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(((65))) (63) $14,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation 1 for fiscal year 2023 is provided solely for the department to reduce 2 the number of nontribal commercial gillnet fishing licenses on the 3 Columbia river through a voluntary buy-back program. 4 (a) Until November 30, 2022, the department may pay up to $25,000 5 each for licenses that have been inactive since 2019 and up to 6 $120,000 each for licenses that have been active since 2019. After 7 November 30, 2022, the department may pay up to $20,000 each for 8 licenses that have been inactive since 2019 and up to $96,000 each 9 for licenses that have been active since 2019. It is the intent of 10 the legislature that this will be the last appropriation made to buy 11 back licenses for the Columbia river gillnet fishery. 12 (b) For all licenses purchased, the department shall calculate 13 the reduced impacts to wild and endangered stocks based on the most 14 recent five-year average of harvest and reserve those impacts for 15 conservation through increased wild salmonid escapement or mark- 16 selective fisheries capable of harvesting surplus hatchery-reared 17 salmon where needed to meet federal genetic protection requirements 18 for wild salmon populations in a manner consistent with state-tribal 19 fishery management agreements. 20 (c) The department must make recommendations to the legislature 21 for any necessary changes in statute, regulations, or program funding 22 levels to transition lower Columbia river mainstem gillnet fisheries 23 to alternative, selective fishing gears, including pound nets or 24 other gears capable of benefitting wild salmon conservation through 25 mark-selective harvest practices. The recommendation must be 26 submitted to the appropriate committees of the legislature by 27 December 1, 2022. 28 (((66))) (64) $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation 29 for fiscal year 2023 is provided solely for the department, in 30 consultation with the department of ecology, the department of 31 natural resources, the Colville confederated tribes, the Okanogan 32 PUD, and other interested entities to analyze the steps required, 33 including coordination and ownership, associated with the possible 34 removal of Enloe dam and analyze options for sediment removal in 35 order to restore the Similkameen river, minimize impacts downriver, 36 and allow access to over 300 miles of habitat for federally- 37 threatened steelhead and other native salmonids. Any contract 38 required to fulfill this analysis is exempt from the competitive 39 procurement requirements in chapter 39.26 RCW. A report of the 40 p. 1194 ESSB 5187.SL