Leash Dogs
It is illegal to run dogs off-leash at the East Harrison Shoreline Street End. Unfortunately, it happens often. Dogs, while lovable, can be very destructive to ecology. They routinely dig and defecate in the wetland and shoreline, it is not safe or respectful of other people to let dogs off-leash in this place. This is an issue throughout Seattle.
Summer 2024
Unpermitted Tree Cutting and Removal at the East Harrison Shoreline Street End (August 20-October 15, 2024)
1. Photos from October 15, 2024. Large limbs have been removed from trees, and a full tree removed.
2. Photo from September 24, 2024. More limbing occurred in late September in the northern part of the East Harrison Shoreline Street End.
3. Photos from September 10, 2024. Three trees were cut down, one 6.5 inches in diameter.
Complaints
Work parties have performed unpermitted tree removal and vegetation cutting multiple times, violating the Seattle Municipal Code, including the Environmentally Critical Areas Regulations, Shoreline Master Program, Tree Protection Code, and SDOT’s Street Tree Manual. In the last week of October 2024, a large group of neighbors near the East Harrison Shoreline Street End were outraged when they saw the results of an unauthorized chainsaw “pruning” and tree removal.
Multiple people complained to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) for violations of the code. Below are links to the complaints that were filed, and the Notices of Violations issued by SDCI.
Since then, additional complaints for different violations were filed in December, as described below.
- 011915-24CP: “Illegal pruning and cutting down and removal of trees within the shoreline setback and near a delineated wetland in violation of the Shoreline Master Program and Critical Areas Ordinance at East Harrison St. shoreline street end.”
- 011922-24CP: “Illegal pruning and cutting down and removal of trees within the shoreline setback and near a delineated wetland in violation of the Shoreline Master Program and Critical Areas Ordinance at East Harrison St. shoreline street end.”
- 011975-24CP: “Filing a serious complaint against an individual that has violated the pruning regulations on city property. This individual has gone to the Harrison St end and has taken it upon himself to cut down at least two trees along with butchering a beautiful cherry tree by cutting off limbs and leaving the bottom part of the limbs exposed. It is a travesty. He has chosen to remove underbrush as well as ground cover and left the park basically naked with exposed dirt and other plants, creating a wasteland. It's been determined that the individuals doing these actions is Daniel Collins.”
- 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.”
- 014325-24CP: "Unpermitted dumping of wood chips on the East Harrison Shoreline Street End in the shoreline district and wetland buffer."
- 1059842-VI: “Shoreline Code Violation: Unauthorized removals and modifications to trees and shrubs in UR shoreline, shoreline setback, & wetland ECA buffer"
- 1059859-VI: “Tree Code Violation: Unauthorized removal of tree in UR shoreline & Wetland ECA buffer.”
- 1059860-VI:“Authorizing unregistered TSP to cut tree”
- 1059861-VI: “Unregistered TSP performing commercial tree work and no TN posted on site.”
How to Report Code Violations
Potential Penalties
In Seattle, penalties for illegal pruning and tree removal in environmentally sensitive areas can be severe.
1. Fines: fines can be thousands of dollars per tree.
2. Replacement and Restoration Requirements: violators may be required to replant multiple trees for each illegally removed tree.
3. Business License: unregistered tree services performing commercial tree work can face a loss of business license and significant fines.
