BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to flood damage reduction; amending RCW 36.70A.060, 36.70A.070, 36.70A.170, 75.20.100, 75.20.103, 75.20.130, 79.90.150, 79.90.300, 86.15.030, 86.15.050, 86.15.160, 86.26.105, and 90.58.180; adding new sections to chapter 75.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 79.90 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 79.90.325; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that river and stream systems can threaten public and private property during flood events. The legislature therefore declares that reducing flood damage through the use of structural and nonstructural projects is in the public interest. Structural and nonstructural projects include but are not limited to: Streambank stabilization, river channel maintenance, land use restrictions, land buy-outs, flood easements, and emergency notification.

Sec. 2. RCW 36.70A.060 and 1991 sp.s. c 32 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each county that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, and each city within such county, shall adopt development regulations on or before September 1, 1991, to assure the conservation of agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands designated under RCW 36.70A.170. Regulations adopted under this subsection may not prohibit uses legally existing on any parcel prior to their adoption and shall remain in effect until the county or city adopts development regulations pursuant to RCW 36.70A.120. Such regulations shall assure that the use of lands adjacent to agricultural, forest, or mineral resource lands shall not interfere with the continued use, in the accustomed manner and in accordance with best management practices, of these designated lands for the production of food, agricultural products, or timber, or for the extraction of minerals. Counties and cities shall require that all plats, short plats, development permits, and building permits issued for development activities on, or within three hundred feet of, lands designated as agricultural lands, forest lands, or mineral resource lands, contain a notice that the subject property is within or near designated agricultural lands, forest lands, or mineral resource lands on which a variety of commercial activities may occur that are not compatible with residential development for certain periods of limited duration.

(2) Each county and city shall adopt development regulations that protect critical areas that are required to be designated under RCW 36.70A.170. For counties and cities that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, such development regulations shall be adopted on or before September 1, 1991. For the remainder of the counties and cities, such development regulations shall be adopted on or before March 1, 1992.

(3) Such counties and cities shall review these designations and development regulations when adopting their comprehensive plans under RCW 36.70A.040 and implementing development regulations under RCW 36.70A.120 and may alter such designations and development regulations to insure consistency.

(4) Forest land and agricultural land located within urban growth areas shall not be designated by a county or city as forest land or agricultural land of long-term commercial significance under RCW 36.70A.170 unless the city or county has enacted a program authorizing transfer or purchase of development rights.

(5) All development regulations developed under this section shall be consistent with the flood plain management plan adopted by the county under RCW 86.26.105.

Sec. 3. RCW 36.70A.070 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

The comprehensive plan of a county or city that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall consist of a map or maps, and descriptive text covering objectives, principles, and standards used to develop the comprehensive plan. The plan shall be an internally consistent document and all elements shall be consistent with the future land use map, and the comprehensive flood plain management plan adopted by the county under RCW 86.26.105. A comprehensive plan shall be adopted and amended with public participation as provided in RCW 36.70A.140.

Each comprehensive plan shall include a plan, scheme, or design for each of the following:

(1) A land use element designating the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of land, where appropriate, for agriculture, timber production, housing, commerce, industry, recreation, open spaces, public utilities, public facilities, and other land uses. The land use element shall include population densities, building intensities, and estimates of future population growth. The land use element shall provide for protection of the quality and quantity of ground water used for public water supplies. Where applicable, the land use element shall review drainage, flooding, and storm water run-off in the area and nearby jurisdictions and provide guidance for corrective actions to mitigate or cleanse those discharges that pollute waters of the state, including Puget Sound or waters entering Puget Sound.

(2) A housing element recognizing the vitality and character of established residential neighborhoods that: (a) Includes an inventory and analysis of existing and projected housing needs; (b) includes a statement of goals, policies, and objectives for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing; (c) identifies sufficient land for housing, including, but not limited to, government-assisted housing, housing for low-income families, manufactured housing, multifamily housing, and group homes and foster care facilities; and (d) makes adequate provisions for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community.

(3) A capital facilities plan element consisting of: (a) An inventory of existing capital facilities owned by public entities, showing the locations and capacities of the capital facilities; (b) a forecast of the future needs for such capital facilities; (c) the proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new capital facilities; (d) at least a six-year plan that will finance such capital facilities within projected funding capacities and clearly identifies sources of public money for such purposes; and (e) a requirement to reassess the land use element if probable funding falls short of meeting existing needs and to ensure that the land use element, capital facilities plan element, and financing plan within the capital facilities plan element are coordinated and consistent.

