AN ACT Relating to wetlands management; creating new sections; making an appropriation; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that wetlands protect and preserve drinking water; provide a natural means of flood and storm damage protection through the absorption and storage of water during high run-off periods, thereby reducing flood crests and preventing loss of life and property; serve as a transition zone between dry land and water courses, thereby retarding soil erosion and improving water quality through natural filtration and absorption; provide essential breeding, spawning, rearing, feeding, nesting, and wintering habitats for a major portion of the state's fish and wildlife; maintain surface waters through the gradual release of stored flood waters and ground water, particularly during drought periods; provide readily accessible outdoor biophysical laboratories, living classrooms, and vast training and educational resources; and provide scenic and aesthetic benefits.

(2) The legislature further finds that:

(a) More than fifty percent of the state's original wetlands have been drained, dredged, filled, or otherwise altered;

(b) Over ninety percent of the original saltwater wetlands in urban estuaries of Puget Sound have been eliminated;

(c) In urban areas, freshwater wetland losses are estimated at seventy-five acres per month or more than nine hundred acres per year;

(d) Few areas of the state have a wetland management program; and

(e) Wetland management is a matter of state concern since benefits and impacts related to wetland resources are regional or state-wide in scope. It should be noted, however, that the benefits, effects, and extent of wetlands differ between the regions east and west of the Cascade mountains, and that these differences must be addressed.

Therefore the legislature declares that in the interest of understanding Washington state's wetland management and protection needs, a report clarifying those needs should be presented to the 1989 legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A committee shall be charged with the task of developing a report for the legislature that addresses the following:

(1) The extent of Washington's wetlands, including a quantitative assessment of types and sizes;

(2) A qualitative assessment of the major functions and values of the state's wetland types;

(3) A qualitative assessment of the distinctions in the origination, effects and values of the wetlands in the regions west of the Cascades versus the regions east of the Cascades, paying particular attention to the relationship of irrigated agriculture to the wetlands resource;

(4) The extent of wetland alteration in the state, including degradation, destruction, creation, and restoration, and the activities responsible for such alterations. The source of this information shall include public meetings with citizens and local government officials from each county;

(5) Definition of the term "wetland," including an assessment of this term as applied to regulatory programs throughout the state;

(6) Legislative and other options which can be implemented to reduce adverse impacts to wetlands identified as valuable and threatened;

(7) The need for the development of a state wetlands mitigation policy;

(8) The need for increased public information and education;

(9) A summary and analysis of the existing programs of federal, state, and local agencies that deal with wetlands; and

(10) An examination of landowner incentive programs that promote wetlands preservation and recommendations on how those programs can be improved or expanded.

The report shall be presented to the 1989 legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The committee created in section 2 of this act shall consist of the following:

(a) Four members from the state legislature; specifically, one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party of the senate, and one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party of the house of representatives;

(b) One individual representing interests of local government;

(d) One individual representing interests in land development;

(e) One individual representing environmental interests;

(f) One individual representing fishing and hunting interests;

(g) One individual representing interests of Indian tribes;

(h) One individual representing the interests of the public ports;

(i) One individual representing the interests of the industrial community;

(j) One individual representing the interests of the timber industry; and

(k) One citizen who has no specific relation to the interests represented by the groups listed in subsection (1) of this section.

(2) Nonlegislative and nonpublic official or representative members of the committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(3) The committee shall be appointed by the governor, except for representatives from the legislature, who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.

(4) Interested state agencies may have representatives on the committee who shall serve in advisory capacities only.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. It shall be the responsibility of the department of ecology to provide staff support to the committee and to develop implementation options for the tasks identified in section 2 of this act. The department of ecology will also coordinate with other interested state, federal, and local agencies to utilize their wetlands technical expertise when appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. For the purposes of this act, the term "wetlands" means naturally occurring wetlands and does not refer to wetlands that have been created as a result of human activity such as irrigation or construction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. There is appropriated from the water quality account to the department of ecology for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, the sum of two hundred ninety thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act shall expire on June 30, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.