SB 6180 - DIGEST

     Directs the state conservation commission to provide grants to conservation districts to assist the agricultural community to implement water conservation measures and irrigation efficiencies in the sixteen water resource inventory areas identified by the governor's salmon recovery office where more water has been allocated than is naturally available for at least part of the year and in which one or more fish stocks are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act.

     Provides that, in consultation with the department of ecology, a conservation district receiving funds must manage each grant to ensure that a portion of the water saved by the water conservation measure or irrigation efficiency will be placed in the trust water rights program under chapters 90.38 and 90.42 RCW, to enhance instream flow, in the following manner:  (1) The portion of saved water placed in the trust water rights program must be equal to the percentage of the public investment in the conservation measure or irrigation efficiency; and

     (2) The saved water placed in the trust water rights program must remain in the program for one year for every five percent of public investment in the conservation measure or irrigation efficiency.

     In awarding the grants, a conservation district must give first priority to family farms as defined in RCW 90.66.040.

     Appropriates the sum of eight million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the emergency reserve fund to the state conservation commission for the purposes of this act.  Moneys that are not expended from this appropriation by June 30, 2001, are reappropriated for expenditure in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

     Appropriates the sum of seven million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the department of ecology.  The appropriation in this section is provided solely to lease water rights to be placed in the trust water rights program under chapters 90.38 and 90.42 RCW and to purchase water use metering equipment and stream flow monitoring equipment.  The department of ecology must allocate eighty percent of the appropriation for the purchase of trust water rights.  Any moneys remaining unexpended from the appropriation in this section on June 30, 2001, are reappropriated for expenditures in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.