# WAC 173-183-420: WAC 173-183-420. Marine bird vulnerability

> Washington · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_420

## Section

- **Citation:** WAC 173-183-420
- **Heading:** WAC 173-183-420. Marine bird vulnerability
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Administrative Code / Title 173 / Chapter 173-183 / Section 173-183-420

## Text

(1) Each of the marine and estuarine subregions of state waters established in WAC 173-183-400 (2) is relatively ranked and scored for marine bird vulnerability to oil spills on a 1 to 5 scale for each season, where a score of 5 represents the greatest vulnerability and a score of 1 represents the least vulnerability.
(2) The marine bird vulnerability ranking relatively ranks the vulnerability of seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl present in a subregion during a particular season to oil spills, where vulnerability is based on population status, abundance, roosting habits, escape behavior, flocking behavior, feeding specialization, population size, reproductive capacity, breeding dispersion, winter dispersion, seasonal exposure to waters where oil spills could occur, and significance of Washington population to total population.
(3) Marine bird seasonal vulnerability scores for each of the marine and estuarine subregions defined in WAC 173-183-400 are based on existing information and determinations made by the marine bird subcommittee of the scientific advisory board. For purposes of RCW 90.48.366 , marine bird seasonal vulnerability scores (BVS) for each of the subregions defined in WAC 173-183-400 shall be as follows:
Table 4. Subregional Marine Bird Vulnerability Scores (BVS)
SUBREGION SP SU FA WI 101 NORTHERN OUTER COAST 5 5 5 5 102 KALALOCH 5 5 5 5 103 QUINAULT 5 5 5 5 104 COPALIS BEACH 5 5 5 5 105 GRAYS HARBOR 5 5 5 5 106 TWIN HARBORS BEACH 5 5 5 5 107 WILLAPA BAY 5 5 5 5 108 LONG BEACH 5 5 5 5 109 INNER SHELF 4 2 5 5 110 OUTER SHELF 4 1 1 1 111 SHELF EDGE 5 1 1 1 112 CONTINENTAL SLOPE 2 1 1 1 201 STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-OUTER 3 2 5 4 203 CAPE FLATTERY 4 3 4 3 204 NEAH BAY 2 2 2 2 205 NEAH BAY TO CLALLAM BAY 2 3 3 2 206 CLALLAM BAY 2 2 2 2 207 CLALLAM BAY TO CRESCENT BAY 2 3 3 2 208 CRESCENT BAY 2 2 2 2 209 CRESCENT BAY TO EDIZ HOOK 2 2 2 4 301 STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-INNER 3 3 3 4 302 EDIZ HOOK 1 1 1 1 303 PORT ANGELES 2 3 3 2 304 VOICE OF AMERICA 2 2 2 2 305 DUNGENESS SPIT 2 2 2 3 306 DUNGENESS BAY/HARBOR
