HomeMy WebLinkAbout5598 RESOLUTION NO. 5598
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AUBURN, WASHINGTON, RATIFYING THE 2021 UPDATE
TO THE GREEN/DUWAMISH AND CENTRAL PUGET
SOUND WATERSHED OR 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 inter-local 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
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June 29, 2021
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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
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 fifteen watershed-based chapters of the
Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan; and'
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn 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
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June 29, 2021
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WHEREAS, the City of Auburn 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.
WHEREAS, the Parties previously took formal action to ratify the 2005 Salmon
Habitat Plan, and
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. The City of Auburn hereby ratifies the Green/Duwamish 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:
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June 29, 2021
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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 planning/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.
Section 2. The Mayor is authorized to implement those administrative
procedures necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation.
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June 29, 2021
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Section 3. This Resolution will take effect and be in full force on passage and
signatures.
Dated and Signed: July 6, 2021
CITY OF AUBURN r ,,, ;No►
A CY = k KUS, MA •R
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Shawn Campbell, MMC, City Clerk Kendra Comeau, City Attorney
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June 29, 2021
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