HB 1877: Water rights

Summary

• $ Establishes a pilot project under which applications for modifying existing water rights may be processed separately from applications for new water rights and the latter applications are not protected from being impaired by decisions regarding the existing rights.
• $ Applies the pilot project in certain designated water resource inventory areas (WRIA = s) and a ground water sub-area and terminates the project in 2004.
• $ Expressly allows water conservancy boards to process the same types of modifications of water rights as may be processed by the Department of Ecology (DOE).
• $ Waives liability of water conservancy boards arising from the water right modifications they may consider and waives the liability of their commissioners, agents and employees from related non-contractual acts or omissions.
• $ Makes decisions of water conservancy boards to deny applications subject to review in the same manner as currently required for its decisions to approve applications.
• $ Allows the transfer of water made surplus to a water use under a family farm permit through more efficient practices or technologies to be transferred to any use under certain circumstances.

From the House Bill Analysis (HB 1877), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