BILL REQ. #:  S-3819.1 

Read first time 01/23/14.   Referred to Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.

     AN ACT Relating to watershed councils in the Puget Sound basin; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that watershed councils are a vital component of the region's efforts to restore and protect the health of Puget Sound as well as the rivers flowing into Puget Sound. Watershed councils reflect local knowledge, expertise, and dedication to restoring and protecting their watersheds, while coordinating with other councils and tribal, national, state, and local agencies in the broader geographic context of recovering Puget Sound. Watershed councils are diverse in their representation, mission, and the history by which they were formed. They include salmon recovery lead entities formed under chapter 77.85 RCW, local integrating organizations formed under guidance from the Puget Sound partnership, watershed planning entities formed under chapter 90.82 RCW, other watershed councils formed by county governments, the Hood Canal coordinating council recognized as a recovery entity in chapter 90.88 RCW, marine resources committees formed under chapter 36.125 RCW, and others.
     The legislature further finds that authorizing statutes and subsequent council formation have occurred over the previous two decades in separate actions, and that it is vital that these important watershed-level efforts be coordinated to the maximum extent practicable within the regional framework of Puget Sound recovery strategies, and that any statutory barriers to this coordination be eliminated.
     Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to direct the Puget Sound partnership to conduct a review of councils engaged in Puget Sound recovery work and provide recommendations for legislative actions to further strengthen the role of watershed councils in achieving a healthy Puget Sound.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The Puget Sound partnership must conduct a review of the role of watershed councils in accomplishing the goals and objectives of Puget Sound recovery. In conducting the review, the partnership must conduct several meetings with representatives of the full spectrum of watershed councils, including those described in section 1 of this act. The partnership must also invite other Puget Sound stakeholder interests, as well as representatives of federal, tribal, state, and local government agencies engaged in Puget Sound recovery work.
     (2) The Puget Sound partnership must structure the meetings to obtain the views and recommendations on issues such as:
     (a) The most effective structure for watershed councils in relation to their specific mission;
     (b) Ways to achieve greater coordination or integration when more than one council is working in the same geographic area;
     (c) Ways to maximize the role and effectiveness of watershed councils in implementing restoration projects and programs that are prioritized within the Puget Sound action agenda; and
     (d) Identifying statutory provisions that impede the effectiveness of councils.
     (3) The Puget Sound partnership must compile a summary of the meetings. The summary, together with recommendations for legislative, budgetary, and administrative actions to strengthen the role of watershed councils in Puget Sound recovery, must be provided to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives by January 1, 2015.