(4) A utilities element consisting of the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities, including, but not limited to, electrical lines, telecommunication lines, and natural gas lines.

(5) Counties shall include a rural element including lands that are not designated for urban growth, agriculture, forest, or mineral resources. The rural element shall permit land uses that are compatible with the rural character of such lands and provide for a variety of rural densities.

(6) A transportation element that implements, and is consistent with, the land use element. The transportation element shall include the following subelements:

(a) Land use assumptions used in estimating travel;

(b) Facilities and services needs, including:

(i) An inventory of air, water, and land transportation facilities and services, including transit alignments, to define existing capital facilities and travel levels as a basis for future planning;

(ii) Level of service standards for all arterials and transit routes to serve as a gauge to judge performance of the system. These standards should be regionally coordinated;

(iii) Specific actions and requirements for bringing into compliance any facilities or services that are below an established level of service standard;

(iv) Forecasts of traffic for at least ten years based on the adopted land use plan to provide information on the location, timing, and capacity needs of future growth;

(v) Identification of system expansion needs and transportation system management needs to meet current and future demands;

(i) An analysis of funding capability to judge needs against probable funding resources;

(ii) A multiyear financing plan based on the needs identified in the comprehensive plan, the appropriate parts of which shall serve as the basis for the six-year street, road, or transit program required by RCW 35.77.010 for cities, RCW 36.81.121 for counties, and RCW 35.58.2795 for public transportation systems;

(iii) If probable funding falls short of meeting identified needs, a discussion of how additional funding will be raised, or how land use assumptions will be reassessed to ensure that level of service standards will be met;

(d) Intergovernmental coordination efforts, including an assessment of the impacts of the transportation plan and land use assumptions on the transportation systems of adjacent jurisdictions;

(e) Demand-management strategies.

After adoption of the comprehensive plan by jurisdictions required to plan or who choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, local jurisdictions must adopt and enforce ordinances which prohibit development approval if the development causes the level of service on a transportation facility to decline below the standards adopted in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan, unless transportation improvements or strategies to accommodate the impacts of development are made concurrent with the development. These strategies may include increased public transportation service, ride sharing programs, demand management, and other transportation systems management strategies. For the purposes of this subsection (6) "concurrent with the development" shall mean that improvements or strategies are in place at the time of development, or that a financial commitment is in place to complete the improvements or strategies within six years.

The transportation element described in this subsection, and the six-year plans required by RCW 35.77.010 for cities, RCW 36.81.121 for counties, and RCW 35.58.2795 for public transportation systems, must be consistent.

Sec. 4. RCW 36.70A.170 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) On or before September 1, 1991, each county, and each city, shall designate where appropriate:

(a) Agricultural lands that are not already characterized by urban growth and that have long-term significance for the commercial production of food or other agricultural products;

(b) Forest lands that are not already characterized by urban growth and that have long-term significance for the commercial production of timber;

(c) Mineral resource lands that are not already characterized by urban growth and that have long-term significance for the extraction of minerals; and

(d) Critical areas.

(2) In making the designations required by this section, counties and cities shall consider the guidelines established pursuant to RCW 36.70A.050, and shall make such designations so that they are consistent with the flood plain management plan adopted by the county under RCW 86.26.105.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 75.20 RCW to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to RCW 75.20.100, 75.20.103, and 75.20.130.

(1) "Bed" means the land below the ordinary high water lines of state waters. This definition does not include irrigation ditches, canals, storm water run‑off devices, or other artificial watercourses except where they exist in a natural watercourse that has been altered by humans.

(2) "Commercial" means any facility or building used for commerce, including those used for agricultural or industrial purposes.

(3) "Emergency" means an immediate threat to life, public land, or private property, or an immediate threat of serious environmental degradation.

(4) "Streambank stabilization" includes but is not limited to log and debris removal; bank protection including riprap, jetties, and groins; gravel removal; and erosion control.

