Understanding Waterfront Biological Studies

WASHINGTON WATERFRONT PERMIT GUIDANCE

Docks, piers, floats, bulkheads, boat lifts, dredging, beach nourishment, and other shoreline projects may require environmental review before permits can be issued. The studies are not just paperwork: they document what is present at a site, how a project could affect it, and how the design can avoid or reduce impacts.

Waterfront Construction has worked on Northwest waters since 1976. We help owners, designers, biologists, engineers, and permit agencies coordinate the construction side of complex waterfront work. This guide explains the environmental information commonly requested for projects in Puget Sound, Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, the San Juan Islands, and other Washington shorelines. Requirements are site-specific, and the reviewing agencies determine what is necessary for each project.

Why biological studies matter to waterfront permits

Work in or near Washington waters can involve local shoreline rules, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization, Endangered Species Act consultation, water-quality review, and other approvals. Reviewers often need a clear description of existing habitat and the project’s temporary and permanent effects.

A well-organized study can help the design team answer important questions early: Can the structure be repositioned? Can shading be reduced? Is there a lower-impact construction method? Are there seasonal work windows? Can disturbed habitat be restored or enhanced? Early answers can reduce redesign and help reviewers understand the complete proposal.

Common environmental studies and site investigations

1. Salmon, steelhead, and fish-use review

Biologists may evaluate whether salmonids or other protected fish use waters near a proposed project and whether designated critical habitat or Essential Fish Habitat may be present. The review can consider migration routes, juvenile rearing areas, shoreline refuge, water depth, substrate, prey resources, and the effects of construction noise, turbidity, shading, or habitat alteration.

For fresh water projects, available fish-distribution information and site conditions help identify relevant species and life stages. In marine waters, nearshore habitat can be important to migrating juvenile salmon even when a site is not a spawning location.

2. Forage-fish spawning surveys

Surf smelt, Pacific sand lance, and Pacific herring are important parts of the marine food web. Depending on location and project type, review may include mapped spawning areas, beach substrate characteristics, the season of potential use, and site sampling performed under an accepted protocol. Because eggs can be deposited in upper intertidal sand and gravel, bulkheads, beach access, excavation, and nourishment projects may receive close review.

3. Eelgrass, kelp, and aquatic-vegetation surveys

Eelgrass beds, kelp, and other aquatic vegetation provide habitat and support shoreline food webs. A survey may map the type, density, and extent of vegetation within and near a project footprint. Timing, tidal elevation, water clarity, survey method, and repeat observations can matter. Designers may use the results to adjust pile locations, float dimensions, grating, orientation, anchoring, or access routes.

4. Wetland and ordinary-high-water delineation

Projects near lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and tidal areas may need delineation of regulated boundaries and buffers. A qualified professional may document vegetation, soils, hydrology, the ordinary high water mark, wetland category, functions, and connections to nearby waters. Accurate survey information is important because local setbacks and state or federal jurisdiction can depend on these boundaries.

5. Nearshore, substrate, and bathymetric studies

Site investigations may document beach material, slope, tidal elevations, water depth, sediment movement, drift cells, feeder bluffs, large woody material, and existing structures. Hydrographic or bathymetric survey data can help define pile lengths, dredging needs, navigation clearances, and the waterward extent of work. These observations also help explain how a proposed structure relates to natural shoreline processes.

6. Shoreline erosion, geotechnical, and geomorphic analysis

A waterfront erosion problem does not automatically mean that a new hard bulkhead is the only solution. Geotechnical and coastal professionals may evaluate drainage, wave exposure, currents, sediment supply, bluff stability, erosion rates, risk to existing structures, and neighboring shoreline effects. The analysis can compare no-action, relocation, drainage correction, vegetation, beach nourishment, anchored logs, hybrid systems, and conventional armoring.

7. Species and habitat screening

Desktop screening generally reviews agency databases, aerial photographs, mapped critical habitat, priority habitats and species, wetlands, streams, and previous studies. Field verification may then be needed because maps are screening tools and do not replace site observations. Species review can extend beyond fish to marine mammals, birds, shellfish, plants, and other protected resources.