E FUCA-OUTER 3 2 5 4 203 CAPE FLATTERY 4 3 4 3 204 NEAH BAY 2 2 2 2 205 NEAH BAY TO CLALLAM BAY 2 3 3 2 206 CLALLAM BAY 2 2 2 2 207 CLALLAM BAY TO CRESCENT BAY 2 3 3 2 208 CRESCENT BAY 2 2 2 2 209 CRESCENT BAY TO EDIZ HOOK 2 2 2 4 301 STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-INNER 3 3 3 4 302 EDIZ HOOK 1 1 1 1 303 PORT ANGELES 2 3 3 2 304 VOICE OF AMERICA 2 2 2 2 305 DUNGENESS SPIT 2 2 2 3 306 DUNGENESS BAY/HARBOR 4 2 2 3 307 JAMESTOWN 5 5 5 5 308 SEQUIM BAY 2 1 1 2 309 MILLER PENINSULA 2 2 2 3 310 PROTECTION ISLAND 4 5 5 3 311 DISCOVERY BAY 3 1 1 4 312 QUIMPER PENINSULA 2 3 3 4 313 WHIDBEY ISLAND 1 2 2 2 314 SMITH ISLAND 3 5 5 3 315 DECEPTION PASS 2 2 2 2 316 LOPEZ ISLAND (SOUTH SHORE) 5 4 4 3 317 SAN JUAN IS. (SOUTH SHORE) 2 2 2 2 401 ADMIRALTY INLET 3 5 5 2 402 SOUTH ADMIRALTY INLET 2 1 2 3 403 PORT TOWNSEND 3 2 3 4 404 OAK BAY 2 2 2 2 405 KILISUT HARBOR 3 2 3 4 501 BELLINGHAM CHANNEL 2 2 4 4 502 GUEMES CHANNEL 2 2 1 3 503 FIDALGO BAY 2 2 2 3 504 PADILLA BAY 5 5 4 5 505 SAMISH BAY 5 5 4 5 506 BELLINGHAM BAY 4 4 4 5 507 HALE PASSAGE 3 3 2 2 601 LUMMI BAY 5 5 3 4 602 CHERRY POINT 5 5 2 2 603 BIRCH BAY 4 4 3 3 604 SEMIAHOO SPIT 4 4 4 4 605 DRAYTON HARBOR 3 3 3 4 607 SAN JUAN IS.-NORTHERN TIER 3 3 2 4 608 GEORGIA STRAIT-EASTERN 4 4 4 4 701 PT. ROBERTS 4 4 2 4 703 GEORGIA STRAIT-WESTERN 2 2 2 2 801 NORTHERN HARO STRAIT 2 2 4 3 802 SOUTHERN HARO STRAIT 1 1 1 2 901 SOUTHERN ROSARIO STRAIT 3 3 3 5 902 CENTRAL ROSARIO STRAIT 3 3 5 4 903 NORTHERN ROSARIO STRAIT 5 5 5 4 1001 PRESIDENT CHANNEL 2 2 2 2 1002 NORTHERN AREAS 1 1 2 3 1101 SPEIDEN CHANNEL 1 1 2 2 1102 NORTHERN SAN JUAN CHANNEL 1 1 1 1 1103 SOUTHERN SAN JUAN CHANNEL 1 1 2 3 1104 WASP PASS 1 1 1 2 1105 UPRIGHT CHANNEL 1 1 2 2 1106 HARNEY CHANNEL 1 1 1 2 1107 OBSTRUCTION PASS 2 2 3 2 1108 THATCHER PASS 1 1 1 1 1201 MOSQUITO/ROCHE COMPLEX 2 2 2 3 1202 FRIDAY HARBOR 2 2 2 2 1203 GRIFFIN BAY 2 2 2 3 1205 FISHERMAN BAY 2 2 2 3 1206 SWIFTS/SHOAL BAYS 2 2 2 2 1207 DEER HARBOR 2 2 2 2 1208 WEST SOUND 1 1 2 2 1209 EAST SOUND 2 2 1 2 1210 LOPEZ SOUND 2 2 3 4 1401 SKAGIT BAY 5 3 2 1 1402 PEN
S 1 1 1 2 1105 UPRIGHT CHANNEL 1 1 2 2 1106 HARNEY CHANNEL 1 1 1 2 1107 OBSTRUCTION PASS 2 2 3 2 1108 THATCHER PASS 1 1 1 1 1201 MOSQUITO/ROCHE COMPLEX 2 2 2 3 1202 FRIDAY HARBOR 2 2 2 2 1203 GRIFFIN BAY 2 2 2 3 1205 FISHERMAN BAY 2 2 2 3 1206 SWIFTS/SHOAL BAYS 2 2 2 2 1207 DEER HARBOR 2 2 2 2 1208 WEST SOUND 1 1 2 2 1209 EAST SOUND 2 2 1 2 1210 LOPEZ SOUND 2 2 3 4 1401 SKAGIT BAY 5 3 2 1 1402 PENN COVE/CRESCENT HARBOR 5 3 2 1 1403 SARATOGA PASSAGE 5 1 2 2 1404 HOLMES HARBOR 4 2 3 3 1405 PORT SUSAN 3 1 1 1 1406 POSSESSION SOUND 3 1 2 2 1501 HOOD CANAL ENTRANCE 2 1 2 3 1502 PORT LUDLOW 2 2 2 2 1503 PORT GAMBLE 2 2 2 2 1504 NORTHERN HOOD CANAL 2 1 2 2 1505 CENTRAL HOOD CANAL 2 1 2 2 1506 DABOB BAY 2 1 2 3 1507 QUILCENE BAY 2 2 2 2 1508 SOUTHCENTRAL HOOD CANAL 2 1 2 3 1509 ANNAS BAY 2 2 2 2 1510 GREAT BEND 3 1 3 5 1601 N. PUGET SOUND 4 1 2 2 1602 