(5) "To construct any form of hydraulic project or perform other work" does not include the act of driving across an established ford. Driving across streams or on wetted stream beds at areas other than established fords requires approval. Work within the ordinary high water line of state waters to construct or repair a ford or crossing requires approval.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 75.20 RCW to read as follows:

The permitting department may impose the following conditions on persons applying under RCW 75.20.100 or 75.20.103:

(1) The permittee shall establish an excavation line. "Excavation line" means a line on the dry bed, parallel to the water's edge unless otherwise stated, that changes with water level fluctuations.

(2) The permittee may not remove bed material from the water side of the excavation line.

(3) The permittee shall begin excavating at the excavation line and proceed toward the bank, perpendicular to the alignment of the watercourse.

(4) The permittee shall keep the maximum distance of excavation toward the bank from the excavation line approximately equal throughout the excavation zone. "Excavation zone" means the area between the excavation line and the bank.

(5) The permittee shall identify the excavation zone with boundary markers.

(6) The permittee shall maintain a minimum one-half percent gradient upward from the excavation line in the excavation zone.

(7) The permittee shall ensure that the excavation zone is free of pits or potholes.

(8) The permittee shall not stockpile or spoil excavated materials within the ordinary high water line except from June 15 to October 15.

(9) The permittee may not allow any equipment within the wetted perimeter of the watercourse without specific permission.

(10) The permittee shall dispose of debris in the excavation zone so it does not reenter the watercourse.

(11) The permittee may not perform gravel washing or crushing operations below the ordinary high water line.

(12) The permittee shall be allowed to remove only that amount of rock, sand, gravel, or silt which is naturally replenished on an annual basis, except in instances where a lapse in material removal has occurred. If such lapse has occurred, then an amount of material equivalent to the amount estimated to have accumulated since the last material removal operation, including debris and vegetation, may be removed.

Sec. 7. RCW 75.20.100 and 1991 c 322 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In the event that any person or government agency desires to construct any form of hydraulic project or perform other work that will use, divert, obstruct, or change the natural flow or bed of any of the salt or fresh waters of the state, such person or government agency shall, before commencing construction or work thereon and to ensure the proper protection of fish life, secure the written approval of the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife as to the adequacy of the means proposed for the protection of fish life. This approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Except as provided in RCW 75.20.1001 and 75.20.1002, the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall grant or deny approval within forty-five calendar days of the receipt of a complete application and notice of compliance with any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act, made in the manner prescribed in this section. The applicant may document receipt of application by filing in person or by registered mail. A complete application for approval shall contain general plans for the overall project, complete plans and specifications of the proposed construction or work within the mean higher high water line in salt water or within the ordinary high water line in fresh water, and complete plans and specifications for the proper protection of fish life. The forty-five day requirement shall be suspended if ((~~(1)~~)) (a) after ten working days of receipt of the application, the applicant remains unavailable or unable to arrange for a timely field evaluation of the proposed project; ((~~(2)~~)) (b) the site is physically inaccessible for inspection; or ((~~(3)~~)) (c) the applicant requests delay. Immediately upon determination that the forty-five day period is suspended, the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the delay. Approval is valid for a period of up to five years from date of issuance. The permittee must demonstrate substantial progress on construction of that portion of the project relating to the approval within two years of the date of issuance. If either the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife denies approval, that department shall provide the applicant, in writing, a statement of the specific reasons why and how the proposed project would adversely affect fish life. Protection of fish life shall be the only ground upon which approval may be denied or conditioned.

(2) In making a decision as to whether fish life is protected, the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall determine if a project as proposed or modified:

(a) Improves fish life or habitat over the long term to compensate for any potential short-term losses; or

(b)(i) Protects a residential, commercial, or industrial facility or structure that the department determines is likely to incur significant flood damage during the next flood season if the project is not completed; and (ii) lessens the loss of fish life or habitat as compared to a project resulting from an emergency request under this section.

The department with jurisdiction shall approve a project if it determines that the project meets either (a) or (b) of this subsection.

(3) Chapter 34.05 RCW applies to any denial of project approval, conditional approval, or requirements for project modification upon which approval may be contingent. If any person or government agency commences construction on any hydraulic works or projects subject to this section without first having obtained written approval of the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife as to the adequacy of the means proposed for the protection of fish life, or if any person or government agency fails to follow or carry out any of the requirements or conditions as are made a part of such approval, the person or director of the agency is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any such person or government agency is convicted of violating any of the provisions of this section and continues construction on any such works or projects without fully complying with the provisions hereof, such works or projects are hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement as such.