8. Water-quality and construction-impact analysis

Permit documents may address turbidity, concrete handling, treated materials, fuels and hydraulic fluids, demolition debris, pile installation, dewatering, sediment disturbance, and spill prevention. The construction plan can include containment, isolation, equipment inspection, material staging, cleanup, and monitoring measures appropriate to the work.

9. Cultural and historic-resource review

This is separate from a biological study, but it frequently runs alongside environmental review. Federal or state permitting may require evaluation of archaeological, tribal, or historic resources. Projects in culturally sensitive areas may require professional investigation and agency or tribal consultation. Ground-disturbing work should not begin until applicable requirements and an inadvertent-discovery plan are understood.

Biological Evaluation, Biological Assessment, and habitat report: what is the difference?

Names vary by agency and project. A habitat report usually describes site conditions, applicable habitats, expected impacts, and avoidance or mitigation. A Biological Evaluation (BE) or Biological Assessment (BA) addresses potential effects on species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and is commonly prepared by a qualified biologist. The federal action agency determines the required consultation path; the project applicant supplies accurate plans and supporting information.

A complete document often includes the project purpose, existing conditions, species and habitat information, construction sequence, equipment and access, pile or excavation methods, work duration, conservation measures, effect determinations, figures, photographs, and references.

How studies influence waterfront design

• Location: shifting a pier, float, lift, access route, or shoreline treatment away from sensitive habitat.
• Size: reducing overwater coverage, fill, excavation, or the number of piles.
• Light: using grating, narrower components, increased height, or a favorable orientation to reduce shade.
• Materials: selecting appropriate piles, decking, encapsulation, erosion-control materials, and concrete-handling methods.
• Methods: choosing installation and demolition techniques that limit noise, turbidity, debris, and disturbance.
• Timing: scheduling in-water work within agency-approved work windows.
• Mitigation: removing obsolete structures, restoring beaches, improving vegetation, or providing other site-specific habitat benefits.

Soft shoreline and green shoreline construction

Soft shoreline stabilization—also called green shoreline or living shoreline work—uses site-appropriate natural processes and materials to manage erosion while maintaining more shoreline function than conventional hard armoring. Possible elements include native vegetation, improved drainage, beach nourishment, anchored large woody material, bank grading, habitat benches, and hybrid systems.

Soft techniques are not interchangeable and are not suitable for every site. Feasibility depends on wave energy, fetch, currents, slope, sediment supply, erosion cause, infrastructure risk, property constraints, and maintenance expectations. Washington guidance generally calls for evaluating lower-impact alternatives before new hard stabilization where feasible.

Read WCI’s guide to soft shoreline construction in Washington →

A practical sequence for waterfront owners

1. Define the problem, project purpose, and desired waterfront use.
2. Collect surveys, historic permits, drawings, photographs, and prior environmental reports.
3. Identify likely local, state, federal, and tribal review pathways.
4. Screen mapped habitat and arrange site-specific studies early enough for seasonal survey windows.
5. Coordinate the biologist, engineer, surveyor, geotechnical professional, permit specialist, and contractor.
6. Use the findings to refine the design and construction sequence.
7. Submit consistent plans and narratives across permit applications.
8. Track conditions, approved work windows, inspections, mitigation, and closeout requirements through construction.

Official research and permit resources

• WDFW: About Hydraulic Project Approvals
• WDFW: Priority Habitats and Species mapping
• Washington Ecology: Shoreline stabilization and soft shoreline guidance
• Washington Ecology: Shoreline permits and enforcement
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District: Endangered Species permit guidance
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Permit processing and environmental documentation
• NOAA: Essential Fish Habitat Mapper
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: IPaC species and habitat screening

Coordinate the study with the build

Environmental studies are most useful when the findings reach the people designing, permitting, estimating, and constructing the project. WCI’s general management and waterfront construction teams can help coordinate constructability, sequencing, access, marine equipment, permit conditions, and field documentation.

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This educational guide is not legal, engineering, biological, or permit advice. Requirements change and vary by location, species, habitat, funding, ownership, and project scope. Confirm current requirements with the reviewing agencies and qualified professionals before relying on any study or beginning work.