N. CENTRAL PUGET SOUND 2 1 2 2 1603 CENTRAL PUGET SOUND 2 1 2 2 1604 ELLIOT BAY 2 2 2 1 1605 EAST PASSAGE 2 1 2 2 1606 COLVOS PASSAGE 2 1 2 2 1607 COMMENCEMENT BAY 2 2 2 2 1608 NARROWS 3 2 3 4 1609 STEILACOOM 2 1 2 3 1610 NISQUALLY 2 1 2 3 1611 TREBLE-JOHNSON 2 2 2 2 1612 HALE PASSAGE 3 2 3 3 1613 CARR INLET 3 1 3 4 1614 PITT PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1615 DRAYTON HARBOR 2 2 2 2 1616 CASE INLET 2 1 2 3 1617 HENDERSON INLET 2 2 2 1 1618 DANA PASSAGE 2 2 2 1 1619 BUDD INLET 2 2 2 2 1620 ELD INLET 2 2 2 2 1621 TOTTEN INLET 2 2 2 2 1622 PICKERING PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1623 PEALE PASSAGE 2 2 2 1 1624 SQUAXIN 2 2 2 2 1625 SKOOKUM INLET 2 2 2 2 1626 HAMMERSLEY INLET 2 2 2 2 1627 OAKLAND BAY 2 2 2 2 1628 AGATE PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1629 LIBERTY BAY 3 2 3 3 1630 PORT ORCHARD 2 2 2 2 1631 SINCLAIR INLET 3 2 3 3 1632 DYES INLET 2 2 2 2 1633 RICH PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1634 QUARTERMASTER HARBOR 3 2 3 3 1635 DALCO PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1636 BALCH PASS 2 2 2 2
SUBREGION
SP
SU
FA
WI
101
NORTHERN OUTER COAST
5
5
5
5
102
KALALOCH
5
5
5
5
103
QUINAULT
5
5
5
5
104
COPALIS BEACH
5
5
5
5
105
GRAYS HARBOR
5
5
5
5
106
TWIN HARBORS BEACH
5
5
5
5
107
WILLAPA BAY
5
5
5
5
108
LONG BEACH
5
5
5
5
109
INNER SHELF
4
2
5
5
110
OUTER SHELF
632 DYES INLET 2 2 2 2 1633 RICH PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1634 QUARTERMASTER HARBOR 3 2 3 3 1635 DALCO PASSAGE 2 2 2 2 1636 BALCH PASS 2 2 2 2
SUBREGION
SP
SU
FA
WI
101
NORTHERN OUTER COAST
5
5
5
5
102
KALALOCH
5
5
5
5
103
QUINAULT
5
5
5
5
104
COPALIS BEACH
5
5
5
5
105
GRAYS HARBOR
5
5
5
5
106
TWIN HARBORS BEACH
5
5
5
5
107
WILLAPA BAY
5
5
5
5
108
LONG BEACH
5
5
5
5
109
INNER SHELF
4
2
5
5
110
OUTER SHELF
4
1
1
1
111
SHELF EDGE
5
1
1
1
112
CONTINENTAL SLOPE
2
1
1
1
201
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-OUTER
3
2
5
4
203
CAPE FLATTERY
4
3
4
3
204
NEAH BAY
2
2
2
2
205
NEAH BAY TO CLALLAM BAY
2
3
3
2
206
CLALLAM BAY
2
2
2
2
207
CLALLAM BAY TO CRESCENT BAY
2
3
3
2
208
CRESCENT BAY
2
2
2
2
209
CRESCENT BAY TO EDIZ HOOK
2
2
2
4
301
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-INNER
3
3
3
4
302
EDIZ HOOK
1
1
1
1
303
PORT ANGELES
2
3
3
2
304
VOICE OF AMERICA
2
2
2
2
305
DUNGENESS SPIT
2
2
2
3
306
DUNGENESS BAY/HARBOR
4
2
2
3
307
JAMESTOWN
5
5
5
5
308
SEQUIM BAY
2
1
1
2
309
MILLER PENINSULA
2
2
2
3
310
PROTECTION ISLAND
4
5
5
3
311
DISCOVERY BAY
3
1
1
4
312
QUIMPER PENINSULA
2
3
3
4
313
WHIDBEY ISLAND
1
2
2
2
314
SMITH ISLAND
3
5
5
3
315
DECEPTION PASS
2
2
2
2
316
LOPEZ ISLAND (SOUTH SHORE)
5
4
4
3
317
SAN JUAN IS. (SOUTH SHORE)
2
2
2
2
401
ADMIRALTY INLET
3
5
5
2
402
