2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 90.71.005: Findings.

(1) The legislature finds that:

     (a) Puget Sound and related inland marine waterways of Washington state represent a unique and unparalleled resource. A rich and varied range of marine organisms, comprising an interdependent, sensitive communal ecosystem reside in these sheltered waters. Residents of this region enjoy a way of life centered around the waters of Puget Sound, featuring accessible recreational opportunities, world-class port facilities and water transportation systems, harvest of marine food resources, shoreline-oriented life styles, water-dependent industries, tourism, irreplaceable aesthetics, and other activities, all of which to some degree depend upon a clean and healthy marine resource;

     (b) The Puget Sound water quality authority has done an excellent job in developing a comprehensive plan to identify actions to restore and protect the biological health and diversity of Puget Sound;

     (c) The large number of governmental entities that now have regulatory programs affecting the water quality of Puget Sound have diverse interests and limited jurisdictions that cannot adequately address the cumulative, wide-ranging impacts that contribute to the degradation of Puget Sound; and

     (d) Coordination of the regulatory programs, at the state and local level, is best accomplished through the development of interagency mechanisms that allow these entities to transcend their diverse interests and limited jurisdictions.

     (2) It is therefore the policy of the state of Washington to coordinate the activities of state and local agencies by establishing a biennial work plan that clearly delineates state and local actions necessary to protect and restore the biological health and diversity of Puget Sound. It is further the policy of the state to implement the Puget Sound water quality management plan to the maximum extent possible. To further the policy of the state, a recovery plan developed under the federal endangered species act for a portion or all of the Puget Sound shall be considered for inclusion into the Puget Sound water quality management plan.

[1998 c 246 § 13; 1996 c 138 § 1.]