2007 Issue# 6 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society

8/8/2019 2007 Issue# 6 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society

1/8

URGENT ACTIONThe budgets are out, but not all of

Audubons requests are in.Contact your legislators and urgethem to fund Audubons priorities

(See page 5 for details.)

1-800-562-6000

2007 Legislative Newsletter March 30, 200

Olympia March 28, 2007 Throughboth the House and Senatesproposed 2007-2009 Capital Budgets,the Washington State Legislature hasendorsed increasing the funding forthe Washington Wildlife and

Recreation Program (WWRP) from$50 million to $100 million. Thissignals a likely win for one of theenvironmental communitys fourPriorities for a Healthy Washington(see page 4).

The WWRP is a state grant programthat funds protection of wildlifehabitat, creation of outdoor recreationareas like parks and ball fields, and

preservation of working farms. Overthe past 18 years, the WWRP hasgranted more than $450 million andleveraged an additional $315 million

These bills,supported byfarmers,environmentalistsand localgovernments, do

several things.They charge theRuckelshausPolicy Consensus Center to facilitatea two year process to achieveconsensus-based legislativerecommendations to protect farm lanand riparian areas. The first year is afact-finding process and the second ia facilitated stakeholder negotiation.During this process the agriculture(Continued on page 6.)

Audubon, other environmentalgroups, the Farm Bureau, and Assn.of Counties have negotiated a bill thatpromises to resolve long-runningdebates over Critical Area Ordinance(CAO) buffers on agricultural lands .

Audubon supports ESHB 2212 thenegotiated bill which passed theHouse 79-17 and passed the SenateGovt. Operations committee.

Audubon also supports ESSB 5248 as amended by the House Local Government committee to read thesame as ESHB 2212.

to fund nearly 800 projects,encompassing over 250,000 acres ofoutdoor recreation and wildlifehabitat in cities, towns and ruralcommunities across the state.

Now, 20,000+ Audubon members, 2chapters and the State Office of theNational Audubon Society arefocusing on the operating budget.We are urging the Legislature to fundAudubons operating budgetpriorities. Soon the House andSenate budget writers will meet inconference to hammer out the finalnegotiated budgets. The House(Continued on page 6.)

Audubon Washingtonbelieves in balance and

responsibility, findingcommon ground, andinvolving all citizens in

protecting the natural worldand our quality of life.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Breaking NewsPage 1

Policy Directors CornerPage 1

Audubon PrioritiesPage 2-3

Priorities for a Health WAPage 4-5

Budget PrioritiesPage 5

Other Issues and PrioritiesPage 6

Chapter Spotlight

Page 7

Advocacy in ActionPage 7

BREAKING NEWS$100M for WWRP!Audubon focus now onOperating Budget

ProtectingAgriculture & HabitatHeath Packard, Policy Director


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March 30, 2007 Page 2 o

Audubon coordinates the forestconservation lobby. Severalissues are priorities for Audubonand the environmental caucus.

SSB 6141 Forest Health Position: SupportCurrent Activity: Passed theSenate unanimously. It wasinadvertently amended in the

House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, butwas returned to the negotiated underlying bill on 3/29/07.Successful negotiations with the timber industry,Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and theconservation community resulted in a decent ForestHealth bill that increases science-based decision making,and recognizes ecologically uncharacteristic fuels build upor infestations as the priority for DNR intervention.

SHB 1122/SSB 5461 Forest Health ContractHarvesting on State LandsPosition: SupportCurrent Activity: SHB 1122 passed the Senate NaturalResources Committee and SSB 5461 passed the HouseAppropriations Committee. Both bills passed theirhouses-of-origin unanimously. This bill allows DNR tocontinue to hire contract harvesters to do silviculturalpractices on state forest lands. This allows the state togenerate some revenue from its trust lands while reducingrisks of catastrophic fire and pest infestation. With ourminor amendment to clarify priority sites and ecologicalaspects of forest health Audubon supports this bill.SHB 1045 Board of Natural Resources Mgmt Fee

Position: SupportCurrent Activity: SHB 1045 unanimously passed theHouse and passed out of the Senate Agriculture andNatural Resources Committee. It awaits a hearing inHouse Appropriations. The DNR is responsible formanaging the states trust landsforests managedprimarily for revenues for schools and universities, and forrural cities and counties. The current return on investmentto the trustees is about 75%. Management costs areincreasing as DNR aims to increase harvests levels andrevenues as well as protections for Northern Spotted Owlsand riparian areas. Audubon supports these increases asnegotiated through a settlement agreement over the Boardof Natural Resources and DNRs 2004 sustainableharvest calculation.

