Diking Moratorium

There shall be a moratorium lasting no later than July 1, 1976, on diking and/or filling of tidal wetlands seaward of existing dikes on Smith Island and Skagit Bay. During the moratorium:

  • Existing dikes are the boundary between upland and wetland environment designations; and
  • A study of the wetlands is to be undertaken to establish a new boundary which will move seaward when accretion eliminates the active biological role in the marine environment.

If, by the end of the moratorium period, a new boundary has not been adopted by the county (or approved by the state), the boundary between wetland and upland environments will remain at the existing dikes.