Requires the Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan to be used as an integrated water resource strategy through a coordinated effort between the states of Washington and Oregon, affected federally recognized tribes, affected federal, state, and local agencies, and other stakeholders.
Directs the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to evaluate the development of a bistate legal regulatory framework for the allocation of developed water resources in collaboration with the State of Oregon.
Exempts applications for water rights implementing the Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan from the required one-third and two-thirds allocation of water resources between instream and out-of-stream uses established for new water supplies developed in the Columbia River Basin.
Requires that water supplies developed under the act be apportioned between Oregon and Washington consistent with any written agreements entered into with the State of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Authorizes Ecology to designate water supplies developed under the act for instream flow purposes and be placed into the trust water rights program.
Requires that, in financing projects to implement the Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan, at least half of the total costs must be funded through federal, private, and nonstate sources.
From the Second Substitute House Bill Report (2SHB 1322), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