H-2537

AN ACT Relating to water resource management; amending RCW 90.54.020, 90.54.180, 90.03.383, 90.03.330, and 90.14.140; adding new sections to chapter 90.03 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 34.05 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 90 RCW; creating new sections; and providing expiration dates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

PART I

BASIN PLANS AND INSTREAM FLOWS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 101. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Department" means the department of ecology.

(2) "WRIA" means a water resource inventory area established in chapter 173-500 WAC as it existed on January 1, 1997.

(3) "Water supply utility" means a water, combined water-sewer, irrigation, reclamation, or public utility district that provides water to persons or other water users within the district or a division or unit responsible for administering a publicly governed water supply system on behalf of a city, town, or county.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 102. The legislature finds that the local development of watershed plans for managing water resources and for protecting existing water rights is vital to both state and local interests. The local development of these plans serves vital local interests by placing it in the hands of people: Who have the greatest knowledge of both the resources and the aspirations of those who live and work in the watershed; and who have the greatest stake in the proper, long-term management of the resources. The development of such plans serves the state's vital interests by ensuring that the state's water resources are used wisely, by protecting existing water rights, by protecting fish and other wildlife, by providing for the economic well‑being of the state's citizenry and communities, and by protecting water-related fish and wildlife habitat. Therefore, the legislature highly encourages units of local government throughout the state to engage in the orderly development of these watershed plans.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 103. Once a WRIA planning unit has been organized and has established priorities under section 108 of this act, it shall notify the department and may apply to the department for funding assistance for conducting the planning. The department shall provide five hundred thousand dollars per WRIA to each such planning unit planning under this chapter and so applying. The moneys shall be: Provided from and to the extent of appropriations made by the legislature to the department expressly for this purpose; and provided on a first-come, first-served basis to the extent of the appropriations except that preference shall be given to planning units requesting funding for conducting multi-WRIA planning under section 106 of this act. Funding provided under this section shall be considered to be a contractual obligation against the moneys appropriated for this purpose.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 104. (1) This chapter shall not be construed as creating a new cause of action against the state or any county, city, town, water supply utility, conservation district, or planning unit.

(2) Notwithstanding RCW 4.92.090, 4.96.010, and 64.40.020, no claim for damages may be filed against the state or any county, city, town, water supply utility, conservation district, or planning unit that or member of a planning unit who participates in a WRIA planning unit for performing responsibilities under this chapter. The exclusion from liability contained in this subsection does not apply to a county, city, town, or water supply utility that votes to adopt provisions in a WRIA plan that have been identified by the department as being in conflict with state or federal law with regard to those provisions if advice regarding the conflict was provided under section 110(2) of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 105. Except as provided in section 106 of this act for multi-WRIA planning, the county with the largest population residing within the boundaries of a WRIA may choose to initiate water resource planning for the WRIA under this chapter. If it does so choose, it shall convene a meeting of the members of the legislative authorities of the counties with territory within a WRIA for the appointment of a WRIA planning unit. The county shall also notify the cities, water supply utilities, and conservation districts with territory within the WRIA that these groups are to meet to appoint their members of the WRIA planning unit. For the purposes of this section and sections 106 and 110 of this act, a county is considered to have territory within a WRIA only if the territory of the county located in the WRIA constitutes at least fifteen percent of the area of the WRIA. For conducting planning under this chapter for a WRIA that is located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains, the county with the largest population residing within the boundaries of the WRIA is the lead agency for the WRIA planning, except as provided in section 106 of this act for multi-WRIA planning. For conducting planning under this chapter for a WRIA that is located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains, the water supply utility that is the largest water purveyor using water from the WRIA shall be the lead agency for the WRIA planning, except as provided in section 106 of this act for multi-WRIA planning.

(2)(a) One WRIA planning unit shall be appointed for the WRIA as provided by this section or for a multi‑WRIA area as provided by section 106 of this act for multi-WRIA planning. The planning unit shall be composed of: One member from each county with territory in the WRIA representing the county and appointed by the county; one member for each county with territory in the WRIA, but not less than two members, representing cities with territory in the WRIA and appointed jointly by those cities; two members representing all water supply utilities with territory within the WRIA and appointed jointly by those districts; one member representing all conservation districts with territory within the WRIA and appointed jointly by those districts; four members representing the general citizenry, of which at least two shall be holders of water rights, appointed jointly by the counties with territory within the WRIA; and six members representing various special interest groups appointed jointly by the counties with territory within the WRIA. If one or more federal Indian reservations are located in whole or in part within the boundaries of the WRIA, the planning unit shall include one member representing the tribes on those reservations collectively, appointed by the tribes. One representative of each of the following state agencies shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the planning unit: The department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, and the department of transportation.

(b) In addition, for a WRIA located within Pierce, King, or Snohomish county, a representative of the water supply utility that is the largest water purveyor using water from the WRIA shall be an ex officio member of the planning unit whether the principal offices of the purveyor are or are not located within the WRIA.

(3) Except for a person who is an ex officio member of the planning unit under subsection (2)(b) of this section, each person appointed to a WRIA planning unit shall have been a resident of the WRIA for at least five years. No state employee or state official may be appointed to the planning unit. In appointing persons to the WRIA planning unit representing special interest groups, the counties shall consider industrial water users, general businesses, hydroelectric and thermal power producers, and irrigated agriculture, nonirrigated agriculture, forestry, recreation, environmental, and fisheries interest groups and other groups with interests in the WRIA.

