(1) Moneys appropriated for this chapter prior to July 1, 2016, to the habitat conservation account shall be distributed in the following way:
(a) Not less than forty percent through June 30, 2011, at which time the amount shall become forty-five percent, for the acquisition and development of critical habitat;
(b) Not less than thirty percent for the acquisition and development of natural areas;
(c) Not less than twenty percent for the acquisition and development of urban wildlife habitat; and
(d) Not less than ten percent through June 30, 2011, at which time the amount shall become five percent, shall be used by the board to fund restoration and enhancement projects on state lands. Only the department of natural resources and the department of fish and wildlife may apply for these funds to be used on existing habitat and natural area lands.
(2) Moneys appropriated beginning July 1, 2016, for this chapter to the habitat conservation account shall be distributed in the following way:
(a) Not less than thirty-five percent for the acquisition and development of critical habitat;
(b) Not less than twenty-five percent for the acquisition and development of natural areas;
(c) Not less than fifteen percent for the acquisition or enhancement or restoration of riparian habitat;
(d) Not less than fifteen percent for the acquisition and development of urban wildlife habitat; and
(e) Not less than ten percent or three million dollars, whichever is less, for the board to fund restoration and enhancement projects on state lands. Any amount above three million dollars must be distributed for the purposes of (c) of this subsection.
(3)(a) In distributing these funds, the board retains discretion to meet the most pressing needs for critical habitat, natural areas, riparian protection, and urban wildlife habitat, and is not required to meet the percentages described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section in any one biennium.
(b) If not enough project applications are submitted in a category within the habitat conservation account to meet the percentages described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section in any biennium, the board retains discretion to distribute any remaining funds to the other categories within the account.
(4) State agencies and nonprofit nature conservancies may apply for acquisition and development funds for natural areas projects under subsection (1)(b) of this section.
(5) State and local agencies and nonprofit nature conservancies may apply for acquisition and development funds for critical habitat, urban wildlife habitat, and riparian protection projects under this section. Other state agencies not defined in RCW
79A.15.010, such as the department of transportation and the department of corrections, may enter into interagency agreements with state agencies to apply in partnership for riparian protection funds under this section.
(6) The department of natural resources, the department of fish and wildlife, and the state parks and recreation commission may apply for restoration and enhancement funds to be used on existing state-owned lands.
(7)(a) Any lands that have been acquired with grants under this section by the department of fish and wildlife are subject to an amount in lieu of real property taxes and an additional amount for control of noxious weeds as determined by RCW
77.12.203.
(b) Any lands that have been acquired with grants under this section by the department of natural resources are subject to payments in the amounts required under the provisions of RCW
79.70.130 and
79.71.130.
(8) Except as otherwise conditioned by RCW
79A.15.140 or
79A.15.150, the board in its evaluating process shall consider the following in determining distribution priority:
(a) Whether the entity applying for funding is a Puget Sound partner, as defined in RCW
90.71.010;
(b) Effective one calendar year following the development and statewide availability of urban forestry management plans and ordinances under RCW
76.15.090, whether the entity receiving assistance has been recognized, and what gradation of recognition was received, in the evergreen community designation program created in RCW
76.15.090; and
(c) Whether the project is referenced in the action agenda developed by the Puget Sound partnership under RCW
90.71.310.
(9) After January 1, 2010, 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.
