Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

HB 1627

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Prohibiting the use of state money to purchase property for certain potential water storage sites.

Sponsors: Representatives Kretz, Chandler and Ross.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Prohibits the Department of Natural Resources, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Department of General Administration from using state funds to purchase property or easements on lands that have been designated under the Columbia River Basin Water Supply Development Program as potential water storage sites.

  • Prohibits the natural resource-related, environmentally based grant and loan programs from using state funds to purchase property or easements on lands that have been designated under the Columbia River Basin Water Supply Development Program as potential water storage sites.

Hearing Date: 1/30/09

Staff: Jaclyn Ford (786-7339)

Background:

Columbia River Basin Water Management Program

In 2006, the Legislature established the Columbia River Basin Water Management Program, also known as Columbia River Basin Water Supply Development Program. Under the Columbia River Basin Water Management Program, the Department of Ecology must aggressively pursue development of water supplies to benefit both in-stream and out-of-stream uses through storage, conservation, and voluntary regional water management agreements.

Natural Resource-Related, Environmentally Based Grant and Loan Programs

The natural resource-related, environmentally based grant and loan programs include: the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, dairy nutrient management grants, water quality grants by the Washington State Conservation Commission, coordinated prevention grants, public participation grants, remedial action grants, water pollution control facilities financing, aquatic lands enhancement grants, habitat grants under the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, salmon recovery grants, grants by the Public Works Trust Fund, and programs administered by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and funded by the capital budget that are related to protection or recovery of fish stocks.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Natural Resources, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Department of General Administration are prohibited from using state funds to purchase property or easements on lands that have been designated under the Columbia River Basin Water Supply Development Program as potential water storage sites.

Natural resource-related, environmentally based grant and loan programs are also prohibited from using state funds to purchase property or easements on lands that have been designated under the Columbia River Basin Water Supply Development Program as potential water storage sites.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.