(1) After deduction for management costs as provided in RCW 79.64.040 and payments to towns under RCW 79.115.150(2), all moneys received by the state from the sale or lease of state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from state-owned aquatic lands shall be deposited in the aquatic lands enhancement account which is hereby created in the state treasury. After appropriation, these funds shall be used solely for aquatic lands enhancement projects; for the purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for public purposes; for providing and improving access to the lands; and for volunteer cooperative fish and game projects. The aquatic lands enhancement account may be used to support the shellfish program, the ballast water program, hatcheries, the Puget Sound toxic sampling program and steelhead mortality research at the department of fish and wildlife, the knotweed program at the department of agriculture, actions at the University of Washington for reducing ocean acidification, which may include the creation of a center on ocean acidification, the Puget SoundCorps program, and support of the marine resource advisory council and the Washington coastal marine advisory council. During the 2017-2019 and 2019-2021 fiscal biennia, the legislature may transfer from the aquatic lands enhancement account to the geoduck aquaculture research account for research related to shellfish aquaculture. During the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer moneys from the aquatic lands enhancement account to the marine resources stewardship trust account. (2) In providing grants for aquatic lands enhancement projects, the recreation and conservation funding board shall: (a) Require grant recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their grant applications; (b) Utilize the statement of environmental benefits, consideration, except as provided in RCW 79.105.610, of whether the applicant is a Puget Sound partner, as defined in RCW 90.71.010, whether a project is referenced in the action agenda developed by the Puget Sound partnership under RCW 90.71.310, and except as otherwise provided in RCW 79.105.630, and effective one calendar year following the development and statewide availability of urban forestry management plans and ordinances under RCW 76.15.090, whether the applicant is an entity that has been recognized, and what gradation of recognition was received, in the evergreen community designation program created in RCW 76.15.090 in its prioritization and selection process; and (c) Develop appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used both for management and performance assessment of the grants. (3) To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. (4) The department shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing this section. (5) Any project designed to address the restoration of Puget Sound may be funded under this chapter only if the project is not in conflict with the action agenda developed by the Puget Sound partnership under RCW 90.71.310. [ 2022 c 157 s 19. Prior: 2021 c 334 s 996; 2021 c 209 s 16; 2019 c 415 s 986; 2018 c 299 s 914; 2017 3rd sp.s. c 1 s 987; 2015 3rd sp.s. c 4 s 974; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 1002; prior: 2012 2nd sp.s. c 7 s 929; 2012 2nd sp.s. c 2 s 6008; 2011 2nd sp.s. c 9 s 911; 2011 1st sp.s. c 50 s 967; 2010 1st sp.s. c 37 s 949; 2009 c 564 s 959; 2008 c 299 s 28; 2007 c 341 s 32; prior: 2005 c 518 s 946; 2005 c 155 s 121; 2004 c 276 s 914; 2002 c 371 s 923; 2001 c 227 s 7; 1999 c 309 s 919; 1997 c 149 s 913; 1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 923; 1994 c 219 s 12; 1993 sp.s. c 24 s 927; 1987 c 350 s 1; 1985 c 57 s 79; 1984 c 221 s 24; 1982 2nd ex.s. c 8 s 4; 1969 ex.s. c 273 s 12; 1967 ex.s. c 105 s 3; 1961 c 167 s 9. Formerly RCW 79.90.245, 79.24.580.]
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