WHEREAS, The Lake Tapps reservoir provides many public benefits for the citizens of Pierce County as well as the greater Puget Sound region; and
     WHEREAS, Over the past four years, community members, public officials, and the private sector have worked tirelessly as part of the Lake Tapps Task Force to save the Lake Tapps reservoir in Pierce County; and
     WHEREAS, The Puget Sound Chinook salmon have been making great strides on the White River; and
     WHEREAS, The White River diversion dam is an essential component of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' trap and haul facilities that provide passage for threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon above the Corps' Mud Mountain Dam; and
     WHEREAS, Puget Sound Energy ceased operating the White River diversion dam and hydroelectric project on January 15, 2004; and
     WHEREAS, Without the ongoing operation of the White River diversion dam, and the facilities required to pass water through the reservoir, these fish passage facilities will no longer function properly and the Mud Mountain Dam will become an impassible barrier to salmon and other anadromous species; and
     WHEREAS, The recovery efforts related to threatened salmon and other species will suffer if the fish passage facilities are not continued in operation; and
     WHEREAS, To avoid the harm to threatened fish species, the Corps has entered into an interim contract with Puget Sound Energy to keep the diversion dam and related facilities operating for fish passage purposes; and
     WHEREAS, Interim funding is required to continue operating the fish passage facilities until the Corps can put a long-term solution in place;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the efforts of the local citizens and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in their attempt to meet the needs of endangered and threatened salmon as well as those of private property owners; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate join with the citizens of Pierce County in hoping that the United States will help provide the necessary resources to help bring a successful resolution to these issues, including continuing fish passage efforts on the White River; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Pierce County and the Lake Tapps Task Force.