H-3580

AN ACT Relating to declining wild stocks of salmonids; amending RCW 43.20.230, 43.21A.064, and 90.42.010; adding a new section to chapter 43.99E RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that certain stocks of wild salmonids are in serious decline, as identified by the American fisheries society and the national marine fisheries service. Water for instream flows is not readily available in some watersheds due to withdrawals for domestic, municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. It is in the public interest to conserve water in specific areas in which declining stocks reside and in which adequate instream flows are unavailable for fish.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.99E RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department of ecology shall, for a period of four years following the effective date of this section, give preference to, in administration of proceeds from the sale of bonds under RCW 43.99E.025, agricultural water supply facilities that are operated by public bodies that have adopted rate structures that provide an incentive to water users to conserve water. This section applies only to water purveyors or water supply facilities that are located in the Dungeness, Cowlitz, Dewatto, and Tahuya river watersheds.

(2) This section expires December 31, 1996.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.20.230 and 1989 c 348 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

Consistent with the water resource planning process of the department of ecology, the department of ((~~social and~~)) health ((~~services~~)) shall, contingent on the availability of funds:

(1) Develop procedures and guidelines relating to water use efficiency, as defined in section 4(3) ((~~of this act~~)), chapter 348, Laws of 1989, to be included in the development and approval of cost-efficient water system plans required under RCW 43.20.050;

(2) Develop criteria, with input from technical experts, with the objective of encouraging the cost-effective reuse of greywater and other water recycling practices, consistent with protection of public health and water quality; ((~~and~~))

(3) Provide advice and technical assistance upon request in the development of water use efficiency plans and model rate-setting formulas; and

(4) Develop alternative model rate-setting formulas for water conservation and provide these to public water purveyors.

Sec. 4. RCW 43.21A.064 and 1977 c 75 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:

The director of the department of ecology shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) The supervision of public waters within the state and their appropriation, diversion, and use, and of the various officers connected therewith;

(2) Insofar as may be necessary to assure safety to life or property, he shall inspect the construction of all dams, canals, ditches, irrigation systems, hydraulic power plants, and all other works, systems, and plants pertaining to the use of water, and ((he)) the director may require such necessary changes in the construction or maintenance of said works, to be made from time to time, as will reasonably secure safety to life and property;

(3) ((He)) The director shall regulate and control the diversion of water in accordance with the rights thereto;

(4) ((He)) The director shall develop alternative rate-setting formulas for water conservation and provide these to irrigation districts;

(5) The director shall determine the discharge of streams and springs and other sources of water supply, and the capacities of lakes and of reservoirs whose waters are being or may be utilized for beneficial purposes;

((~~(5) He~~)) (6) The director shall keep such records as may be necessary for the recording of the financial transactions and statistical data thereof, and shall procure all necessary documents, forms, and blanks. ((He)) The director shall keep a seal of the office, and all certificates by ((~~him~~)) the director covering any of his or her acts or the acts of ((~~his~~)) the office, or the records and files of ((~~his~~)) the office, under such seal, shall be taken as evidence thereof in all courts;

((~~(6) He~~)) (7) The director shall render when required by the governor, a full written report of the work of ((~~his~~)) the office with such recommendations for legislation as he or she may deem advisable for the better control and development of the water resources of the state;

((~~(7)~~)) (8) The director and duly authorized deputies may administer oaths;

((~~(8) He~~)) (9) The director shall establish and promulgate rules governing the administration of chapter 90.03 RCW;

((~~(9) He~~)) (10) The director shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) By October 1, 1993, each of the following water purveyors of potable water or water for irrigation shall evaluate whether it is appropriate to adopt and implement water delivery rate structures that encourage water conservation:

(a) Public water systems operated by a city or town;

(b) Public utility districts;

(d) Public water companies with more than one thousand service connections;

(e) Counties; and

(f) Irrigation districts.

(2) This section applies only to water purveyors or water supply facilities that are located in the Dungeness, Cowlitz, Tahuya, and Dewatto river watersheds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) Within ninety days of making the evaluation required by section 5 of this act, the water purveyor shall submit the evaluation and supporting documentation to the departments of ecology and health and to the appropriate committees of the legislature.

(2) This section applies only to water purveyors or water supply facilities that are located in the Dungeness, Cowlitz, Dewatto, and Tahuya river watersheds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. By December 31, 1993, the department of ecology shall evaluate or reevaluate and implement minimum flow levels for the Tahuya, Dewatto, and Dungeness rivers, and the tributaries to the Cowlitz river. The department of ecology shall recommend appropriate minimum flow levels for the Entiat, Okanogan, Wenatchee, and Methow rivers. The minimum flow levels shall be designed to maintain to the extent possible sufficient flows for anadromous salmonid recovery and shall be developed in consultation with representatives of the state water resources forum.

Sec. 8. RCW 90.42.010 and 1991 c 347 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature finds that a need exists to develop and test a means to facilitate the voluntary transfer of water and water rights, including conserved water, to provide water for presently unmet needs and emerging needs. Further, the legislature finds that water conservation activities have the potential of affecting the quantity of return flow waters to which existing water right holders have a right to and rely upon. It is the intent of the legislature that persons holding rights to water, including return flows, not be adversely affected in the implementation of the provisions of this chapter.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the mechanism for accomplishing this in a manner that will not impair existing rights to water and to test the mechanism in two pilot planning areas designated pursuant to RCW 90.54.045(2) and in the water resource inventory areas designated under subsection (2) of this section.

(2) The department may designate up to four water resource inventory areas west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and up to four water resource inventory areas east of the crest of the Cascade mountains, as identified pursuant to chapter 90.54 RCW. The areas designated shall contain critical water supply problems and shall provide an opportunity to test and evaluate a variety of applications of RCW 90.42.010 through 90.42.090, including application to municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. The department shall seek advice from appropriate state agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, representatives of water right holders, and interested parties before identifying such water resource inventory areas.

(3) The department shall provide to the appropriate legislative committees by December 31, 1993, a written evaluation of the implementation of RCW 90.42.010 through 90.42.090 and recommendations for future application. Recommendations shall include methods of applying RCW 90.42.010 through 90.42.090 to the Entiat, Wenatchee, Okanogan, and Methow rivers in order to use net water savings to achieve the minimum flows established by section 7, chapter ..., Laws of 1992 (section 7 of this act). Recommendations shall be developed in consultation with representatives of the state water resources forum.