(4) In voting to appoint the members of a WRIA planning unit, to select a lead agency for water resource planning under section 106 of this act, to approve a WRIA plan under section 110 of this act, or to request or concur with a request for multi-WRIA planning under section 106 of this act, each county with territory within the WRIA shall have three votes, divided equally among the members of the county's legislative authority and these actions shall be made by majority vote based on the votes allocated under this section. In voting to appoint members of a WRIA planning unit: Each city with territory within the WRIA shall have one vote and appointments shall be made by majority vote of such cities; each water supply utility with territory within the WRIA shall have one vote and appointments shall be made by majority vote of such districts; and each conservation district with territory within the WRIA shall have one vote and appointments shall be made by majority vote of such districts. All appointments shall be made within sixty days of the date the appointing authorities other than the counties are notified to convene to make appointments or the appointments shall be made by the counties with territory in the WRIA in the same manner the counties make other appointments. A vacancy on the planning unit shall be filled by appointment in the same manner prescribed for appointing the position that has become vacant. The planning unit shall convene and begin work as soon as two-thirds of the number of persons eligible to be members of the planning unit have been appointed. The unit shall not interrupt its work to await additional original appointments or appointments to fill any vacancies that may occur in its membership.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 106. (1) The counties with territory in a WRIA may elect to conduct multi-WRIA planning with the counties with territory in one or more other WRIAs. If the counties with territory in these other WRIAs concur, all of the counties with territory in these WRIAs shall convene and shall appoint one planning unit to conduct the water resource planning for the multi-WRIA area.

(a) The planning unit shall be composed of: Up to one member, as that number is determined by the counties jointly, for each county with territory in the multi-WRIA area representing the counties and appointed by the counties jointly; up to one member, as that number is determined by the cities jointly, for each county with territory in the multi-WRIA area, representing cities with territory in the multi-WRIA area and appointed jointly by those cities; up to three members, as that number is determined by the districts, representing all water supply utilities with territory within the multi-WRIA area and appointed jointly by those districts; up to two members, as that number is determined by the districts, representing all conservation districts with territory within the multi-WRIA area and appointed jointly by those districts; four members representing the general citizenry, of which at least two shall be holders of water rights, appointed jointly by the counties with territory within the multi-WRIA area; and six members representing various special interest groups appointed jointly by the counties with territory within the multi-WRIA area. If one or more federal Indian reservations are located in whole or in part within the boundaries of the multi-WRIA area, the planning unit shall include one member representing the tribes on those reservations collectively, appointed by the tribes. One representative of each of the following state agencies shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the planning unit: The department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, and the department of transportation.

(b) In addition, for a WRIA located within Pierce, King, or Snohomish county, a representative of the largest water purveyor using water from the multi-WRIA area shall be an ex officio member of the planning unit whether the principal offices of the purveyor are or are not located within the multi-WRIA area.

(c) Except for a person who is an ex officio member of the planning unit under subsection (1)(b) of this section, each person appointed to a multi-WRIA planning unit shall have been a resident of the multi-WRIA area for at least five years. No state employee or state official may be appointed to the planning unit. In appointing persons to the multi-WRIA planning unit representing special interest groups the counties shall consider industrial water users, general businesses, hydroelectric and thermal power producers, and irrigated agriculture, nonirrigated agriculture, forestry, recreation, environmental, and fisheries interest groups and other groups with interests in the multi-WRIA area.

(2) The counties in the multi-WRIA area shall select, by a majority vote, a governmental entity in the multi-WRIA area to act as lead agency for water resource planning in the multi-WRIA area under this chapter. Such an entity shall serve as the lead agency if it agrees in writing to do so. All appointments shall be made within sixty days of the date the lead agency in the multi-WRIA area notifies the other appointing authorities to convene to make appointments or the appointments shall be made by the counties with territory in the multi-WRIA area in the same manner the counties make other appointments. A vacancy on the planning unit shall be filled by appointment in the same manner prescribed for appointing the position that has become vacant. The planning unit shall convene and begin work as soon as two-thirds of the number of persons eligible to be members of the planning unit have been appointed. The unit shall not interrupt its work to await additional original appointments or appointments to fill any vacancies that may occur in its membership.

(3) A planning unit for a multi-WRIA area shall perform all of the functions assigned by this chapter to a WRIA planning unit and is subject to all of the provisions of this chapter that apply to a WRIA planning unit.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 107. The lead agency shall provide staff support for the work of the WRIA planning unit. Each WRIA planning unit may establish its own methods of operation that are consistent with this chapter and may establish methods for reviewing the operations of its lead agency. No planning unit appointed or selected under this chapter may possess or exercise the power of eminent domain. No planning unit appointed or selected under this chapter may take any action that affects in any manner a general adjudication proceeding for water rights, completed or ongoing. Each WRIA planning unit is encouraged to: Consider information and plans that may have been previously developed by other entities in establishing water resource management plans for the WRIA; consider existing data regarding water resources in the WRIA; and, for a WRIA that borders another state, cooperate with local government counterparts in the adjacent state regarding water resource planning. Water resource plans developed under this chapter for a WRIA may not interfere in any manner with a general adjudication of water rights, completed or ongoing. Such a WRIA plan may not in any manner impair, diminish, or interfere with a water right that exists before the adoption of the plan by the department under section 110 of this act.

