HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 2363

                      As Passed House:

                      February 9, 1996

Title:  An act relating to fish habitat restoration.

Brief Description:  Requiring a project for designs to restore anadromous fish habitat in the Chandler irrigation canal and on state‑owned land on Crab creek.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Delvin, Clements, Mastin, Grant and Hankins).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  1/26/96, 1/31/96 [DPS];

Appropriations:  2/3/96 [DP2S(w/o sub NR)].

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/9/96, 90-5.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Elliot; Hatfield; Jacobsen; Keiser; Sheldon; Stevens; L. Thomas and Thompson.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Natural Resources.  Signed by 28 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Pelesky, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Valle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Brumsickle; Carlson; Chappell; Cooke; Crouse; Dellwo; Dyer; Foreman; Grant; Hargrove; Hickel; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; McMorris; Poulsen; Reams; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott and Wolfe.

Staff:  Nancy Stevenson (786-7137).

Background:  Habitat degradation is a primary factor in the decline of many anadromous stocks.  Over a half million acres are irrigated in the Columbia Basin Project.

Summary of Bill:  Legislative findings are made that pilot design studies are necessary to document the benefits of using irrigation facilities and wasteways as a means to provide habitat for salmon and steelhead.

The Washington State University (WSU) is directed to develop conceptual designs for restoring habitat in the Chandler Irrigation Canal and in Crab Creek.  WSU is also directed to identify other irrigation facilities that may provide habitat, cooperate with all appropriate entities, and report to the Legislature by December 1, 1997.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  (Natural Resources) Irrigation facilities can provide valuable habitat for salmon, particularly in the headwaters of canals where water temperature and chemistry are best.  Completion of the conceptual design may help to leverage federal dollars.  Providing this kind of habitat is a good idea, but there is some uncertainty as to the legal ramifications of using canals as fish habitat if a stock later becomes listed as threatened or endangered. 

(Appropriations) None.

Testimony Against:  (Natural Resources) None.

(Appropriations) None.

Testified:  (Natural Resources) Ed Owens, Coalition of  Washington Ocean Fishermen; Chuck Garner, Kennewick Irrigation District; Jerry Harper, Columbia Snake Irrigation Association; Bill Kinsel, Washington State University; Ed Manary, Department of Fish and Wildlife (pro); and Mike Schwisow, Washington State Water Resources Association (pro with amendments).

(Appropriations) None.