1832-S.E AMS RAMS 047
ESHB 1832 - S AMD 344
By Senator Brown
WITHDRAWN 04/12/01
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 33. The legislature declares an emergency caused by a natural disaster of drought as proclaimed by the governor.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 34. The sum of eight million dollars is appropriated from the emergency reserve fund to the state conservation commission for fiscal year 2001. The appropriation in this section is provided solely to provide grants to conservation districts to assist the agricultural community to implement water conservation measures and irrigation efficiencies in the 16 water resource inventory areas identified by the governor's salmon recovery office where more water has been allocated that is naturally available for at least part of the year and in which one or more fish stocks are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. In consultation with the department of ecology, a conservation district receiving funds shall manage each grant to ensure that a portion of the water saved by the water conservation measure or irrigation efficiency will be placed in the trust water rights program under chapter 90.38 RCW and chapter 90.42 RCW to enhance instream flows. The proportion of saved water placed in the trust water rights program shall be equal to the percentage of the public investment in the conservation measure or irrigation efficiency. The percentage of the public investment may not exceed 85% of the total cost of the conservation measure or irrigation efficiency. In awarding grants, a conservation district shall give first priority to family farms as defined under RCW 90.66.040.
By February 1, 2003, the commission shall submit a progress report
to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature on: (1) the
amount of public funds expended from this section; (2) the location
and amount of water placed in the trust water rights program pursuant to this section; and (3) the methods used by conservation districts to ensure a portion of the water saved by the water conservation measure or irrigation efficiency actually enhanced stream flows.
Any monies remaining unexpended from the appropriation in this section on June 30, 2001, are reappropriated for expenditure in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 35. The sum of seven million dollars is appropriated from the emergency reserve fund to the department of ecology. The appropriation in this section is provided solely to purchase water rights to be placed in the trust water rights program under chapter 90.38 RCW and chapter 90.42 RCW and to purchase water use metering equipment and stream flow monitoring equipment. The department shall allocate eighty percent of the appropriation for the purchase of trust water rights. Any monies remaining unexpended from the appropriation in this section on June 30, 2001, are reappropriated for expenditure in fiscal years 2002 and 2003."
ESHB 1832 - S AMD 344
By Senator Brown
WITHDRAWN 04/12/01
Correct the title.
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EFFECT: Declares an emergency consistent with the Governor's declaration of a drought emergency. An appropriation of $8 million is made from the emergency reserve fund to the Conservation Commission to fund grants to conservation districts to assist farmers in implementing water conservation measures and irrigation efficiencies. The saved water will be placed in the trust water rights program proportionate to the public funds invested in the water conservation measure or irrigation efficiency. First priority is given to family farms for water conservation grants. The Conservation Commission will report to the legislature on the public funds expended, the location and amount of water placed in the trust water rights program and the methods used by the conservation districts to ensure that saved water enhances instream flows. An appropriation of $7 million is made from the emergency reserve fund to the Department of Ecology to purchase trust water rights and equipment necessary to increase water use metering and enhance stream flow monitoring.