H-4326              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1853

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Kremen, Haugen, Spanel, S. Wilson, Fuhrman, Braddock and Sanders

Read first time 1/27/88 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to salmon production in Whatcom county; adding new sections to Title 75 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The state receives many benefits from a vigorous commercial and sport fishery.  The fishing industry catches Washington produced fish in Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon, and California in addition to state waters.  The sport fishing industry contributes millions of additional dollars to the state economy.  To supplement fish production from the natural environment it is sometimes necessary to develop areas to rear young fish.  Low-cost production of fish in rearing areas provides a significant increase to the existing fish production.

          The Port of Bellingham, local residents and businesses, and Whatcom county have all participated in developing a series of naturally occurring ponds into a coho salmon rearing area.  The legislature encourages this local government and private action and supports participation by the department of fisheries.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The department of fisheries shall provide assistance to the valley view enhancement association in the installation of a fish ladder at the Loomis Trail road culvert, and the development of Kings, Shelton, Van Dalen, and Cairns ponds into facilities suitable for the production of coho salmon.

          (2) The department shall stock the ponds with a minimum of one and one-half million coho salmon fry annually until 1993 and shall provide technical assistance to the valley view enhancement association in rearing the fry.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     To increase fish runs returning to Whatcom county, which will benefit residents in many areas of the state, the department shall plant one-half million chum salmon fry annually into both Bertram and Fish Trap creeks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     By June 30, 1989, the department shall complete a study of the quantity of coho and chum salmon returning to Dakota, California, and Johnson creeks to evaluate the advisability of increasing salmon production from these locations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The sum of fifteen thousand dollars or as much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated from the general fund to the department of fisheries for the remainder of the 1987-89 biennium for the purposes of section 2(1) of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 2 and 3 of this act are each added to Title 75 RCW.