S-0757.3 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5076
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Oke, Owen and Drew)
Read first time 01/26/95.
AN ACT Relating to wildlife habitat corridors; adding new sections to chapter 89.08 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the abundance and distribution of wildlife are limited by the lack of suitable routes of travel for wildlife between areas of habitat that would otherwise be colonized. Wildlife corridors would allow a more free movement of wildlife resulting in less incidence of winterkill, greater distribution of populations, less agricultural crop damage, less mortality due to vehicle collisions, and greater wildlife abundance.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The commission shall integrate into its existing programs an element to link wildlife habitat areas with corridors that will facilitate the movement of wildlife species between areas. The intent of the program element is to foster the dispersal of wildlife and the full utilization of suitable habitat. The habitat programs should involve local, state, and federal government agencies, native American tribes, private landowners, and cooperative groups. The commission shall be the lead agency and shall utilize a cooperative approach such as the coordinated resource management program rather than a regulatory approach to achieve habitat conservation goals. The commission shall utilize existing staff and resources. The department of fish and wildlife shall assist the commission with personnel and funding.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commission shall develop a cooperative program for private landowners to institute wildlife corridors by utilizing a system of incentives. The commission shall work with private landowners' groups including, but not limited to, agricultural groups, private property rights groups, and forest landowners in order to develop a system of workable incentives for establishment of wildlife corridors and wildlife areas. Conserving and developing wildlife habitat must be totally cooperative and voluntary on the part of the private landowners. The commission shall work with private landowners to assure that habitat protection meets the needs of the private landowners. The commission may not take private property or restrict the property's value.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The commission shall develop an interagency program for the establishment of wildlife corridors and habitat. The commission shall work with other governmental agencies in a good faith effort to develop wildlife corridors and wildlife habitat in a cooperative manner. The commission shall coordinate and establish communication between all of the various governmental, private, and volunteer groups working to help preserve habitat.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The commission shall contact native American tribes to request their assistance in the development of wildlife corridors on tribal lands and between tribal lands and adjacent public and private lands. The state fish and wildlife commission shall explore ways of modifying hunting regulations to achieve a free movement of wildlife in wildlife corridors, and shall work with the treaty tribes to achieve the same effect with tribal hunting regulations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The commission shall place particular emphasis upon the development of wildlife corridors for threatened and endangered species in order to prevent additional listings or to stabilize the population. Wildlife corridors may not be established specifically for species that could harm humans or their property, such as grizzly bears, cougars, or timber wolves.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 89.08 RCW.
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