| Environment Protect and restore rivers Issue Team Chair: Raelene Gold, rgold@lwvwa.org |
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Overview Most River issues we follow such as the Columbia River Treaty, the Chehalis Strategy, and the Yakima River Basin Integrative Plan are not currently legislative issues, except when their appropriations are in the budget. Legislatively this year will be a big year for salmon restoration as our dwindling salmon and orcas are of dire concern. League positions supporting these efforts include: The LWVWA believes in order to meet present and future water needs within the Columbia River Basin, comprehensive basin-wide planning must occur for optimum utilization. Minimum stream flows should be established as a public right and maintained on all streams in the Columbia River Basin and all other river basins in the state. The League has strong positions on support for Indian Treaty Rights and support for the salmon resource. The LWVUS supports the management of natural resources as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems and promotes resource conservation, stewardship and long-range planning.
League priority bills are in bold below.
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| House Bills | House | Senate | After Passage | |||||||||
| Bill # | Bill Name (Brief Title) | League Position | Take Action | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | Passed Legislature | On Governor's Desk | Signed |
| HB 1172 | Repeals Initiative 456 and recognizes judicially affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights | Supports | x |
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| Oil vessels and facilities must demonstrate financial ability to cover worst case oil spill | Supports | x |
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| Sustainable funding for derelict vessels | Supports | x |
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| Concerning Shoreline Master Plans | Supports | x |
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These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass.
- Week 10: 3/20/2022
- Week 9: 3/6/2022
- Week 8: 2/27/2022
- Week 7: 2/20/2022
- Week 6: 2/13/2022
- Week 5: 2/6/2022
- Week 4: 1/30/2022
- Week 3: 1/23/2022
- Week 2: 1/16/2022
- Week 1: 1/9/2022—no report this week
The first two Bills we supported that failed to pass in the 2021 session and may be reintroduced.
HB 1478 Concerning fish habitat enhancement projects authorized pursuant to RCW 77.55.181. Projects approved and sponsored by a federally recognized tribe qualify for streamlined hydraulic project review.
HB 1172 / SB 5199 Repeals Initiative 456 passed in 1984 during Washington state and tribes fishing wars in which Billy Frank Jr. went to jail 50 times for treaty protected fishing in the Nisqually River. Recognizes judicially affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights and promoting state-tribal cooperative agreements in the management of salmon, trout, and steelhead resources. Sponsored by Rep. Lekanoff at request of Attorney General Ferguson. The League was a strong opponent of Initiative 456 in 1984.
HB 1838 State Salmon Strategy sponsored by Governor Inslee with Tribes to protect our remaining EPA listed salmon focusing on riparian and river habitat restoration. Support.
SB 5885 Relating to marine shoreline habitat. Focuses on the Puget Sound’s chinook salmon, prey forage fish and southern resident orca whale survival, by emphasizing the protection and recovery of near shore habitat. Support
How To Be Involved
- Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have environmental teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
- You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Raelene Gold, Rivers Issue Chair, rgold@lwvwa.org.