SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1594

BYHouse Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Rayburn, Sutherland, Vekich, R. King, Dellwo, Todd and Rasmussen; by request of Governor Gardner)

Providing for a water use efficiency study.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 23, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and refer to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Halsan, Hansen.

Senate Staff:Tom McDonald (786-7404)

                  February 24, 1988

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 29, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Deccio, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Vognild, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Chuck Langen (786-7715)

                  February 29, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The western United States is quickly approaching the time when there will be no additional water to tap.  As the demand for water increases, users are studying ways to increase the supply from existing water rights.  This new supply is generated from conservation efforts and efficient use of the existing resources.  Several states and organizations, including the Western Governors' Association and the Bureau of Reclamation, are studying the efficient use of water resources as a means of augmenting the supply.  Water efficiency not only includes conservation efforts, but includes the equitable and reasonable means of marketing water for the highest and best use.

In 1977, the Legislature authorized the issuance of $18 million in bonds for water supply facilities required to respond to a drought which was forecast to occur that year.  The monies from the sale of the bonds were deposited in the Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account and were appropriated to the Department of Ecology for agricultural water supply and distribution projects. In 1987, up to four million dollars of the monies reappropriated to the department from the account were authorized to be used to deliver water to previously irrigated lands to alleviate emergency water supply conditions in 1987.

SUMMARY:

The Water Research Center at Washington State University is directed to conduct a comprehensive study of water use efficiency and to evaluate means of achieving water use efficiency improvements.  Among the activities to be included in the study are: a review of initiatives in other states; a review of the recommendations of the Western Governors' Association; an identification of existing disincentives and potential incentives for improving the efficiency of water use; an estimation of the potential water savings and the costs of implementing various alternatives for improving water use efficiency; and recommendations concerning changes in laws, rules and programs.  No aspect of the study may authorize any interference with existing water rights.

The statutes creating the Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account are amended to permit the use of funds from the account for conducting such a study.  $139,815 of the monies appropriated to the Department of Ecology for the current biennium from the account are appropriated to the center and dedicated to carrying out the study.  The funds may be used to hire personnel and to contract for necessary services.

An advisory committee is created to assist the center in its study.  The membership of the committee shall include members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and representatives from the office of the governor, Indian tribes, environmental organizations, rural and heavily populated municipalities, state water resources association, public utility districts, manufacturing industry, producers of irrigated agricultural products and cattle farms.  State and federal agencies are to be nonvoting members of the committee.  The center must conduct public meetings concerning the study and its findings and must present preliminary findings and recommendations to the House and Senate agriculture committees.  A final report must be submitted to the House and Senate agriculture committees by December 30, 1988.  The advisory committee expires on December 31, 1988, and the provisions of the bill establishing the study and related reporting requirements expire on June 30, 1989.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AGRICULTURE AMENDMENT:

A committee and not the Water Research Center at Washington State University is directed to carry out the water use efficiency study.  There will be no advisory committee.  As part of the study, the committee will also be required to:  (1) recommend approaches for water use efficiency for municipal uses, for agricultural and out-of-stream uses, and for instream uses; (2) evaluate water use terminology and methods in several chapters of the code; and (3) develop recommendations for public education programs on the efficient use of water.

The study is to be neither a conservation study nor one based on the theory that the efficient use of water is the only means of creating new water, as water storage facilities may also be an appropriate means of creating new water.  The committee is to submit its report to the Legislature instead of the Senate and House Agriculture committees only.

The membership on the committee will include members of the Legislature and representatives from state agencies, local government, agriculture, governor's office, environmental interests, timber industry, Indian tribes, private and public utilities, recreational and commercial fishing and water recreationists.

The appropriation of $139,815 is provided to the Department of Ecology instead of Washington State University.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE WAYS & MEANS AMENDMENT:

The appropriations are removed.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Appointments by Legislature Required:     Two Representatives from each political party will be appointed by the Speaker of the House and two Senators from each political party will be appointed by the President of the Senate to be members of the water use efficiency advisory committee.

Senate Committee - Testified: AGRICULTURE: Representative Rayburn; Elizabeth Tabbutt, Washington Environmental Council; Marlyta Deck, Washington Cattlemen's Association; Jim Trull, Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District; Greg Hanon, Tacoma Public Utilities

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one