SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6189

BYSenators Pullen, Metcalf, Garrett and Rasmussen

Adopting provisions to protect sockeye salmon in the Cedar river area.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 12, 1988; January 19, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6189 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Barr, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Kaleen Cottingham (786-7415)

                  January 19, 1988

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1988

Senate Staff:Charles Langen (786-7715)

                  January 28, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, JANUARY 19, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Lake Washington sockeye run is one of the largest runs of this species in the 48 contiguous states.  Lake Washington sockeye were introduced in approximately 1935 from the Baker Lake area.  The returns of sockeye to the Lake Washington watershed had been about two to five times the parental escapement until 1980 when runs began to decrease.  In 1987, 183,000 sockeye passed through the fish ladder at Ballard Locks.  Over 90 percent of these returning sockeye spawn naturally in the Cedar River.

Sockeye management primarily focuses on maintaining optimum escapement levels and maximizing spawning areas through stream flow manipulation rather than artificial propagation.  There has been an interest in constructing a spawning channel on the Cedar River to avoid the detrimental impacts of seasonal flooding.  In addition to flood problems, concern has been raised that Department of Wildlife trout enhancement activities have increased the predation on sockeye smolts in Lake Washington.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Fisheries is directed to design and construct, in cooperation with King County, a spawning channel on the Cedar River.  The property designated is owned by King County which will make available the land, construct the parking facilities and provide the operation and maintenance of the facility.  The spawning channel shall be completed before the 1988 spawning season.

The University of Washington School of Fisheries shall study whether sockeye predation problems exist in Lake Washington.

The hydraulic permits and the permit to plant fish shall be issued with 30 days of effective date of this act.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

It is clarified that the Department of Fisheries shall maintain and operate the spawning channel.  The specific legal description of the site is deleted.  The date for completion is extended until 1989.  The appropriation is increased to $790,000.

Appropriation:    $790,000 to Department of Fisheries; $10,000 to the University of Washington School of Fisheries

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 7, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Russ Cahill, King County Parks Department; Kahler Martinson, Department of Fisheries; Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries; Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters; Tom Nelson, Puget Sound Anglers; Jay Rusling, Puget Sound Anglers; Charles Wishman, Puget Sound Anglers; Ernie Brannon, UW Fisheries