(1) The department of transportation and the department of fish and wildlife may administer and coordinate all state grant programs specifically designed to assist state agencies, local governments, private landowners, tribes, organizations, and volunteer groups in identifying and removing impediments to salmonid fish passage. The transportation improvement board may administer all grant programs specifically designed to assist cities, counties, and local governments with fish passage barrier corrections associated with transportation projects. All grant programs must be administered and be consistent with the following:

     (a) Salmonid-related corrective projects, inventory, assessment, and prioritization efforts;

     (b) Salmonid projects subject to a competitive application process; and

     (c) A minimum dollar match rate that is consistent with the funding authority's criteria. If no funding match is specified, a match amount of at least twenty-five percent per project is required. For local, private, and volunteer projects, in-kind contributions may be counted toward the match requirement.

     (2) Priority shall be given to projects that immediately increase access to available and improved spawning and rearing habitat for depressed, threatened, and endangered stocks. Priority shall also be given to project applications that are coordinated with other efforts within a watershed.

     (3) Except for projects administered by the transportation improvement board, all projects shall be reviewed and approved by the fish passage barrier removal task force or an alternative oversight committee designated by the state legislature.

     (4) Other agencies that administer natural resource based grant programs that may include fish passage barrier removal projects shall use fish passage selection criteria that are consistent with this section.

     (5) The departments of transportation and fish and wildlife shall establish a centralized database directory of all fish passage barrier information. The database directory must include, but is not limited to, existing fish passage inventories, fish passage projects, grant program applications, and other databases. These data must be used to coordinate and assist in habitat recovery and project mitigation projects.

[1999 c 242 § 4; 1998 c 249 § 16. Formerly RCW 75.50.165.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Purpose -- Report -- Effective date -- 1998 c 249: See notes following RCW 77.55.181.