RCW 77.85.030
Governor's salmon recovery office -- Creation -- Purpose and duties. (Expires June 30, 2015.)

(1) The governor's salmon recovery office is created within the office of the governor to coordinate state strategy to allow for salmon recovery to healthy sustainable population levels with productive commercial and recreational fisheries. The primary purpose of the office is to coordinate and assist in the development, implementation, and revision of regional salmon recovery plans as an integral part of a statewide strategy developed consistent with the guiding principles and procedures under RCW 77.85.150.

     (2) The governor's salmon recovery office is responsible for maintaining the statewide salmon recovery strategy to reflect applicable provisions of regional recovery plans, habitat protection and restoration plans, water quality plans, and other private, local, regional, state agency and federal plans, projects, and activities that contribute to salmon recovery.

     (3) The governor's salmon recovery office shall also gather regional recovery plans from regional recovery organizations and submit the plans to the federal fish services for adoption as federal recovery plans. The governor's salmon recovery office shall also work with regional salmon recovery organizations on salmon recovery issues in order to ensure a coordinated and consistent statewide approach to salmon recovery. The governor's salmon recovery office shall work with federal agencies to accomplish implementation of federal commitments in the recovery plans.

     (4) The governor's salmon recovery office may also:

     (a) Assist state agencies, local governments, landowners, and other interested parties in obtaining federal assurances that plans, programs, or activities are consistent with fish recovery under the federal endangered species act;

     (b) Act as liaison to local governments, the state congressional delegation, the United States congress, federally recognized tribes, and the federal executive branch agencies for issues related to the state's salmon recovery plans;

     (c) Provide periodic reports pursuant to RCW 77.85.020;

     (d) Provide, as appropriate, technical and administrative support to the independent science panel or other science-related panels on issues pertaining to salmon recovery;

     (e) In cooperation with the regional recovery organizations, prepare a timeline and implementation plan that, together with a schedule and recommended budget, identifies specific actions in regional recovery plans for state agency actions and assistance necessary to implement local and regional recovery plans; and

     (f) As necessary, provide recommendations to the legislature that would further the success of salmon recovery, including recommendations for state agency actions in the succeeding biennium and state financial and technical assistance for projects and activities to be undertaken in local and regional salmon recovery plans. The recommendations may include:

     (i) The need to expand or improve nonregulatory programs and activities; and

     (ii) The need for state funding assistance to recovery activities and projects.

     (5) This section expires June 30, 2015.

[2007 c 444 § 3; 2005 c 309 § 4; 2000 c 107 § 93; 1999 sp.s. c 13 § 8; 1998 c 246 § 5. Formerly RCW 75.46.040.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2007 c 444 § 3: "Section 3 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 30, 2007." [2007 c 444 § 9.]

     Severability -- Effective date -- 1999 sp.s. c 13: See notes following RCW 77.85.005.