((For the purposes of this section and RCW 75.20.103, "bed" shall mean the land below the ordinary high water lines of state waters. This definition shall not include irrigation ditches, canals, storm water run-off devices, or other artificial watercourses except where they exist in a natural watercourse that has been altered by man.

The phrase "to construct any form of hydraulic project or perform other work" shall not include the act of driving across an established ford. Driving across streams or on wetted stream beds at areas other than established fords requires approval. Work within the ordinary high water line of state waters to construct or repair a ford or crossing requires approval.))

(4) For each application, the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife shall mutually agree on whether the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall administer the provisions of this section, in order to avoid duplication of effort. The department designated to act shall cooperate with the other department in order to protect all species of fish life found at the project site. If the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife receives an application concerning a site not in its jurisdiction, it shall transmit the application to the other department within three days and notify the applicant.

(5) In case of an emergency arising from weather or stream flow conditions or other natural conditions, upon request the department of fisheries or department of wildlife, through their authorized representatives, shall ((~~issue~~)) grant immediately ((~~upon request~~)), oral approval for removing any obstructions, repairing existing structures, restoring stream banks, or ((~~to protect~~)) protecting property threatened by the stream or a change in the stream flow without ((~~the necessity of obtaining~~)) requiring a written approval prior to commencing work. Conditions of an oral approval shall be reduced to writing within thirty days and complied with as provided for in this section. Oral approval shall be granted immediately upon request, for a stream crossing during an emergency situation.

(6) This section shall not apply to a project involving the repair of an existing flood hazard reduction facility if the project is determined by the county to be:

(a) Consistent with a currently approved comprehensive flood hazard management plan; and

(b) Necessary to avoid flood damage during the next flood season.

(7) This section shall not apply to the construction of any form of hydraulic project or other work which diverts water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes authorized under or recognized as being valid by the state's water codes, or when such hydraulic project or other work is associated with streambank stabilization to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020. These irrigation or stock watering diversion and streambank stabilization projects shall be governed by RCW 75.20.103.

Sec. 8. RCW 75.20.103 and 1991 c 322 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In the event that any person or government agency desires to construct any form of hydraulic project or other work that diverts water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes, or when such hydraulic project or other work is associated with streambank stabilization or flood damage reduction to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020, and when such ((~~diversion or streambank stabilization~~)) hydraulic project will use, divert, obstruct, or change the natural flow or bed of any river or stream or will utilize any waters of the state or materials from the stream beds, the person or government agency shall, before commencing construction or work thereon and to ensure the proper protection of fish life, secure a written approval from the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife as to the adequacy of the means proposed for the protection of fish life. This approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Except as provided in RCW 75.20.1001 and 75.20.1002, the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall grant or deny the approval within forty-five calendar days of the receipt of a complete application ((~~and notice of compliance with any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act,~~)) made in the manner prescribed in this section. The applicant may document receipt of application by filing in person or by registered mail.

(2) A complete application for an approval shall:

(a) Contain general plans for the overall project, complete plans and specifications of the proposed construction or work within ordinary high water line, and complete plans and specifications for the proper protection of fish life; and

(b) Not be required to include notice of compliance with any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act. Final approval of a project may not be granted until any applicable requirements of the state environmental policy act have been satisfied.

(3) The forty-five day requirement shall be suspended if ((~~(1)~~)):

(a) After ten working days of receipt of the application, the applicant remains unavailable or unable to arrange for a timely field evaluation of the proposed project;

((~~(2)~~)) (b) The site is physically inaccessible for inspection; ((~~or (3)~~))

(c) After forty-four days of receipt of a complete application, a notice of compliance with the state environmental policy act has not been issued; or

(d) The applicant requests delay.

(4) Immediately upon determination that the forty-five day period is suspended, the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the delay.

(5) In making a decision as to whether fish life is protected, the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall determine if a project as proposed or modified:

(a) Improves fish life or habitat over the long term to compensate for any potential short-term losses; or

The department with jurisdiction shall approve a project if it determines that the project meets either (a) or (b) of this subsection.

(6) An approval shall remain in effect without need for periodic renewal for projects that divert water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes and that involve seasonal construction or other work. Approval for streambank stabilization projects shall remain in effect without need for periodic renewal if the problem causing the need for the streambank stabilization occurs on an annual or more frequent basis. The permittee must notify the appropriate agency before commencing the construction or other work within the area covered by the approval.

