SENATE BILL REPORT
HJM 4045
BYRepresentatives Bumgarner, Sutherland, Silver, Brooks, Cole, Grant, Moyer, Haugen, D. Sommers, K. Wilson, Nealey, Hargrove, Sanders, Doty, Padden, Meyers, Amondson, Fuhrman and Taylor
Urging Congress to fund fully the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan.
House Committe on Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources
Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1988
Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)
AS OF FEBRUARY 17, 1988
BACKGROUND:
Between 1956 and 1975, four dams were constructed in Washington on the Snake River. The dams flooded approximately 14,000 acres of riparian wildlife habitat.
In 1976 Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers to develop the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan to compensate for the loss of fish and wildlife populations and habitats.
The plan provides compensation for the loss in fish populations and for the loss of upland wildlife habitats.
To compensate for the loss of upland habitats, the plan provided for the appropriation of funds to improve existing upland bird habitats, and for the acquisition of upland bird habitats and land to be used as public access points for fishing.
It is generally agreed that the federal government has been diligent in funding the fish compensation portion of the plan. However, concern has been expressed that the federal government has not been diligent in funding the upland habitats compensation provisions. It is estimated that less than 20 percent of the upland habitat provisions have been funded by the federal government.
Estimated costs for implementing the remaining upland habitat provisions total $7.9 million. The current and proposed FY 89 Corps of Engineer budgets do not include funds for this purpose.
SUMMARY:
The Legislature requests that Congress fully fund the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan, and that the plan be immediately implemented in cooperation with the state.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested