Resolution 11010006.900000
WSS/gjz
7/6/05
RESOLUTION NO. 1101
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, RATIFYING THE WATER
RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA (WRIA) 8 CHINOOK
SALMON CONSERVATION PLAN.
WHEREAS, in March, 1999, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Fisheries listed the Puget Sound Chinook salmon evolutionary
significant unit as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and,
WHEREAS, in November, 1999, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) listed the Puget Sound bull trout distinct population segment as a threatened species
under the ESA, and
WHEREAS, under the ESA, it is illegal to take a listed species, and the ESA
defines the term "take" to include actions that could harm listed species or their habitat, and
WHEREAS, actions that are directly or indirectly authorized by local
governments could potentially expose local governments to civil or criminal penalties under the
ESA, and
WHEREAS, under the ESA, Section 4(f), NOAA Fisheries (for Chinook salmon)
and USFWS (for bull trout) are required to develop and implement recovery plans to address the
recovery of the species, and
WHEREAS, an essential ingredient for the development and implementation of
an effective recovery program is coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local
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agencies, tribes, businesses, researchers, non -governmental organizations, landowners, citizens,
and other stakeholders as required, and
WHEREAS, Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, a regional non-profit organization,
has assumed a lead role in the Puget Sound response to developing a recovery plan for submittal
to NOAA Fisheries and the USFWS, and
WHEREAS, Shared Strategy intends that its recovery plan will include
commitments from participating jurisdictions and stakeholders, and
WHEREAS, local jurisdictions have authority over some habitat -based aspects of
Chinook survival through land use and other policies and programs; and the state and tribes, who
are the legal co -managers of the fishery resource, are responsible for addressing harvest and
hatchery management in WRIA 8, and
WHEREAS, in WRIA 8, habitat actions to significantly increase Chinook
productivity trends are necessary in conjunction with other recovery efforts, to avoid extinction
in the near term and restore WRIA 8 Chinook to viability in the long term,
WHEREAS, the City values ecosystem health, water quality improvement, flood
hazard reduction, open space protection, and maintaining a legacy for future generations,
including commercial, tribal, and spot fishing, quality of life, and cultural heritage, and
WHEREAS, the City supports cooperation at the WRIA level to set common
priorities for actions among partners, efficient use of resources and investments, and distribution
of responsibility for actions and expenditures, and
WHEREAS, 27 local governments in WRIA 8 jointly funded development of The
WRIA 8 Steering Committee Proposed Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Chinook
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Salmon Conservation Plan (the Plan), published February 25, 2005 following public input and
review, and
WHEREAS, while the Plan recognizes that salmon recovery is a long-term effort,
it focuses on the next 10 years and includes a scientific framework, a start -list of priority actions
and comprehensive action lists, an adaptive management approach, and a funding strategy; and
WHEREAS, the city has consistently implemented habitat restoration and
protection projects, and addressed salmon habitat through its land use and public outreach
policies and programs over the past five years, and
WHEREAS, it is important to provide jurisdictions, the private sector, and the
public with certainty and predictability regarding the course of salmon recovery actions that the
region will be taking in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed, including the Puget
Sound nearshore, and
WHEREAS, it is important to provide jurisdictions, the private sector and the
public with certainty and predictability regarding the course of salmon recovery actions that the
region will be taking in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed, including the Puget
sound nearshore, and
WHEREAS, if insufficient action is taken at the local and regional level, it is
possible that the federal government could list Puget Sound Chinook salmon as an endangered
species, thereby decreasing local flexibility, now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City of Edmonds hereby ratifies The WRIA 8 Steering committee
Proposed Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan,
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dated February 25, 2005 (the Plan.) Ratification is intended to convey the City's approval and
support for the following:
A. The following goals for the Plan:
i) The Plan mission statement to conserve and recover
Chinook salmon and other anadromous fish, focusing on
preserving, protecting and restoring habitat with the intent to
recover listed species, including sustainable, genetically diverse,
harvestable populations of naturally spawning Chinook salmon.
ii) The multiple benefits to people and fish of Plan
implementation including water quality improvement, flood hazard
reduction, open space protection, and maintaining a legacy for
future generations, including commercial, tribal and sport fishing,
qualify of life, and cultural heritage.
B. Continuing to work collaboratively with other jurisdictions
and stakeholders in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish
Watershed (WRIA 8) to implement the Plan.
C. Using the scientific foundation and the conservation
strategy as the basis for local actions recommended in the Plan and
as one source of best available science for future projects,
ordinances, and other appropriate local government activities.
D. Adopting an adaptive management approach to Plan
implementation and funding to address uncertainties and ensure
cost-effectiveness by tracking actions, assessing action
effectiveness, learning from results of actions, reviewing
assumptions and strategies, making corrections where needed, and
communicating progress. Developing and implementing a cost-
effective regional monitoring program as part of the adaptive
management approach.
E. Using the comprehensive list of actions, and other actions
consistent with the Plan, as a source of potential site specific
projects and land use and public outreach recommendations.
Jurisdictions, agencies, and stakeholders can implement these
actions at any time.
F. Using the start -list to guide priorities for regional funding
in the first ten years of Plan implementation, and implementing
start -list actions through local capital improvement projects,
ordinances, and other activities. The Start -list will be revised over
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time, as new opportunities arise and as more is learned through
adaptive management.
G. Using an adaptive approach to funding the Plan through
both local sources and by working together (within WRIA 8 and
Puget Sound) to seek federal, state grant, and other funding
opportunities. The long-term ultimate goal is to fund the Plan
through a variety of sources at the current 2004 level plus 50
percent, recognizing that this resolution cannot obligate future
councils to financial commitment and that the funding
assumptions, strategies, and options will be revisited periodically.
H. Forwarding the Plan to appropriate federal and state
agencies through Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, to be included
in the Puget Sound Chinook salmon recovery plan
Section 2. The City recognizes that negotiation of commitments and
assurances/conditions with appropriate federal and state agencies will be an interactive process.
Full implementation of this Plan is dependent on the following:
A. NOAA Fisheries will adopt the Plan, as an operative
element of its ESA Section 4(f) recovery plan for Puget Sound
Chinook salmon.
B. NOAA Fisheries and USFWS will:
i) take no direct enforcement actions against the City
under the ESA for implementation of actions recommended in or
consistent with the Plan;
ii) endorse the Plan and its actions, and defend the City
against legal challenges by third parties; and
iii) reduce the regulatory burden for City activities
recommended in or consistent with the Plan that require an ESA
Section 7 consultation.
C. Federal and state governments will:
i) provide funding and other monetary incentives to
support Plan actions and monitoring activities;
ii) streamline permitting for projects implemented
primarily to restore salmonid habitat or where the actions are
mitigation that further Plan implementation;
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iii) offer programmatic permitting for local jurisdiction
actions that are consistent with the Plan;
iv) accept the science that is the foundation of the Plan
and support the monitoring and evaluation framework;
v) incorporate actions and guidance from the Plan in
future federal and state transportation and infrastructure planning
and improvement projects; and
vi) direct mitigation resources toward Plan priorities.
Section 3. This resolution does not obligate the City Council to future
appropriations beyond current authority.
RESOLVED this 191h day of July, 2005.
APPROVED:
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MAYO , 6A-e HA KENSON
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
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CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 07/15/2005
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 07/19/2005
RESOLUTION NO. 1101
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