S-889                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3472

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Kreidler, Rinehart and Halsan

Read first time 1/31/85 and referred to Committee on Parks and Ecology.

AN ACT Relating to the Nisqually river system; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) The legislature finds that:

          (a) The Nisqually river system, its waters, beds, and adjacent uplands have been statutorily characterized for more than a decade as an area of state-wide significance by the people of this state;

          (b) The river system is a highly prized and relatively undisturbed area of great natural beauty that extends through four biological zones of Washington state from the peak of Mount Rainier to the Nisqually Delta;

          (c) The productivity of the system may well be enhanced, in terms of recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and other benefits associated with natural areas if a carefully developed program of stewardship for the area is established;

          (d) Notwithstanding existing governmental units and management programs, including those developed under the shoreline management act, an optimum management program designed to achieve maximum benefits for the public from the use of this valuable natural river corridor has not been established;

          (e) The Nisqually river corridor has been historically used for such productive uses as agriculture, education, forestry, hunting, fishing, mining, military maneuvers, irrigation and electric power production.

          (2) It is the purpose of this act to initiate a process which, emphasizing the natural values of this river system of state-wide significance, will bring about a stewardship program for the Nisqually river that will assure enhancement of benefits for this generation as well as those to come.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The department of ecology is directed to develop an overall management program for the Nisqually river system consistent with the findings and objectives of section 1 of this act.  The program shall set forth, with reasonable specificity, the boundaries of the managed area, the management objectives for various reaches of the river, the institutional arrangements for carrying out the program, the moneys and funding sources for successful program implementation, and the economic impacts on private property owners.

          (2) If necessary to accomplish this task, the department may establish advisory committees to provide technical assistance and policy guidance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The department shall submit a report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives not later than January 6, 1986.  The report shall set forth a management program, as directed by section 2(1) of this act, and any proposed legislation that is recommended or required to implement the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     This 1985 act shall not be construed as limiting the rights of private property owners.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the department of ecology for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of forty-two thousand five hundred sixteen dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall not be codified.