2SSB 5883 Forest Conversion MoratoriumPosition: SupportCurrent Activity: 2SSB 5883 passed the Senateunanimously and has passed the House Natural ResourcesCommittee. It is now in Rules. Current law prohibits forsix years the conversion (development) of a forest parcelthat has been clear-cut under a Forest Practices Permit.The WFFA points out that because the current moratoriumrestricts limited orpartial conversions toliquidate some landvalues while stillmaintaining most of theforests as working land,it prompts more familiesto sell off their entireforests!

Legislative Hotline: 800-562-6000

Ask your legislators to protectforest by passing these bills.

Editors Note: For questions, comments, or concerns with this newsletter, please contact

Audubon Washingtons Policy Office at 360-786-8020 ext. 201 or e-mail [email protected].

Audubons 2007 Legislative PrioritiesCONSERVE WASHINGTONS FORESTS

Cassins Vireo


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Working forests and farmsprovide essential habitat toresident and migratory birdsthat winter, forage, breedand pass throughWashington. Audubon hasprioritized policies that curbsprawl and protect these

working landscapes for all birds including swans on theSkagit, cranes in Othello or neo-tropical migrants in ourforests.

ESHB 2212 Agricultural ActivitiesPosition: SupportCurrent Activity: Farmers fear regulations that mightimpose buffers and take some of their farmland out of production and as a result are selling the farm.Audubon knows birds rely on our working farm land.

If it is sold to developers, we loose farms and birds alike!

This is why the Farm Bureau, Counties andconservationists all supported a negotiated ESHB 2212 which passed the House 79 17 on March 13th andpassed the Senate Government Operations Committee.

This bill establishes a stakeholder process at theRuckelshaus Policy Consensus Center to constructively

resolve the problems farmers have with Critical AreasOrdinance (CAO) Buffers on Ag lands. During thatprocess, there is a two-year deferment of new regulationsfor existing and legal agricultural activities to providesome relief to the agriculture community.

SSB 5248 Agricultural LandsPosition: Support as Amended on 3/27Current Activity: This bill was amended by the HouseLocal Government committee on 3/27 to read exactly asESHB 2212 above. It is now in rules.

Bills to Keep our Working LandsWe are actively working with farm and forest interests onthese common-ground policy changes which will go along way toward bringing broader fairness and flexibilityto the states land use systems while maintaining thestrong foundation of community protections.



Ask your Legislators to help Audubon keep ourworking lands safe from sprawl

by passing these bills.

Audubons 2007 Legislative PrioritiesKEEP OUR WORKING LANDSSAFE FROM SPRAWL

Trumpeter Swans

BILL TITLE STATUS DescriptionHB 1311 Sm farm assist S Rules Removes sunset for small Farm assist. ProgramSHB 1458 Eminent domain S Rules Requires certified landowner notice2SHB 1636 Development rights S NR/Ocean/Rec Creates TDR ProgramEHB 1648 Agriculture S Rules Ensures the right to farm for existing AgESHB 2016 Eminent domain S Judiciary Allows landowner buy-back if land is unusedESHB 2212 Agricultural activities S Rules See AboveSHB 2219 Sm forest landowners S Ways & Means Supports small forest riparian easementsSSB 5108 Farmland pres. office H Approp Creates OfficeSB 5444 Eminent domain H Judiciary This is the notice bill2SSB 5883 Forest land S Rules Forest conversion Moratorium

Audubon supports the following bills:


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Current activity: On 3/28the Senate released theircapital budget that fundsthe Washington Wildlifeand Recreation Program at$100 million. This puts usone step closer to reaching

our goal!

To recap whats happenedthis session: the Governor put $70 million into her budget,the House put $100 million into their budget, and now theSenate is on board at $100 million.

We are still working hard, but are cautiously optimisticthat with continued grassroots pressure, the Governor willsupport the $100 million.

A big thanks to all chapters that wrote letters and sentmessages! Without your support this program may nothave received additional funding.

Background: WWRP is working to preserve 133 projectacross the state. The program provides funding for localand state parks, water-access sites, trails, critical habitat,

natural areas, riparian and urban wildlife habitat, andfarmland preservation.


Thank your legislators for funding theWashington Wildlife and Recreation Program

at $100 Million!

Priorities for a Healthy Washington$100 MILLION FOR WILDLIFE ANDRECREATION PROGRAM (WWRP)

ESSB 5372 Creating thePuget Sound PartnershipPosition: SupportCurrent activity :The Senate bill passed outof the House Puget Soundcommittee and was referredto Appropriations.

We strongly support the Senate bill. It will likely move asit is, but we are still advocating for a few minoramendments.

Background: This bill would create the Puget SoundPartnership agency, and is the first step in the process tocreate accountability under the Governors leadership.We view the bill as a starting point and will continue tomake accountability an important and necessary issue torecover Puget Sound by 2020.

Puget Sounds water and wildlife are in trouble. Morethan 100 species of birds inhabit Puget Sound: 42 of theseare considered vulnerable, and 29 are listed as Species ofGreatest Conservation Need in WashingtonsComprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Specieslike the western grebes have suffered a 95% populationdecline.

The inland marine waters and estuaries of Puget Sound areamong the highest priorities for conservation action inWashington.


Ask your legislators to passESSB 5372.

Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonSAVE OUR SOUND

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Western Grebe


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Both chambers have released their budgets and Audubon is urging budget writers to consider the high-water-mark funding for our budget priorities.

We urge an overall increase in natural resource funding, and full funding for the following:

Agency Item Request House Senate Audubons Top 2007 Budget PrioritiesWDFW Wind Power guidelines & New Energy Tech $600,000 $540,000 $0DNR Natural Heritage Program $700,000 $700,000 $0DNR Forest Practices Board Wildlife assessment $1.5M $1.5M $397,000

WDFW Nature Tourism Infrastructure Initiative $350,000 $280,000 $0St. Parks Outdoor Education & Recreation Grants $2.5M $1M $2M

Other Audubon Funding PrioritiesDNR Small Forest Landowner Office $2.591M $1.9M $1.9MDNR Forest Health/ SB 6141 $2.9M $0 $1.773M


Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonSupport Clean AirClean Fuels Eliminate Toxic Flame Retardants

Audubons 2007 Budget Priorities

E2SHB 1303 Encouraging the use of cleaner energyPosition: SupportCurrent Activity: 1303 was held forpublic hearing in the Senate Committee onWater, Energy & Telecommunications on3/21. We are now waiting for it to bemoved out of committee.

Background: An omnibus bill that willhelp Washington develop a clean-energy economy byproviding market incentives for clean fuels and vehicles,Washington-grown biofuels crops, and clean school buses .

ESHB 1024 Phasing out PBDEsPosition: SupportCurrent Activity: On step closer topassing the Senate, ESHB 1024 iscurrently in Rules waiting to be pulled tothe floor for a full vote.

Check out the new PBDE Free PictureCampaign at www.watoxics.org/

For more information abouteach of these priorities visit:

www.environmentalpriorities.org

Bald Eagle


Contact your legislators and ask them to findAudubons 2007 Budget Priorities!


6/8


community gets some regulatory relief bydeferring local governments adoption of newCritical Area Ordinances that regulate agriculture

Local governments are required by the GrowthManagement Act to develop CAOs. Theseordinances are designed to protect sensitive areasfrom harmful land-uses. Riparian areas providewater filtration, flood and erosion protection aswell as wildlife corridors and habitat.

During the Initiative 933 campaign Audubonpledged to work on real solutions to legitimateproblems affecting the loss of farms and forests inWashington. In the wake of 933s defeat,Audubon has done just that through these bills,other bills and budget requests that preserve farmand forests. (see working lands priority onpage 3).

Join Us For Spring ACOW (Audubon Council of Washington)Its Not Too Late!

Breaking News contd. Protecting

Agriculture & Habitat contd. budget is the high bar for several Audubon priorities including:

$540,000 for new Wind Power Siting Guidelines whichensure bird-friendly wind power

$700,000 for the DNRs Natural Heritage Program toensure Important Bird Area program implementation

$1.5M for the Forest Practice Boards Upland WildlifeAssessment

$280,000 for WDFWs Nature Tourism Initiative

The Senate is the high-water-mark for Environmental Educationfunding with

$2M for the Leave no Child Inside act which whenpassed will create the Outdoor Education and Recreationcompetitive grant program

We hope the final budget sent to the Governor will includefunding at these levels! Audubon and the entire environmentalcommunity urge full funding for these and the other

environmental community budget priorities.

Auduboners are invited to the Tri-Cities for the 2007Spring ACOW (Audubon Council of Washington)Conference - April 13th - 15th.

Enjoy the Tri-Cities sunny skies, Southeastern shrubsteppe habitat, and unique birds and animals. Theconfluence of the Snake, Yakima and Columbia Rivers

makes the Tri-Cities an excellent birding area.

This is also "Wine Country" with more than 100 wineriesin a 60-mile radius. See the beautiful orchards and samplefine local wines. Lower Columbia Basin, the host chapter,has lined up a variety of interesting speakers and greatfield trips around the theme Reach Out - Reach Within -Hanford Reach.

