Brief Description: Establishing the Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account.

Sponsors: Representatives Eickmeyer, Green, Haigh, Appleton, Kilmer, O'Brien, Lantz, McCoy, Chase, Miloscia, Clibborn and Ormsby.

Hearing Date: 2/2/06

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

Hood Canal

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 2005, authority was provided to establish aquatic rehabilitation zones (ARZs) for areas whose surrounding marine water bodies pose serious environmental or public health concerns. The first ARZ, known as ARZ One, was created for the watersheds that drain into Hood Canal south of a line projected from Tala Point in Jefferson County to Foulweather Bluff in Kitsap County.

Hood Canal Rehabilitation Program

The Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT) is a state agency that develops and coordinates water quality programs for Puget Sound. The Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) is a group of county and tribal governments established to address water quality problems and natural resource issues in the Hood Canal watershed . The Legislature authorized development of a Hood Canal rehabilitation program in ARZ One in 2005. The PSAT is designated as the state lead agency for the Hood Canal rehabilitation program. The HCCC is designated as the program's local management board. The PSAT and HCCC must jointly coordinate a process to prioritize projects, studies, and activities based on the likely value in addressing and resolving Hood Canal's low-dissolved oxygen concentrations.

Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account
Revenue received by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from the sale or lease of state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from these lands is deposited in the Aquatic Land Enhancement Account (ALEA) and the Resource Management Cost Account. According to the 2005 Annual Report published by the DNR, revenues to the ALEA for Fiscal Year 2005 were $10.7 million.

Summary of Bill:

The Hood Canal Aquatic Rehabilitation Account is created in the State Treasury. The revenue to the account consists of 50 percent of ALEA revenues from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2014, and any gifts, grants, or appropriations made to the account. The account may be used only for programs and projects to protect and restore Hood Canal, including implementing the Hood Canal rehabilitation program.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.