READ FIRST TIME 02/7/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to a study of the instream flows of the Hanford Reach; and amending 2005 c 488 s 330 (uncodified).

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   2005 c 488 s 330 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
     Watershed Plan Implementation and Flow Achievement (06-2-003)

     The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: $12,000,000 of the appropriation is provided solely for projects and water right acquisitions to support watershed planning efforts and achieving instream flows subject to the following project types, conditions, and limitations:
     (1) Up to $1,353,172 of the appropriation is provided to improve irrigation efficiency and to achieve associated flow improvements in the Twisp and Methow rivers by providing for cleaning and lining and/or piping of 30,943 linear feet of the irrigation canal within the lower (downstream) seven miles of the Methow Valley irrigation district's west canal. Of this amount, up to $100,000 is provided for a neutral independent consultant to provide management assistance to the Methow Valley irrigation district for purposes of identifying structural and operational improvements to increase overall system water use efficiency.
     (2) Up to $200,000 of the appropriation is provided for a portion of the costs of the project level environmental impact statement for the Ahtanum creek watershed restoration program, including construction of the Pine Hollow reservoir, provided there is agreement among the Yakama nation, Ahtanum irrigation district, and other jurisdictional federal, state, and local agencies and entities to proceed with the environmental impact statement.
     (3) Up to $75,000 of the appropriation is provided to formalize the Ahtanum creek watershed restoration program, including identification of site specific habitat improvement projects and determination of the most appropriate restoration program alternative to implement.
     (4) Up to $1,500,000 of the appropriation is provided to reduce diversions from the Dungeness river through pipeline projects identified in the Dungeness river comprehensive irrigation district management plan. For at least one year from the effective date of this section, while the parties seek resolution of the court action filed in Thurston county superior court, No. 04-2-00078-2, none of these funds may be allocated to any projects in the Dungeness river basin that are within the area that is the zone of contribution for ground and surface water infiltration to the existing Graysmarsh wetland.
     (5) $100,000 of the appropriation is provided solely to the city of Normandy Park to implement the basin plan for the Miller/Walker and Salmon creek basins.
     (6) Water storage grants for the development of plans, engineering and financing reports, acquiring lands and facilities, and other preconstruction activities associated with the development of water storage and groundwater storage and recovery projects. Proposed projects should be consistent with the recommendations of the water storage task force. The department of ecology would issue grants in consultation with the departments of agriculture and fish and wildlife.
     (7) Infrastructure improvement projects and other water management actions that benefit stream flows and enhance water supply to resolve conflicts among water needs for municipal water supply, agriculture water supply, and fish restoration. The stream flow improvements and other public benefits secured from these projects should be commensurate with the investment of state funds.
     (8) Projects for planning, acquisition, construction, and improvement of agriculture water supply facilities and achieving water conservation and water use efficiency improvements.
     (9) Financial assistance to purchase and install water measuring devices at points of diversion and withdrawal. Preference would be given to fish-critical basins, to areas participating in the department of fish and wildlife fish screening and cooperative compliance programs, and to basins where watershed planning has determined additional water diversion and withdrawal information is needed.
     (10) Funding for acquisition of either water or water rights, or both, for instream flow achievement and establishment of water accounts. The appropriation is provided for either the purchase or lease, or both, of water rights. It is also provided for the purpose of improving stream and river flows in fish critical basins under the trust water rights program under chapters 90.42 and 90.38 RCW.
     (11) The department shall provide small grants to watershed councils that have completed watershed plans. The grants are intended to support periodic meetings of the councils so that they can monitor the implementation of watershed plans.
     (12) $250,000 of the state building construction account--state appropriation for fiscal year 2007 is provided solely to the department of ecology to work with interested parties to study instream flows in the Hanford Reach and their impact on the ecological condition of the Hanford Reach especially as it relates to the needs of salmon and steelhead in the Hanford Reach. The department shall submit to the office of the governor and to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature a report of its findings by July 1, 2007.

Appropriation:
     State Building Construction Account--State . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,000,000

     Prior Biennia (Expenditures) . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
     Future Biennia (Projected Costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . $48,000,000
          TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000,000