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                       ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1448

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By House Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Anderson, Rust, Brekke, Prentice, Valle, Phillips, Heavey, Appelwick, Locke, H. Sommers, Belcher, Nelson, Hine, Fraser and Wineberry).

Read first time February 26, 1991.  Establishing the Union Bay wildlife habitat management area.

     AN ACT Relating to urban wildlife management areas; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that areas of the state of Washington hold significant importance for wildlife habitat, study, and recreation.  Those areas located near major urban areas and important research institutions possess unique potential for study and research into the development, management, and use of natural systems in urban environments.

     It is the intent of the legislature to protect and enhance these areas for the following purposes:

     (1) Use as wildlife habitat;

     (2) Application of rational practices for the management of biological systems in urban environments;

     (3) Biological, environmental, and landscape architectural research and teaching;

     (4) Recreational enjoyment of nature that is compatible with the environment; and

     (5) Protection from development or construction other than that necessary to accomplish the purposes listed in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) The Union Bay portion of Lake Washington is recognized as a prime wetland area that is of significant importance for wildlife habitat, educational opportunity, and recreation.  It is also situated near an important research institution, the University of Washington.

     (2) The department shall coordinate a cooperative planning effort, to include all interested property owners and managers within or adjacent to Union Bay, and other interested parties, to identify and plan for the Union Bay cooperative wildlife habitat management area.  The boundaries of the area shall be delineated by all cooperators in the effort.

     (3) The department and cooperators identified pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall identify wildlife resources of, wildlife management objectives for, and compatible uses with wildlife in the Union Bay cooperative wildlife habitat management area.  The department and cooperators shall also identify appropriate environmental education opportunities for the area.  The department and cooperators shall develop a plan for comanagement of the Union Bay cooperative wildlife habitat management area.

     (4) The department shall provide progress reports to the house of representatives committee on fisheries and wildlife and the senate committee on environment and natural resources by December 1, 1991, and December 1, 1992.

     (5) The department may solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, whether real or personal property, or both, in trust or otherwise, to be directed to the department for carrying out the purposes of this section.  The department may solicit contracts for work, financial and in-kind contributions, and support from private industries, interest groups, federal and state sources, and other sources, for the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.      If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1991, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act shall be null and void.