S-1325

AN ACT Relating to a Cascade foothills recreational area study; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the population of the Puget Sound region will grow by more than one million by the year 2010, and that current and new residents will seek greater opportunities for outdoor recreation within a reasonable distance from their homes. Changing demographics, healthier and more active lifestyles, and improvements in recreation technology will all lead to growing public demand for areas and facilities in which to recreate. The western slope Cascade foothills from the international border south through Thurston county provides a wealth of existing and potential outdoor recreation areas that are close to the great majority of the urbanized areas of Puget Sound. Within this area are many public lands, including state park units, that may provide the nucleus for a network of lands accessible for dispersed recreational uses by people of all ages, physical capacities, and recreational preferences.

The legislature further finds that the Cascade foothills are home to many permanent residents who benefit from the natural resource and lifestyle amenities of the foothills, and that expanding recreational opportunities in the foothills must be consistent with the long-term sustainability of the local economies. The west slope foothills also are an integral part of the "mountains to sound" region and provide significant benefits to the entire region, including watershed protection, wildlife habitat, flood damage reduction, and scenic values. A review of outdoor recreational needs and opportunities in the foothills should include consideration of these benefits and the need for protection of these functions and values.

This act has two purposes. The first is to recognize the significant outdoor recreation potential of this area by designating the Cascade foothills recreation area as an area of state-wide importance for its recreational, scenic, natural, and cultural values. The second is to create the Cascade foothills task force to study and make recommendations for creating greater recreational opportunities on public lands within this area, and to promote greater intergovernmental and public and private coordination among managers of outdoor recreation lands and facilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout sections 3 through 5 of this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Cascade foothills" means generally the nonurbanized within the Cascade range and drainages lying between three hundred and three thousand feet above mean sea level, and located within the counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Thurston. Lands lying at lower elevations that are in the immediate vicinity of the foothills area, such as lower drainages, are also included within this term. These lands include public lands that are devoted to developed, nonrecreational uses. This definition is provided solely to guide the Cascade foothills task force in the geographic definition of its study responsibilities and confers no authority upon any entity other than the task force for the study purposes of this chapter.

(2) "Task force" means the Cascade foothills task force.

(3) "Counties" includes the counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Thurston.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The legislature designates the "Cascade foothills recreation area," which shall encompass generally the nonurbanized, nondeveloped lands lying within the Cascade foothills. The area is designated solely to guide the study responsibilities of the Cascade foothills task force.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) There is created the Cascade foothills task force. The task force shall be composed of nineteen members as follows:

(a) A total of six members, one being appointed by each of the governing bodies of the six counties comprising the conservation area;

(b) The chair of the Washington parks and recreation commission, serving ex officio;

(d) The chair of the fish and wildlife commission, serving ex officio;

(e) The supervisor of the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie national forest, or such other representative of federal land managing agencies within the foothills area designated by such agencies;

(f) Two members of the senate, one from each major caucus, appointed by the president of the senate;

(g) Two members of the house of representatives, one from each major caucus, appointed by the co-speakers; and

(h) Six members appointed by the governor from the public at large, to provide the task force with a diversity of experience and views regarding recreational uses of public lands in the Cascade foothills.

(2) The task force shall review and make recommendations on the existing and future outdoor recreational needs and opportunities in the Cascade foothills, recognizing the important functions and values that are provided by these lands. This shall include wildlife habitat, watershed protection, flood damage protection, scenic enjoyment, and economic uses, as well as the means by which more effective use of existing public lands in the foothills, assisted by willing private providers of outdoor recreation facilities, may serve to meet these needs. To this end the study should include:

(a) An assessment of the existing and the twenty-year growth projection for recreational demand of the population residing within one-hour driving time from the Cascade foothills. This assessment shall include the types of recreational uses anticipated, demographic projects of recreational users, and developed facilities needed to serve such uses;

(b) An inventory of existing facilities and lands accessible for recreational use within the Cascade foothills;

(c) A review of existing local, regional, state, federal, private, and nongovernmental nonprofit entities providing outdoor recreation facilities within the Cascade foothills and their coordination in meeting public outdoor recreation demand, as well as the role of public education of recreational users to avoid land damage;

(d) A review of state lands within the Cascade foothills that may be managed principally or in part for outdoor recreation uses as a unit of a Cascade foothills state park, and recommendations for transitioning to such management;

(e) An assessment of existing wildlife and conservation functions and values to use in evaluating the potential compatibility of proposed recreational uses and activities, and planning techniques to avoid land damage in developing and using recreational facilities;

(f) Recommendations for a regional entity to promote expanded outdoor recreation opportunities within the Cascade foothills, in coordination with an expanded state park system within the Cascade foothills; and

(g) Methods to fund local, regional, and state outdoor recreation programs and facilities within the Cascade foothills.

(3) The governor, in consultation with the counties, shall provide for initial staffing for the task force, and the task force shall address ongoing staff and funding needs in the work plan and budget required under section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) In conducting the study in section 4 of this act, the task force shall consult with the governing bodies of the counties and cities within the Cascade foothills area. The task force shall hold its meetings within or in the immediate vicinity of the Cascade foothills. Such meetings shall be open to the public and provide maximum opportunity for public participation.

(2) The commission's initial emphasis shall be upon scheduling its work and compiling the information needed to conduct the assessments and reviews specified in section 4 of this act. The task force shall provide an initial work plan and budget to the fiscal and parks committees of the senate and house of representatives by November 1, 1999. A final report and recommendations shall be provided no later than December 15, 2001.