Klicker salmon recovery bill has public hearing
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, January 11th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – A public hearing is scheduled Thursday at 8 a.m. on legislation introduced by Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla) that would provide an option for cities and counties looking to incorporate salmon recovery into their planning under the Growth Management Act. House Bill 1076 will be heard by the House Environment and Energy Committee.
“This bill would provide meaningful and measurable improvement in the protection and enhancement of habitat for anadromous fish, including salmon,” Klicker said. “We all know we need to help the fish recovery efforts in our state. But we need to do it in a way that doesn’t cause new problems.”
If the bill passes, city and county governments would be authorized to include comprehensive salmon recovery elements in their land use plans. Local municipalities that voluntarily choose this option would be required to have work plans that are designed to result in an improvement to salmon habitat.
When plans are approved, counties and cities can implement those plans as state funding is provided. If funding is not provided, they would still be complying, unlike previous rules and regulations that potentially place local governments into legal consequences. Tribes and agency technical advisors would have input on the work plans. Furthermore, they would also require measurable benchmarks that, within 10 years after the receipt of funding, are designed to result in improved function of the natural environment for supporting salmon survival.
