Finds that uncertainty as to existing law may discourage water conservation in the Columbia river basin through relinquishment of conservation savings and that avoiding such relinquishment and facilitating transfer of such conservation water savings can assist in meeting the water supply needs of irrigated agriculture while protecting Columbia and Snake river streamflows.

Directs the department of ecology to aggressively pursue the development of storage, conservation, and other actions to provide water supplies to benefit both instream and out-of-stream uses.