Presentations and field trips include: Birding Between theMountains - Hanford Reach Boat Tour - Native Owls of Eastern Washington - Blue Mountain Wildlife.

For more information go to:www.lowercolumbiabasinaudubon.org/ACOW.htm


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held on a number of environmental topics. In February, thetraining was on Wetland Conservation. These trainings arean example of mutual support between our nationalorganization and local chapters. My trip was fully funded byAudubon. I lobbied for Audubons priorities, and theyhelped me increase my knowledge and skills in public policyand advocacy. Now I can use those skills on the priorities of

my chapter and Audubon Washington and share them withothers.

Chapter Spotlight -Grays Harbor Audubon - On My Way to Lobby Day via Washington D.C.Jan McMillan, Grays Harbor Audubon President

Advocacy in Action -Know The Budget Process Lisa Remlinger, Field Coordinator

My recent participation inEnvironmental Lobby Day inOlympia gave me a chance todirectly apply what I learned atAudubons Budget andAppropriations 101 Training inWashington D.C. in January.

The two day training, hosted byNational Audubons public policystaff, provided a big picture look

at our national environmental priorities and at theimportant process that takes place between theexecutive and legislative branches of our governmentthat fund these priorities. The 23 participants from 12states all had legislators with appropriationsresponsibilities in the house or senate in addition tobackgrounds and interests in advocacy.

The training covered: The State of the Birds and IBA Issues The Three National Audubon Priorities How to Lobby Working with the Media

The three Audubon Priorities for 2007 are the Landand Water Conservation Fund, the National WildlifeRefuge System and Everglades EcosystemRestoration.

We spent our third and final day on the hill,lobbying for the three priorities and local prioritiesfrom our home districts. I met with environmentalstaff from Senators Patty Murrays and MariaCantwells offices and with Congressman Norm Dicksfrom my own congressional district. They all promisedsupport on the three Audubon priorities as well as forthe Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and for aDoppler Radar Severe Weather Early Warning Systemfor coastal Washington and Oregon.

I encourage anyone with the time and interest to applyfor National Audubon Training events. Trainings are

Whats the buzz on campus betweenow and the end of session? Thebudget. It is definitely one of the

most important outcomes of eachsession, so why is the process one othe least known? Educate yourself how it works.

The state budget process takes place each year, all year longEvery odd-numbered year, such as 2007, the biennial budis created. The biennial budget takes effect July 1st of everyodd-numbered year.

In even-numbered years, a supplemental budget is createA supplemental budget addresses current budget shortfalls

and emergent issues. A supplemental budget takes effect assoon as the Governor signs it.

The Governor directs all state agencies to put togetherbudget packages . State agencies put budget packagestogether over the Summer. They deliver their requests to theGovernor by Fall. The Governor then puts together budgetproposals. These are made public in December. Duringsession, the House and Senate each craft budget proposals otheir own in response to the Governors proposals. A final,agreed-upon budget has to be passed by the House and

Senate before it goes to the Governor for final signature.


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Audubon Washington is a partnership of the Washington state office of theNational Audubon Society and Washington's 26 independent Audubon Chapters.

Audubon Washington Policy Staff:

1063 Capitol Way S; Ste 208Olympia, WA 98501(360) 786-8020

Mission of the National Audubon SocietyTo conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing onbirds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earths biological diversity.


Admiralty Audubon

Black Hills Audubon

Blue Mt. Audubon

Central Basin Audubon

Discovery Coast Audubon

East Lake Washington Audubon

Grays Harbor Audubon

Kitsap Audubon

Kittitas Audubon

Lower Columbia Basin Audubon

North Cascades Audubon

North Central Washington Audubon

Olympic Peninsula Audubon

Palouse Audubon

Pilchuck Audubon

Rainier Audubon

San Juan Islands Audubon

Seattle Audubon

Skagit Audubon

Spokane Audubon

Tahoma Audubon

Vancouver Audubon

Vashon-Maury Isle Audubon

Whidbey Audubon

Willapa Hills Audubon

Yakima Valley Audubon

Heath PackardPolicy Director(360) 786-8020 Ext [email protected]

Lisa RemlingerField Coordinator(360) 786-8020 Ext [email protected]

Miguel Perez-GibsonPolicy Consultant(360) [email protected]

Share BEV with your friends and legislators by directing them to:wa.audubon.org/conservationpolicy_BirdsEyeViewNewsletter.html

Or sign-up for a free electronic version of BEV at:www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/myregistration.asp

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2007 Issue# 6 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society

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