SB 6047 - DIGEST

Authorizes the legislative authority of any county to remove gravel from streams or other watercourses consistent with the terms of the programmatic permit issued by the department of fish and wildlife under this act when the gravel removal is deemed by the county legislative authority to be beneficial in reducing the impact of potential flooding.

Provides that the legislative authority of a county may only exercise the authority granted under this act to remove gravel from streams or other watercourses if the area of the county from which the gravel is to be removed is not within the jurisdiction of an active diking district organized under chapter 85.05 RCW or an active flood control district organized under chapter 86.09 RCW.

Provides that flood control districts, diking districts, and counties shall not require written approval under chapter 77.55 RCW for the removal of gravel from streams or other watercourses when the gravel removal is deemed by the county legislative authority, flood control district board of directors, or diking district board of commissioners to be beneficial in reducing the impact of potential flooding and when the gravel removal operation is conducted under a programmatic permit issued under this section.

Requires the department to develop a programmatic permit for the removal of gravel from watercourses by counties, diking districts, and flood control districts by August 1, 2005. The permit developed under this act remains valid for at least five years from its implementation date, and may include the following requirements: (1) Dates when the gravel removal may be conducted;

(2) Specifications as to where the gravel removal may be conducted;

(3) Requirements for notification to the department that gravel removal will be conducted; and

(4) Specifications on allowable methods for removing gravel.