A determination of federal consistency means the project meets the requirements of several state laws, which includes clean-water laws as well as shoreline and other laws. Oregon earlier this year determined the proposal did not meet the federal consistency requirement for that state's laws. Taking sand from the river will potentially worsen Washington's coastal-erosion problems. Potential harm to the Dungeness crab fishery has not been fully assessed. Final, approvable mitigation plans for wetland and habitat losses have not been submitted by the Corps.
Local governments say the project violates their shoreline master programs.