H-3638              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2431

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Phillips, Wineberry, Anderson, Nelson, Locke, Leonard, Prentice, Cole, Appelwick, O'Brien, Rust, Valle, Hargrove and Brekke

Read first time 1/12/90 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

AN ACT Relating to the Union Bay wetland management area; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 77.12 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The Union Bay portion of Lake Washington is recognized as a prime wetland area that is of significant importance for wildlife habitat.  It is the policy of the state to protect and enhance this area for wildlife habitat purposes.

          (2) The Union Bay wetland management area is established.  The department shall manage the activities on, and uses of, the following property located within the Union Bay wetland management area:  (a) All property owned by the state, any state agency, or any local government; and (b) any privately owned property for which the owner or owners have entered into an agreement with the department transferring management responsibility over such land to the department.  Such property shall be managed in such a manner to enhance and protect wildlife habitat.

          The department shall adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to establish such management practices and identify the exact boundaries of that portion of Lake Washington, located east of the Lake Washington shipping canal, that is within the Union Bay wetland management area.  Such rules may permit the department to contract with another state agency, or with a local government, that owns public property within the Union Bay wetland management area to manage such property in strict conformity with such rules.