Salmon Recovery Habitat Project Lists. In 1998, the Washington State Legislature created a framework for salmon recovery that supported the creation of 25 watershed-based organizations, known as lead entities, which are agreed upon by the cities, counties, and tribes within a geographic area. Lead entities develop local watershed strategies, make funding recommendations to the state’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), and coordinate funding and implementation of habitat projects in their areas.  The SRFB, consisting of five voting Governor appointees and five state officials serving as ex officio nonvoting members, determines which projects receive funding.

Projects eligible for the list include restoration projects, protection projects, projects that improve water quality, projects that protect water quality, habitat-related mitigation projects, and project maintenance and monitoring activities. No project included on a habitat project list is mandatory, however, and no private landowner may be forced to participate in any project.

A landowner whose land is used for a habitat project that is included on a habitat project list may not be held civilly liable for property damage resulting from the habitat project regardless of whether the project was funded by the SRFB, if the landowner has received notice from the project sponsor that the following conditions have been met:

• the project was designed by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed geologist with experience in riverine restoration;
• the project is designed to withstand 100-year floods;
• the project is not located within one-quarter mile of an established downstream boat launch;
• the project is designed to allow adequate response time for in-river boaters to safely evade in-stream structures; and
• if the project includes large wood placement, each individual root wad and each log larger than ten feet long and one foot in diameter must be visibly tagged with a unique numerical identifier that will withstand typical river conditions for at least three years.

Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups. The Washington State Legislature created the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG) Program on a nonprofit basis to maximize the efforts of volunteers and private donations to improve the salmon resource of the state.  There are 14 RFEGs and each work within a geographic region based on watershed boundaries.   RFEGs create partnerships with landowners, tribes, local businesses, volunteers, agencies, and other non-governmental organizations in their communities for restoration, education, and monitoring projects.  RFEG's receive partial funding for the program from a portion of commercial and recreational fishing license fees. 

A RFEG performing habitat restoration activities for a project on a habitat project list may not be held civilly liable for any property damages resulting from the project, regardless of whether or not the project was funded by the SRFB, subject to certain conditions.  The conditions include:

• that the project was designed by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed geologist with experience in riverine restoration;
• the project is designed to withstand 100-year floods;
• the project is not located within one-quarter mile of an established downstream boat launch;
• the project is designed to allow adequate response time for in-river boaters to safely evade in-stream structures; and
• if the project includes large wood placement, each individual root wad and each log larger than ten feet long and one foot in diameter must be visibly tagged with a unique numerical identifier that will withstand typical river conditions for at least three years.

PRO:   RFEGs need to have access to insurance to continue serving as a key part of the state’s salmon recovery and restoration program. RFEG's leverage federal, state and other funding sources along with volunteers to get $8 for every $1 they receive in funding.  Restoration projects are becoming more complex, and it has been difficult for RFEGs to get and keep insurance to continue their important work.  RFEGs receive support from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and use professional engineers and contractors that are insured.  Most of the projects receive funding through the lead entity process and receive state and federal funding.