SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8616

By Senators Swecker, Fraser, Palmer, Snyder and Owen

    WHEREAS, The legislature finds that as interests in the Chehalis River Basin have diversified, the Chehalis River and its tributaries have sustained increasing pressure to satisfy demands for irrigation, hydroelectricity, and instream flow needs for fisheries and recreation; and

    WHEREAS, Since approval of the "Chehalis River Basin Action Plan" in 1992, recommendations in the plan have not yet been fully addressed by the federal, state, and local agencies with management or regulatory jurisdiction in the basin; and

    WHEREAS, In view of the high resource values at stake in the Chehalis River Basin, an innovative process is needed to provide for implementation of the plan and for sound watershed management;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Washington recognize and commend the mission statement of the Chehalis Watershed Council:  The Chehalis Watershed Council is a grassroots, community forum which uses a nonadversarial, consensus based approach to problem solving and conflict resolution among stakeholders, scientists, and agencies with varied perspectives; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage state agencies to participate in the Chehalis Watershed Council, to focus on watershed issues and to facilitate long-term solutions.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1995-8616,

adopted by the Senate February 17, 1995.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate