Brief Description: Providing for collection of oral histories about Hood Canal.

Sponsors: Representatives McCoy, Pearson, Eickmeyer, Upthegrove and Haigh.

Hearing Date: 2/17/05

Staff: Caroleen Dineen (786-7156).

Background:

The Secretary of State manages the Division of Archives and Records Management (Archives Division) and the state's Oral History Program. The Archives Division is responsible for historical records preservation and public records management and ensures citizen and government accessibility to these records. The Oral History Program is responsible for recording, transcribing, and publishing the recollections of legislators, state officials, and citizens involved with Washington's political history. The Secretary of State may solicit and accept donations to support the Oral History Program.

Hood Canal is a glacier-carved fjord approximately 60 miles in length with approximately 180 miles of shoreline. Portions of Hood Canal have had low dissolved oxygen concentrations for many years. In the 1950s the University of Washington recorded low dissolved oxygen concentrations in Hood Canal. In recent years, low dissolved oxygen concentrations and significant fish death events have been recorded on Hood Canal. The 2004 dissolved oxygen concentrations in southern Hood Canal were the lowest recorded concentrations for the water body.

Summary of Bill:

The Secretary of State must administer and conduct a program to record and document oral histories of tribal elders and other long-term residents of the Hood Canal area. The purpose of the interviews is to collect information and perspectives regarding the Hood Canal's historical conditions, including fish kill reports, marine species behavioral changes, fishing and harvesting histories, and other environmental health conditions. This program is to be administered with the assistance of the state's Oral History Advisory Committee.
   
The Secretary of State must contract with the state universities for university students to interview and record the oral histories under this program. Tapes and transcripts must be indexed and made available through the Archives Division. Transcripts and current and historical photographs may be published for distribution to libraries and for sale to the general public.   

The Secretary of State may fund this program through appropriations to the state's Oral History, State Library, and Archives Account.

Legislative findings specify concerns associated with low dissolved oxygen concentrations in Hood Canal and identify a need for investigation. Legislative findings recognize the importance of the historical perspectives from tribal elders and other long-term residents of the Hood Canal area. Legislative intent to initiate a process for interviews of Hood Canal tribal elders and other long-term residents and to preserve the information within the state's Oral History Program is specified.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested February 16, 2005.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. The Hood Canal oral history program provisions expire July 1, 2008.