(7) The permittee must demonstrate substantial progress on construction of that portion of the project relating to the approval within two years of the date of issuance. If either the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife denies approval, that department shall provide the applicant, in writing, a statement of the specific reasons why and how the proposed project would adversely affect fish life. Protection of fish life shall be the only ground upon which approval may be denied or conditioned. Issuance, denial, conditioning, or modification shall be appealable to the hydraulic appeals board established in RCW 43.21B.005 within thirty days of the notice of decision. The burden shall be upon the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife to show that the denial or conditioning of an approval is solely aimed at the protection of fish life.

(8) The department granting approval may, after consultation with the permittee, modify an approval due to changed conditions. The modifications shall become effective unless appealed to the hydraulic appeals board within thirty days from the notice of the proposed modification. The burden is on the department issuing the approval to show that changed conditions warrant the modification in order to protect fish life.

(9) A permittee may request modification of an approval due to changed conditions. The request shall be processed within forty-five calendar days of receipt of the written request. A decision by the department that issued the approval may be appealed to the hydraulic appeals board within thirty days of the notice of the decision. The burden is on the permittee to show that changed conditions warrant the requested modification and that such modification will not impair fish life.

(10) If any person or government agency commences construction on any hydraulic works or projects subject to this section without first having obtained written approval of the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife as to the adequacy of the means proposed for the protection of fish life, or if any person or government agency fails to follow or carry out any of the requirements or conditions as are made a part of such approval, the person or director of the agency is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any such person or government agency is convicted of violating any of the provisions of this section and continues construction on any such works or projects without fully complying with the provisions hereof, such works or projects are hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement as such.

(11) For each application, the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife shall mutually agree on whether the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife shall administer the provisions of this section, in order to avoid duplication of effort. The department designated to act shall cooperate with the other department in order to protect all species of fish life found at the project site. If the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife receives an application concerning a site not in its jurisdiction, it shall transmit the application to the other department within three days and notify the applicant.

(12) In case of an emergency arising from weather or stream flow conditions or other natural conditions, the department of fisheries or department of wildlife, through their authorized representatives, shall issue immediately upon request oral approval for removing any obstructions, repairing existing structures, restoring stream banks, or to protect property threatened by the stream or a change in the stream flow without the necessity of obtaining a written approval prior to commencing work. Conditions of an oral approval shall be reduced to writing within thirty days and complied with as provided for in this section. Oral approval shall be granted immediately upon request, for a stream crossing during an emergency.

((For purposes of this chapter, "streambank stabilization" shall include but not be limited to log and debris removal, bank protection (including riprap, jetties, and groins), gravel removal and erosion control.))

(13) This section shall not apply to a project involving the repair of an existing flood hazard facility if the project is determined by the county to be:

(a) Consistent with a previously approved comprehensive flood hazard management plan; and

(b) Necessary to avoid flood damage during the next flood season.

Sec. 9. RCW 75.20.130 and 1989 c 175 s 160 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby created within the environmental hearings office under RCW 43.21B.005 the hydraulic appeals board of the state of Washington.

(2) The hydraulic appeals board shall consist of three members: The director of the department of ecology or the director's designee, the director of the department of agriculture or the director's designee, and the director or the director's designee of the department whose action is appealed under subsection (6) of this section. A decision must be agreed to by at least two members of the board to be final.

(3) The board may adopt rules necessary for the conduct of its powers and duties or for transacting other official business.

(4) The board shall make findings of fact and prepare a written decision in each case decided by it, and that finding and decision shall be effective upon being signed by two or more board members and upon being filed at the hydraulic appeals board's principal office, and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.

(5) The board has exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals arising from the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a hydraulic approval issued by either the department of fisheries or the department of wildlife under the authority granted in RCW 75.20.103 for the diversion of water for agricultural irrigation or stock watering purposes or when associated with streambank stabilization to protect farm and agricultural land as defined in RCW 84.34.020.

(6)(a) Any person aggrieved by the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a hydraulic approval pursuant to RCW 75.20.103 may seek review from the board by filing a request for the same within thirty days of notice of the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of such approval.

(b) The review proceedings authorized in (a) of this subsection are subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW pertaining to procedures in adjudicative proceedings.

(c) If a review proceeding authorized in (a) of this subsection finds for the aggrieved permit applicant, the applicant may be awarded any legal and engineering costs involved in challenging the permit decision.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 79.90 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Use or modification, or both, of any river system must involve basic hydraulic principles, as well as harmonize as much as possible with existing aquatic ecosystems, and human needs.

(2) The department, commissioner, and board shall:

(a) Give priority consideration to the preservation of the streamway environment with special attention given to preservation of those areas considered aesthetically or environmentally unique;

(b) Encourage bank and island stabilization programs which rely mainly on natural vegetative systems as holding elements;

(d) Recognize natural plant and animal communities and other features that provide an ecological balance to a streamway in evaluating competing human uses and require protection from significant human impact; and

(e) Recognize that hydraulic conditions may require the installation of riprap or other similar measure to further protect natural systems of stabilization.

(3) No person may remove normal stream depositions of logs, uprooted tree snags, and stumps which abut on shorelands and do not intrude on the navigational channel or reduce flow, or adversely redirect a river course, and are not harmful to life and property without the department's permission but the department must consider the need to protect the resultant dependent aquatic systems.

(4) No person may fill indentations such as mudholes, eddies, pools, and aeration drops without permission of the department.

(5) The department may permit river channel relocations only when an overriding public benefit can be shown. Filling, grading, lagooning, or dredging which would result in substantial detriment to navigable waters by reason of erosion, sedimentation, or impairment of fish and aquatic life are not authorized.

(6) No person may remove sand and gravel below the wetted perimeter of navigable rivers unless authorized by a hydraulics permit issued by either the department of fisheries or department of wildlife under RCW 75.20.100 and 75.20.103. These removals may be authorized for maintenance and improvement of navigational channels or for creating backwater channels for fish rearing or improvement of the flow capacity of the channels.

(7) The department may allow sand and gravel removals above the wetted perimeter of a navigable river which are not harmful to public health and safety when any or all of the following situations exist:

(a) The removal is designed to create or improve a feature such as a pond, wetland, or other habitat valuable for fish and wildlife;

(b) The removal provides recreational benefits;

(c) The removal will aid in reducing a detrimental accumulation of aggregates in downstream lakes, reservoirs, and river beds;

(d) The removal will aid in reducing damage to private or public land and property abutting a navigable river; or

(e) The removal will contribute to increased flood protection for private or public land.

(8) The department may not allow sand and gravel removals above the wetted perimeter of a navigable river when:

(a) The location of such material is below a dam and has inadequate supplementary feeding of gravel or sand;

(b) Removal will cause unstable hydraulic conditions detrimental to fish, wildlife, public health, and safety; or

(9) No person may perform bank dumping or junk revetment on aquatic lands.

(10) The department shall condition sand and gravel removal leases to allow removal of only that amount which is naturally replenished on an annual basis, except in instances where a lapse in material removal has occurred. If such a lapse has occurred, then an amount of material equivalent to the amount estimated to have accumulated since the last material removal operation, including debris and vegetation, may be removed.

Sec. 11. RCW 79.90.150 and 1991 c 337 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

When gravel, rock, sand, silt or other material from any aquatic lands is removed by any public agency or under public contract for channel or harbor improvement, or flood control, use of such material may be authorized by the department of natural resources for a public purpose on land owned or leased by the state or any municipality, county, or public corporation: PROVIDED, That when no public land site is available for deposit of such material, its deposit on private land with the landowner's permission is authorized and may be designated by the department of natural resources to be for a public purpose. Prior to removal and use, the state agency, municipality, county, or public corporation contemplating or arranging such use shall first obtain written permission from the department of natural resources. No payment of royalty shall be required for such gravel, rock, sand, silt, or other material used for such public purpose, but a charge will be made if such material is subsequently sold or used for some other purpose: PROVIDED, That the department may authorize such public agency or private landowner to dispose of such material without charge when necessary to implement disposal of material. No charge shall be required for any use of the material obtained under the provisions of this chapter when used solely on an authorized site. No charge shall be required for any use of the material obtained under the provisions of this chapter if the material is used for public purposes by local governments. No charge may be required for removal or use of such material if the removal of the material is determined by the local government to be for flood control purposes. Public purposes include, but are not limited to, construction and maintenance of roads, dikes, and levies. Nothing in this section shall repeal or modify the provisions of RCW 75.20.100 or eliminate the necessity of obtaining a permit for such removal from other state or federal agencies as otherwise required by law.

