Why is the focus of the update exclusively on shoreline property owners? Are not most of the impacts caused by development of the watershed generally?
While it is true that lake conditions are greatly influenced by hydrology of the contributing watershed or basin, the Shoreline Management Act is focused less broadly on the first 200 feet from the ordinary high water mark. Consequently, regulatory attention is most concentrated on riparian and littoral habitat structure, shading and ambient light conditions, local pollutants and water quality, wave patterns and flow. So while watershed impacts are important, they are not the only impacts; significant habitat improvement can be achieved by focusing regulations and incentives to improve conditions on shoreline properties.