All meetings of a WRIA planning unit shall be conducted as public meetings as required for such meetings by the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW. Some time shall be set aside at the end of each meeting of a WRIA planning unit for public comments. Each planning unit shall establish procedures to be followed by the unit in making decisions. The objective to be sought by the planning unit in making decisions is to reach consensus among its members on the decisions. To this end, the procedures shall provide means or mechanisms that will assist in achieving consensus and will provide that making decisions by majority vote will be used only after the unit has found that attempts at achieving consensus have not been successful.

No person who is a member of a WRIA planning unit may designate another to act on behalf of the person as a member or to attend as a member a meeting of the unit on behalf of the person. If a member of a WRIA planning unit is absent from more than five meetings of the WRIA planning unit that constitute twenty percent or more of the meetings that have been conducted by the planning unit while the person is a member of the unit and these absences have not been excused as provided by this section, the member's position on the WRIA planning unit is to be considered vacant. A person's absence from a meeting may be excused: By the chair of the planning unit if a written request to do so is received by the chair before the meeting from which the member is to be absent; or by a majority vote of the members of the planning unit at the meeting during which the member is absent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 108. (1) Each WRIA planning unit shall develop a water resource plan. The plan must contain the elements listed in subsection (2) of this section and may include other elements added by the planning unit. Once organized, the first task of the planning unit is to prioritize these elements regarding their importance in the WRIA and in developing a water resource plan for the WRIA. A plan shall not be developed such that its provisions are in conflict with state or federal law or impair, diminish, or interfere in any manner with a water right existing prior to its adoption or with the construction, operation, or maintenance of a federal reclamation project. Each plan shall acknowledge that the water rights of citizens are private rights to real property.

(2) The plan must include the following:

(a) An assessment of water supply and use in the WRIA, including:

(i) A quantitative estimation of the amount of surface and ground water present in the planning unit, using United States geological survey information and other existing sources of information;

(ii) A quantitative estimation using existing sources of information, of the amount of surface and ground water available, using currently available or likely available technologies, collectively for both current and future water uses, including for instream and for withdrawal;

(iii) A quantitative estimation using existing sources of information, of the amount of surface and ground water actually being used, both in-stream and by withdrawal, for agricultural, industrial, fisheries, recreational, environmental, municipal, and residential purposes, and including amounts claimed, permitted, or certificated for future municipal needs; and

(iv) A quantitative estimation of the amount of water, approximately, that is represented by amounts in claims in the water rights claims registry, in water use permits, in certificated rights, and in rules establishing instream flows;

(b) A quantitative description of future water-based instream and out-of-stream needs in the planning unit, based on projected population and agricultural and other economic growth. That is, an identification of the water needed collectively for use for agricultural, fisheries, recreational, environmental, industrial, municipal, and residential purposes. If a federal reclamation project is providing water for reclamation purposes within the WRIA or multi-WRIA area, federal reclamation water use requirements shall be those for project lands within the WRIA or multi-WRIA area;

(i) A planning unit shall not establish instream flow requirements for the main stem of the Columbia river or the main stem of the Snake river. A planning unit has the authority to establish instream flow requirements as part of its plan for other rivers and streams in its WRIA or multi-WRIA area if all of the perennial, nonintermittent streams and rivers in the WRIA or the multi-WRIA area for which it is conducting planning under this chapter: Empty into the Columbia river, the Snake river, or marine water within or at the boundaries of the WRIA or multi-WRIA area for which the unit is planning under this chapter; or are tributaries to streams or rivers that empty into the Columbia river, the Snake river, or marine water and do so within or at the boundaries of the WRIA or multi-WRIA area for which the unit is planning under this chapter.

(ii) If a planning unit has authority to set instream flow requirements under this subsection (2)(c)(ii), the planning unit may make adjustments to instream flows that have been set by the state before the adoption of the planning unit's plan and will set instream flows as part of the plan for the other rivers, streams, and lakes in the WRIA, or in the multi‑WRIA area for multi-WRIA planning under section 106 of this act, for which flows have not been set. An instream flow or base flow or level set for a body of water in a WRIA plan adopted by the department under section 110 of this act supersedes any other such flow or level previously established for the body of water. Planning units are encouraged to set the flow levels as soon as is practicable;

(d) A quantitative description of the ground water and of the surface water available for further appropriation. As used in this subsection (2)(d), "available" means available on the date the plan takes effect as a rule under section 110 of this act;

(e) An identification of areas that provide for the recharge of aquifers from the surface and areas where aquifers recharge surface bodies of water;

(f) Strategies for increasing water supplies in the WRIA, including:

(i) Conservation measures; and

(ii) Storage enhancements, including modifications to existing reservoirs and new reservoirs. Any quantity of water made available under these strategies is a quantity that is in addition to the water declared available for appropriation under (d) of this subsection; and

(g) An identification of areas where voluntary water-related habitat improvement projects or voluntary transactions providing for the purchase of water-related habitat or water-related habitat easements would provide the greatest benefit to habitat in the WRIA, and a prioritization of the areas based on their potential for providing such benefits. The purpose of this element of the plan is to provide a means of coordinating nonregulatory, voluntary efforts for improving water-related habitat in the WRIA. No aspect of the plan may establish standards for water quality or regulate water quality in any manner whatsoever.

(3) A plan shall not be developed under this chapter to require directly or indirectly the implementation of laws, rules, or programs that are designed primarily to control water pollution or discharges of pollutants to water, to regulate effluent discharges or wastewater treatment systems or facilities, or to establish or require the achievement of water quality standards, including but not limited to chapter 90.48 RCW and rules adopted under chapter 90.48 RCW, the national pollutant discharge elimination system permit program, and the state waste discharge permit program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 109. (1) Water resource management plans developed pursuant to the process in this chapter and subsequently adopted by the department under section 110 of this act are presumed valid. This presumption shall apply in any petition or action filed against a plan.

(2) Any action taken by a state agency regarding or affecting water resources within a WRIA for which a plan has been adopted under section 110 of this act and any planning conducted by a state agency regarding or affecting water resources within a WRIA for which a plan has been adopted under section 110 of this act shall be taken or conducted in a manner that is consistent with the plan. All actions and decisions of the department regarding water resources in the WRIA shall be consistent with and based upon such an adopted plan for the WRIA. Any other authority of the department exercised within the WRIA regarding or affecting water resources shall be exercised in a manner that is consistent with such an adopted plan.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 110. (1) Upon completing a proposed water resource plan for the WRIA, the WRIA planning unit shall publish notice of and conduct at least one public hearing in the WRIA on the proposed plan. The planning unit shall take care to provide notice of the hearing throughout the WRIA or multi-WRIA area. As a minimum, it shall publish a notice of the hearing in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the WRIA or multi-WRIA area. After considering the public comments presented at the hearing or hearings, the planning unit shall submit a copy of its proposed plan to the department. A proposed plan may be submitted to the department only if the unit has provided interim approval of the plan for this purpose by a majority vote of the members of the planning unit.

(2) The department shall conduct at least one public hearing, announced in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, on each proposed WRIA water resource plan submitted under this section. The department shall provide advice as to any specific subsections or sections of the plan that the department believes to be in conflict with state or federal law and may provide other recommendations regarding the plan. The department shall transmit its advice and recommendations regarding the plan to the WRIA planning unit within sixty days of receiving it for review.

(3) The WRIA planning unit shall vote on each recommendation provided by the department and on the department's advice regarding any subsections or sections of the proposed WRIA plan the department believed to be in conflict with state or federal law. The planning unit may adopt such a recommendation or provide changes to respond to the advice of the department by a majority vote of the members of the planning unit.

The WRIA planning unit shall approve a water resource plan for the WRIA by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the planning unit. An approved plan shall be submitted to the counties with territory within the WRIA for adoption. If a WRIA planning unit receives funding for WRIA or multi-WRIA planning under section 103 of this act and does not approve a plan for submission to the counties within four years of the date the planning unit receives the first of that funding from the department for the planning, the department shall develop and adopt a water resource plan for the WRIA or multi-WRIA area.

(4) The legislative authority of each of the counties with territory within the WRIA shall provide public notice for and conduct at least two public hearings on the WRIA plan submitted to the county under this section. The counties shall take care to provide notice of the hearings throughout the WRIA or multi-WRIA area. As a minimum, they shall publish a notice of the hearings in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the WRIA or multi-WRIA area. After the public hearings, the legislative authorities of these counties shall convene in joint session to consider the plan. The counties may approve or reject the plan, but may not amend the plan. Approval of a plan, or of recommendations for a plan that is not approved, shall be made by a majority vote of the members of the various legislative authorities of the counties with territory in the WRIA based on the votes allocated under section 102 of this act.

If the plan is not approved, it shall be returned to the WRIA planning unit with recommendations for revisions. Any revised plan prepared by the planning unit shall be submitted to the department and to the counties as provided by this section for WRIA water resource plans generally.

(5) If the plan is approved by the members of the legislative authorities, the plan shall be transmitted to the department for adoption. The department shall adopt such an approved WRIA water resource plan by rule. The department has no discretion to amend or reject the plan. A copy of the plan and notice of its adoption as rules shall be published in the state register under chapter 34.05 RCW.

(6) If the department advises a planning unit that an element of its WRIA plan is in conflict with state or federal law and the unit does not remove the conflict created by the element from its plan, the state is not liable for any judgment that may be awarded regarding the conflict. The department may file a petition for declaratory judgment in the superior court to determine whether the element is or is not in conflict with state or federal law. The petition shall be filed in the superior court in the county with the largest population residing in the WRIA or multi-WRIA area governed by the plan. The counties that approved the plan shall be named as parties to the proceeding. The superior court shall review the potential conflict under the error of law standard. If the superior court finds that an element of the plan is in conflict with state or federal law, that element of the plan shall be invalid. Decisions on such petitions are reviewable as in other civil cases. This subsection shall not be construed as establishing such state liability for any other element of the plan adopted as rules.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 111. The WRIA planning units may accept grants, funds, and other financing, as well as enter into cooperative agreements with private and public entities for planning assistance and funding.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 112. A new section is added to chapter 90.03 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall rule in a timely manner upon applications to appropriate public surface and ground water. For applications that seek to appropriate water from within a WRIA for which a WRIA plan has been adopted, the department shall grant or deny the application within one hundred eighty days of the date the properly completed application is filed with the department, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section. For applications that seek to appropriate water from within a WRIA for which no WRIA plan has been adopted, the department shall grant or deny the application within one year of the date the properly completed application is filed with the department, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section. The times allowed in this section to rule upon an application shall not include the time it takes the applicant to respond to an explicit request for additional information reasonably required to make a determination on the application. The department shall be allowed only one such request for additional information. The cost of obtaining such information shall be reasonable in relation to the quantity and value of the water right applied for. Once the applicant responds to an information request, the stay of the time allowed for the permit decision shall end.

(2) If a detailed statement, generally referred to as an environmental impact statement, must be prepared under chapter 43.21C RCW for or in regard to an application to appropriate water, the department shall grant or deny the application within ninety days of the date the final environmental impact statement is available from the official responsible for it under chapter 43.21C RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 113. A new section is added to chapter 34.05 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Once the department of ecology receives a water resource plan submitted by a WRIA planning unit for advice and recommendations under section 110 of this act, the department shall conduct at least one public hearing on the plan and shall provide notice of the hearing and proposed plan as provided in RCW 34.05.320 for the proposal of a rule. The department shall maintain a file for the plan. Once the plan has been adopted by the counties in the WRIA under section 110 of this act and the plan has been submitted to the department of ecology, the department shall file the plan with the code reviser along with an order adopting the plan as rules. The code reviser shall cause the order and the water resource plan to be published in the Washington state register in the manner provided for the adoption of final rules and shall incorporate the plan into the Washington Administrative Code. No other aspect of this chapter that establishes procedures for the adoption of rules applies to the adoption of the plan by the department.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "WRIA" has the meaning established in section 101 of this act.

PART II

STORAGE

Sec. 201. RCW 90.54.020 and 1989 c 348 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Utilization and management of the waters of the state shall be guided by the following general declaration of fundamentals:

(1) Uses of water for domestic, stock watering, industrial, commercial, agricultural, irrigation, hydroelectric power production, mining, fish and wildlife maintenance and enhancement, recreational, and thermal power production purposes, and preservation of environmental and aesthetic values, and all other uses compatible with the enjoyment of the public waters of the state, are declared to be beneficial.

(2) Allocation of waters among potential uses and users shall be based generally on the securing of the maximum net benefits for the people of the state. Maximum net benefits shall constitute total benefits less costs including opportunities lost.

(3) The quality of the natural environment shall be protected and, where possible, enhanced as follows:

(a) Perennial rivers and streams of the state shall be retained with base flows necessary to provide for preservation of wildlife, fish, scenic, aesthetic and other environmental values, and navigational values. Lakes and ponds shall be retained substantially in their natural condition. Withdrawals of water which would conflict therewith shall be authorized only in those situations where it is clear that overriding considerations of the public interest will be served.

(b) Waters of the state shall be of high quality. Regardless of the quality of the waters of the state, all wastes and other materials and substances proposed for entry into said waters shall be provided with all known, available, and reasonable methods of treatment prior to entry. Notwithstanding that standards of quality established for the waters of the state would not be violated, wastes and other materials and substances shall not be allowed to enter such waters which will reduce the existing quality thereof, except in those situations where it is clear that overriding considerations of the public interest will be served. Technology-based effluent limitations or standards for discharges for municipal water treatment plants located on the Chehalis, Columbia, Cowlitz, Lewis, or Skagit river shall be adjusted to reflect credit for substances removed from the plant intake water if:

(i) The municipality demonstrates that the intake water is drawn from the same body of water into which the discharge is made; and

(ii) The municipality demonstrates that no violation of receiving water quality standards or appreciable environmental degradation will result.

(4) The development of multipurpose water storage facilities shall be a high priority for programs of water allocation, planning, management, and efficiency. The department, other state agencies, local governments, and planning units formed under section 102 or 106 of this act shall evaluate the potential for the development of new storage projects and the benefits of storage in reducing damage to stream banks and property, increasing the use of land, providing water for municipal, industrial, agricultural, power generation, and other beneficial uses, and improving stream flow regimes for fisheries and other instream uses.

(5) Adequate and safe supplies of water shall be preserved and protected in potable condition to satisfy human domestic needs.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) Multiple-purpose impoundment structures are to be preferred over single-purpose structures. Due regard shall be given to means and methods for protection of fishery resources in the planning for and construction of water impoundment structures and other artificial obstructions.

((~~(6)~~)) (7) Federal, state, and local governments, individuals, corporations, groups and other entities shall be encouraged to carry out practices of conservation as they relate to the use of the waters of the state. In addition to traditional development approaches, improved water use efficiency and conservation shall be emphasized in the management of the state's water resources and in some cases will be a potential new source of water with which to meet future needs throughout the state.

((~~(7)~~)) (8) Development of water supply systems, whether publicly or privately owned, which provide water to the public generally in regional areas within the state shall be encouraged. Development of water supply systems for multiple domestic use which will not serve the public generally shall be discouraged where water supplies are available from water systems serving the public.

((~~(8)~~)) (9) Full recognition shall be given in the administration of water allocation and use programs to the natural interrelationships of surface and ground waters.

((~~(9)~~)) (10) Expressions of the public interest will be sought at all stages of water planning and allocation discussions.

((~~(10)~~)) (11) Water management programs, including but not limited to, water quality, flood control, drainage, erosion control and storm runoff are deemed to be in the public interest.

Sec. 202. RCW 90.54.180 and 1989 c 348 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Consistent with the fundamentals of water resource policy set forth in this chapter, state and local governments, individuals, corporations, groups and other entities shall be encouraged to carry out water use efficiency and conservation programs and practices consistent with the following:

(1) Water efficiency and conservation programs should utilize an appropriate mix of economic incentives, cost share programs, regulatory programs, and technical and public information efforts. Programs which encourage voluntary participation are preferred.

(2) Increased water use efficiency should receive consideration as a potential source of water in state and local water resource planning processes. In determining the cost-effectiveness of alternative water sources, consideration should be given to the benefits of conservation, including waste water recycling, and ((~~impoundment~~)) storage of waters.

(3) In determining the cost-effectiveness of alternative water sources, full consideration should be given to the benefits of storage which can reduce the damage to stream banks and property, increase the utilization of land, provide water for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and other beneficial uses, provide for the generation of electric power from renewable resources, and improve stream flow regimes for fishery and other instream uses.

(4) Entities receiving state financial assistance for construction of water source expansion or acquisition of new sources shall develop, and implement if cost-effective, a water use efficiency and conservation element of a water supply plan pursuant to RCW 43.20.230(1).

(5) State programs to improve water use efficiency should focus on those areas of the state in which water is overappropriated; areas that experience diminished streamflows or aquifer levels; and areas where projected water needs, including those for instream flows, exceed available supplies.

(6) Existing and future generations of citizens of the state of Washington should be made aware of the importance of the state's water resources and the need for wise and efficient use and development of this vital resource. In order to increase this awareness, state agencies should integrate public education on increasing water use efficiency into existing public information efforts. This effort shall be coordinated with other levels of government, including local governments and Indian tribes.

PART III

GENERAL ADJUDICATIONS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 301. A new section is added to chapter 90.03 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature finds that the lack of certainty regarding water rights within a water resource basin may impede management and planning for water resources. The legislature further finds that planning units conducting water resource planning under chapter 90.-- RCW (sections 101 through 111 of this act) may find that the certainty provided by a general adjudication of water rights under this chapter is required for water planning or water management in a water resource inventory area or in a portion of the area. Therefore, such planning units may petition the department to conduct such a general adjudication and the department shall give high priority to such a request in initiating any such general adjudications under this chapter.

PART IV

WATER PURVEYORS

Sec. 401. RCW 90.03.383 and 1991 c 350 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature recognizes the value of interties for improving the reliability of public water systems, enhancing their management, and more efficiently utilizing the increasingly limited resource. Given the continued growth in the most populous areas of the state, the increased complexity of public water supply management, and the trend toward regional planning and regional solutions to resource issues, interconnections of public water systems through interties provide a valuable tool to ensure reliable public water supplies for the citizens of the state. Public water systems have been encouraged in the past to utilize interties to achieve public health and resource management objectives. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to recognize interties existing and in use as of January 1, 1991, and to have associated water rights modified by the department of ecology to reflect current use of water through those interties, pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The legislature further finds it in the public interest to develop a coordinated process to review proposals for interties commencing use after January 1, 1991.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "Interties" are interconnections between public water systems permitting exchange, acquisition, or delivery of wholesale and/or retail water between those systems for other than emergency supply purposes, where such exchange, acquisition, or delivery is within established instantaneous and annual withdrawal rates specified in the systems' existing water right permits or certificates, or contained in claims filed pursuant to chapter 90.14 RCW, and which results in better management of public water supply consistent with existing rights and obligations. Interties include interconnections between public water systems permitting exchange, acquisition, or delivery of water to serve as primary or secondary sources of supply((~~, but do not include development of new sources of supply to meet future demand~~)) and the development of new sources of supply to meet future demands if the water system or systems receiving water through such an intertie make efficient use of existing sources of water supply and the provision of water through such an intertie is consistent with local land use plans. For this purpose, a system's full compliance with the state department of health's conservation guidelines for such systems is deemed efficient use.

(b) "Service area" is the area designated as the wholesale and/or retail area in a water system plan or a coordinated water system plan pursuant to chapter 43.20 or 70.116 RCW respectively. When a public water system does not have a designated service area subject to the approval process of those chapters, the service area shall be the designated place of use contained in the water right permit or certificate, or contained in the claim filed pursuant to chapter 90.14 RCW.

(3)(a) Public water systems with interties existing and in use as of January 1, 1991, or that have received written approval from the department of health prior to that date, shall file written notice of those interties with the department of health and the department of ecology. The notice may be incorporated into the public water system's five-year update of its water system plan, but shall be filed no later than June 30, 1996. The notice shall identify the location of the intertie; the dates of its first use; the purpose, capacity, and current use; the intertie agreement of the parties and the service areas assigned; and other information reasonably necessary to modify the public water system's water right ((~~permit~~)). Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 90.03.380 and 90.44.100, for public water systems with interties existing and in use or with written approval as of January 1, 1991, the department of ecology, upon receipt of notice meeting the requirements of this subsection, shall, as soon as practicable, modify the place of use descriptions in the water right permits, certificates, or claims to reflect the actual use through such interties, provided that the place of use is within service area designations established in a water system plan approved pursuant to chapter 43.20 RCW, or a coordinated water system plan approved pursuant to chapter 70.116 RCW, and further provided that the water used is within the instantaneous and annual withdrawal rates specified in the water rights ((~~permit~~)) and that no outstanding complaints of impairment to existing water rights have been filed with the department of ecology prior to September 1, 1991. Where such complaints of impairment have been received, the department of ecology shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve them in a timely manner through agreement of the parties or through available administrative remedies.

(b) An intertie meeting the requirements of this subsection (3) for modifying the place of use description in a water right permit, certificate, or claim may be used to its full design or built capacity within the most recently approved retail or wholesale or retail and wholesale service area, without further approval under this section and without regard to the capacity actually used before January 1, 1991.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 90.03.380 and 90.44.100, exchange, acquisition, or delivery of water through interties approved by the department of health commencing use after January 1, 1991, shall be permitted when the intertie improves overall system reliability, enhances the manageability of the systems, provides opportunities for conjunctive use, or delays or avoids the need to develop new water sources, and otherwise meets the requirements of this section, provided that each public water system's water use shall not exceed the instantaneous or annual withdrawal rate specified in its water right authorization, shall not adversely affect existing water rights, and shall not be inconsistent with state-approved plans such as water system plans or other plans which include specific proposals for construction of interties. Interties approved and commencing use after January 1, 1991, shall not be inconsistent with regional water resource plans developed pursuant to chapter 90.54 RCW or chapter 90.-- RCW (sections 101 through 111 of this act).

(5) For public water systems subject to the approval process of chapter 43.20 RCW or chapter 70.116 RCW, proposals for interties commencing use after January 1, 1991, shall be incorporated into water system plans pursuant to chapter 43.20 RCW or coordinated water system plans pursuant to chapter 70.116 RCW and submitted to the department of health and the department of ecology for review and approval as provided for in subsections (5) through (9) of this section. The plan shall state how the proposed intertie will improve overall system reliability, enhance the manageability of the systems, provide opportunities for conjunctive use, or delay or avoid the need to develop new water sources.

(6) The department of health shall be responsible for review and approval of proposals for new interties. In its review the department of health shall determine whether the intertie satisfies the criteria of subsection (4) of this section, with the exception of water rights considerations, which are the responsibility of the department of ecology, and shall determine whether the intertie is necessary to address emergent public health or safety concerns associated with public water supply.

(7) If the intertie is determined by the department of health to be necessary to address emergent public health or safety concerns associated with public water supply, the public water system shall amend its water system plan as required and shall file an application with the department of ecology to change its existing water right to reflect the proposed use of the water as described in the approved water system plan. The department of ecology shall process the application for change pursuant to RCW 90.03.380 or 90.44.100 as appropriate, except that, notwithstanding the requirements of those sections regarding notice and protest periods, applicants shall be required to publish notice one time, and the comment period shall be fifteen days from the date of publication of the notice. Within sixty days of receiving the application, the department of ecology shall issue findings and advise the department of health if existing water rights are determined to be adversely affected. If no determination is provided by the department of ecology within the sixty-day period, the department of health shall proceed as if existing rights are not adversely affected by the proposed intertie. The department of ecology may obtain an extension of the sixty-day period by submitting written notice to the department of health and to the applicant indicating a definite date by which its determination will be made. No additional extensions shall be granted, and in no event shall the total review period for the department of ecology exceed one hundred eighty days.

(8) If the department of health determines the proposed intertie appears to meet the requirements of subsection (4) of this section but is not necessary to address emergent public health or safety concerns associated with public water supply, the department of health shall instruct the applicant to submit to the department of ecology an application for change to the underlying water right or claim as necessary to reflect the new place of use. The department of ecology shall consider the applications pursuant to the provisions of RCW 90.03.380 and 90.44.100 as appropriate. The department of ecology shall not deny or limit a change of place of use for an intertie on the grounds that the holder of a permit has not yet put all of the water authorized in the permit to beneficial use. If in its review of proposed interties and associated water rights the department of ecology determines that additional information is required to act on the application, the department may request applicants to provide information necessary for its decision, consistent with agency rules and written guidelines. Parties disagreeing with the decision of the department of ecology ((on)) to approve or deny the application for change in place of use may appeal the decision to the pollution control hearings board.

(9) The department of health may approve plans containing intertie proposals prior to the department of ecology's decision on the water right application for change in place of use. However, notwithstanding such approval, construction work on the intertie shall not begin until the department of ecology issues the appropriate water right document to the applicant consistent with the approved plan.

(10) The 1997 amendments to this section in this act are null and void if any one of sections 101 through 113 of this act is vetoed by June 30, 1997.

Sec. 402. RCW 90.03.330 and 1987 c 109 s 89 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon a showing satisfactory to the department that any appropriation has been perfected in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the department to issue to the applicant a certificate stating such facts in a form to be prescribed by him, and such certificate shall thereupon be recorded with the department. Any original water right certificate issued, as provided by this chapter, shall be recorded with the department and thereafter, at the expense of the party receiving the same, be by the department transmitted to the county auditor of the county or counties where the distributing system or any part thereof is located, and be recorded in the office of such county auditor, and thereafter be transmitted to the owner thereof.

(2) If a public water system is providing water for municipal supply purposes under a certificated water right, the instantaneous and annual withdrawal rates specified in the certificate are deemed valid and perfected.

(3) If a federal reclamation project is providing water for reclamation purposes under a certificated water right, the instantaneous and annual withdrawal rates specified in the certificate are deemed valid and perfected.

(4) If an irrigation district is providing water for the purposes authorized by chapter 87.03 RCW under a certificated water right, the instantaneous and annual withdrawal rates specified in the certificate are deemed valid and perfected.

(5) The 1997 amendments to this section in this act are null and void if any one of sections 101 through 113 of this act is vetoed by June 30, 1997.

PART V

RELINQUISHMENT

Sec. 501. RCW 90.14.140 and 1987 c 125 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) For the purposes of RCW 90.14.130 through 90.14.180, "sufficient cause" shall be defined as the nonuse of all or a portion of the water by the owner of a water right for a period of five or more consecutive years where such nonuse occurs as a result of:

(a) Drought, or other unavailability of water;

(b) Active service in the armed forces of the United States during military crisis;

(d) The operation of legal proceedings;

(e) Federal laws imposing land or water use restrictions either directly or through the voluntary enrollment of a landowner in a federal program implementing those laws, or acreage limitations, or production quotas;

(f) An elapse of time occurring while a request or application is processed for transferring or changing a water right to use by a public water supplier for municipal purposes;

(g) The implementation of practices or technologies or the installation or repair of facilities, including but not limited to water conveyance practices, technologies, or facilities, that are more efficient or more water use efficient than practices, technologies, or facilities previously used under the water right.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of RCW 90.14.130 through 90.14.180, there shall be no relinquishment of any water right:

(a) If such right is claimed for power development purposes under chapter 90.16 RCW and annual license fees are paid in accordance with chapter 90.16 RCW, or

(b) If such right is used for a standby or reserve water supply to be used in time of drought or other low flow period so long as withdrawal or diversion facilities are maintained in good operating condition for the use of such reserve or standby water supply, or

(c) If such right is claimed for a determined future development to take place ((~~either~~)) at any time within fifteen years of either July 1, 1967, or the most recent beneficial use of the water right, whichever date is later, or

(d) If such right is claimed for municipal water supply purposes under chapter 90.03 RCW, or

(e) If such waters are not subject to appropriation under the applicable provisions of RCW 90.40.030 as now or hereafter amended.

PART VI

GENERAL PERMITS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 601. The legislature finds that the present delay in the processing of water right applications is not beneficial to the citizens of the state nor is it in keeping with the goal of managing the resource to the highest possible standard and maximum net benefit.

The legislature further finds that water conservation efforts would be greatly enhanced by a permit system that encourages water right applicants to use only the amount of water actually necessary to meet their needs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 602. A new section is added to chapter 90.03 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall develop a general permit system for appropriating water for nonconsumptive, nonbypass uses. This system must be designed and used to accurately identify and register any water right application that qualifies for the streamlined process of appropriation of water by meeting the requirements in this section and registering the use. The general permit system must be applicable state-wide, and all waters of the state shall be eligible for coverage under the system. The evaluation and report required for an application under RCW 90.03.290 are not required for applications processed under the general permit system. For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Nonconsumptive, nonbypass use" means a use of water in which water is diverted from a stream or drawn from an aquifer and following its use is discharged back into or near the point of diversion or withdrawal without diminishment in quality and less than five thousand gallons of net consumption per day; and

(b) "Without diminishment of quality" means that, before being discharged back to its source, the water being discharged meets state water quality standards adopted under chapter 90.48 RCW.

(2) The department shall, by January 1, 1998, establish the general permit system by adopting rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. Before the adoption of rules for a system, the department shall consult with representatives of the following interest groups: Agriculture; aquaculture; home construction and development; county government; city government; surface mining; and the environmental community. At least four public hearings must be held at various locations around the state, not less than two of which shall be east of the crest of the Cascade mountains. The rules must identify criteria for proposed uses of water for which applications might be processed under the system and must establish procedures for filing and processing applications and issuing water rights certificates under the general permit system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 603. A new section is added to chapter 90.03 RCW to read as follows:

An application for registration as a nonconsumptive, nonbypass water user under the general permit system established under section 602 of this act must be made on a form adopted and provided by the department. Within sixty days of receipt of a properly completed application, the department shall determine whether the proposed use is eligible to be processed under the general permit system. If the department determines that the proposed use is eligible to be processed under the system, the application must be processed under the system within the next sixty days. The priority date of the water right established pursuant to this section shall be the date that the properly completed application is submitted. If the department determines that the proposed use is not eligible for the processing, the department shall explain to the applicant in writing the reasons for its determination. For a proposed use determined ineligible for the processing, if the department finds that the information contained on the application form substantially satisfies the information requirements for an application for a use that would normally be filed for processing the application outside of the general permit system, the department shall notify the applicant of its finding and shall process the application as if it were filed for processing outside of the system. If the department finds that the information does not substantially satisfy the requirements, the application must be considered to be incomplete for the processing and the applicant must be notified of this consideration.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 604. A new section is added to chapter 90.03 RCW to read as follows:

Nothing in sections 602 and 603 of this act authorizes the impairment or operates to impair any existing water rights. A water right holder under sections 602 and 603 of this act shall not make withdrawals that impair a senior water right. A holder of a senior water right who believes his or her water right is impaired may file a complaint with the department of ecology. Where such complaints of impairment have been received, the department of ecology shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve them in a timely manner through agreement of the parties. Nothing in section 602 or 603 of this act may be construed as waiving any requirement established under chapter 90.48 RCW or federal law that a permittee secure a discharge permit regarding water quality.

PART VII

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 701. As used in this act, part headings constitute no part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 702. Sections 101 through 111 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 90 RCW.