SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1035
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines, March 21, 2001
Title: An act relating to the management board created to implement the habitat portion of the lower Columbia steelhead conservation initiative.
Brief Description: Extending a program of steelhead recovery in certain counties.
Sponsors: By Representative Pennington.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines: 3/19/01, 3/21/01 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Constantine, Hargrove, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Snyder and Stevens.
Staff: Ross Antipa (786‑7413)
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 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 must appoint and consult with a technical advisory committee.
This pilot program is designated to terminate on July 1, 2002.
Summary of Bill: 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.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2001.
Testimony For: The Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board is an effective organization that has integrated steelhead recovery with watershed planning activities and it should be continued. To date, 62 projects have been funded and completed within the board=s jurisdiction.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Jeff Breckel, Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board; Will O=Neil, AGC; Phil Trask, WDFN.