S-4144.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6570

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senators Jacobsen, Spanel, Prentice, Haugen and Fraser

Read first time 01/21/98.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

Providing for a habitat restoration information clearinghouse.

    AN ACT Relating to the creation of a habitat restoration technical information clearinghouse; adding a new section to chapter 75.50 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that there is a need  for greater public education regarding the functioning of healthy, fish-bearing watersheds.  The legislature further finds that volunteer organizations involved in salmon and steelhead recovery efforts could benefit greatly from a clearinghouse for technical information on habitat restoration efforts.  It is the intent of the legislature to create a pilot project within the center for stream side studies that would serve to educate the public on the functioning of healthy watersheds and provide technical information to volunteer organizations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 75.50 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A public education and technical assistance pilot project is established within the University of Washington's center for stream side studies.

    (2) The purpose of the project is to:

    (a) Educate the public on the functioning of healthy, fish-bearing watersheds;

    (b) Recommend measures that individuals can undertake that will help to preserve, protect, and restore watersheds in their local area; and

    (c) Function as an information clearinghouse to provide the latest scientific and technical information that will assist volunteer organizations in their effort to restore salmon and steelhead in Washington.

    (3) The center for stream side studies shall use a variety of methods to widely disseminate information to the public including training, workshops, and the development of a home page on the internet.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The sum of thirty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the University of Washington, provided solely for the purposes of this act, and this amount lapses if it is not applied to or needed for this specific purpose.

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