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(A) Define net ecological gain criteria; 1 (B) Create monitoring and assessment criteria related to net 2 ecological gain; 3 (C) Develop an assessment model to evaluate and quantify 4 contributions to overall net ecological gain; 5 (D) Consider the geographic scale at which net ecological gain 6 criteria may be effectively applied; 7 (E) Provide budget and policy recommendations for net ecological 8 gain to the legislature and to the office of financial management; 9 (F) Identify existing state-administered or state-funded programs 10 and projects that: 11 (I) Already contribute to net ecological gain; 12 (II) Can or should give funding priority to funding applicants 13 that commit to incorporating net ecological gain principles; and 14 (III) Programs and projects that can or should have a net 15 ecological gain requirement in the future; and 16 (G) Generate interim recommendations for a project to serve as a 17 net ecological gain proof of concept within a county that chooses to 18 adopt a net ecological gain standard. 19 (iii) The department may contract with an independent entity to 20 facilitate the work group, including the tasks identified in (b) of 21 this subsection. 22 (iv) The work group must submit an interim and final report of 23 its work, including any budget and policy recommendations, to the 24 office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the 25 legislature no later than June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025. 26 (b) Of the amount provided in this subsection, $150,000 in fiscal 27 year 2024 is provided solely for the department to contract with an 28 independent entity to perform the following tasks: 29 (i) Review existing grant programs; and 30 (ii) Make recommendations on the potential addition of net 31 ecological gain into grant prioritization criteria. 32 (35)(a) $400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for 33 fiscal year 2024 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation 34 for fiscal year 2025 are provided solely to initiate a demonstration 35 project to contribute to rebuilding of salmon runs in the Lake 36 Washington basin through suppression of predatory fish species. The 37 project shall include: 38 (i) Removal of nonnative species and northern pike minnow using 39 trap, nets, or other means; 40 p. 432 ESSB 5187.SL