FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1865

C 229 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing watershed planning provisions.

Sponsors:  By Representatives G. Chandler and Grant.

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Water

Background:

The state=s watershed planning law establishes a process for developing watershed plans under a locally initiated planning process.  Watershed planning may be initiated for a single water resource inventory area (WRIA), as these watersheds have been designated by rules adopted by the Department of Ecology (DOE), or for a multi-WRIA area.  Watershed planning for a single WRIA may be initiated only with the concurrence of:  all counties within the WRIA; the largest city or town within the WRIA unless the WRIA does not contain a city or town; and the water supply utility obtaining the largest quantity of water from the WRIA.  It may be initiated for a multi-WRIA area only with the concurrence of:  all counties within the multi-WRIA area; the largest city or town in each WRIA unless the WRIA does not contain a city or town; and the water supply utility obtaining the largest quantity of water in each WRIA.  If these entities decide to proceed, they must extend an invitation to all tribes with reservation lands within the management area.  These entities, including the tribes if they affirmatively accept the invitation, constitute the "initiating governments" for the purposes of initiating watershed planning.

Summary:

For a water resource inventory area (WRIA) with lands in the Columbia Basin Project, the water supply utility obtaining from the project the largest quantity of water for the WRIA is the water supply utility that qualifies as an initiating government for watershed planning for the WRIA.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate470(Senate amended)

House880(House concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001