Regional waterways proposed for federal designation as National Maritime Heritage Area

July 20, 2009

Summary

Council supports effort to celebrate working waterfronts and maritime history

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council adopted a motion today to voice its support for the designation of Washington’s coastline and Puget Sound as a National Maritime Heritage Area. This state-led effort to have Congress designate the waterways of Lake Union and the shores of Puget Sound and Washington’s Pacific Coast as a National Maritime Heritage Area would be the first such designation on the west coast, joining 49 other National Heritage Areas throughout the United States.

“This designation celebrates Washington’s working waterfronts and maritime history,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, sponsor of the motion. “The impact of these areas on our culture, history, and economy deserve to be recognized through this national designation.”

“Our waterfront is what allowed settlers to colonize Seattle and King County and has been our economic engine ever since,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, whose district borders Lake Union, Elliott Bay, and Puget Sound. “Beyond that, the character and heritage of our waterfront represents so much of what makes living and visiting our region so special and unique.”

The federal designation would be an economic development tool, promoting tourism and supporting the region’s working waterfronts. It would also bolster the efforts of heritage organizations to preserve the area’s maritime history and protect this natural resource. The proposed boundaries would include Washington’s saltwater coastline from Grays Harbor to the Canadian border, and extend through the Lake Washington Ship Canal to include Lake Union.

Unlike a National Park, the National Maritime Heritage Area would be managed by a non-profit organization. It would be governed by a steering committee comprised of local maritime stakeholders and with input from tribes, local governments, ports, and other agencies.

National Heritage Areas are not regulatory, and inclusion within a Heritage Area has no regulatory effect on land use or other property rights. Rather, it would provide a mechanism for local stakeholders to coordinate and share resources, develop a regional identity and brand to improve tourism, develop interpretive areas to enhance knowledge of the area, and provide grants for local heritage projects. Some limited federal funds may also be available to support future activities in the area.

"I am delighted that King County is supporting this important and unique designation,” said Allyson Brooks, the Director/State Historic Preservation Officer for the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. “The County's maritime history deserves to be recognized at a national level.”

The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is now conducting a feasibility study to determine whether there is sufficient local support to maintain a National Heritage Area. If so, the next step would be a review by the National Park Service.


Read the motion