The Governor's Southern Resident Orca Task Force has continued to meet and has developed another round of recommendations for the Governor to consider in preparation of the 2020 legislative session. Year 2 recommendations focus on climate, population growth, and contaminants to be added to the list of recommendations developed in Year 1.
Year 1 recommendations focused on prey, vessels, and contaminants. A handful of the recommendations were addressed through legislation and budget appropriations in 2019. The task force in Year 2 also amended the Year 1 recommendations with language referred to as "additional components." Additionally, they highlighted recommendations that require urgent action and additional and ongoing funding.
We want to bring one amended recommendation to your attention:
Increase habitat protection. Revise statutes to shift from a “no net loss” standard to a “net ecological gain” standard to better protect salmon and orcas. Provide adequate funding and support to state natural resource agencies to improve enforcement of the statutes that protect habitat, while funding restoration efforts. Examples of statutes and rules include:
- RCW 36.70A – Growth Management Act (GMA)
- RCW 90.58 – Shoreline Management Act (SMA)
- RCW 77.55 – Construction projects in state waters
- RCW 80.50 – Energy facilities – site locations
- RCW 76.06 – Forest practices
The comment period is open and will close on October 25. If you prepare comments, we would appreciate you sharing them with AWC through Carl Schroeder and Shannon McClelland.