RES 22-818 - Adopting WRIA 9RESOLUTION NO.22-818
A RESOLUTION of the City of Federal Way, 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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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 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
Resolution No. 22-818 Page 2 of S
WHEREAS, the City has a strong interest to achieve multiple benefit outcomes forpeople
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; and
Plan.
WHEREAS, the Parties previously took formal action to ratify the 2005 Salmon Habitat
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY,
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City hereby ratifies the GreenlDuwamish 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:
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.
Resolution No. 22-818 Page 3 of 5
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. SeverabilAy. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution should
be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause, or phrase of this resolution.
Section 3. Corrections. The City Clerk and the codifiers of this resolution are authorized to
make necessary corrections to this resolution including, but not limited to, the correction of
scrivener/clerical errors, references, resolution numbering, section/subsection numbers and any
references thereto.
Resolution No. 22-818 Page 4 of 5
Section 4. Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date
of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed.
Section 5. Effective Date. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon passage by
the Federal Way City Council.
RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY,
WASHINGTON this 4th day of January, 2022.
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY:
ATTEST:
S P ANIF. COURTNEY, C.", CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J. RYAN CALL, CITY ATTORNEY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 12/27/2021
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 01/04/2022
RESOLUTION NO.: 22-818
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