SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5740

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

   Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, February 17, 1999

Title:  An act relating to bull trout.

Brief Description:  Creating a program to save the bull trout.

Sponsors:  Senators Morton, T. Sheldon, Stevens, Swecker, Honeyford, Winsley, Hochstatter, Sheahan and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  2/15/99, 2/17/99 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5740 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Morton, Oke, Rossi, Snyder, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  Bull trout are a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.  A recovery plan is needed to restore their populations.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife must establish a bull trout recovery project for northeastern Washington.  The project must emphasize recovery measures within Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties.  The bull trout historic and current range and the factors limiting its population must be identified.  A recovery plan must be developed that is adequate for the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife must administer the bull trout recovery project in partnership with local conservation districts.  Legislative recommendations are to be developed.

A null and void clause is included.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Okanogan County is added to the area required for the recovery project.  The appropriation is increased to $140,000 from $80,000.  Provisions are made for the department to accept contributions to further bull trout recovery.

Appropriation:  $140,000 from the state general fund.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 8, 1999.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Bull trout are listed as threatened species in the Columbia River drainage and recovery plans are needed to assist the restoration of bull trout populations.  Bull trout recovery is being overshadowed by the needs of salmon recovery programs.  More effort is needed to assist bull trout.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bob Gibbons, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Jim Zimmerman, Washington Fish Growers Association (pro); Dawn Vyvyan, Washington Association of Professional Biologists (pro).