Resolution 1403RESOLUTION NO. 1403
A RESOLUTION OF THE EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL RATIFYING
THE 2017 UPDATE TO THE LAKE
WASHINGTON/CEDAR/SAMMAMISH WATERSHED OR WATER
RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA (WRIA) 8 CHINOOK SALMON
CONSERVATION PLAN
WHEREAS, the 2017 update to the WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan
("WRIA 8 Plan") is an addendum to the 2005 WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation
Plan, and includes a scientific framework, Chinook salmon population goals to achieve
sustainable and harvestable populations, habitat restoration goals, recovery strategies, a
list of priority projects and programmatic actions, and a monitoring and adaptive
management plan; and
WHEREAS, 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 was passed on July 19, 2005; and
WHEREAS, 28 local governments in WRIA 8 partner through an interlocal
agreement to jointly fund implementation of the WRIA 8 Plan through 2025 to advance
their shared interest in and responsibility for addressing long-term watershed planning
and conservation of aquatic ecosystems and floodplains for purposes of implementing the
WRIA 8 Plan and improving watershed health; and
WHEREAS, the WRIA 8 partners recognize participating in the ILA and
implementing priorities in the WRIA 8 Plan demonstrates their commitment to
proactively working to address the ESA listing of Chinook salmon; and
WHEREAS, WRIA 8 partners took formal action in 2005 and 2006 to ratify the
WRIA 8 Plan, and
WHEREAS, in March 1999, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Fisheries listed the Puget Sound Chinook salmon evolutionary
significant unit, including the Cedar and Sammamish populations in WRIA 8, as a
threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); and
WHEREAS, an essential ingredient for the development and implementation of
an effective recovery program is coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and
local agencies, tribes, businesses, researchers, non -governmental organizations,
landowners, citizens, and other stakeholders as required; 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, the City of Edmonds values ecosystem health; water quality
improvement; flood hazard reduction; open space protection; and maintaining a legacy
for future generations, including commercial, tribal, and sport fishing, quality of life, and
cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds 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, the WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan (WRIA 8 Plan) is
one of 15 watershed -based chapters of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound Partnership serves as the Puget Sound regional
organization and lead for planning and implementing the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery
Plan, approved by NOAA Fisheries; and
WHEREAS, in WRIA 8, habitat protection and restoration 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; and
WHEREAS, the WRIA 8 Plan recognizes that salmon recovery is a long-term
effort, and focuses on a 10-year implementation time horizon to allow for evaluation of
progress and updating Plan goals and priorities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds has implemented habitat restoration and
protection projects, and uses the WRIA 8 Plan and salmon habitat recovery strategies and
goals as guidance in its land use and public outreach policies and programs; 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 WRIA 8, including the Puget Sound nearshore; and
WHEREAS, if insufficient action is taken at the local and regional level, it is
unlikely Chinook salmon populations in WRIA 8 will improve and it is possible the
federal government could list Puget Sound Chinook salmon as an endangered species,
thereby decreasing local flexibility.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF EDMONDS:
The City of Edmonds City Council hereby ratifies the 2017 update to the Lake
Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan, dated
September, 2017 (2017 Plan). Ratification is intended to convey the City of Edmonds'
approval and support for the following:
2
1. Conserving and recovering 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.
2. Providing multiple benefits to people and fish through Plan implementation,
including flood hazard reduction; water quality improvement; open space protection;
and maintaining a legacy for future generations, including commercial, tribal and
sport fishing, quality of life, and cultural heritage.
3. Continuing to work collaboratively with other jurisdictions and stakeholders in WRIA
8 to implement the WRIA 8 Plan as updated in 2017.
4. Using the habitat goals and associated recovery strategies in the 2017 Plan update as a
basis for local actions recommended in the Plan and as one source of best available
science for future projects, ordinances, programmatic actions, and other appropriate
local government activities.
5. Supporting implementation of the 2017 Plan's Monitoring and Assessment Plan on a
watershed basis, including an adaptive management approach to 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.
6. Using the 2017 Plan project list, recommended land use and education and outreach
actions, and other actions consistent with the Plan as the suite of WRIA 8 actions to
guide priorities for implementation and funding, including through grants, local
capital improvement projects, ordinances, and other activities. Jurisdictions,
agencies, and stakeholders can choose to implement these actions at any time.
7. 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, and recognizing that funding assumptions, strategies, and
options will be revisited periodically.
RESOLVED this 23rd day of January, 2018.
APPR D:
MAYOR, DA V E O. EARLING
ATi' IAUT TICAT
ED:
CL , SCC TT ASSEY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: January 19, 2018
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: January 23, 2018
RESOLUTION NO.: 1403