S-563                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5379

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Owen, DeJarnatt, Conner and Rasmussen

Read first time 1/27/87 and referred to Committee on  Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to Grays Harbor salmon; adding new sections to chapter 75.08 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:

          The productivity of the salmon resources in the tributaries of the Grays Harbor area has been depressed for many years.  There have been many attempts to improve salmon runs in the Grays Harbor area, but only a fraction of projects have been successful due to the low survival of the released fish.  The two most probable causes of reduced salmon survival are water pollution and predation.  The effects of water pollution on the salmon population will be addressed by a recently established joint local, state, federal, tribal, and private industry investigative effort.  However, studies are needed to evaluate the effects of predation or other causes of low survival rates.

          The legislature finds that the restoration of salmon runs in Grays Harbor rivers and their tributaries cannot efficiently be conducted until the causes of low salmon survival are known.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 75.08 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The department of fisheries shall conduct a comprehensive biological study to determine what is affecting the survival of salmon in the Grays Harbor area.  The objective of the study shall be to obtain the scientific data necessary to enable a rebuilding of salmon runs in Grays Harbor and to provide information which may be applicable to increasing salmon runs on other Washington coast rivers.

          The department shall maximize on-site biological investigations, such as:  Live box testing, predator sampling, food habit examinations, marking and recapture of salmon smolts, estuarine environmental condition monitoring, physiological condition of salmon smolts, and other important biological testing.  The study shall be primarily designed as a field study that will comprehensively establish the biological conditions of Grays Harbor rivers and tributaries that are important to salmon survival.

          (2) The department of fisheries shall involve the college of fisheries at the University of Washington and the Grays Harbor community college.  Up to fifty percent of the funds appropriated for this study shall be used for purposes of contracting between the department and the college of fisheries at the University of Washington and Grays Harbor community college.  The department shall coordinate the study with the Grays Harbor fisheries enhancement task force, department of ecology, department of game, the environmental protection agency, national marine fisheries service, Quinault Indian nation, United States fish and wildlife service, Grays Harbor regional planning commission, port of Grays Harbor, and private industry.

          (3) A preliminary analysis shall be completed by December 1987, and a final report with definite conclusions on principal mortality causes shall be published by December 1988.  The department shall make the report available to the public, and shall present the report to the natural resources standing committees of the house and the senate.

          (4) The department of fisheries shall present appropriate legislation based on the results of the study to the 1989 legislature that will achieve a meaningful enhancement of the salmon resources in Grays Harbor.  The department shall seek to achieve full productive capability of both hatchery and natural salmon runs in Grays Harbor rivers.  The proposed legislation shall include enhancement proposals for the upper Chehalis river and a salmon hatchery on the Wynoochee river.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fisheries for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, the sum of four hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.