SOUTH ADMIRALTY INLET
2
1
2
3
403
PORT TOWNSEND
3
2
3
4
404
OAK BAY
2
2
2
2
405
KILISUT HARBOR
3
2
3
4
501
BELLINGHAM CHANNEL
2
2
4
4
502
GUEMES CHANNEL
2
2
1
3
503
FIDALGO BAY
2
2
2
3
504
PADILLA BAY
5
5
4
5
505
SAMISH BAY
5
5
4
5
506
BELLINGHAM BAY
4
4
4
5
507
HALE PASSAGE
3
3
2
2
601
LUMMI BAY
5
5
3
4
602
CHERRY POINT
5
5
2
2
603
BIRCH BAY
4
4
3
3
604
SEMIAHOO SPIT
4
4
4
4
605
DRAYTON HARBOR
3
3
3
4
607
SAN JUAN IS.-NORTHERN TIER
3
3
2
4
608
GEORGIA STRAIT-EASTERN
4
4
4
4
701
PT
T HARBOR
3
2
3
4
501
BELLINGHAM CHANNEL
2
2
4
4
502
GUEMES CHANNEL
2
2
1
3
503
FIDALGO BAY
2
2
2
3
504
PADILLA BAY
5
5
4
5
505
SAMISH BAY
5
5
4
5
506
BELLINGHAM BAY
4
4
4
5
507
HALE PASSAGE
3
3
2
2
601
LUMMI BAY
5
5
3
4
602
CHERRY POINT
5
5
2
2
603
BIRCH BAY
4
4
3
3
604
SEMIAHOO SPIT
4
4
4
4
605
DRAYTON HARBOR
3
3
3
4
607
SAN JUAN IS.-NORTHERN TIER
3
3
2
4
608
GEORGIA STRAIT-EASTERN
4
4
4
4
701
PT. ROBERTS
4
4
2
4
703
GEORGIA STRAIT-WESTERN
2
2
2
2
801
NORTHERN HARO STRAIT
2
2
4
3
802
SOUTHERN HARO STRAIT
1
1
1
2
901
SOUTHERN ROSARIO STRAIT
3
3
3
5
902
CENTRAL ROSARIO STRAIT
3
3
5
4
903
NORTHERN ROSARIO STRAIT
5
5
5
4
1001
PRESIDENT CHANNEL
2
2
2
2
1002
NORTHERN AREAS
1
1
2
3
1101
SPEIDEN CHANNEL
1
1
2
2
1102
NORTHERN SAN JUAN CHANNEL
1
1
1
1
1103
SOUTHERN SAN JUAN CHANNEL
1
1
2
3
1104
WASP PASS
1
1
1
2
1105
UPRIGHT CHANNEL
1
1
2
2
1106
HARNEY CHANNEL
1
1
1
2
1107
OBSTRUCTION PASS
2
2
3
2
1108
THATCHER PASS
1
1
1
1
1201
MOSQUITO/ROCHE COMPLEX
2
2
2
3
1202
FRIDAY HARBOR
2
2
2
2
1203
GRIFFIN BAY
2
2
2
3
1205
FISHERMAN BAY
2
2
2
3
1206
SWIFTS/SHOAL BAYS
2
2
2
2
1207
DEER HARBOR
2
2
2
2
1208
WEST SOUND
1
1
2
2
1209
EAST SOUND
2
2
1
2
1210
LOPEZ SOUND
2
2
3
4
1401
SKAGIT BAY
5
3
2
1
1402
PENN COVE/CRESCENT HARBOR
5
3
2
1
1403
SARATOGA PASSAGE
5
1
2
2
1404
HOLMES HARBOR
4
2
3
3
1405
PORT SUSAN
3
1
1
1
1406
POSSESSION SOUND
3
1
2
2
1501
HOOD CANAL ENTRANCE
2
1
2
3
1502
PORT LUDLOW
2
2
2
2
1503
PORT GAMBLE
2
2
2
2
1504
NORTHERN HOOD CANAL
2
1
2
2
1505
CENTRAL HOOD CANAL
2
1
2
2
1506
DABOB BAY
2
1
2
3
1507
QUILCENE BAY
2
2
2
2
1508
SOUTHCENTRAL HOOD CANAL
2
1
2
3
1509
ANNAS BAY
2
2
2
2
1510
GREAT BEND
3
1
3
5
1601
N. PUGET SOUND
4
1
2
2
1602
N
2
2
1404
HOLMES HARBOR
4
2
3
3
1405
PORT SUSAN
3
1
1
1
1406
POSSESSION SOUND
3
1
2
2
1501
HOOD CANAL ENTRANCE
2
1
2
3
1502
PORT LUDLOW
2
2
2
2
1503
PORT GAMBLE
2
2
2
2
1504
NORTHERN HOOD CANAL
2
1
2
2
1505
CENTRAL HOOD CANAL
2
1
2
2
1506
DABOB BAY
2
1
2
3
1507
QUILCENE BAY
2
2
2
2
1508
SOUTHCENTRAL HOOD CANAL
2
1
2
3
1509
ANNAS BAY
2
2
2
2
1510
GREAT BEND
3
1
3
5
1601
N. PUGET SOUND
4
1
2
2
1602
N. CENTRAL PUGET SOUND
2
1
2
2
1603
CENTRAL PUGET SOUND
2
1
2
2
1604
ELLIOT BAY
2
2
2
1
1605
EAST PASSAGE
2
1
2
2
1606
COLVOS PASSAGE
2
1
2
2
1607
COMMENCEMENT BAY
2
2
2
2
