S-2017.2
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5166
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State of Washington | 64th Legislature | 2015 Regular Session |
By Senate Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Rolfes, Ranker, and Hasegawa)
READ FIRST TIME 02/25/15.
AN ACT Relating to the management of forage fish resources; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife must collaborate to conduct a survey of the location of surf smelt and sand lance spawning grounds throughout Puget Sound, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To the extent available, the departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife must conduct the surveys using crews of the veterans conservation corps created under RCW 43.60A.150. Results from this survey must be used by the departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife to expand knowledge of spawning habitat areas. The survey results must be made accessible to the public. The habitat survey must be completed by June 30, 2017.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department of fish and wildlife must conduct a mid-water trawl survey at various depths throughout Puget Sound to evaluate the prevalence of adults of all species of forage fish. The department must integrate the results of the survey into existing Puget Sound ecosystem assessments to assist the department of fish and wildlife in the management and conservation of forage fish species and the species that prey upon them.
The department of fish and wildlife must complete the survey by June 30, 2017.
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