HB 2054 - DIGEST

Declares that the department shall prohibit activities that harm or disturb spawning beds of salmon and steelhead and other fish on all rivers and streams where spawning activities occur.

Provides that prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, wading on spawning beds, driving motor vehicles on spawning beds, use of high-powered jet or propeller-driven boats across spawning beds, dragging anchors through spawning beds, digging or removing gravel from spawning beds, or any other physical disturbance capable of disturbing spawning fish or damaging or destroying nests of incubating eggs. The department shall determine the time periods these rules are in effect.

Requires the department to work cooperatively with the tribal comanagers for all fish resources in implementing and enforcing the requirements of this act.

Declares that a violation of this act is a natural resource infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.

Directs the department to report to the legislature concerning the effectiveness of this act after at least two spawning cycles of salmon and steelhead have occurred.