Drafter

Clerk 02/17/2016

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A RESOLUTION relating to the Green River System-Wide Improvement Framework; directing the King County Director of Water and Land Resources to submit the Interim SWIF to the United States Army Corps of Engineers; providing for a Corridor Plan for the Lower Green River; establishing and appointing members of a Lower Green River Corridor Plan Advisory Committee; and authorizing a programmatic environmental impact statement SEPA process.

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WHEREAS, in light of tribal correspondence regarding alleged violations of treaty rights and the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), the King County Flood Control Zone District ("District") has consulted with staff for the Seattle District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE") regarding the March 21, 2014, Interim Policy for Determining Eligibility Status, specifically USACE’s  policy not to conduct ESA Section 7 consultation for SWIF plan acceptance; and

WHEREAS, while that consultation is continuing, time is running short on completion of the Green River System-Wide Improvement Framework  ("SWIF"), which necessitates planning for timely submittal of an interim SWIF that does not preclude other options for ESA compliance and achievement of broader objectives; and

WHEREAS, the executive committee has previously authorized the chair and vice-chair to request a time extension from the USACE for completion of a SWIF; and

WHEREAS, the extension request included a schedule for deliverables; and

WHEREAS, the executive committee submitted draft chapters of the Interim SWIF to the USACE for review and comment; and

WHEREAS, the submitted draft chapters have been revised to respond to USACE comments; and

WHEREAS, the District desires to move forward with a Lower Green River Corridor Plan similar to plans underway for the Cedar River, the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River, the South Fork Snoqualmie River and the Tolt River; and

WHEREAS, the broader objectives supported by stakeholders who participated as SWIF advisors can best be achieved through a long-range planning process that includes a SEPA programmatic environmental impact statement that can analyze cumulative impacts and reasonable alternatives for accomplishing project objectives of flood protection, economic vitality, salmon recovery, water quality, habitat restoration, recreation, housing, equity and social justice and other issues to be defined through the environmental impact statement scoping process, now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT:

SECTION 1.                     The District directs the director of King County water and land resources division to submit the System-wide Improvement Framework (SWIF) Interim Report February 2016, Attachment A to this resolution, to the United States Army Corps of Engineers for acceptance.

SECTION 2.    The District establishes a Lower Green River Advisory Committee.    Members of the advisory committee will be appointed by the board of supervisors at a later date.

SECTION 3.   The District directs the executive director to work with the director of water and land resources division to prepare a work plan and budget for a Lower Green River Corridor Plan.

SECTION 4.  The District authorizes the executive director to initiate a request

for proposal for a consultant to prepare a SEPA programmatic environmental impact statement for the Lower Green River Corridor Plan.