CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SENATE BILL 6861

Chapter 170, Laws of 2006

59th Legislature
2006 Regular Session



SURFACE WATER USES--REPORT



EFFECTIVE DATE: 6/7/06

Passed by the Senate February 14, 2006
  YEAS 47   NAYS 0

BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
Passed by the House March 1, 2006
  YEAS 98   NAYS 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


 
CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 6861 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

THOMAS HOEMANN
________________________________________    
Secretary
Approved March 22, 2006.








CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
March 22, 2006 - 3:03 p.m.







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SENATE BILL 6861
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2006 Regular Session
State of Washington59th Legislature2006 Regular Session

By Senators Delvin, Poulsen, Mulliken, Morton and Honeyford

Read first time 01/30/2006.   Referred to Committee on Water, Energy & Environment.



     AN ACT Relating to studying the competing interests of domestic water users and other water users in regards to limited water supplies where a curtailment of domestic water right use has been enacted; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The department of ecology shall, by December 31, 2006, study and prepare a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on ways that the department and other stakeholders can better understand the competing interests of domestic surface water users and other surface water users in regards to limited water supplies who are affected by a curtailment of domestic water right use that has been enacted by a court order.
     (2) The study conducted under this section shall be limited to basins currently involved in a water rights adjudication and must:
     (a) Provide a summary of the circumstances that have contributed to the competition between domestic water users and other water users;
     (b) Include a survey involving the owners of the residences; and
     (c) Recommend suggested legislation or other solutions for resolving conflicts between competing interests for a limited water resource.
     (3) The study shall focus on seasonal residential uses; however, other permanent residences may be included if the owners are experiencing similar problems.
     (4) When surveying residents under this section, the department shall make a reasonable attempt to contact all property owners and obtain, at a minimum, the following information:
     (a) The location of the seasonal or permanent residence and the number of days that the residence is in use;
     (b) The months that the residence is occupied;
     (c) The amount of water needed for the residence when it is occupied;
     (d) The specific use of the water used by the property owner;
     (e) The location of the permanent residence of the property owner; and
     (f) Any other relevant information that the department determines is necessary for the survey.


         Passed by the Senate February 14, 2006.
         Passed by the House March 1, 2006.
         Approved by the Governor March 22, 2006.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 22, 2006.