(1) The Hood Canal coordinating council shall serve as the local management board for aquatic rehabilitation zone one. The local management board shall coordinate local government efforts with respect to the program authorized according to RCW 90.88.020. In the Hood Canal area, the Hood Canal coordinating council also shall:

     (a) Serve as the lead entity and the regional recovery organization for the purposes of chapter 77.85 RCW for Hood Canal summer chum; and

     (b) Assist in coordinating activities under chapter 90.82 RCW.

     (2) When developing and implementing the program authorized in RCW 90.88.020 and when establishing funding criteria according to subsection (7) of this section, the Puget Sound partnership, created in RCW 90.71.210, and the local management board shall solicit participation by federal, tribal, state, and local agencies and universities and nonprofit organizations with expertise in areas related to program activities. The local management board may include state and federal agency representatives, or additional persons, as nonvoting management board members or may receive technical assistance and advice from them in other venues. The local management board also may appoint technical advisory committees as needed.

     (3) The local management board and the Puget Sound partnership shall participate in the development of the program authorized under RCW 90.88.020.

     (4) The local management board and its participating local and tribal governments shall assess concepts for a regional governance structure and shall submit a report regarding the findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2007.

     (5) Any of the local management board's participating counties and tribes, any federal, tribal, state, or local agencies, or any universities or nonprofit organizations may continue individual efforts and activities for rehabilitation of Hood Canal. Nothing in this section limits the authority of units of local government to enter into interlocal agreements under chapter 39.34 RCW or any other provision of law.

     (6) The local management board may not exercise authority over land or water within the individual counties or otherwise preempt the authority of any units of local government.

     (7) The local management board and the Puget Sound partnership each may receive and disburse funding for projects, studies, and activities related to Hood Canal's low-dissolved oxygen concentrations. The Puget Sound partnership and the local management board shall jointly coordinate a process to prioritize projects, studies, and activities for which the Puget Sound partnership receives state funding specifically allocated for Hood Canal corrective actions to implement this section. The local management board and the Puget Sound partnership shall establish criteria for funding these projects, studies, and activities based upon their likely value in addressing and resolving Hood Canal's low-dissolved oxygen concentrations. Final approval for projects under this section requires the consent of both the Puget Sound partnership and the local management board. Projects under this section must be comanaged by the Puget Sound partnership and the local management board. Nothing in this section prohibits any federal, tribal, state, or local agencies, universities, or nonprofit organizations from receiving funding for specific projects that may assist in the rehabilitation of Hood Canal.

     (8) The local management board may hire and fire staff, including an executive director, enter into contracts, accept grants and other moneys, disburse funds, make recommendations to local governments about potential regulations and the development of programs and incentives upon request, pay all necessary expenses, and choose a fiduciary agent.

     (9) The local management board shall report its progress on a quarterly basis to the legislative bodies of the participating counties and tribes and the participating state agencies. The local management board also shall submit an annual report describing its efforts and successes in implementing the program established according to RCW 90.88.020 to the appropriate committees of the legislature.

[2007 c 341 § 52; 2005 c 479 § 3.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- Effective date -- 2007 c 341: See RCW 90.71.906 and 90.71.907.

     Findings--Forest practices--Nonapplicability of act -- 2005 c 479: See notes following RCW 90.88.020.