HB 1677 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

     Declares that any irrigation district may, within limits established by the Constitution of the state of Washington, assist the owners of lands receiving water distributed by the irrigation district in financing the acquisition and installation of fixtures, systems, and equipment, for compensation and otherwise, for the conservation or more efficient use of water delivered by the irrigation district.

     Authorizes an appropriate charge-back to be made for the extension of public moneys or credit to provide such assistance.  The board of directors may fix rates or tolls and charges and collect the same from all persons for whom district assistance is made available or it may provide for payment for such assistance by a levy of assessment therefor, or by both rates or tolls and charges and assessments in the same manner as provided by RCW 87.03.445.

     Provides that all contracts entered into by irrigation districts for the purchase of materials, equipment, supplies, or services may be awarded to vendors pursuant to telephone or written quotations or both in accordance with the uniform process established in RCW 39.04.190.

     Provides that any irrigation district having a major portion of an inland navigable body of water within or along its exterior boundaries and that:  (1) Has filed with the department of ecology and been granted a water right certificate; or

     (2) holds a legally recognized water right through the United States bureau of reclamation, for return river flows or otherwise; or

     (3) holds some other legally recognized water right, for fifty thousand acre feet of water or more, and regardless of whether the water right is withdrawn from the body of water itself or one of its tributaries, shall be eligible to become an irrigation and rehabilitation district as provided in chapter 87.84 RCW.