1608
NARROWS
3
2
3
4
1609
STEILACOOM
2
1
2
3
1610
NISQUALLY
2
1
2
3
1611
TREBLE-JOHNSON
2
2
2
2
1612
HALE PASSAGE
3
2
3
3
1613
CARR INLET
3
1
3
4
1614
PITT PASSAGE
2
2
2
2
1615
DRAYTON HARBOR
2
2
2
2
1616
CASE INLET
2
1
2
3
1617
HENDERSON INLET
2
2
2
1
1618
DANA PASSAGE
2
2
2
1
1619
BUDD INLET
2
2
2
2
1620
ELD INLET
2
2
2
2
1621
TOTTEN INLET
2
2
2
2
1622
PICKERING PASSAGE
2
2
2
2
1623
PEALE PASSAGE
2
2
2
1
1624
SQUAXIN
2
2
2
2
1625
SKOOKUM INLET
2
2
2
2
1626
HAMMERSLEY INLET
2
2
2
2
1627
OAKLAND BAY
2
2
2
2
1628
AGATE PASSAGE
2
2
2
2
1629
LIBERTY BAY
3
2
3
3
1630
PORT ORCHARD
2
2
2
2
1631
SINCLAIR INLET
3
2
3
3
1632
DYES INLET
2
2
2
2
1633
RICH PASSAGE
2
2
2
2
1634
QUARTERMASTER HARBOR
3
2
3
3
1635
DALCO PASSAGE
2
2
2
2
1636
BALCH PASS
2
2
2
2
(4) The marine bird vulnerability score for a spill shall be multiplied by 1.5 when any number of state or federal threatened or endangered marine birds are exposed to spilled oil.

## Nearby sections

- [WAC 173-183-010 WAC 173-183-010. Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_010.md)
- [WAC 173-183-020 WAC 173-183-020. Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_020.md)
- [WAC 173-183-030 WAC 173-183-030. Applicability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_030.md)
- [WAC 173-183-100 WAC 173-183-100. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_100.md)
- [WAC 173-183-200 WAC 173-183-200. Preassessment screening process](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_200.md)
- [WAC 173-183-210 WAC 173-183-210. Incident discovery and reporting](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_210.md)
- [WAC 173-183-220 WAC 173-183-220. Initial site reconnaissance and notification of the RDA committee](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_220.md)
- [WAC 173-183-230 WAC 173-183-230. RDA committee](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_230.md)
- [WAC 173-183-240 WAC 173-183-240. Preassessment screening](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_240.md)
- [WAC 173-183-250 WAC 173-183-250. Damage assessment studies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_250.md)
- [WAC 173-183-260 WAC 173-183-260. Restoration and enhancement projects proposed by the PLP](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_260.md)
- [WAC 173-183-270 WAC 173-183-270. Participation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_270.md)
- [WAC 173-183-300 WAC 173-183-300. Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_300.md)
- [WAC 173-183-310 WAC 173-183-310. Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_310.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_173_183_420. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.