BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to wildlife habitat corridors; adding new sections to chapter 77.12 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 director, in consultation with the state conservation commission, shall institute a program to link wildlife habitat areas with corridors that will facilitate the movement of wildlife species between areas of suitable habitat. The intent of the program is to foster the dispersal of wildlife and the full utilization of suitable habitat. The program must involve local, state, and federal government agencies, native American tribes, private landowners, and cooperative groups. The department shall be the lead agency for the program and shall utilize a cooperative approach rather than a regulatory approach to achieve the goals of the program. The director shall utilize existing staff and resources to conduct the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The director shall develop a program for private landowners to institute wildlife corridors by utilizing a system of incentives. The director 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. The director shall suggest proposed legislation to the senate and house of representatives natural resources committees as may be required to implement the program. The program must be totally cooperative and voluntary on the part of the private landowners. The department shall work with private landowners to assure that the program meets the needs of the private landowners. The department may not take private property or restrict the property's value.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The director shall develop an interagency program for the establishment of wildlife corridors. The director shall contact all local, state, and federal government agencies that manage lands that are suitable for wildlife habitat and shall make them aware of the program and its benefits. The department shall work with other governmental agencies in a good faith effort to develop wildlife corridors in a cooperative manner.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The director 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 director 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 for species that could harm humans, such as grizzly bears or timber wolves.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The director shall establish a program for public contributions to the wildlife corridor program in order to maximize the opportunity for the concerned public to participate. The director shall make personal appeals to the major environmental groups to allow them to participate in the wildlife corridor program. The director shall work with the nature conservancy to advance the accomplishment of the wildlife corridor program in conjunction with the nature conservancy. The director shall give major outdoor equipment manufacturers and retail outlets a chance to participate in the wildlife corridor program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 2 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 77.12 RCW.