Morton bill would provide incentives for private landowners to support endangered species habitat

February 6, 2009

Olympia…Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, has introduced a bill to increase the preservation of habitat on private land for federally listed threatened and endangered species, like the northern spotted owl. 

Since 2001 the state Department of Natural Resources has purchased 583 acres of land where stream water is prone to move and where the movement would result in a potential near-term loss of stream bank (riparian) forest. 

These lands cannot be harvested and are acquired to comply with the state’s Riparian Open Space Program under the state Forest Practices Act. 

Morton’s bill, Senate Bill 5401, would expand the program to include land outside of stream channels.  Private landowners would receive fair market compensation. 

The measure is supported by the Washington Farm Forestry Association, the Audubon Society, the Washington Forest Protection Association, the Weyerhaeuser Company, and the state Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources departments. 

The idea for Morton’s bill came from a work group of representatives from these organizations which organized to settle ongoing litigation over the spotted owl. 

“My bill is a much better idea than litigation to protect federally listed species,” Morton said. “This is a win-win situation for habitat conservation and private landowners.” 

SB 5401 received a public hearing in the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee on Feb. 4. The House version of the bill, House Bill 1484, received a public hearing on Feb. 3 in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. 

During testimony in the House and Senate, the Riparian Open Space Program was lauded as a highly effective program that merits expansion. 

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov