22-106 - King County et al - Interlocal Agreement: Duwamish Basin Stewardship

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WHEREAS, the Parties recognize their participation in the efforts to implement the WRIA 8 and 9 Plans demonstrates a commitment to work proactively and cooperatively to address the ESA listings; WHEREAS, the Parties recognize achieving salmon recovery and watershed health goals requires a commitment to, and acceleration of, the collaborative implementation of salmon and watershed conservation actions; WHEREAS, the Parties recognize the value of stewardship or watershed stewards and have a shared goal to bring stewardship capacity to the Duwamish Service Area focused on land conservation and habitat restoration, community engagement and partner coordination, as well as improved environmental sustainability of the Duwamish Valley industrial complex along the river's shorelines; WHEREAS, the Parties have an interest in developing and implementing Chinook salmon habitat restoration projects, conserving open space, and working with community organizations and private businesses to promote creative solutions for stormwater management, floodplain restoration, riparian restoration, climate adaptation, and other similar environmental activities in the Duwamish Service Area; WHEREAS, in addition to the salmon plans, numerous other studies and planning efforts serve to inform stewardship in the Duwamish Service Area, including, but not limited to, the Duwamish Blueprint, WRIA 9; Re -Green the Green Revegetation Strategy, WRIA 9; Duwamish Valley Action Plan, City of Seattle; Lower Duwamish Waterway Group efforts; Lower Duwamish River Habitat Restoration Plan, Port of Seattle; Lower Duwamish River NRDA Restoration Plan, NOAA; Our Green/Duwamish Implementation Plan; RainWise and stormwater retrofit efforts, King County and City of Seattle; North Highline (White Center) Subarea Plan, King County Local Services; King County Land Conservation Initiative, Strategic Climate Action Plan, and the Clean Water and Healthy Habitat Strategic Plan; WHEREAS, the Parties support implementation of the Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda to restore the health of the Puget Sound as it relates to salmon recovery and watershed health; WHEREAS, the Port has a Century Agenda goal to create, restore or enhance forty additional acres of habitat in the Green-Duwamish Watershed and Elliott Bay, as per the Motion of the Port of Seattle Commission dated December 4, 2012, and also has a mitigation bank focused on habitat restoration sites within King County; and WHEREAS, the Parties agree that a dedicated position for a Duwamish Basin Steward will support collaboration and advance restoration efforts with communities in the Duwamish Service Area. NOW, THEREFORE, in exchange for the consideration described in this Agreement, the Parties hereto do mutually covenant and agree as follows: Duwamish Basin Stewardship — ILA 2022-2027 Page 2