Brief Description: Creating the Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Select Committee on Hood Canal (originally sponsored by Representatives Eickmeyer, Green, Haigh, Appleton, Kilmer, O'Brien, Lantz, McCoy, Chase, Miloscia, Clibborn and Ormsby).

House Committee on Select Committee on Hood Canal
House Committee on Capital Budget
Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Hood Canal

Hood Canal is a glacier-carved fjord approximately 60 miles in length with approximately 180 miles of shoreline. Portions of Hood Canal have had low-dissolved oxygen concentrations for many years. In 2005, authority was provided to establish aquatic rehabilitation zones (ARZs) for areas whose surrounding marine water bodies pose serious environmental or public health concerns. The first ARZ, ARZ One, was created for the watersheds that drain into Hood Canal south of a line projected from Tala Point in Jefferson County to Foulweather Bluff in Kitsap County.

Hood Canal Rehabilitation Program

The Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT) is a state agency that develops and coordinates water quality programs for Puget Sound. The Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) is a group of county and tribal governments established to address water quality problems and natural resource issues in the Hood Canal watershed. The Legislature authorized development of the Hood Canal Rehabilitation Program (HCRP) in ARZ One in 2005. The PSAT is designated as the state lead agency for the HCRP. The HCCC is designated as the HCRP's local management board. The PSAT and HCCC must jointly coordinate a process to prioritize projects, studies, and activities based on the likely value in addressing and resolving Hood Canal's low-dissolved oxygen concentrations.

Summary:

The Hood Canal Aquatic Rehabilitation Account (Account) is created in the State Treasury. The Account may be used only for programs and projects to protect and restore Hood Canal, including implementing the HCRP.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   1
Senate   48   0

Effective: June 7, 2006