News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 1, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke signs new legislation to invigorate state salmon recovery effort

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today signed seven measures that give the state important tools for restoring troubled salmon and steelhead runs. Highlights of the measures include creation of the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office, a new process for deciding how water is used and kept free from pollutants and nearly $9 million in grants for local fish restoration efforts.

"Today we move forward on incredibly difficult water-use and habitat issues that will help us create the partnerships that will give us healthy waterways for people and fish," said Gov. Locke. "These laws give us new focus and new tools to take the critical first steps toward preserving our quality of life as the federal government moves to protect troubled salmon and steelhead runs."

Governor Locke praised legislators in both parties for working hard to get salmon restoration and water quality legislation approved this session. By the end of this year, nearly every community in the state will be affected by federal endangered species listings for salmon, steelhead and trout. If the state doesn't voluntarily develop fish recovery plans acceptable to the National Marine Fisheries Service, that agency or the federal courts could dictate how the state must respond to dwindling fish runs.

Legislation signed by the governor today that will help salmon and steelhead and protect water quality for people and fish are summarized below:

* HB2496 creates the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office to lead the state's effort and coordinate local recovery efforts; establishes local process for prioritizing and recommending habitat restoration projects; provides $3.5 million in grants for salmon restoration projects; creates a science panel to review salmon recovery plans; provides $700,000 in grants for local governments to plan restoration activities and provides $800,000 for technical assistance to volunteer groups. The supplemental budget total is $5.5 million.

* HB2514 establishes a framework for developing and funding local watershed planning efforts that would determine how much water should be left in rivers and streams and how much is available for other uses, and develop strategies for improving water quality and fish habitat. It provides $3.9 million for local planning grants and $1.1 million for state agencies to provide technical assistance to local groups. The governor vetoed sections 10-14. Section 10 was vetoed because it prohibited the Department of Ecology from establishing a moratorium on water right processing while planning is underway. The other sections were vetoed because they require that plans developed under this bill preempt water-related planning processes established under other statues. The supplemental budget total is $5 million.

* HB2339 allows developers and the Department of Transportation to meet their permit obligations by setting aside land for wetlands in strategic areas in lieu of restoring or protecting many small wetlands scattered throughout state. The supplemental budget total is $2 million.

* HB2879 streamlines permitting process for small-scale, volunteer salmon-restoration projects. No money is provided in the supplemental budget for this bill.

* SB6161 mandates approved dairy-waste management programs and regular inspections for the state's 800 dairies. The governor vetoed section 8 of the bill because it would require the state to relinquish oversight of the program to a citizen advisory group. In keeping with the spirit of the legislation, the governor ordered the Department of Ecology to appoint an advisory group. The supplemental budget total is $600,000.

* SB6264 requires the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to mark all hatchery chinook so fishers can distinguish them from wild chinook. The Supplemental Budget total is $1.63 million.

* SB6324 requires DFW to create a remote site incubator program, in which salmon eggs would be placed in streams as a method of reintroducing fish into areas where wild fish have disappeared. The Supplemental Budget total is $390,000.

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