(1) Except for the north fork of the Lewis river and the White Salmon river, all streams and rivers tributary to the Columbia river downstream from McNary dam are established as an anadromous fish sanctuary. This sanctuary is created to preserve and develop the food fish and game fish resources in these streams and rivers and to protect them against undue industrial encroachment.

(2) Within the sanctuary area:

(a) The department shall not issue a permit to construct a dam greater than twenty-five feet high within the migration range of anadromous fish as determined by the department.

(b) A person shall not divert water from rivers and streams in quantities that will reduce the respective streamflow below the annual average low flow, based upon data published in United States geological survey reports.

(3) The commission may acquire and abate a dam or other obstruction, or acquire any water right vested on a sanctuary stream or river, which is in conflict with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

(4) Subsection (2)(a) of this section does not apply to the sediment retention structure to be built on the North Fork Toutle river by the United States army corps of engineers.

Part headings not law—2005 c 146: See note following RCW 77.55.011.

Referral to electorate—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW 77.04.013.

Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 2: See note following RCW 43.17.020.

Effective date—1993 sp.s. c 2 ss 1-6, 8-59, and 61-79: See RCW 43.300.900.

Severability—1961 c 4: "If any section or provision or part thereof of this act shall be held unconstitutional or for any other reason invalid, the invalidity of such section, provision or part thereof shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, provisions or parts thereof which are not judged to be invalid or unconstitutional." [ 1961 c 4 s 3 (Initiative Measure No. 25, approved November 8, 1960).]