Sec. 12. RCW 79.90.300 and 1991 c 322 s 26 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of natural resources, upon application by any person or when determined by the department to be in the best interest of the state, may enter into a contract or lease providing for the removal and sale of rock, gravel, sand, and silt, or other valuable materials located within or upon beds of navigable waters, or upon any tidelands or shorelands belonging to the state and providing for payment to be made therefor by such royalty as the department may fix, by negotiation, by sealed bid, or at public auction. If application is made for the purchase of any valuable material situated within or upon aquatic lands the department shall inspect and appraise the value of the material in the application. The department may reduce or eliminate royalties in areas prone to flooding. Removal of material from within the ordinary high water mark must be construed as being removed for flood control purposes. The department may include a provision in contracts for the removal of rock, gravel, sand, or silt that allows for payment to be made as the material is sold.

(2) The department shall actively seek to encourage through permit requirements and adjusted fees the removal of accumulated materials from rivers and streams where there is a flood damage reduction benefit. The department shall develop policies to accomplish this goal.

Sec. 13. RCW 86.15.030 and 1969 ex.s. c 195 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Upon receipt of a petition asking that a zone be created, or upon motion of the board, the board shall adopt a resolution which shall describe the boundaries of such proposed zone; describe in general terms the flood control needs or requirements within the zone; set a date for public hearing upon the creation of such zone, which shall be not more than thirty days after the adoption of such resolution. Notice of such hearing and publication shall be had in the manner provided in RCW 36.32.120(7).

At the hearing scheduled upon the resolution, the board shall permit all interested parties to be heard. Thereafter, the board may reject the resolution or it may modify the boundaries of such zone and make such other corrections or additions to the resolutions as they deem necessary to the accomplishment of the purpose of this chapter: PROVIDED, That if the boundaries of such zone are enlarged, the board shall hold an additional hearing following publication and notice of such new boundaries: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the boundaries of any zone shall generally follow the boundaries of the watershed area affected: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the immediately preceding proviso shall in no way limit or be construed to prohibit the formation of a county-wide flood control zone district authorized to be created by RCW 86.15.025.

Within ((~~ten~~)) thirty days after final hearing on a resolution, the board shall issue its ((~~order~~)) ordinance creating the flood control zone district.

Sec. 14. RCW 86.15.050 and 1961 c 153 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

The board ((~~of county commissioners of each county~~)) shall be ex officio, by virtue of their office, supervisors of the zones created in each county. The supervisors of the district shall conduct the business of the flood control zone district according to the regular rules and procedures that it adopts.

Sec. 15. RCW 86.15.160 and 1986 c 278 s 60 are each amended to read as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter the supervisors may authorize:

(1) An annual excess ad valorem tax levy within any zone or participating zones when authorized by the voters of the zone or participating zones under RCW 84.52.052 and 84.52.054;

(2) An assessment upon property, including state property, specially benefited by flood control improvements or storm water control improvements imposed under chapter 86.09 RCW;

(3) Within any zone or participating zones an annual ad valorem property tax levy of not to exceed fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value when the levy will not take dollar rates that other taxing districts may lawfully claim and that will not cause the combined levies to exceed the constitutional and/or statutory limitations, and the additional levy, or any portion thereof, may also be made when dollar rates of other taxing units is released therefor by agreement with the other taxing units from their authorized levies under chapter 39.67 RCW;

(4) A charge, under RCW 36.89.080 through 36.89.100, for the furnishing of service to those who are receiving or will receive benefits from storm water control facilities ((~~and~~)) or who are contributing to an increase in surface water runoff. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 90.03.525, any public entity and public property, including the state and state property, shall be liable for the charges to the same extent a private person and privately owned property is liable for the charges, and in setting these rates and charges, consideration may be made of in-kind services, such as stream improvements or donation of property;

(5) The creation of local improvement districts and utility local improvement districts, the issuance of improvement district bonds and warrants, and the imposition, collection, and enforcement of special assessments on all property, including any state-owned or other publicly-owned property, specially benefited from improvements in the same manner as provided for counties by chapter 36.94 RCW.

