BILL REQ. #:  H-1188.1 

Read first time 01/24/2007.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to water conservation development strategies; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The department of ecology is directed to study and review innovative strategies and processes for supporting conservation development strategies in the rural area, particularly related to provision of water. The objectives of this study are to provide certainty and improve water flows in impaired or at-risk basins through a variety of strategies, while advancing innovative conservation development. In particular, the purpose of this study is to create a supporting water management and conservation strategy to the land conservation strategy being explored in the rural village concept, which proposes to consolidate growth from existing and zoned lots into a compact and environmentally friendly footprint while concurrently conserving large swaths of farm and forest lands and natural areas. A combined effort to conserve water and land and provide for a new style of development in keeping with rural character will improve rural quality of life and economic health by: Providing new alternatives for environmentally friendly, compact rural development; providing housing that is affordable to people who live and work in rural areas; reducing conversion of resource and rural lands and protect the ecosystem services and products they provide; and provide options for landowners to achieve the optimal real estate value of their properties.
     (2) The department of ecology, in partnership with the cascade land conservancy, must contract for and coordinate a two-year study. The scope of the study includes review and analysis of issues related to establishing, siting, and obtaining regulatory approval for sustainable water management associated with the rural village concept. The study must involve the three watersheds selected to accept a rural village demonstration project. Water management issues to be addressed include but are not limited to the following:
     (a) The use of a water banking system and trust water rights as a mechanism to mange existing water rights within the pilot study areas;
     (b) The exploration of feasibility and means for water right transfers, including conversion of surface water rights to groundwater withdrawals or other water right transfer alternatives;
     (c) Issues involving determinations of current and future water availability and a characterization of potential impairment of senior water rights;
     (d) Opportunities to compliment and support other local environmental and land use goals as identified in watershed planning, shared salmon strategy plans, and the growth management act;
     (e) Applicability of the Ecology v. Campbell & Gwinn, L.L.C. (146 Wn.2d 1) decision, specifically local use of, and options to manage, the number and density of exempt wells projected to support future growth;
     (f) Opportunities for enhancement of subbasin instream flows. This includes examining specific strategies for achieving benefits to a demonstration project's subbasin and overall watershed health from innovative, low-impact development techniques for proposed rural village, land conservation measures and reduced development footprint, along with expansive water conservation measures within the rural village, in the subbasin and across the landscape; and
     (g) Explore the potential to use new septic/sewer technology, such as membrane technology, to provide reclaimed water for nonpotable uses.
     (3) The department of ecology, in partnership with the cascade land conservancy, must seek matching federal resources, including technical support from the United States environmental protection agency.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the department of ecology for the purposes of this act.
     (2) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the department of ecology for the purposes of this act.