Title: An act relating to creating the salmon and watershed planning integration work group.

Brief Description: Creating the salmon and watershed planning integration work group.

Sponsors: Senators Swecker, Jacobsen, Poulsen and Stevens.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 2/07/07, 2/22/07 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5567 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Morton, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Hargrove, Poulsen, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff: Kim Johnson (786-7346)

Background: There are currently several different entities at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels involved in watershed planning and salmon recovery.

Many of the salmon and watershed processes are at the point of developing watershed level or regional salmon recovery plans. However, there currently is no formal process or mechanism for integration of watershed and regional salmon recovery plans.

Summary of Bill: The salmon and watershed planning integration work group is established.
The work group is comprised of:

• one member from each of the two largest caucuses in the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and
• one member from each of the two largest caucuses in the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The work group is required to review the current status of salmon recovery and watershed entities, plans, and projects. The work group must also review the organizational structure and governance of entities preparing or implementing salmon recovery or watershed plans or projects.

The work group must make recommendations regarding the integration of watershed plans and salmon recovery projects: possible state incentives to achieve greater integration of salmon recovery, and watershed plans and projects.

The recommendations must be reported along with draft legislation to the Legislature by November 1, 2007.

Members of the work group may be reimbursed for travel expenses.

This act expires July 1, 2008.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED SUBSTITUTE AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation): Two elected officials from watershed entities, and two elected officials from salmon recovery organizations are added to the work group membership.

Various additional issues are identified as options for the work group to consider.

The reporting date and expiration date are moved back to November 1, 2008 and July 1, 2009, respectively.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: Yes.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Informational integration is occurring at a local and regional level. We need to take a fresh look at the direction we are headed. While there is not a problem with how these groups have been operating, it may be helpful to review what we've done and where we are headed to make the best use of our resources and to make sure that we are providing support to locals on the ground. We all recognize the importance of coordinating our efforts and this review would help set our state up for long term success.

OTHER: It is not necessary to have a bill to accomplish this review.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Tom Clingman, Department of Ecology; Bob Nichols, Governors Salmon Recovery Office.

OTHER: Jack Field, Washington Cattleman's Association.