Sec. 16. RCW 86.26.105 and 1986 c 46 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

((A comprehensive flood control management plan shall determine the need for flood control work, consider alternatives to in-stream flood control work, identify and consider potential impacts of in-stream flood control work on the state's in-stream resources, and identify the river's meander belt or floodway.)) A comprehensive flood control management plan shall be completed and adopted ((~~within at least three years of the certification that it is being prepared, as provided in RCW 86.26.050~~)).

If ((~~after this three-year period has elapsed~~)), by December 31, 1997, such a comprehensive flood control plan has not been completed and adopted, grants for flood control maintenance projects shall not be made to the county or municipal corporations in the county until a comprehensive flood control plan is completed and adopted by the appropriate local authority. These limitations on grants shall not preclude allocations for emergency purposes made pursuant to RCW 86.26.060.

(2) A county with two or more presidentially declared flood disasters within the most recent ten-year period shall complete a comprehensive flood hazard management plan by December 31, 1997, or within two years of a second presidentially declared flood disaster.

Sec. 17. RCW 90.58.180 and 1989 c 175 s 183 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any person aggrieved by the granting, denying, or rescinding of a permit on shorelines of the state pursuant to RCW 90.58.140 may seek review from the shorelines hearings board by filing a request for the same within thirty days of the date of filing as defined in RCW 90.58.140(6).

Concurrently with the filing of any request for review with the board as provided in this section pertaining to a final order of a local government, the requestor shall file a copy of his request with the department and the attorney general. If it appears to the department or the attorney general that the requestor has valid reasons to seek review, either the department or the attorney general may certify the request within thirty days after its receipt to the shorelines hearings board following which the board shall then, but not otherwise, review the matter covered by the requestor: PROVIDED, That the failure to obtain such certification shall not preclude the requestor from obtaining a review in the superior court under any right to review otherwise available to the requestor. The department and the attorney general may intervene to protect the public interest and insure that the provisions of this chapter are complied with at any time within fifteen days from the date of the receipt by the department or the attorney general of a copy of the request for review filed pursuant to this section. The shorelines hearings board shall initially schedule review proceedings on such requests for review without regard as to whether such requests have or have not been certified or as to whether the period for the department or the attorney general to intervene has or has not expired, unless such review is to begin within thirty days of such scheduling. If at the end of the thirty day period for certification neither the department nor the attorney general has certified a request for review, the hearings board shall remove the request from its review schedule.

(2) The department or the attorney general may obtain review of any final order granting a permit, or granting or denying an application for a permit issued by a local government by filing a written request with the shorelines hearings board and the appropriate local government within thirty days from the date the final order was filed as provided in RCW 90.58.140(6).

(3) The review proceedings authorized in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are subject to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW pertaining to procedures in adjudicative proceedings. Judicial review of such proceedings of the shorelines hearings board may be had as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.

(4) If the review proceedings authorized in subsection (1) of this section find for the requestor, the requestor may be awarded any legal and engineering costs involved in challenging the permit decision.

(5) Local government may appeal to the shorelines hearings board any rules, regulations, or guidelines adopted or approved by the department within thirty days of the date of the adoption or approval. The board shall make a final decision within sixty days following the hearing held thereon.

If the board determines that the rule, regulation, or guideline:

(a) Is clearly erroneous in light of the policy of this chapter; or

(b) Constitutes an implementation of this chapter in violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; or

(d) Was developed without fully considering and evaluating all material submitted to the department by the local government; or

(e) Was not adopted in accordance with required procedures;

the board shall enter a final decision declaring the rule, regulation, or guideline invalid, remanding the rule, regulation, or guideline to the department with a statement of the reasons in support of the determination, and directing the department to adopt, after a thorough consultation with the affected local government, a new rule, regulation, or guideline. Unless the board makes one or more of the determinations as hereinbefore provided, the board shall find the rule, regulation, or guideline to be valid and enter a final decision to that effect.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) Rules, regulations, and guidelines shall be subject to review in superior court, if authorized pursuant to RCW ((~~34.05.538~~)) 34.05.570(2): PROVIDED, That no review shall be granted by a superior court on petition from a local government unless the local government shall first have obtained review under subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5) of this section is filed within three months after the date of final decision by the shorelines hearings board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. RCW 79.90.325 and 1984 c 212 s 10 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.