The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) administers several grant programs for numerous boards and councils to create outdoor recreational opportunities, protect the state's wildlife habitat and farmland, and assist salmon recovery efforts.

The statewide Adopt-A-Highway Program is a roadside cleanup program administered by the Department of Transportation (WSDOT). ?Through the program, volunteers adopt a section of highway by agreeing to take care of it for two to four years. ?The WSDOT installs signs giving recognition to the group or individuals adopting the highway, provides safety training and equipment, and picks up the bags of litter left along the roadside by the volunteers. ?Local governments also have authority to enact local Adopt-A-Highway programs as long as they are consistent with state or federal law.

Adopt a Fish Passage Program Establishment.
Both the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and local government legislative authorities may enact "Adopt a Fish Passage" programs and accept money or property donated to the local government for the purpose of fish barrier removal.? When either the WSDOT or a local government receives a property donation, they may determine the value of the donated property for the purpose of recognizing fish barrier removal donations. ?

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The RCO must publish and maintain a list of fish barrier removal projects suitable for receiving private donations.? To the extent feasible, the WSDOT and local governments must coordinate donations with any grant applications for state funding of fish barrier removal with the goal of expediting the removal of fish passage barriers.? Private donations to an Adopt a Fish Passage Program are eligible for use as matching funds for other fund sources, such as state or federal grants.

Signage and Donor Recognition.
Upon completion of a project where a donation of at least $10,000 was received, the entity receiving the donation must install a clearly marked sign that acknowledges individual donors. ?To do this, the recipient of the donation must notify the RCO, who must gather information regarding the project sponsors, location, species affected, and the amounts of individual donations that supported the project. ?

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The signs must be of a uniform design that is approved by the RCO, and only include the names of project donors, the species affected by the project, and the words "adopt a fish passage." ?The donors' names may not be displayed more predominantly than the remainder of the sign message. ?Trademarks or business logos may be used. ?A donor may not have their name displayed on the sign if the donor's name endorses or opposes a candidate for public office; advocates a position on a specific political issue, initiative, referendum, or piece of legislation; includes a reference to a political party; or includes a reference that could be considered obscene or offensive to the general public.

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If there are multiple donors and the number of donors will interfere with the signage requirements, the WSDOT or local government responsible for installing the signage may determine the number of donors listed on the sign but must endeavor to recognize the donors that provide the largest donations.

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For individual donations of at least $100,000, the RCO must provide a recognition plaque to the donor that is signed by the Governor and includes the name of the donor, the words "adopt a fish passage program," the location and name of the project funded, the amount and year of donation, and the fish species affected.