H-4803.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2363

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Delvin, Clements, Mastin, Grant and Hankins)

Read first time 02/02/96.

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

    AN ACT Relating to fish habitat restoration; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) Salmon and steelhead restoration issues continue to impact the environment and the economy of the state of Washington;

    (2) Irrigation facilities and wasteways may provide low-cost opportunities to create or reestablish habitat; and

    (3) Pilot design studies are needed to document the benefits and costs of using existing irrigation facilities and wasteways as habitat for salmon and steelhead.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) A project shall be conducted at Washington State University to:

    (a) Identify irrigation facilities within the state that can be used to provide habitat to anadromous fish; and

    (b) Develop conceptual designs to restore habitat in the Chandler irrigation canal on the Yakima river and in state-owned land on Crab creek.  In developing the conceptual design, Washington State University shall solicit comments from the Washington department of fish and wildlife.

    (c) The designs in this subsection shall be developed in a manner that will avoid any impact on existing water rights.

    (2) In conducting this project, Washington State University shall work with all appropriate local, state, and federal agencies, and with any irrigation, environmental, and tribal interests.

    (3) By December 1, 1997, Washington State University shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature identifying the potential benefits and costs of using irrigation canals and wasteways as habitat for anadromous fish, including an identification of potential funding mechanisms.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of eighty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to Washington State University for the purposes of section 2 of this act.

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