Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Select Committee on Puget Sound

SSB 6011

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Creating the Maury Island aquatic reserve.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Poulsen, Eide, Brown, Rockefeller, Spanel, Fraser, Weinstein, Murray, Pridemore and Keiser).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Creates an aquatic reserve around Maury Island and Quartermaster Harbor.
  • Prohibits the authorization of industrial uses and material transport from a surface mine or mining operation within the Maury Island aquatic reserve, as well as the construction of docks or other improvements associated with these uses.

Hearing Date: 3/21/07

Staff: Karen Rogers (786-7388).

Background:

Maury Island is a small island located in southwestern King County and within the Puget Sound. It is connected to Vashon Island by an isthmus, and is primarily rural with large tracts of farmland and forest, with some residential development, gravel mining, and undeveloped shoreline.

State-owned aquatic lands include all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, the beds of navigable waters, and waterways owned by the state, except for aquatic lands owned in fee. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages state-owned aquatic lands. Management may include identifying and withdrawing public lands from conflicting uses for the benefit of the public. Benefits include environmental observation, study, enjoyment, and other ecological utilization.

Summary of Bill:

The Maury Island aquatic reserve is created, and encompasses state-owned tidelands and bedlands around Maury Island and Quartermaster Harbor. The DNR administers the reserve, and develops a management plan to conserve native habitats; protect and restore nearshore ecological functions and processes; promote stewardship of riparian and aquatic habitats; and provide for low-impact public uses.

The management plan identifies significant resources for conservation, as well as areas with potential for low-impact public uses. The plan also allows for specified, permitted management activities and public uses within the Maury Island aquatic reserve, with four exceptions. The DNR is prohibited from authorizing (1) industrial uses, (2) transport of materials from surface mines or from mining operations, (3) other industrial activities, and (4) the construction of docks or other improvements associated with the above-mentioned prohibited activities. The four above-mentioned exceptions are also not allowed leases, easements, licenses, permits, rights-of-way, or any other agreements granting use of state-owned aquatic lands within the Maury Island aquatic reserve.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.