(1) The goal of providing public access should be balanced with the need to protect ecological functions and preserve the rights of private property owners.

(2) Existing physical and visual access sites/areas should be maintained to ensure the public’s continued ability to enjoy the recreational and aesthetic qualities of the shoreline, unless the maintenance of such existing sites is inconsistent with the policies and regulations of this Program.

(3) The County should work with State parks, and other appropriate agencies and individuals to acquire lands that can provide physical and visual access to public waters for public use and to provide, promote and accommodate public access on parks and other State-owned land, where no access currently exists.

(4) Public entities and private landowners should not be required to provide public access when such access is shown to be inappropriate due to reasons of safety, security, or adverse impacts to shoreline functions and processes.

(5) Pursue opportunities to implement the Clallam County Park and Recreation Master Plan, as amended, to increase and improve public access and enjoyment of County shorelines.

(6) Support and promote the development of public access to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Lands where nonexistent or limited such as State park lands located on both sides of the Sol Duc River near Mary Clark Road. In regards to the latter, the County supports the State Parks Commission to manage the timber on the tract of land on both banks of the Sol Duc River (commonly referred to as the Mary Clark Road/Hwy 101) for the benefit of the public to access this river system, with little public access available in the reach; and to recommend any needed legislation to be able to do so. Timber management could also be a funding windfall that supports State Parks plan to open and manage this tract for the public’s use and enjoyment.

(7) Support retention and improvements of existing developed public access points and related facilities (e.g., parking, restrooms, trails) to maintain public access to shorelines including those access points associated with restoration of publicly owned shorelands such as the access to Elwha River at the end of Lake Aldwell Road. In regards to the latter, with the absence of Lake Aldwell, the County has an interest in the lands and associated uplands of the former lake (commonly referred to as Elwha Project Lands) that might be affected by PL 102-495 and sees value in such interest to insure public access along with the environmental qualities this law is attempting to achieve.

(8) Given the significant area and extent of public lands in Clallam County and along its shorelines, the County should work together with other public land managers to optimize and prioritize improving accessibility and recreational opportunities on existing shoreline public lands.

(9) Develop an integrated shoreline area public access system plan consistent with WAC 173-26-221(4) to inform future updates to this Program related to public access policies and regulations that includes, but is not limited to: