S-5655.2  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8425

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Senators Sutherland, Owen, Fraser, Morton, M. Rasmussen and Hochstatter

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Creating a legislative water policy working group.

    WHEREAS, The protection and proper management of Washington's water sources is essential to maintaining public health, enhancing the economy of the state, and protecting environmental quality; and

    WHEREAS, Water resources in Washington are under increasing demand for both instream and offstream uses; and

    WHEREAS, Washington's policies lack sufficient motivation to encourage the efficient use of water; and

    WHEREAS, Present water policy is developed by a wide array of public and private entities that lack a coordinated and modern approach to a current and comprehensive water policy for Washington state; and

    WHEREAS, Existing water resources statutes and court decisions construing these statutes have created uncertainty in the administration of water resources programs, including the regulation of water usage and associate appropriative rights;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the legislative water policy working group be established.  The working group shall conduct a comprehensive review of water laws, court decisions, and resource management that includes:

    (1) An identification of all programs governing flood and storm water management, water supply delivery, water quality protection, instream and riparian habitat protection, and other water resource management needs;

    (2) An assessment of conflicting or inconsistent strategies, standards, jurisdiction, or planning requirements;

    (3) Recommendations for any combination of the coordination, consolidation, or integration of either state water resource programs or water quality programs, or both, including the possibility for an independent water resource agency;

    (4) Recommendations for comprehensive statutory policies on water allocation procedures and priorities, including revisions of the state's surface and ground water codes;

    (5) Recommendations to achieve water resource management on a watershed basis;

    (6) Recommendations for changes to water resource planning programs to achieve a comprehensive regional planning framework whose boundaries recognize hydrological boundaries including consistency with programs and objects of the growth management act; and

    (7) Assessment of policies and programs governing surface and ground waters, and recommendations for improved policies management; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the legislative water policy working group consist of the chair and ranking minority member of the following committees:  The Senate committee on agriculture; the Senate committee on ecology and parks; the Senate committee on energy and utilities; the Senate committee on natural resources; the House of Representatives committee on agriculture and rural development; the House of Representatives committee on environmental affairs; the House of Representatives committee on fisheries and wildlife; and the House of Representatives committee on natural resources and parks.  In addition, the Governor may appoint up to five ex officio and nonvoting members to the legislative water policy working group.  The working group shall choose its chair and vice-chair from among its membership; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the legislative water policy working group shall use existing legislative staff and facilities.  All expenses of the Senate and the House of Representatives members of the legislative water policy working group, including travel, shall be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the legislative water policy working group report its findings and recommendations, including recommendations for legislation, to the appropriate legislative committees by December 15, 1994; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the legislative water policy working group shall expire January 1, 1995.

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