Brief Description: Regarding the Willapa harbor oyster reserve.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Blake and Kretz).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

Revenues from the lease of land or sale of shellfish from oyster reserve lands are deposited into the Oyster Reserve Land Account. Forty percent of the funds are used for the management expenses of the oyster reserve lands incurred by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the expenses associated with new research and development on the control of aquatic nuisance species and burrowing shrimp. Up to 10 percent of the funds from the Oyster Reserve Land Account are deposited into the State General Fund. The remainder is deposited into the On-Site Sewage Grant Program.

Each year, the WDFW transfers $100,000 from the revenues from the Willapa Harbor Oyster Reserve to the On-Site Sewage Grant Program. All remaining revenues are used for WDFW management of oyster reserve lands and new research and development on the control of aquatic nuisance species and burrowing shrimp.

The Department of Health (DOH) manages the On-Site Sewage Grant program in Puget Sound, as well as in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. The DOH provides funds to the local health jurisdictions to use as grants or loans to individuals to improve their on-site sewage systems. The funds are provided only in areas that have the potential to adversely affect water quality in commercial and recreational shellfish growing areas.

Summary:

The WDFW must transfer funds from the Oyster Reserve Land Account to the local governments in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties and Puget Sound to manage their On-Site Sewage Grant Program. Local governments, in consultation with the DOH, must use the funds as grants or loans to individuals for repairing or improving their on-site sewage systems.

The WDFW must transfer up to 50 percent of the annual revenues generated in the previous year from the Willapa Harbor Oyster Reserve to the On-Site Sewage Grant Program, as necessary to achieve a fund balance of $100,000.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   86   1
Senate   45   0

Effective: June 12, 2008