Ensuring that water is available to support development.
Summary
Establishes that evidence of potable water for a building permit must meet certain requirements based on the Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) that the permit is located.
Establishes that a county or city may rely on or refer to applicable minimum instream flow rules adopted by Department of Ecology (Ecology) for purposes of complying with the Growth Management Act (GMA) relating to water resources.
Requires that, in certain WRIAs, Ecology must work with the Planning Units in those WRIAs to update the watershed plan to meet certain additional requirements.
Requires that Ecology establish Watershed Restoration and Enhancement (WRE) committees and adopt WRE plans in other certain WRIAs.
Requires that Ecology initiate two pilot projects in specified WRIAs to measure all new groundwater withdrawals.
Creates a Joint Legislative Task Force to review the treatment of surface water and groundwater appropriations as they relate to instream flows and fish habitat and to develop and recommend a mitigation sequencing process and scoring system to address such appropriations.
From the Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill Report (ESSB 6091), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