Background:

Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA). The Water Resources Act directs the Department of Ecology (DOE) to develop a comprehensive state water resource program for making decisions on future water resource allocation and use. The Act permits the DOE to develop the program in segments. Under the Act, the DOE has divided the state into 62 WRIAs.

Modifying Existing Water Rights. There are several fundamental elements of a water right. One is its priority. Other elements of the water right include the amount of water that may be withdrawn from a particular water source, the time of year and point from which the water may be withdrawn, how the water can be used (such as an agricultural or municipal use), and where the water may be used. Certain elements of a water right may be modified with the approval of the DOE if the modification would not impair other existing water rights. An approved modification does not affect the priority date of the right. Alterations in water rights are referred to in statute as transfers, changes, and amendments of water rights.

Watershed Planning

State watershed planning laws provide a process for conducting watershed planning through a locally initiated process. If planning is conducted under this process, it must include a component on current and future water availability and use. It may include components regarding in-stream flows, water quality, and habitat.

Walla Walla Comprehensive Water Management Structure

In 2008, the Legislature provided the DOE $195,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2009 to design a comprehensive water management structure for the Walla Walla River Basin.

The Legislature requested that the structure address the allocation of functions, authorities, resource requirements, and issues associated with interstate watershed management of the basin.

A report was written to the Legislature outlining the proposed governance and water management structure in December 2008.

Summary of Bill:

The Water Management Board

The initiating entities consist of the county boards of commissioners within the planning area, the city council of the largest Washington city in the planning area, the largest water user in the planning area, and all federally recognized tribes owning land within the planning area.

Initiating entities may collectively petition the DOE to establish a Water Management Board (Board). The initiating entities must demonstrate that there is community support for the development of a local water management plan, that there is commitment to enhance in-stream flows for fish, and that there is an adequate monitoring network in place. Before approving the creation of a Board, the DOE must require that an in-stream flow rule is in place in the planning area, the planning area is within a fish critical basin with severely impaired flows, and the watershed planning unit has completed watershed and salmon recovery implementation plans. The DOE must also give strong consideration to basins that have completed a judicial proceeding to adjudicate water rights.

Composition of the Water Management Board

The Board must be composed of (1) representatives from each of the counties within the planning area, (2) a representative from the largest city in the planning area, (3) a representative of the largest water user in the planning area, (4) a representative appointed by the conservation districts in the planning area, (5) a representative of the planning area water users, (6) a representative of environmental interests in the planning area, and (7) a representative of citizens at large. In addition, all federally recognized tribes within the planning area must be invited to participate and are able to appoint one member to the Board. Each Board member serves a two-year term and may be reappointed.

The Policy Advisory Group and the Water Resource Panel

The Board will create a policy advisory group that must assist and advise the Board in, among other things, coordinating and developing water resource programs, planning, and activities within the planning area. The Board will also create a water resource panel that must provide technical assistance for the development of the local water plan; advice to the Board on the criteria for establishment of local water plans; and suggestions for the approval, denial, or modification of the local water plans.

Duties of the Water Management Board

The Board must assume all duties, responsibilities, and activities of the watershed planning unit, as well as develop strategic actions for the planning area, make the water management program effective, administer the local water plan process, manage the water bank, acquire rights, represent the interests of the planning area, and enter into agreements with water right holders to not divert water.

The Board may provide for its own funding by adopting fees or soliciting or accepting grants, loans, or donations.

Reports to the Legislature

The Board, in collaboration with the DOE, must provide reports to the Legislature every three years beginning in 2012. The reports must summarize the actions, funding, and accomplishments of the Board, as well as any recommendations for improvement of the local water plan process.

The Water Bank

The Board may establish a water bank within the planning area. The Board may accept a surface water or groundwater right into the water bank on a permanent or temporary basis. Temporary deposits remain in the ownership of the water right holder, and permanent deposits must be transferred to the State as a trust water right. The water rights or portions of water rights that are deposited into the bank are available under the local water plan for stream flow enhancement.

Water rights deposited in the water bank for instream flow must not have an extent and validity review and may not be authorized for other purposes. In addition, water rights or a portion of a water right that is deposited into the water bank are not subject to loss by forfeiture. When a temporary deposit is withdrawn from the water bank, the time period that the water right was in the water bank may not be included in the five years of prior water use review under the relinquishment statute.

The Local Water Plan

The local water plan may be submitted by a water user or group of water users to the Board for approval by the Board and the DOE. The local water plan may be effective for a term of one to 10 years. The Board must provide a 30-day public notice period on the proposed local water plan. The final decision of the DOE on the local water plan is appealable to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.

A local water plan expires by its own terms, by withdrawal of one or more water users to the local water plan, or upon agreement by all parties to the contract. If the local water plan operates for more than five years and then expires, the water users may request that the elements of the local water plan be made permanent authorizations and conditions for use of the water rights.

Water rights in the local water plan are not subject to a review of the extent and validity of the water right, nor subject to loss by forfeiture.

Location of the Pilot Program

The pilot plan of the local water management program is located in a county with a population between 55,000 and 60,000 people east of the crest of the Cascades.

Expiration of the Act

This act expires June 30, 2019.