H-2067              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1114

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Holm and Sanders

Read first time 2/27/87 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to the introduction of coho salmon to the upper Cowlitz river; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) Mayfield dam began operating on the Cowlitz river in 1962.  In 1968, the Mossyrock dam was constructed thirteen and one-half miles upstream.  Upstream from Mayfield dam, approximately two hundred forty-eight miles of salmon habitat remain unused.  No natural upstream fish passage remains.  Since 1980, no mature chinook salmon and only nine thousand four hundred coho salmon have been transported around the Mayfield dam.  The Cowlitz river once supported a prize sports fishery.

          (2) During the legislative session in 1985, the legislature directed the departments of fisheries and game to work cooperatively with the University of Washington college of fisheries to prepare a report on the reintroduction of anadromous fish runs to the Tilton and upper Cowlitz rivers.  The report was completed in January, 1986.  It evaluates thirteen options ranging in cost from two hundred thousand dollars to over one hundred eight million dollars.  The study recommends the option with the lowest cost, to be used, if any action is taken.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     For the purposes of reintroducing an early coho salmon run to the Tilton river and Winston creek, fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fisheries for the 1987-89 biennium.