HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2027 - Ratify 2021 Update to Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed, Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA-9) Salmon Habitat Plan19 0
Cl*ty of TuKwila
Washington
Resolution No. 2- T 2-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, RATIFYING THE 2021
UPDATE TO THE GREEN/DUWAMISH AND CENTRAL
PUGET SOUND WATERSHED, WATER RESOURCE
INVENTORY AREA (WRIA-9) SALMON HABITAT PLAN,
"MAKING OUR WATERSHED FIT FOR A KING."
WHEREAS, the 2021 update to the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan ("WRIA 9 Plan") is
an addendum to the 2005 WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan, and includes new science,
revised habitat goals and recovery strategies, an updated capital project list, and a
monitoring and adaptive management plan; and
WHEREAS, 17 local governments in WRIA 9 ("Parties") have partnered through an
interlocal agreement (ILA) (2001-2006, 2007-2015, 2016-2025) to jointly fund
development and implementation of the WRIA 9 Plan to address shared interest in and
responsibility for long-term watershed planning and salmon recovery in the
Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed ("watershed"); and
WHEREAS, in March 1999, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Fisheries listed the Puget Sound Chinook salmon evolutionary significant unit,
including the Green River Chinook salmon population, as a threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA); 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; and
WHEREAS, the WRIA 9 partners recognize participating in the ILA and implementing
priorities in the WRIA 9 Plan demonstrates their commitment to proactively working to
address the ESA listing of Chinook salmon; and
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WHEREAS, coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies,
tribes, businesses, non-governmental organizations, landowners, community members,
and other interests are essential to implement and adaptively manage a salmon recovery
plan; and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound Partnership serves as the Puget Sound regional
organization and lead agency for planning and implementing the Puget Sound Salmon
Recovery Plan, approved by NOAA Fisheries; and
WHEREAS, the WRIA 9 Plan is one of 15 watershed -based chapters of the Puget
Sound Salmon Recovery Plan; 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, habitat protection and restoration actions to increase Chinook salmon
productivity trends are necessary throughout the watershed, in conjunction with other
recovery efforts, to avoid extinction in the near term and restore WRIA 9 Chinook salmon
to viability in the long term; and
WHEREAS, salmon recovery is interrelated with flood risk reduction, water quality
improvement, open -space protection, recreation, economic development, and tribal treaty
rights; and
WHEREAS, the City has a strong interest to achieve multiple benefit outcomes for
people and fish across the watershed; and
WHEREAS, the WRIA 9 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 adaptation of goals and implementation strategies; 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 in WRIA
9; and
WHEREAS, if insufficient action is taken at the local and regional level, it is unlikely
Chinook salmon populations in WRIA 9 will improve and it is possible the federal
government could list Puget Sound Chinook salmon as an endangered species, thereby
decreasing local flexibility; and
WHEREAS, the Parties previously took formal action to ratify the 2005 Salmon
Habitat Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
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The City hereby ratifies the GreenlDuwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed,
Water Resource Inventory Area 9 Salmon Habitat Plan Update, Making Our Watershed
Fit for a King, dated February 2021. Ratification is intended to convey the City's support
for the following:
1. Protecting and restoring habitat based on best available science with the intent
to achieve sustainable, resilient, and harvestable populations of naturally
spawning Chinook salmon.
2. Pursuing a multi -benefit approach to WRIA 9 Plan implementation that integrates
salmon recovery, flood hazard reduction, water quality improvements, open
space and recreation, and equity and social justice to improve outcomes for
people and fish.
3. Utilizing the WRIA 9 Plan as a source of best available science to inform local
government actions, including, but not limited to land use, shoreline, and
transportation plan ning/permitting.
4. Utilizing capital project concepts, programmatic actions, and policies outlined
within the WRIA 9 Plan to inform local priorities for implementation and funding
via grants, capital improvements, ordinances, and other activities. Ratification
does not obligate any partner to implement any specific actions or adhere to
specific timelines for such actions.
5. Working collaboratively with local, state, and federal partners and tribes to
support and fund implementation of the WRIA 9 Plan, including monitoring and
adaptive management to address scientific uncertainty, tracking and
communicating progress, and refining strategies to ensure cost-effective
investments.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this day of � V (Y,-� 2021.
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ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
........ . . ..............
K, 11A, zf2.-.1.1.1�.11.1:19l,A...I.I
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk
C)�e; lsaotee
..........
Office of the City Attorney
Filed with the City Clerk: _` — ZI — 2 1
Passed by the City Council: 6-2.—ZI
Resolution Number: 2 W2-7
CCALegislative Development\WRIA-9 Salmon Plan update 6-7-21
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