FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1035

C 135 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Extending a program of steelhead recovery in certain counties.

Sponsors:  Representative Pennington.

House Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines

Background:

In 1998 the Legislature created a pilot program for steelhead recovery in southwestern Washington.  This pilot program established a management board for the area designated as evolutionarily significant unit 4 by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), covering Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties. 

The management board is responsible for assisting in the development of a recovery plan and for implementing the habitat portions of the Lower Columbia Steelhead Conservation Initiative approved by the state and the NMFS.  The management board is also authorized to address other aquatic species listed under the Endangered Species Act.   The management board acts as both a lead entity and a committee for purposes of applying for salmon habitat grants from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

The management board consists of the following 15 voting members: a county commissioner from each of the five participating counties; one state legislator elected from one of the legislative districts in the area covered; a representative of the Cowlitz Tribe; one representative of the cities located in the area covered; one representative of hydro utilities; one representative of the environmental community who resides in the area; and five representatives of private property interests.  The board is required to appoint and consult with a technical advisory committee.

This pilot program terminates on July 1, 2002.

Summary:

The management board created to implement the steelhead recovery program for southwestern Washington is extended until July 1, 2006.  References to the program being a pilot program are deleted.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate450

Effective:  August 1, 2001