FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1017

                         C 209 L 97

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Exchanging state‑owned aquatic lands with privately owned lands.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by  Representatives Sehlin, Anderson, Koster, Quall, Huff, L. Thomas and Dunn).

House Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages over two million acres of state-owned aquatic lands.  These aquatic lands were granted to the state at statehood and include tidelands, shorelands, and bedlands.  Approximately 40 percent of the state's original endowment of tidelands, 70 percent of the original shorelands, and all of the state's bedlands remain in public ownership.

The department is authorized to lease and exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands.  State law provides specific guidelines regarding the department's exercise of this authority. 

AState-owned aquatic lands@ is defined as aquatic lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources or the ports.  Aquatic lands managed by other state agencies are specifically excluded from this definition. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Parks and Recreation Commission also manage state lands.  Some of the lands managed by these agencies are aquatic lands (tidelands and shorelands).

Summary:  The management of a 4,166 square foot area of aquatic lands along the Stillaguamish River is transferred from the DNR to the WDFW.  The WDFW is authorized to exchange its aquatic land holdings if the exchange would provide significantly better fish and wildlife habitat or public water access.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  92 4

Senate 42 5

Effective: April 25, 1997