SB 5420 - DIGEST

     Declares that the most effective way to plan, manage, and protect the watershed is at the local level, where there is an intimate relationship with the watershed and concern about how the watershed is to be used.

     Provides that ongoing or completed watershed plans shall meet the designated criteria to be eligible for funding.

     Requires the interagency committee for outdoor recreation to convene an interagency team whose duty is to review and evaluate watershed plans submitted for funding consideration.

     Directs the interagency committee for outdoor recreation to convene a watershed plan implementation panel to review the prioritized list of watershed plans created by the interagency team and make formal, prioritized funding recommendations to the governor to assist with implementing watershed plans.

     Declares that the legislature may remove watershed plans from the list recommended by the governor, but may not add watershed plans and projects contained within those watershed plans to the list recommended by the governor.

     Authorizes the state finance committee to issue general obligation bonds of the state of Washington in the sum of two hundred fifty-eight million dollars or so much thereof as may be required to finance the implementation of watershed plans that meet the criteria outlined in this act, and all costs incidental thereto.